A quick glance at the Bears 2005 season, and you?ll see that they finish at a dismal 5-11. Any knowledgeable person though would see that they were a great 5-11 team, if that is even possible to imagine. They went through tremendous injuries on both sides of the football, but yet stayed a dangerous team. With a few additions to the offense especially on the line, things could finally open up for the Bears.

When Rex Grossman went down week four, it really took a lot from the Bears offense. With Grossman in the lineup he gave the Bears a decent passing attack that was complimented well with the rising play of Thomas Jones. In fact the Bears could have easily been 3-0 out the gate, instead of 1-2. They shocked the world with their win at Lambeau field, but after that had two horrible stretches of losing streak, one losing streak of four straight games, and another losing six out seven.

There were two main explanations for that. One was because they had no viable backup and had to use quarterbacks with no credentials whatsoever to have their name in the history books as once being a starter. Jonathan Quinn, Craig Krenzel, and Chad Hutchinson epitomize why a team needs to be prepared to have a solid backup. There were some games that the quarterbacks played so poorly that you just felt sorry for their supporting cast of teammates. It?s dejecting to go back or off the field realizing you?re not going to move the football for sixty minutes. It lowers the standards even more when doubt is in mind of a leader?s capability. That?s when losing streaks occur, and that?s exactly what happened in Chicago.

The other main reason was that the Bears strong defense was banged up throughout the year. They lost their star safety Mike Brown for the year after his emphatic fumble recovery for a touchdown against Green Bay. The anchor of their defense in Brian Urlacher, also was battling it out all season. Even through it the entire defense did a great job in keeping the team in games. Just like the offensive players mindsets change with no production, the same happens on defense. They grow tired quickly because their adrenaline and any reason to be motivated is down. That?s when a mistake here or there happens, and boom the defense gives up a big touchdown or allows a runner to pound away suddenly.

As the Bears regroup, and put the pieces to the puzzle back together they should realize that they aren?t very far away from being ahead in the NFC North. In fact, it wouldn?t be shocking to see a four-way race all year long between the teams. When you look at all four teams right now injury free, the Bears actually do look the best. They have the best defense, and a balanced offensive attack. Thomas Jones would have been the shock of the year, if it weren?t for him missing a part of the season and his brother stealing the spotlight. For the quarterbacks that were throwing the football, the Bears receivers actually showed signs of improving. No one did more than David Terrell who showed brief moments of being a potential star wide receiver. Any setback next season for Terrell, and its time to give up on him. Either way look for the Bears to bring in someone via free agency or the draft, to compete with youngsters in Bobby Wade and Justin Gage.

With more and more teams having high powered offenses, and subject defenses it gives a team like the Bears a great chance at succeeding. Especially in the NFC, where teams rise and fall at unprecedented standards.

Like Charles Barkely said, every coach gets fired sometime in their life, even if they turn out to be a great one. It is just a part of developing as a coach, but does it get any better when you distinguish yourself? Some would say yes and no, but the hoopla surrounding that coach every year after their high standard is never going to be relinquished. A town can fall in love with that coach, but that is a non-existent factor to the front office. If the team starts folding the blame always comes back to one person.

After several years under their belts, there are some big time coaching names that will be going into the 2005 off-season with eyes all over them. Bill Parcells, Mike Shanahan, Jeff Fisher, and Mike Holmgren better bring their sophisticated knowledge to full capability this year. If not it wouldn?t be shocking to see all four coaches either out of the NFL or elsewhere in the league.

If anyone is paying attention, there has been a big transformation of unknown coaches getting jobs. For years it was always just a reshuffling of former NFL coaches that would land elsewhere. Now though, more and more teams are realizing how great some of the defensive and offensive coordinators are in the league. It?s proving to be a critical move on the field, and also in management?s pockets.

For Jeff Fisher he has been roaming the Titans sidelines since their days in Houston. Tennessee has quickly aged, and Fisher may want to reconsider if he wants to go through another rebuilding process. Of course, maybe Fisher can pull a Bill Cowher and make a quick recovery to a youthful team. Odds are against him though, as the Titans are in a strong division and AFC in general. With Chris Brown at 100 percent the Titans were a factor last season until he got hurt, so with a move here and there, the Titans could get back to being respectable.

Out in Dallas, you could only see the disgust of shear disbelief in Bill Parcells every weekend. His quarterbacks were performing lower than an Arena Football quarterback, and the times he needed his defense to step up they didn?t. It seems like Parcells is becoming frustrated with coaching these days and is hiding it in. Look for him to bring in a veteran quarterback like Drew Bledsoe to make a run one more time. If it fails, I?d look for him to resign ala Jimmy Johnson did in Miami, and stay out of football for good so that he doesn?t tarnish his coaching legacy.

Mike Holmgren just hasn?t been able to get Seattle to the level they should be. They?ve had a talented nucleus of players that just aren?t shaping up on the field. No one knows the problem, but speculation has to be that time is running out for Holmgren. They have an All Pro running back and quarterback, with talented receivers that just need to learn to catch the football. Add to that a top five offensive line, and it equals to yearly average results. Their defense is average, but with an offense like theirs they should be able to ride it full strength like the Colts, Vikings, and Chiefs.

Out of all the coaches though, no one is facing more pressure than Mike Shanahan. He keeps giving fans wild card tastes of their past Super Bowl titles in the late 90?s, but to fans that?s like taking a steak off the grill too early. The taste is okay but not up to par of anticipation and satisfaction. Shanahan continues to marvel his surrounding peer coaches with the gems he finds at running back, but the main problem has been behind the center. Since Elway left, he has used numerous quarterbacks such as Steve Beurelein, Gus Frerotte, Brian Griese, and now Jake Plummer. Neither has been able to sustain a consistent year, and it doesn?t look like Plummer will change in the near future. With Al Wilson and Champ Bailey on defense the Broncos are geared to make their defense a strong point. Ashley Lelie is a top ten receiver in the NFL, but unless Plummer shows veteran skills it won?t matter. There is nothing more frustrating to a fan base than continual brief seconds of glory. When the Broncos lose every year in the first round it leaves them in a buried state when it comes to the NFL Draft. No one likes to be in the 20-23 range every single year. It gives you no room to draft a sure fire athlete, and they end up having to draft a player hyped from the combine that crosses over as much with their bust potential.

The 2004 season is officially over. Lets rank them accordingly one last time.

1. New England Patriots
The Patriots are in a league of their own right now. Will it be four out of five next season?

2. Philadelphia
It has to hurt deep being in second place all the time.

3. Indianapolis
May be ready to take over the Patriots next time around

4. Pittsburgh
A lot of decisions are to be made in the off season with Plaxico Burress and Jerome Bettis. Cowher is no stranger to tough decisions, but seems to always make the right ones.

5. Atlanta
Vick needs to recruit himself a receiver

6. NY Jets
They?re just a steady team, but may never be more than that.

7. Green Bay
It was an early exit once again, but Brett Favre seems poised for one more go around.

8. San Diego
The season could be all for naught, if they let Brees get away.

9. Minnesota
Trading Moss would be the worst possible solution for the Vikings, as he is dangerous every time he is on the field.

10. St. Louis
Marc Bulger is ready to show that he is among the elite quarterbacks in the league.

11. Seattle
They have too much talent to be average. First they?ll need to resign Shaun Alexander to change things in the right direction.

12. Denver
Jake Plummer will have one more chance to show that he is a viable starting quarterback.
13. Carolina
Would have been a serious threat if they could have snuck in the playoffs. They overcame a lot early on the year with injuries, and should be neck and neck with the Falcons next season.

14. Baltimore
They just need more support offensively, and with that defense their potential is unlimited.

15. Jacksonville
Byron Leftwich showed veteran leadership in only his second season, and should become a Pro Bowl quarterback in the near future.

16. New Orleans
The Saints could have folded at 4-8, but kept it together to finish 8-8. It wasn?t enough to get in the playoffs but was to keep their coach Jim Haslett.

17. Buffalo
They finished strong, but there will be obvious changes at quarterback.

18. Cincinatti
Carson Palmer and Chad Johnson are proving to be one of the top duos in the NFL. To add to that, Marvin Lewis is showing why he deserved to be an NFL coach a long time ago.

19. Houston
Davis Carr and the Texans have been steadily improving every year. It all started with their week one upset of Miami two years ago. It?ll be hard for them to overthrow Jacksonville or Indianapolis, but they?ll be able to cause havoc on any team.

20. Kansas City
Offense has never been a problem for Kansas City, but defensively they just can?t find the right nucleus.

21. Arizona
Dennis Green made some bonehead moves that cost the Cardinals a shot at the division title, but Green also learned from his mistakes. Expect the Cardinals to be a rising team in the NFC next season.

22. Oakland
When the Raiders are on they are one of the best teams in the league. The problem though is that they are the most inconsistent teams in the NFL.

23. Tennessee
Not even a year ago the Titans were going into the off-season with Eddie George and Steve McNair as their starters. Now it?s Chris Brown and looking like Billy Volek will take over McNair. It goes to show how fast time really does fly.

24. Chicago
If it weren?t for Rex Grossman going to early in the year, this team would have easily finished .500 or better. In fact if the Vikings and Packers continue to be inconsistent, expect the Bears to take hold of the division.

25. NY Giants
Would the Giants have been a playoff contender if Warner was kept in? The answer is undoubtedly yes, but Coughlin wanted his rookie to get experience so that he didn?t have to undergo the transformation this upcoming year. It could prove to be a genius idea if Manning comes in prepared.

26. Dallas
The Cowboys just need a quarterback that can throw the football more the ten to fifteen yards with zip and accuracy. Julius Jones was one of the biggest surprises last season, yet the non use of Drew Henson got more attention.

27. Miami
AJ Feeley showed big improvement in the last month of the season, and Miami could be a scary team next season. Realistically they could challenge once again, if they get an offensive line. Sammy Morris did a fine job rushing, and the defense is always there.

28. Washington
No matter what Daniel Snyder does with his pocketbook it never equals success on the field.

29. Detroit
Joey Harrington had some of the ugliest performances by a quarterback duplicate times. Still just like Chicago the youth on this team is tremendous. At wide receiver Roy Williams, Charles Rogers, and Az Hakim will be a great duo, and Kevin Jones at running back is the real deal. If Harrington can?t do it early on next year, Mike McMahon will get another shot to show his worth.

30. Tampa Bay
It?s a shame how quickly this team has collapsed after a Super Bowl win just a little over two years ago. Chris Simms is a project still, they need receivers, and Michael Pittman is always in trouble off the field.

31. Cleveland
Romeo Crennel just got himself a task to do. It?s going to take awhile, but lets not forget this team was a wild card playoff team two years ago.

32. San Francisco
The salary cap problems the 49ers are in, are going to continue to hurt them for a couple of seasons.

Not to downgrade Drew Bledsoe but he has had his fair share of chances in the NFL. His career started off phenomenal but over the last six to eight years it has been in a stand still. He did revitalize and strengthen the Bills to an impressive finish, but where was that earlier in the year? Going into the off-season Bledsoe once again is faced with a quarterback battle.

When the Buffalo Bills drafted JP Losman they fully expected him to get some action during the season. In fact, there were plans to put him in once the Bills finally were out of playoff contention, but that never happened. With Sam Wyche as the Bills quarterbacks coach, you can bet Losman learned a lot from the old timer. The Tulane graduate has a great arm, and speed that should challenge Bledsoe strongly this off-season.

It was just a few years ago that Bledsoe gave way to another second year starter in Tom Brady. Brady just fit Belicheck?s system better, and Bledsoe even realized that. This time around though at Bledsoe?s stage in his career he can?t afford to be a backup. If the Bills want to go the Losman route, they should grant Bledsoe a trade so that he can have one more tenure elsewhere.

There are too many teams in dire need of Bledsoe?s veteran play, and unlike many people think he can turn around a team. He still has the tendency to hold onto the football too long, but when he is playing his game he is one of the top ten quarterbacks in the league. His deep ball is still there, and we all saw that in the second half of the season for the Bills, when rookie receiver Lee Evans started filling up the stat column.

Buffalo can?t let this situation go deep into the off-season, and let it boil over like the days with Rob Johnson and Doug Flutie. There just isn?t enough room for both Bledsoe and Losman, and the Bills organization knows first hand which route they want to go. Just like the whole Travis Henry and Willis McGahee situation, in which it was no secret the Bills had devised to let McGahee takeover.

It just makes perfect sense to insert Losman after a year of learning on the sidelines. If they wait too long the rest of their young athletes like McGahee and Lee Evans will be too far along and not mesh with an inexperienced quarterback. When a team can grow and mature at the same rate, that usually leads to success. It also helps that Eric Moulds is still in the fold, as a capable veteran that a young team needs.

Buffalo?s defense was the key last year in keeping them in games, and they should only improve as they stay intact. By being in the AFC East, they?ll need to get on an early roll to have a shot at competing with New England and the Jets. They have the talent to do it, but the question is will their quarterback be able to guide them? In due time this team will get their chance to circle the wagons again, but in the competitive AFC it may be a few seasons.

As for Drew Bledsoe there wouldn?t be a better possible situation than a reunion with Bill Parcells. Parcells loves veterans, and even though he still wants to have Vinny Testaverde play that?s not going to last long as a 42 year old quarterback. Bledsoe could ignite this team, and pose damage in the weak NFC. The whole reason for the Cowboys slide last year was solely on the shoulders of their quarterback. Julius Jones is a phenomenal back, and the Cowboys also possess two carry over Parcells receivers in Terry Glenn and Keyshawn Johnson. Someone in the Cowboys organization needs to wake up and make this happen, because they?d automatically become a serious threat.

By Zack Cimini

Of all the celebrations and antics Terrell Owens has done in his career, nothing compares to his Super Bowl performance. There is no doubt that he was in serious pain and discomfort, but did he show it? I can?t remember a play on the field where he noticeably limped. If he did he was doing it after the play or on his way to the sideline. He played the majority of the game, and at his weakened state still outdid mouth chattering Freddie Mitchell (1 catch). The Eagles may have lost, but count on them being back with a new look next season. It wouldn?t be shocking to see a repeat matchup.

At first it looked as if Owens was going to be limited on his runs after the catch. The reason why was because New England was pressing up on him, and that led to a couple of short catches. Then Romeo Crennel switched his game plan up and decided to let his corners play on an island by themselves. That meant the corners would have to give room at the line of scrimmage or risk being burnt deep. That?s when Terrell Owens started flourishing by making a ten to fifteen yard catch into a couple of great thirty yarders.

Even when it looked dim on the Eagles, Owens made a phenomenal third down catch towards the sideline. The Eagles may have underused Owens because of his injury, and should have got him the ball even more. McNabb did have over 300 passing yards but a lot of them came on big plays. When those plays weren?t there, mistakes or a grounded running game was going on.

After the Super Bowl was over, you know Terrell Owens was hurting deep inside as were all of the Eagles. Yet, he was able to suck in his pride and talk to the media like it was another game. Even McNabb had the same demeanor, and it reflects the Eagles image perfectly. It?s not like they haven?t fallen short before, but each time it happens they are learning. They know that they could be the talk of dynasty right now, as they?ve been on the footsteps every year the Patriots have. This team will have the same nucleus of players next season, and will be a team that threatens the Dolphins undefeated record deep into the season.

It?s too bad for Terrell Owens that his team lost, because his efforts will be an after thought in years ahead or a rekindling story. What makes this story raise your eyebrows, is that here was a superstar athlete that pushed himself to comeback with his own will. Not even a low-based salary athlete would have done what Terrell Owens did. What we saw on the field Sunday was a finished product of what Terrell Owens worked seven hard weeks for. The real treat though would?ve been to see his workouts and strength conditioning to get himself damn near 100 percent in a mind boggling time frame. As far as I?m concerned there hasn?t been a daring and great outcome like his in a long time. My hats off to Terrell Owens as I?ll never underestimate or knock anything he chooses to do on the field. He has earned every bit of respect that an athlete could or want.

By Zack Cimini

The odds were against New England all season long, even though they were the team that has proven themselves countless times. Yet, all the talk was on Peyton Manning and rookie Ben Roethlisberger. The funny thing about the whole situation is those were the two teams that New England bounced out of the playoffs on the way to defeat the Philadelphia Eagles. For whatever reason New England just knows how to win games no matter the situation or circumstances. It is why the term dynasty is irrefutable and a closed case in NFL history. In fact, in all likelihood this is the last team that will achieve this success and in many ages from now will be looked at as the best team ever.

The number three is a distinguished label for the Patriots. They won their third Super Bowl, by the same margin of three points, and was a grand finale for two of their three masterful coaches. After Donovan McNabb threw the game clinching interception to Rodney Harrison, the best moment in recent sports history was captured in a relatively brief sequence. When Bill Belicheck, Romeo Crennel, and Charlie Weis embraced each other in a group hug it was a gratifying moment in which all realized their journey was over. It was ala a high school senior class on graduation day. Everyone is hugging each other and knows that this is their last time with each other. Matters to better your life just lead to different avenues in life. Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weiss executed game plan to game plan with perfection and will be deeply missed by the Patriots.

Bill Belicheck is still a Patriot though at least until 2006 when his contract expires. He already has solidified himself as one of the best coaches in NFL history, by surpassing Vince Lombardi?s playoff winning percentage. What makes Belicheck spectacular is how he knows every aspect of the game from memorization. Not too many NFL coaches can roam the sideline and dictate what plays to run without their clipboard and notes in front of them. He knows exactly when to call a screen play and is always enough to throw the defense off and keep them on their heels of the unexpected.

As for Tom Brady what can you say? No one wants to name him the best quarterback in football, but he has won three Super Bowls in five years in the league. He could fade off as a nobody in the next years and that still wouldn?t tarnish his respect. He?ll always have three rings that nobody can take away from him. His poise is unattested and is what set him apart from McNabb on Sunday. Often McNabb looked puzzled and distraught on the field. With five minutes to go and down by ten, he had the offense in a stagnant manner. They were moving like they were the team up by ten and trying to run the clock out.

If the Eagles would have scored even two minutes earlier, they would have had a high percentage of a chance to drive for a game tying field goal. Instead they scored with under two minutes to go with only two timeouts, and had no choice but to try on onside kick. The Patriots recovered, and with field position on their side had no worries of getting a first down. If Bill Belicheck was in that situation you can bet he would have been ready.

Of course it helps when you?re surrounded by talented receivers. David Givens caught a touchdown for the fifth straight playoff game, and Deion Branch tore up the Eagles Pro Bowl secondary. On the other hand McNabb?s best wide receiver was Terrell Owens who was playing his heart out on one leg. He did a fabulous job, but you?d expect a receiver at full strength like Freddie Mitchell to step up. It goes to show not to run your mouth until you back it up. Todd Pinkston and Greg Lewis did great jobs, but most of their yards came on one big play each.

All dynasties have to eventually come to an end. Still, most of the Patriots team will remain intact, and don?t forget New England?s defense survived this season without a lot of big time defensive players. The offense isn?t going anywhere, so with a healthy defense this team could be even better next season.