>>Dallas actually impressed me - I really thought Denver would win by a wider margin.
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>>The NFC is getting pretty interesting - between Dallas, Giants, Falcons, Bucs, and Panthers, at least 1 won't make the playoffs.
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>>Off-topic, but worth mentioning - in a few weeks, the Bears play the Steelers in Pittsburgh. If the Bears are able to beat a strong AFC team, they could be a real threat come playoff time.
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>>Kevin
>
>The Bears have come a long way in a short time. If they had a quarterback, they'd be scary. Great defense with "what's his name" back there playing Butkus. Somehow I think Dallas may be in the hunt for the NFC crown. Home field means everything though and it looks like Seattle in that one. Time will tell. As for the Broncos, we have another crucial test a week from Sunday at KC. If we beat them at KC, you can put us down for the Super Bowl!


What's the name of that team in Indy again? I heard they are still undefeated after 10 games, including a thrashing of the Patriots on the road, but that can't be right, can it?

As a long time Bears fan with the usual low expectations, I am quite delighted with their play this season. The defense was clearly good all along (they have allowed something like 40 points fewer than any team in the league) but I discounted that somewhat because their schedule is fairly weak. As always -- when the Bears are decent, anyway, which is not an annual thing -- the question is whether they have enough offense to go far in the playoffs. The Carolina game last week opened my eyes. The Panthers have been widely predicted as the NFC Super Bowl team (and loser <g>), had been averaging 30 points a game, and the Bears shut them down flat. As the TV commentators kept saying, they weren't just stopping Carolina, they were dominating them. Another good test with Tampa Bay on the road this week, with the Falcons also coming up.