Brian Urlacher is one of the greatest linebackers in Chicago Bears history. That has made it too easy to forget how brilliant Lance Briggs was. The former outside linebacker arrived with none of the same fanfare. Urlacher was a top 10 pick. Briggs came via the 3rd round in 2003 out of Arizona. He was considered undersized. Not anything like the physical freak of nature Urlacher was. Briggs had to earn everything he got, and boy did he ever.
One of his calling cards that became apparent from the start was that Briggs loved to hit. Ball carriers felt his wrath all the time. For a guy who was supposed to be somewhat small for his position, he could arrive with some serious oomph. There were plenty of highlights over the years that showed him blowing guys up. He remembers all of them, but the seven-time Pro Bowler admitted there’s one that holds a special place in his heart.
He wrote about it for ProStyle Media.
A hit that took place back in 2008 during a season that proved to be one of his personal best.
“Some hits remain etched in the brain forever. Over the course of my career I’ve handed out my fair share of “big hits” and there are plenty to recollect. However, this hit against the Eagles has too be one of my all-time favorites.
In the 1st quarter against the Eagles, they were setting up a screen pass to Correll Buckhalter. As he was sifting through his blocks I planted my feet in the ground and started sprinting in that direction. As I drew closer to him, the blockers and my teammates just seemed to clear out of the way and I could see that his head wasn’t on a swivel.
I arrived with bad intentions and launched at the perfect distance, with the perfect angle. SMACK!!!!! A “solid” and clean vicious tackle on Buckhalter. I knew I had gotten the best of him on that hit.”
Lance Briggs truly set the tone for that game
A lot of people weren’t giving the Bears a chance in that game. The Eagles were 2-1 while Chicago was 1-2. Philadelphia’s offense had weapons everywhere and their defense had allowed 3 and 6 points in two of their first three games. The Bears had to send a message that this game wasn’t going to be a cakewalk. True to form, it was Briggs who delivered the first telling blow with his smashing hit on Buckhalter.
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Philadelphia still managed to run the ball well in that game, but the hit wasn’t meant to stop them. It was meant to fuel the Bears. One who seemed to feed off it was quarterback Kyle Orton who had a big night with three touchdown passes. Donovan McNabb was sacked three times and threw an interception. The combined team effort proved just enough. Chicago shocked Philadelphia 24-20 in one of their best wins of that season.
Briggs finished with four tackles and a pass defense.
