Think Bears can't win NFC? Well, think again

The Bears don't like being called lucky.

They think it somehow diminishes their 10 victories.

But anyone who scoffs at the gift of good fortune usually has a guilty conscience, or an inferiority complex, and doesn't truly believe they deserve what they've received.

In the case of the 2010 Bears, they should embrace the reality.

They overcame an ugly first half, when they were both bad and lucky, and have made themselves into a good football team.

Yes, they're now a good football team, but they're also blessed with luck, and that's a good thing.

Let's face it, facing second- and third-strong quarterbacks is a positive, not a negative.

And if it keeps going the way it has, the names of Shaun Hill, Jimmy Clausen, Matt Moore, Tyler Thigpen, Drew Stanton and Joe Webb will be a punch line Bears fans can laugh at for years to come.

Or maybe the Bears would prefer to face Tom Brady every week.

And maybe they'd like to give Detroit that TD catch in the end zone in Week 1, because it just wasn't fair.

Perhaps, they'd like to have played the Packers without those 18 penalties for 152 yards.

It's possible the Bears would rather have six opening-day starters on injured reserve like the Packers, who have lost several backups as well and a total of 13 for the year.

The Colts have lost 15 players for the season, the Giants a dozen, and the Eagles have played 16 rookies this season as they continue to lose players and make lineup changes for every game.

While so many teams are in cinders, the Bears have been remarkably healthy.

It's borderline impossible to go through a season the way the Bears have and yet they are doing exactly that.

Credit strength coach Rusty Jones for a job well done, not to mention head trainer Tim Bream, now in his 18th year with the club.

Bream is as good as they come, but when the Bears were searching for scapegoats a year ago, there was talk that Bream was in trouble, as if a trainer can somehow prevent the horrific injuries that occur in an incredibly violent sport.

All he can do is treat the bumps and bruises, tape them up, knock on wood and cringe on every play.

You think those guys aren't embracing the Bears' good fortune this season?

This is all fortuitous and positive and anyone who thinks getting breaks is bad is pretty much insane.

What the Bears need now is maintain their health, hope Mike Martz doesn't do something to get Jay Cutler pulverized, and allow Devin Hester to return every punt and kick until he decides football is too dangerous and finds a warm place to retire.

That, and avoid the Giants an extra time this year.

And that could happen.

As it stands right now, the Bears would get the Eagles in the second round if Philly beats the Giants in the first round, or they'd get the Saints in Chicago if the Giants win and New Orleans handles the NFC West champ.

Then, it's off to Atlanta for the NFC title game, and in a dome where Matt Ryan is essentially unbeatable.

But the Bears sure don't mind playing on a dry carpet where they can utilize their speed on defense and special teams, and that's a nice formula for getting to the Super Bowl.

That's a lot that would still have to go their way, but based on what we've seen thus far in 2010, why would you think anything else?

In today's NFL, where there is so little separating most teams, you must have some luck to get anywhere, and a lot of it can take you all the way to the big game.

That's with full apologies in advance, of course, to anyone who thinks luck is a bad thing.

brozner@dailyherald.com