The NFC Championship game between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears will kick off as scehduled, Sunday at 2:00 CST (3:00 EST)
Who Are You Going To Believe, Me Or Your Lying Eyes?: For those of you who are still concerned about the notion of an athletic event taking place on grass, chins up. All is well. NFL spokesman Greg Aielllo reports that "Game Ops say Soldier Field in good shape". There are heaters under tarps, and heated coils under the surface of the field.
Most interesting is the fact the NFL has something called 'Game Ops', which sounds like some deep-cover group of elite, covert, landscapers.
Injury Report: Bears safety Chris Harris, who has been battling a hip injury all week, practiced Friday. He's determined to play, although he's listed as questionable. Lovie Smith called it a game-time decision, and if there's any way Harris can go, he will. Rookie Major Wright has filled in well for Harris as a substitute, but the Bears would prefer Harris' veteran presence in a game this big, against the quick Packers receivers.
Pisa Tinoisamoa practiced with the special teams unit Friday, and is not listed on the injury report.
Packer linebacker Frank Zombo (knee) will not play Sunday, and offensive lineman Jason spitz is questionable witha calf injury. The Packers have ten players listed as probable.
Insult Report: The NFL had four divisional round football games last weekend. The NFL Network has midweek programming called 'NFL Replay', all year long they showed truncated versions of the best four football games of the given week. It airs on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, an hour and fifteen minutes for each game..
This week the NFL Network broadcasted 'NFL Replay' on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Packers and Falcons, and Jets and Patriots on Tuesday, an hour and fifteen minutes. And on Wednesday, they used the first fifteen minutes to air the Ravens and Steelers, and the second hour and fifteen minutes to...the Ravens and Steelers.
With four games played, and four games to show, the NFL Network showed three. The Bears and Seahawks game didn't get aired until noon on Thursday, while most of the country was at work.
This Bears team has been undervalued, underappreciated, and most importantly, underestimated, since training camp. If you were one of the few who saw some spark of potential, or like me, gave them the benefit of the doubt because they're your team?
Congratulations, it's been a hell of a ride, hasn't it?
For those of you who spent the pre-season, and the first half of the year doubting, and calling for rampant change, and mocking the team and it's fans who disagreed with you?
All is forgiven, plenty of room on the bandwagon.
And, oh yeah...We told you so.
Finally: "The Bears and the Packers -- something you see every night in West Hollywood." - Bill Maher
Keep your eye on SB Nation Chicago, we will be keeping you updated on all the week's NFL news along with live reports during both games. Add @sbnchicago and @BabylonDon1 to your Twitter account, and be informed of every 2011 playoff update on SB Nation Chicago