Two league insiders look at Super Bowl XLI

SI.com's Don Banks had a veteran insider from both the NFC and AFC assess his conference's Super Bowl entry.

Bears

Rookie punt returner Devin Hester is one of the Bears' most dangerous weapons. Simon Bruty/SI

I'm sure another playoff win against New Orleans gives the Bears a lot more confidence to keep going. They got it done on defense against the Saints, and they've still got the big-play threat on their special teams with Devin Hester. Plus, their punter, Brad Maynard, is a really important weapon for them, and I expect he'll continue to be in the Super Bowl ...

Rex Grossman made some plays he had to make against the Saints, but I still think they're going to try and limit his throws. There's no way Chicago wants him throwing more than 25 times. If that. The Bears will try to win it with special teams, defense and the running game. Maybe that's called Lovie-ball, the way they used to call it Dungy-ball in Tampa Bay. Chicago hopes it's a game where field position and punting make a big difference. They want to see Indy have to go on long drives ...

The Bears have a nice 1-2 punch in the backfield right now with Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson. Jones uses his speed to get outside and Benson hammers it up in there. They need to control the clock with those two ...

The defense played well against New Orleans and made some big plays. But they're still struggling at the safety position. They're going to be vulnerable there with Peyton Manning throwing to Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. Watch how the Bears strong safety Chris Harris tries to cover the field while responding to the running of Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes, that's the big key. Manning is great at making safeties uncomfortable. The Bears are going to have to tackle well, because Indy will throw stuff underneath and make some plays ...

Chicago is going to rally around the underdog role, and draw from that. What they're hoping is that Manning plays the way he has been playing in the postseason. Other than in the second half against the Patriots, he hasn't played all that great yet. The Bears need to take some chances and try to hit him early and make him make some mistakes. Because if they give up some big plays early to the Colts, and get down 10-0 right away, they're going to start thinking they don't belong on the field with Indy.