Bears’ Hester serves as Super Bowl’s X-factor

By Connor Byrne  |   Wednesday, January 31, 2007  |  Comments( 0 )

Chicago Bears
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Entering Super Bowl XLI this Sunday, few people are giving the NFC's top team, the 16-2 Chicago Bears, a legitimate chance to defeat the AFC's 15-4 Indianapolis Colts. Most criticism toward the Bears over the past week-plus has regarded their beleaguered quarterback, Rex Grossman, and his inability to match up with the Colts' future Hall of Fame passer, Peyton Manning.

Offenses aside, though, Chicago's Brian Urlacher-led defense is clearly better than the Colts' 'D'. But even that won't be the main factor in a possible Bears victory.

Instead, return man Devin Hester may very well hold the key to Chicago's first football championship since the 1985-'86 season.

Hester -- a rookie second-round pick from the University of Miami -- had the greatest season in the history of return men in 2006, scoring an all-time record six touchdowns. He was most effective on punt returns, finding paydirt three times and averaging a terrific 12.8 yards per attempt, but was also outstanding on kickoff runbacks, totaling 26.8 yards a pop with two more TDs. His other end-zone dash, of course, came on an epic 108-yard return on a missed field goal against the Giants earlier in the year.

The 5-foot-11, 189-pounder could be the Bear who poses the greatest problem for the Colts this Sunday. In the AFC Championship game on Jan. 21, unknown New England Patriots returner Ellis Hobbs gashed Indianapolis' special teams for a 36.7-yard average on six returns, including an 80-yarder in the second half. Against punt returner Troy Brown, the Colts weren't exactly above average, surrendering a 13-yard average on three runbacks.

Indy's main problem may actually be the NFL's best placekicker, Adam Vinatieri. Despite his ability to make nearly every field goal he attempts, the three-time Super Bowl champion isn't an adept kickoff specialist. His short boots have often led to big plays against the Colts' special teams, which happened against Hobbs and the Patriots.

Short kickoffs from Vinatieri this Sunday could very well lead to the demise of the Colts. The last thing they can afford to do is give the Pro Bowl-bound Hester a head start on his returns, making for excellent Chicago field position.

So far this postseason, Hester has been a shell of his regular-season self. The 24-year-old fumbled three times during the divisional round against Seattle, luckily recovering each muff. Through two Chicago playoff contests, Hester's longest return has been a meager 20 yards. At the same time, though, it's hard to believe he'll be muzzled for a third straight contest. The Riviera Beach, Fla., native is far too talented for that.

Indianapolis is well aware of Hester's on-field exploits.

"Devin Hester is a weapon, a nuclear weapon," Colts head coach Tony Dungy recently told The Grand Rapids Press.

Ultimately, just as Desmond Howard was for Green Bay in a 35-21 win over the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI, Hester could be the special teams firecracker who leads the Bears to victory in the biggest game of the year.

Sunday will mark the 10-year anniversary of Howard's brilliance for the Packers. Perhaps lightning will strike twice, leading the Bears to a title.

cbyrne@realfootball365.com.

Original Super Bowl insight, courtesy of RealFootball365.com
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