Antoine Winfield and the Minnesota Vikings made a statement with a big win over a good Bengals team yesterday.  I wanted to say that it was a ‘big statement’ or a ‘resounding statement’, but it was a game that they should have won, regardless of how solid a victory it was.

I’m a Winfield fan, in fact, if I had the opportunity to take any player off of that defense and put it on mine, I wouldn’t think twice.  It’s Antoine Winfield, and I don’t care how old he is.  But when I learned before gametime that he was getting the nod to return after a 6-game layoff, I didn’t think he would be able to provide the spark that he did.  The only rust he showed was dropping a sure INT Palmer put right in his hands.  Otherwise, Winnie put on a display of skill and leadership that fueled the completeness of the victory.

Winfield led the team in tackles and continuously delivered big hits on guys bigger than himself, and then laughing as he got up.  This is a 175-lb. dude in his thirties who is thoroughly enjoying being healthy enough to launch himself fearlessly into Cedric Benson (225 lbs.) and Larry Johnson (230 lbs.).  The rest of the team responded to the tone he was constantly setting.  He’s coming back at just the right time, and if he stays on the field, I’m going to have a hard time picking against the Vikes against any team but the Saints.  It’s too bad EJ went down for the year, because Winfield is a difference maker, and without Henderson he’s having to make up for a lot of difference.

I haven’t heard too many pundits that were impressed with Adrian Peterson, in fact I’ve heard his 137 total yards and 2 TD’s called a ‘quiet day’.  Yeah, he didn’t average 4 yards a carry, but a game like that out of Matt Forte or any RB for any of the various garbage teams isn’t described as ‘quiet’ the next day.  Most times those numbers would be called ‘best game of the season’.

OH YEAH, THE STEELERS LOST TO CLEVELAND ON THURSDAY NIGHT

I’m still trying to figure this one out.  I know that they’ve lost to 3 sh*tty teams now, but the fact that they happened doesn’t make them any less baffling.  I feel like a JV-Squad coached by Mike Tomlin could beat the Browns, but the offensive line is terrible in Pittsburgh.  They gave up 8 sacks and managed only 75 yards rushing against the 29th-ranked run defense.

Yet this is the team that won the Super Bowl last year.  Their reputation is in tatters.  Not only couldn’t they run the ball, but they gave up 171 yards rushing.  They’re not just losing, but they’re losing to bad teams, and it started with Chicago, and ended with K.C., Oakland, and Cleveland.  It’s a rough year for the whole organization and its fanbase.

BEARS HOMER SECTION

After writing about the Steelers, I guess it’s hard to start this section and bitch about Chicago, but I’m going with this angle: I’m going to bitch about them not losing by enough.

If you’re gonna get beat by Green Bay at home in this situation, at least get stomped.  Don’t give anything that anyone can give you credit for.  You could at least get pummeled to the point where demands for change are heeded. Don’t keep it close (in fact take a lead into the 4th quarter), only to let stupid mistakes, time mismanagement, and more interceptions lose the game for you.

And the penalties.  Good lord, the penalties.  Frank Omiyale and Chris Williams must have accounted for at least half of the 13 flags, which is really frustrating, because you’re at home, and the crowd is asleep.  What’s with the false starts?  Can you not hear the snap counts in the huddle?  Why the lack of focus?  What does that say about coaching staff?

I sound really whiny when I ask a bunch of questions in a row, so I will stop doing that.  But the coach has to be held accountable for not preparing the team properly and for not inspiring them to play with even a little concentration.

Jay Cutler had a few moments in this game that looked really promising, and even that has to draw some kind of indictment of Lovie Smith and Ron Turner’s decision making.  I’m limiting myself to one more question, and here it is: Why did you guys make Jay Cutler beg for Devin Aromashodu all season long?  It’s not that he had some groundbreaking game, but he contributed easily to the passing attack and looked smooth and polished.  Cutler obviously likes throwing to him.  His long arms and frame appear to give Cutler more room for error when throwing away from a defender, which is how Cutler likes to operate.  While Knox, Hester, and Earl Bennett do appear to have talent, they aren’t the kind of receivers that Cutler does well with as a main target.

If they want Cutler to succeed, which should be priority No. 1 given what they’ve sunken into the guy, then give him the receiver that he likes.  If that means benching someone, so be it.  Put Hester or Knox in the slot and move Aromashodu to the outside.  Bennett sits.  Sounds better than what they have.  That’s probably too unconventional to expect from the Chicago coaching staff, who seems more determined to cram each skill player into some ill-fitting role than they are about winning football games.  It suggests an ego problem to me.  That the coaching staff believes more in its own system than it does the players on the field.  They seem to crave proving themselves to be unappreciated geniuses more than they crave to be good coaches who will do what is best for the team.  The rigidity is myopic at this point, and the unwillingness to adapt to weaknesses and strengths is foolish.

Lovie, I’m sorry, but it’s really time to go. We’ll always have that Super Bowl loss.

It simply is time for fresh thinking and new attitude at Halas Hall if the organization wants to reap any rewards from its most recent investments.  Lovie Smith apparently wants to adhere to his philosophy more than he wants to win football games.  That’s too bad, because I once considered Lovie Smith a very capable coach.  But his inability to see his own team’s flaws, coupled with really bad in-game decisions at key moments, signals a need for new influence.

Oh, and f*ck you too, Cutler.

Email: nick.thomas@flyingpigskin.com