The last post of the week; something to ponder as you await the certain couch slouch and booze binge of the weekend.

I was approached by two very pleasant Ravens fans, and bloggers, who prospected me to participate in a little Q & A exchange, in lieu of this Sunday’s friendly match up. Who would I be to deny them? Plus, I’m almost positive this guy was one of them.

Directed to Jeff Pilson of Right Off Russell:

1. I just watched “The Blindside” and like I knew I would, and in fact, warned my girlfriend I would, I cried like a little bitch. Assess Michael Oher’s progress this season and the likelihood he’ll be the next Jonathan Ogden (or better?!).

“Does your girlfriend know you no longer have a man card or have you been able to keep her from finding out? I get LSU fan seeing Nick Saban making a cameo in Tigers garb weeping in a corner, but you a Bear’s fan. I thought the only thing that made you guys cry was the possibility of Ditka and the ‘85 Bears actually squaring off against Jordan and the Bulls. I guess Tim McGraw was that moving.

As far as Oher goes, it is a bit early to compare him to the greatness that is JO, but he certainly has not disappointed. Oher has great strength and athleticism as well as a mean streak that has him poised to be a pro-bowl level talent in this league. Oher is a fiery competitor who wants to maul every lineman/backer he comes in contact with. He definitely plays with a chip on his shoulder that sometimes leads to verbal sparing matches with Jared Allen in post game interviews. Ogden was a technician who would just go out and engulf guys with his size and quickness, but he maintained his gentlemanly conduct on the field. He once asked Trevor Pryce, when he was facing Ogden as a Bronco, if he should try that move on him when he had a injured back. That story was much funnier when Pryce told it at JO’s retirement press conference than it seemed while I was typing it, but you get the picture.”

2. Joe Flacco has posted a QB rating of 100 or better five times this year. Some instances were against pretty horrible teams (CLE, DET), but others were against really good defenses (PIT, DEN). Are you guys just licking your lips, waiting to throw all over our mostly horrible secondary? Will that be the game plan come Sunday?

“Flacco also put up over a 100 rating against the Vikings but he struggled mightily in games against Cincy (2x’s), Indy and Green Bay. Some of his struggles can be attributed to ankle and hip injuries that have hindered Flacco’s mobility in the pocket and maybe affecting his mechanics. Some of it may also have to do with the fact that the Ravens receiving corps is made up of mostly smaller possession type receivers. I am sure facing a less than stellar secondary is appealing to Flacco and the Ravens, but I think that the Ravens will look to establish the ground game. The Ravens need to have a physical running attack if they are going to make the play-offs, so I think they will try and continue what they started against the Lions last week. Especially if the weather has the game being played in snowy conditions, which is a strong possibility this weekend in Baltimore.”

3. Tom Zbikowski was a local Chicago-area kid and he is tough. Entering the draft, I knew he’d fit in perfectly with a revered defensive team like the Bears, Ravens, Steelers etc. How has he fared in his second season? What do you expect from him in the future?

“Zbikowski would be a lot tougher if he didn’t go to Notre Lame. Kidding aside, Zbikowski is a smart hard nosed guy who is a key part of what the Ravens are doing on defense and special teams. He is strong in punt and kick coverage and since taking over for an injured Ed Reed in the last 2 weeks, Zbikowski has registered 2 picks. He is not an overwhelming athlete, but he reads his keys well and knows where to be on every play. Zbikowski played a huge part in shutting down Calvin Johnson last week, as he often helped bracket Megatron and even recovered nicely on a couple of throws and registered pass break-ups. I agree that Zibby’s personality fits well with the Ravens.”

4. Are you, at all, worried about anything our offense might do? … Seriously.

“For as bad as Cutler has looked at times, he also has had some brilliant moments this year. Cutler is a strong armed QB that can pick apart a defensive backfield when he is hot and considering how weak the Ravens secondary has played this year I do have some concern. I do feel that, like the Ravens, the Bears do not wow me with their receivers. The combo that has killed the Ravens this year has been QB who can make plays downfield to big physical receivers. Rivers to Vincent Jackson, Palmer to Ochocinco, Favre to Rice, Brady o Moss and Rodgers to Finley and Driver are combos that have hurt the Ravens this year. I do not see that combo with the Bears, but if the Ravens cannot pressure Cutler and he is allowed to stand back and make throws it could be a tense afternoon. I do think the Ravens can take away a lot from the Chicago running game and put Cutler in a position to make some difficult throws. If that is the case we could see some picks. And if the Bears have to rely solely on their running game in bad weather, then that plays into the Ravens hands.”

5. The Ravens are chasing a Wild Card. The Bears are clearly looking ahead to next season. Is there concern about the Ravens taking us too lightly or this potentially being a “trap game”?

“I think if the Ravens we going to struggle in a trap game that it would have come last week against Detroit. The Lions are a much more overlook-able team than the Bears and the Ravens were coming off a short week with the Monday nighter in Green Bay. The Ravens know they have little margin for error if they want to make the play-offs (although Jacksonville does not seem to want to win in crunch time). This is likely the Ravens last home game of the season. The crowd and the team should be fired up and looking to push around the Bears. I do not feel the Ravens have earned the right to take anyone too lightly, especially at this time of the year with so much on the line.”

Well, that was nice, right? You can read my subsequent responses here. Thanks again to Jeff and Matt at Right Off Russell. Now, may we go ahead and crush your little playoff aspirations on Sunday.

I’m told, straight from the horses mouth, that we will be hosting a live game thread for Sunday’s, now 4:15 pm EST, uh, err … clash? Gavin Tugana, or “GT” as he prefers to be known, will be runnin’ the damn thang so make it a point to come on down and gorge the comments section with your wit and snide personal attacks.

That’s all we’ve got for you this week. Thank you to the ever-so-increasing readership that continue to scoop up what we’re dishing out. Whether you comment, or prefer to participate only from the safe, quiet corners in your mind, we appreciate you …

Oh! And next week is our two-year anniversary! So we’ll probably do something BIG. Maybe, so BIG, your head’ll ’splode!!!!!!!

Blog Down, Chicago Bears, make every play clear the way to victory;

Blog Down, Chicago Bears, put up a might with a fight so fearlessly …

/grabs booze and X-box controller, tells weekend to “bring it”