2013 Bears

[Dan Michler]

I read that this is Cutler's 4th concussion in college and pro. I read in another article that it was his 6th. How many is too many? There's more to life than football. I hope he will know when to say when.

12 is too many.  11 and you're fine.  So Cutler is in the clear.

[Dan Michler]

The sad part is there were opportunities to make plays that could have changed the outcome of the game. Gould missed FG, Cutler over the line?, Marshall dropped TD, Bush Fumble after a huge 4th down, David dropped pass & fumble.

It still took Houston one heck of a Foster TD catch to beat us.

It could be the battle of the backup QB this week.

As a sports fan, you deserve alot of credit for playing "If That Didn't Happen" game at about a 1092 rated level on a consistent basis.  Its impressive.  When you can make every team you root for just 47 tiny unlucky things away from a championship on a yearly basis, it merits some recognition.   

I have no clue what to expect @SF.  The Bears should be down a bit off the pedestal they were on after playing 6 consective NCAA teams.  Maybe this will get Tice to call plays a bit more conservatively?  SF just tied the Rams, so they aren't riding a high right now either.  Both QB's are questionable.  Both QB's haven't played that great anyways.  Both defenses are clearly very very good.  I can see this game going any number of ways.

[Jon Brakel]

I read that this is Cutler's 4th concussion in college and pro. I read in another article that it was his 6th. How many is too many? There's more to life than football. I hope he will know when to say when.

12 is too many.  11 and you're fine.  So Cutler is in the clear.

  This really is funny because I'm not sure if Dan hates my post or the way the NFL deals with concussions or both or neither. But its still funny!

[Chainmeister]

The glass is half full analysis-
Half the game is played with a backup quarterback.
coaching staff gives the backup QB a little league playbook to use
four turnovers
two of those turnovers are picks thrown by the starting quarterback
game played against the #2 team in the ESPN power rankings
home team never has a lead
home team loses both challenges and the reasons are still a bit of a mystgery.

They still come very close to winning the game. You have to be very good to play that lousy, get such lousy breaks and still be in a very good position to beat a very good team.. If Cutler can return and play football the team will be just fine notwithstanding all its documented problems.  If he cannot come back  the outcome is not hard to predict. It has already happened.

[Dan Michler]

One floundering offense found its stride last night.  Unfortunately that wasn't the Bears.  Could be a very bumpy road ahead.  Hopefully we get back on track vs MN next week.  We're tied with the Packers now.  Looking ahead, if we can't win the division we're looking at a 1st round road playoff game.  Unless the offense gets it together quick, its looking like a one and done year.

[Jon Brakel]

I don't even see them getting the wildcard spot if their 5 offensive linemen can't block a 3 man rush! It does show how good and tough Cutler is. Campbell didn't get hit really hard any one time but by the end of the third quarter he was having more difficulty getting back up after he finished a play on the ground.

[Dan Michler]

I don't even see them getting the wildcard spot if their 5 offensive linemen can't block a 3 man rush!

You might be right about even missing the playoffs.  There are some good looking 6-4 and 5-5 teams knocking at the door if the Bears continue to falter.  I think 10 wins gets us a wildcard spot.

My personal opinion, we aren't as good as we looked in Tennessee and we aren't as bad as we looked in San Fran.  The truth lies somewhere in between.  Right now it almost feels like the MIN game is make-or-break.  We win, we're 8-3 and looking like a virtual lock for the playoffs.  If we lose, we're 7-4, possibly outside the playoff picture at that point, and staring at a possible 8 or 9 win season.

[jasonc]

All signs pointing to another 2nd half collapse.  However, Cutler is expected to return unlike last season.  That should work out to another 2-3 wins, which would be good enough for a playoff appearance, but probably not a W in January.   

[tacimala]

No comments on the defense getting destroyed? I found that more surprising than the offense having a hard time against one of the best defenses in the league.

[stpitner]

the Bears defense thrives on the take-away.  If they don't get turnovers, they struggle to win.  That game was over in the first or second series it felt like.

[Dan Michler]

No comments on the defense getting destroyed? I found that more surprising than the offense having a hard time against one of the best defenses in the league.

Yes, our rapidly aging defense that we expected to continue its decline from last season, got destroyed.  It was a little surprising, but they had to come back to earth at some point.  Every team in the league is going to throw up at least 1 or 2 clunkers during the course of the season.  The Texans just went to OT at home to scrape by the 1 win Jaguars.  It happens.  For now I'm chalking it up as a bad game, if we lose to MIN next week....hit the panic button.

[tacimala]

Not on a fishing trip here Dan, I'm just surprised that all comments went directly at the offense.

[Jon Brakel]

Not on a fishing trip here Dan, I'm just surprised that all comments went directly at the offense.

Every phase sucked last night. I just couldn't get over that five O linemen were all beaten by a three man rush.

The defense pretty much played solidly lackluster. They didn't embarrass themselves so much as they didn't make the big plays and didn't shut them down on third downs.

And WTF was Hester doing on that punt return?

[pdga#7648]

All signs pointing to another 2nd half collapse.  However, Cutler is expected to return unlike last season.  That should work out to another 2-3 wins, which would be good enough for a playoff appearance, but probably not a W in January.   

[Dan Michler]

Jon, I've been wishing the Bears would cut Hester for 2 years now.  Are you finally on board?  I loved Devin Hester from 2006-2009.  Those days are long gone.  Time to move on.

I would also love to move on from the Mike Tice era as soon as possible.  Don't get me wrong, he's done wonders with that offensive line     And his play calling is genious!  Gabe Carimi was HIS guy.  He refuses to give up on Jamarcus Webb.

This is Lovie's 4th offensive coordinator.  Terry Shea.  Ron Turner.  Mike Martz.  Mike Tice.  Maybe stop letting Lovie have any say in who the offensive coordinator is?  Here is the Bears ranking in Total Offense each year since Lovie Smith took over.  We get different OC's, different GM's, different QB's, different WR's, different RB's, but its the same story year after year after year.

2004 - 32nd   
2005 - 29th   
2006 - 15th   
2007 - 27th   
2008 - 26th   
2009 - 23rd   
2010 - 30th   
2011 - 24th   
2012 - 30th

[Jon Brakel]

I'm finally on board with cutting Hester. If he was returning like he did 6 years ago then I'd say make him the highest paid returner in the NFL and he could be like 6th or 7th on the depth chart for receivers. But since he doesn't return kicks very well and he sucks as a receiver, then I don't see any reason to keep him. When the opposing team is double teaming Marshall and Hester is in the game you just know that there's probably going to be a sack or a throw away or an interception. Just makes me cringe.

When Hester was at his best he was giving the offense such good field position that they didn't have to be that good. Maybe they should make Hester a healthy scratch for one game. Then tell him if he wants a shot at returning again then he needs to catch the ball and then follow his blockers up field. Take what you can get.

[CEValkyrie]

It's time to offer Sean Peyton an amount he cannot refuse.

[Dan Michler]

After winning the 'must win' game in convincing fashion, things are looking pretty good again atop the NFC North despite some injuries.  6-5 is currently in the playoffs, so 2 wins in the next 5 games essentially locks the Bears in.  The game @GB in a few weeks may decide who gets to play a home game in the 1st round.

Harbaugh took alot of flack for starting Kaepernick over Alex Smith this week, but Kaepernick played great again, so maybe Harbaugh knows what he's doing.

With Seattle, Dallas, MIN, Tampa, and New Orleans all losing, the race for the last NFC wild card spot is wide open.  6 teams within 1 game of each other for that spot.

MVP race looks like Brady vs P.Manning once again.

[Jon Brakel]

Was the difference in the performance of the O line a result of:

1) personnel changes
2) play calling
3) opponent's performance
4) the knowledge that their jobs were on the line
5) something else

some combination of the above?

[jasonc]

Was the difference in the performance of the O line a result of:

1) personnel changes
2) play calling
3) opponent's performance
4) the knowledge that their jobs were on the line
5) something else

some combination of the above?

They know their jobs are always on the line.

Therefore, I'd say it was more like this:
1) Play Calling (Tice finally figured out how to even things out on the run/pass ratio!!!)
2) Opponent's Performance
3) Personnel Changes

The Webb situation is maddening.  After the 49ers game, I thought he would be benched for sure.  Not only does he keep his job while Rachal and Carimi get benched, but he comes back and turns Jared Allen into a non-factor while holding him to 4 tackles and Zero sacks.