2007 Bears = 2003/4 Bucs??

1) Played in Super Bowl previous season

2) Let Thomas Jones go (Bucs after 2003) to another team. Bucs tried in 2004 to revert to Pittman/Alstott. Bears trying Benson/Petersen

3) Gave up on SuperBowl QB (Bucs in early 2004 gave up on BJ) and turned to Brian Griese.

4) Released/failed to resign a key defensive tackle - Bears, Tank Johnson and Bucs after 2003, Warren Sapp

5) Thus reverted to utter dink/dunk offense and leave most games totally up to the (now weakened) defense.

Reminder that the Bucs were 6-10 and 5-11 in the two seasons after their SBowl....burped out a 10 win 2005 and a first round playoff snuff and then blew again last year with just 4 wins.

Raiders (an even more dramatic series of dubious decisions beginning with the career ending injury to Rich Gannon) also dropped off face of map for four full seasons.

Are the Bears maybe in similar straits?

I am BAFFLED as to why Lovie Smith decided today to open the game with 22 passes in first 30 plays. Absolutely no attempt to establish a clock control running game.

Bucs win was the culmination of several seasons of being on the cusp. The nucleus had been there and don't forget them getting completely ripped off with the Bert Emanuel catch against the Rams (remember they changed the rule after the season, even though it likely cost the Bucs the game or at the least a shot at winning it).

Bears have been hit hard by injuries and are regressing to the mean. Yes there are similarities, but the Bears are by and large Lovie's team and the Bucs were mainly Dungy guys with Gruden coming in to steal the glory.

That Bucs team popularized the cover 2 defense and was one of the best of all time.

Really isnt any similar remark you can make about this Chicago D. It's pretty good. It just isnt legendary.

Brad and Key was an incredible QB/WR tandem. Bears dont have anything like that either. (Especially the QB part)