Where has this offense been all year?  I’m not necessarily talking about the production–which was good–but the creativity.  It was outstanding.  The Adrian Peterson halfback  option to Bernard Berrian for a touchdown highlighted the Bears 33-25 victory over the Saints.  We also saw offensive coordinator Ron Turner use a reverse to wide receiver option (albeit it lost 15 yards), multiple screen formations, and test the deep waters with at least three pass play attempts for 40 yards or more. 

It was an offense more reminiscent of the opponent’s then of the Chicago Bears’ “running off the bus” scheme.  Maybe Turner fears his job is in jeopardy, although Coach Lovie Smith has apaprently said it is not, and felt the only way to combat the offense’s conservative stigma was to go buck wild.  Or maybe at 6-9 he realized that being afraid of turning the ball over wasn’t getting the job done.  Either way it worked.  Could this be the beginning of a promising offense next season?  Let’s hope so. 

Finally, as close to a complete game as you could ask for.  So many times this season the Bears were able to play well in one phase of the game while being disturbingly awful in another.  Today, they were able to put it all together and show everyone what they are capable of. 

The Bears resurrected their identity as a running team that plays fast, stingy defense.  Sure, the offense wasn’t lighting things up, but you have to be excited that we stuck to the run game and were efficient in it.  Our defense played well for the second straight game.  Outside linebacker Jamar Williams had five tackles in place of the injured Lance Briggs and looks like he could make Briggs expendable if it ever were to come to that.  I want to see more of what Williams can do but he has a ton of upside.  Brian Urlacher played like a man bitter that he’ll be missing a trip to Hawaii this year.  Amazingly, his interception return for a touchdown was the first of his career.  Shocking.  Doesn’t Raiders linebacker Thomas Howard have a few THIS YEAR?

 Last but not least, you have to commend our special teams unit for the two blocked punts that really turned the tide in our favor.  Charles “Peanut” Tillman has now blocked two in the last few games.  The man is brilliant and it appears that cutting off his dreads will have no effect on his playmaking abilities.  Kudos to Robbie Gould for that curveball field goal too.  The Bears just know how to play in nasty conditions.  It is quite relieving to know what plagues are team isn’t an issue of personnel (some might argue) but in fact, a matter of consistency.  The three phases are solid at least–if only they would be willing to show up at the same time.

Apparently Hester, who has nine catches in his last two games, is impressing enough to warrant starting receiver talk for next season.  It would be great to get the ball in our most dynamic player’s hands as much as possible.  You hear this over and over again, but Hester REALLY does have a chance to score everytime he touches the pigskin.  Plus, too many times this season opponents have been tipped off to when Hester will get the ball.  He needs to be in every play to keep opponents on their toes.

Now, if Hester continues to improve and does get the starting nod next season, it obviously means that one of our current starters will suffer.  Bernard Berrian is in a contract year and will most likely be the highest-prized  free agent wide receiver outside of Randy Moss.  Bears GM Jerry Angelo is usually good about rewarding his players but has shown that he will not overpay for talent.  Look at the Lance Briggs situation.  Then there is Muhsin Muhammad.  He will be 35 when next season starts and the Bears may not want to pay the $3.3 million cap he will cost them.

In either scenario, having Devin Hester as a starting wideout should be a very good thing.  Having an aging Moose (Mooooooooose!) and a deep-threat wideout owed big bucks next season provides two situations in which a starting Hester could be plausible.