Debacle: Arizona Cardinals Collapse [J. Mark English]

Anyone with a clear understanding of the sport of football would agree that when a team is up 23-3 with barely any time left in the third quarter, the game for the most part is on its way to being over. Then, if you consider that the team losing 23-3, would only have thirty yards in the fourth quarter, and score no offensive touchdowns, any chance of a comeback bid would be considered impossible.

Take into further account that the team losing had six turnovers...no team that has had six turnovers or more on the road has ever won a game...and that was the team down 23-3...then once again, the game should have been signed, sealed, delivered by the fourth quarter.

Finally, the home team's starting running back carries the ball 36 times...if you figure that the back averages only 3 yards per carry, then that would give him 108 yards for the game.

And so now let us take a look at what happened yesterday:

(from the Chicago Bears Website) Trailing the Cardinals 23-3 late in the third quarter Monday night in Arizona, Chicago staged a miraculous comeback, scoring two touchdowns on defense and one on special teams to escape with a stunning 24-23 victory....

The Bears overcame six turnovers by quarterback Rex Grossman, who threw a career-high four interceptions and lost two fumbles while registering a hideous 10.7 passer rating. In the first half, the Cardinals converted four Grossman turnovers into 13 points in building a 20-0 halftime lead....

Rookie defensive end Mark Anderson ignited the comeback, forcing rookie quarterback Matt Leinart to fumble on a blindside sack. Mike Brown scooped up the loose ball and returned it 3 yards for a TD, drawing the Bears to within 23-10 with :02 remaining in the third quarter....

The defense delivered again as Brian Urlacher ripped the ball away from running back Edgerrin James and Charles Tillman returned the fumble 40 yards for a TD, closing the gap to 23-17 with 5:00 left in the final period...

Rookie Devin Hester then produced the play of the game and perhaps the season, returning a punt 83 yards for a touchdown to put the Bears ahead 24-23 with 2:58 to play....

Okay, so now the extraordinary has happened. But the Cardinals get the ball back with plenty of time left, and in great field position at their own 38 yard line. Then they methodically get down the field, and by the time they get near the 24 yard line of the Bears, there is still over a minute left. Anything can happen, but it seems they are set to put themselves into position for an easy field goal.

So what really happens?

Leinart responded by driving the Cardinals to the Bears’ 22, but Neil Rackers missed a 40-yard field goal attempt that may have deflected off Hunter Hillenmeyer’s fingertips and sailed wide left with :47 left...

Wow. Improbable? Well yes, when given the facts that the Bears offense did little, practically nothing to encourage the comeback.

The Chicago Bears may be lucky to be 6-0. But they are where they are. The New York Giants back in 1990 played a game against the then Phoenix Cardinals, in a game that was prophetic of things to come. Early in the game, Phil Simms was knocked out, and Jeff Hostlettler came in and led the Giants to a come back win. trailing 19-10 late in the 4th quater, he brought them within a field goal with a touchdown strike to Stephen Baker. Then with the seconds rolling off of the clock, Matt Bahr hit a game winning kick, propelling the Giants to a 20-19 win (the same score that would hold at the end of Super Bowl XXV), and letting them continue their perfect start.

Games like these come in a Super Bowl season, and perhaps its a further sign that this is the Bears year. We'll see. Anything can happen. Yesterday was living proof.