Looking back at the last Super Bowl appearance for Chicago from a different angle.
Every once in a while, NFL Network will play a replay of a game that catches my attention.
This past week, in my pursuit to catch game 7 of the NBA Finals, I was thwarted by the Network’s replay of Super Bowl XLI. A game that I have not had the stomach to re-watch even one time since the game ended and confetti fell on the soggy Dolphin Stadium field in Miami, FL in 2007.
As I watched the game, a flood of memories rushed into my head and thoughts like “Holy crap, Hester was special, even as a rookie” and “damn, Thomas Jones was a beast” and “Danieal Manning was just a rookie that year too?!”
But for every positive memory, there were just as many gut-wrenching ones of which I will spare you the misery of revisiting.
But that got me thinking – which Chicago Bears performance was most underrated?
Here is the box score of that game in case you needed a reminder.
My vote goes to Tank Johnson, who flashed all game and reminded me how nice it was to have a deep interior DL. Remember, he was drafted in round 2 of the 2004 NFL Draft, just 33 spots after fellow DT Tommie Harris. What may have seemed like overkill at the time proved prudent once Harris missed some games, including Super Bowl XLI itself. Hat tip to Ian Scott for even more depth on that roster, but Tank Johnson led all Chicago defensive linemen in this one with five total tackles, four solo, 1 TFL, 1 QBH, and half a sack.
Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Now it’s your turn. Which Chicago Bear performance was most underrated? Sound off in the comments and share how many times you have re-watched that game.
Here’s to our DT depth once again leading us on a deep playoff run!