Briggs Playing Big
All you Urlacher fans out there, don't forget his linebacker cohort No. 55

Dare I say it, the Chicago Bears' best linebacker is not named Brian Urlacher.

Blasphemy or brilliance? You be the judge.

Sure the former University of New Mexico star has the Pro Bowls, the endorsements, and the babes, but without Lance Briggs, the Monsters of the Midway might not even be the monsters of Subway the sandwich chain. Of course there's much more to 'da Bears' D then Urlacher. But none might be as important as Lance Briggs.

Just a couple years removed from the University of Arizona, Briggs solidifies the Bears' weakside with the necessary speed to check running backs in the flat and fill the gap on the run. Witness his stop and swipe of New England's all-purpose Laurence Maroney. With the Patriots set to score with a first and goal, Maroney took a hand off from Tom Brady and there Briggs was waiting. Briggsnot only stood up the rookie, but in one motion he knocked the ball loose and recovered the fumble. Then, in the third quarter, Brady completes a big play to Benjamin Watson, who looks to be setting the Pats up for another score and a 17-3 lead. But Briggs running full speed in pursuit again causes a fumble.

The Bears offense was doing little to help the team in Foxboro, but certainly Briggs once again was doing his part.

I'm telling you, if the Bears finally make it back to their first Super Bowl since 1986, Briggs will play a big, big difference.