Bears vs. Vikings: The 10 Bears Who Deserve the NFC North Title the Most
The Bears beat the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night 40-14 on a cold, snowy, frozen evening at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. As a result, they are the champions of the NFC North division and currently sit as the second overall seed in the NFC behind Atlanta.
Part of the story was Devin Hester who returned a punt for a TD in the third quarter to establish the record for individual kickoff and punt return TDs in a career. This followed a 79-yard kickoff return the last time he touched the ball. Add a TD catch as a receiver and it was a pretty good night for No. 23.
The other part of the story, besides the weather and the venue, was the surprising start of Brett Favre. That didn't last long, however, as Favre went out with a head injury as Bears DE Corey Wootton slammed him to the rock-hard turf in the second quarter.
Favre would not return and so we may have seen the last of the certain Hall of Fame QB.
Meanwhile, the real story to Bears' fans doesn't involve Favre or the weather or anything other than winning the division. This win is especially sweet for the following 10 men.
10. Jay Cutler
1 of 10
Throughout his career, Cutler has always been knocked for tow things: his penchant for throwing picks, especially in the red zone, and for not winning.
Well, you can cross the second item off the list as Cutler has finally engineered his team to the playoffs. Tonight, Cutler threw for three (and it should have been four if not for a penalty) TDs and only one INT on a very difficult night to throw the ball.
Cutler has had his share of problems, to be sure, but to endure a bad offensive line and an offensive coordinator whose seven-step drops almost got him killed early in the year, makes this very deserving for the young man.
Now, we'll get a chance to see what he can do in the playoffs for the first time.
9. Mike Martz
2 of 10
Sure, we just got done writing how Martz almost got Cutler killed early in the year. But, give the man credit for adjusting—he has balanced the run and the pass like he's never done before and shown a willingness to go with what the offense gives him.
And they said he was so stubborn. Perhaps he views this as his last chance to get back into the good graces of the NFL and so that whole "my way or the highway" has taken a back seat to compromise.
After the bye week, Martz came up with shorter drops, higher percentage passes, max protect schemes and rolling Cutler out. Whether it was his idea, Lovie Smith's directive or Mike Tice's pleading, Martz went along with it, and it has worked for the most part.
And for that, I feel Martz is worthy.
8. Lovie Smith
3 of 10
Yeah, I know, I have been one of Lovie's harshest critics, and I still insist he is not a great head coach. But if you're going to criticize a man, you also have to give him his props for doing a good job. And his has been his best year coaching in the NFL.
Lovie has shown the willingness to adjust and hold his players accountable like never before. His sense of urgency to win this year has been obvious.
That said, I'd still love to see Bill Cowher as our next coach. But that isn't going to happen, Bears fans.
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7. Matt Forte
4 of 10
Forte was no good, they said; he was a flash in the pan as a rookie, they screamed. He has lost a step, they all cried. And you know what? I can understand the concern. But Forte has the last laugh.
Maybe it was the knee injury, but you have to give Forte his props to have a decent season after struggling last year. He has a quicker burst now and for this offensive line to be able to rush for around 800 yards and a 4.2 average so far is pretty convincing.
I'm happy for Forte.
6. Dave Toub
5 of 10
The Bears special teams coach seldom, if ever, gets a mention when head coaching jobs come up in the NFL, but all he has done is coach one of the top units in the NFL since he's been here.
Sure, it's nice to have Devin Hester, but still, his unit have survived player changes and everything else and yet has always been one of the bright spots of the Bears.
Toub has been as rock solid as any coach has been with the Bears in good years and bad years. Sure, Rod Marinelli has been great, too, but I'll give Toub his due more as he has done it longer so we're happy for him.
5. Robbie Gould
6 of 10
Gould has been as steady as any Bears kicker since Kevin Butler, and even with a couple of uncharacteristic misses this season, it's hard not to root for the guy.
Sure, he's a kicker and not a so-called "real" football player, but he' been around 86 percent in his career. Even more impressive, Gould is around 72 percent from outside of 40 yards in his career.
After all, he's good as Gould.
4. Lance Briggs
7 of 10
Briggs has been one of the most underrated linebackers in Bears history. By the time his career is over, he may very well be the best outside linebacker of all the great Bears. 2010 should be his sixth Pro Bowl selection.
3. Devin Hester
8 of 10
Hester set the all-time record tonight, and he has been incredible for the Bears. He returned one for a TD in the Super Bowl, and until he was told to focus more on receiver, was on his way to being the greatest all-time return man in NFL history.
Now that he's focusing on returns again, he just may end up as the best. You gotta love this guy.
2. Julius Peppers
9 of 10
The biggest free-agent signing in the offseason has been tremendous for the Bears this season. He may not have the gaudy sack totals expected, but his mere presence on the field has allowed Israel Idonije to have his best season, and it's no coincidence that his arrival has coincided with the revival of the Bears defense.
He's a freak of nature as an athlete and a good guy. There is only one player I'm happier for and it's...
1. Brian Urlacher
10 of 10
They said he was through, but after overcoming a year out of football, Urlacher has shown the Bears why this team has missed the playoffs without his being totally healthy and able to play at a high level.
Urlacher is asked to cover like a safety or cornerback yet his speed allows him to be all over the field and do damage on almost every play.
If he's not the NFC defensive player of the year, then his teammate Peppers is. Either way, the man is a Hall of Famer, and we're happy that he's back and healthy.
Urlacher is the key to the Bears defense.
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