2010 Bears

[Dan Michler]

As a Bears fan I'll be the first to say we lost the game today against the Lions.  I'm not sure how the NFL can have a rule that says that wasn't a TD.  Thats embarrassing for the league.  I'm not sure why common sense can't rule in some of these scenarios?  How about that golfer at the PGA championship who got a 2 stroke penalty that knocked him out of a sudden death playoff because they said he grounded his club in a bunker that was more like a patch of dirt?  Too many rules, not enough common sense...

[Bruce Brakel]

Grounding the club in the bunker is a rule that every golfer knows.  If the boundaries of the bunker were not clear, that would be a different situatuion, but a pro golfer should ask.  Officials are always present in pro golf.

Possession, both feet down, you fall down, still have possession and then flip the ball aside and it is incomplete?  Is this a new rule?  Not the way you want to win the game. 

[jasonc]

It's not a new rule, I remember it happened a few times last year.  This is a strange one, but the NFL does not consider a receiver to establish official "possession" until he stops moving while making a catch in the end zone.     

[Dan Michler]

Basically, you can run around in the end zone with the ball, but if you eventually end up on the ground then you need to make sure you hold on to the ball until you reach the lockeroom after the game.

As far as the bunker rule goes, I agree, every golfer is certainly aware you can not ground your club in the bunker.  The issue was  identifying the dirt patch as a bunker.  It ended up being the right call technically, but I wish common sense could have prevailed in that case since there was obviously no advantage to the player.

The Lions should take solice in the fact that neither of our seasons are headed anywhere based on what I saw this afternoon.  The Bears did outplay the Lions by a wide margin if it weren't for turnovers, but I'm not sure I saw anything that makes me think we can win 9 games and make the playoffs this year.

[smyith]

i gotta be honest, im happy with the outcome of the game. not only did we win (altho total BS) it clearly pointed out the bears #1 problem; Lovie Smith. He is a digustingly terrible decision maker. He almost lost us that game with those poor decisions. i am praying that the fire him. ever since that 1st season with grossman (when he got injured right away and Orton went 8-2). he took a winning QB out of the game and put in that turd grossman who lost all the remaining games. that was so dumb. ill be burning my effigy of Lovie and Angelo by the end of the season.
hopefully Tice can do something with our O-line. Cutler isn't getting anywhere near the protection he needs to light this offense up. imo... all of our offensive problems stem from Kruetz (#57) and Garza (#63). they are way past their prime and i know that alot of the guys on the team don't like kruetz. i really hope we can have a 50/50 season. i hate to say it but i think the packers are going to take the central division as long as the viqueens keep playing the old man.

[Bruce Brakel]

This is the one thing I have not understood about football for about 40 years:

The Bears defense was basically solid all game long.  The Lions' offense basically sucked all game long.  Then in the last two minutes suddenly the Lions are unstoppable. 

If the Lions changed their offense, why not run that offense all the time?  If the Bears changed their defense, why would you change from something that was stifling the Lions offense to something totally sieve-like?

This is not a Lions/Bears/today question.  I've seen this throughout the NFL for 40 years.

[Dan Michler]

Bruce,

Yes, the prevent NFL defense is classic.  I actually think conventional NFL offense has moved alot closer to what you see in the final 2 minutes of the game, but the defensive portion is inexcusable. 

Also, you should mention the squibb kick.  This is another great end-of-game tactic designed to preserve a lead, but more times than not puts the lead at risk.  I imagine the thinking goes like this:

Lets see, we are ahead by 3 points with 43 seconds left.  I've seen 1 kickoff get returned for a TD against us in the last 7 years....that means its due to happen on this next kickoff.  Lets kick it super short to their blockers to prevent the kickoff return TD.  Sure they will only have to go 25 more yards to get in FG range to tie, but thats okay cuz we'll have our prevent defense in......

[Dan Michler]

I just watched the Indy/Denver game.  I like Cutler and think he's a fantastically skilled QB, but after watching Orton throw for 446 (he's thrown for over 300 every game this year) for a Denver team that does not have much in the skill positions, I'm wishing we still had Orton and our 1st round draft picks from last year and this year.  Those draft picks could have potentially done a lot to fill the holes that remain.

Looking forward to the Green Bay/Chicago Monday night matchup.  Hoping for a close game.

[Bruce Brakel]

Bears fans better get used to it.  Lovie's going to go for it on fourth and inches on the goal line.   

[smyith]

wow 20-17
awesome
thank you for those wonderful 17 (?) penalties GB especially the last 2

[CEValkyrie]

I cannot believe the Bears are 3-0. They could easily be 0-3.

If you are a Packer fan you've gotta be in disbelief. Talk about some absolute idiotic penalties throughout the game and down the stretch. 18 for 152 yards. Brutal.

[Chainmeister]

Bears fans better get used to it.  Lovie's going to go for it on fourth and inches on the goal line.   

Its sort of like me trying to throw over the creek on my second shot on hole 4 at Streamwood.  I can do it over and over and 1 time out of 25 it may work. That's why I lay up and play for 4.  I guess I am getting the field goal every time and Lovie is coming up empty.  I think Lovie out coached McCarthy in every sense except that one.  It was the second time this season he coached with his groin rather than his brain on fourth down.

[Bruce Brakel]

I think from Lovie's perspective going for it was successful.

First, he called the play that Green Bay could not defend.
Second, his quarterback found the receiver.
Third, Hester ran back the Packer's next punt, so they still got the 7.

[smyith]

Third, Hester ran back the Packer's next punt, so they still got the 7.

lmao

[Bruce Brakel]

Well, it looks like I'll be at the Homie on Sunday with the #1 amateur woman in the world.  And her mother.  50/50 chance I'll be playing.  If I'm ambulatory tomorrow, 75/25 chance I'm playing.

ANYWAY, looking for other things I noticed that I have a bunch of orange ESP Zones and exactly two Chicago Bears masks.  If anyone playing the Homie would like to pick up a Chicago Bears Zone, $12, but you gots to let me know tonight or tomorrow morning. 

I know that I do not have any orange Buzzzes, so don't ask.  Other stuff, maybe yes, maybe no.  I'd go look for you. 

[Tom McManus]

This may finally be the week when Brett Favre misses a game. What an unbelievable run. He looks like he has aged about 10 years since last season. Eventually time catches up with everyone.

[pdga#7648]

knowing Brett, he will be out there Sunday. 2 fractures probably not enough to make him miss the Patriots.

[pdga#7648]

Cmon Brett. you are 1 of the best QB's of All-time. we know this.

But PLEASE, as a true football fan, I'm asking you to please retire already. You look like a very old man hanging on to a childhood dream, and playing bad. You got your wish to get Moss there, but now he's gone( he did quit on that interferrence call, but wasn't the reason for Brett getting hurt) so please, take your fractured foot, your cut chin, and your legacy away from this game. Let the Vikings actually have a chance to win, cause with you, they don't. Quit being so damn selfish, and open your eyes to the fact your done. Your streak will stand for a long time.

Sorry, I know this is the Bears topic, but man I hate watching him anymore. Him getting hurt was not Randy's fault, it was the O Lines job to protect their QB!

[Dan Michler]

He needs the attention and the drama Doug.  He's a man with some sort of emotional issues.  I think this offseason will be different in that nobody will be begging him to come back (also the work stoppage will probably make the decision easy).

[Dan Michler]

Who would have guessed this Bears team would be 6-3 right now?  Defense and Special Teams is reminiscent of the team that went to the Super Bowl a few years ago.  Still a ways to go to make the playoffs though.  6-3 is only tied for the last wild card spot, so its going to take a strong finish to get in and we may have to win the division.

In Total Offense we're 4th from the bottom in the NFL, behind even Buffalo.  Combine that with the fact that we have the 5th most turnovers in the NFL, and its hard to figure how we're 6-3, right?  The Mike Martz experiment is a failure.  I'd rather just play it conservative and stop turning the ball over so damn much.  The offense did its best to keep the Vikings in that game Sunday.  That thing should have been a total blowout.

Tough to handicap the NFC right now.  I think if Atlanta can lock up home-field (where they are 5-0 this year), they are the favorites to get to the Super Bowl.  Otherwise, I think Green Bay, the Giants, New Orleans, and Philly are all on about the same level.  The playoffs should be interesting this year because you can probably say the same thing in the AFC with Baltimore, New England, the Jets, Pittsburgh, and Indy.