1/15 Round 2: Bears vs. Panthers

[Banedon]

i don't buy that this is a different panthers team. well, maybe "different", but not exactly "better". the panthers were tearing up the NFC before their last meeting. so i have a hard time believing that just because they lost to the bears in week 11 after winning 6 straight that they were somehow a worse team way back then.

 

I don't even really know what that means -- "different Panthers team". Anywho, I don't know that Delhomme will quite get the same pressure as last game (what, 8 sacks? now THAT was an impressive performance). I think Carolina will have more success in moving the ball than last time. The Bears D hasn't been looking quite as strong as they did back then. Maybe the week off helps, I don't know. Aside from Atlanta (and I'm not counting Minnesota), they gave up a boat load of yards down the stretch. I'll still go with 24-16.

 

I keep reading that they have "new weapons", but Deshaun Foster was the leading rusher in the last game against us, so that's not really a change. I'm not sure where these new weapons are at.

[TripJ]

i don't buy that this is a different panthers team. well, maybe "different", but not exactly "better". the panthers were tearing up the NFC before their last meeting. so i have a hard time believing that just because they lost to the bears in week 11 after winning 6 straight that they were somehow a worse team way back then.

 

I don't even really know what that means -- "different Panthers team". Anywho, I don't know that Delhomme will quite get the same pressure as last game (what, 8 sacks? now THAT was an impressive performance). I think Carolina will have more success in moving the ball than last time. The Bears D hasn't been looking quite as strong as they did back then. Maybe the week off helps, I don't know. Aside from Atlanta (and I'm not counting Minnesota), they gave up a boat load of yards down the stretch. I'll still go with 24-16.

 

Carolina's O-line wasn't exactly great protecting Delhomme last week either (3 sacks by the NYG DL). Their tackles were getting beaten like rented ponies.

[Banedon]

I also think it's funny that the Panthers players and fans refer to the fact that they "spotted us 10 points", like the Bears D had nothing to do with it. I remember Bucs fans saying the same thing to us. Coincidence that we managed to get early turnovers deep in their territory in both games? I don't think so.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I also think it's funny that the Panthers players and fans refer to the fact that they "spotted us 10 points", like the Bears D had nothing to do with it. I remember Bucs fans saying the same thing to us. Coincidence that we managed to get early turnovers deep in their territory in both games? I don't think so.

 

Do you think the Bears defense has an ability to get turnovers closer to the opponent's end zone? I think getting turnovers deep in their territory is a coincidence in the way that if you force turnovers, some are bound to be like that.

[rawaction]

I also think it's funny that the Panthers players and fans refer to the fact that they "spotted us 10 points", like the Bears D had nothing to do with it. I remember Bucs fans saying the same thing to us. Coincidence that we managed to get early turnovers deep in their territory in both games? I don't think so.

 

Do you think the Bears defense has an ability to get turnovers closer to the opponent's end zone? I think getting turnovers deep in their territory is a coincidence in the way that if you force turnovers, some are bound to be like that.

 

Vasher's 1st pick was on the Bears side of the field, at the 46. The 2nd was at the Carolina 40. The returns of the TOs put them deep in the Carolina end. So, it's not like the Tampa game where they got a TO at the 1.

 

It would be a coincedence if the Bears kept getting the other team to turn it over inside their 20 or so. But the fact that the CBs get good return on picks is not, being that they are aggressive in attacking the ball.

[Banedon]

I also think it's funny that the Panthers players and fans refer to the fact that they "spotted us 10 points", like the Bears D had nothing to do with it. I remember Bucs fans saying the same thing to us. Coincidence that we managed to get early turnovers deep in their territory in both games? I don't think so.

 

Do you think the Bears defense has an ability to get turnovers closer to the opponent's end zone? I think getting turnovers deep in their territory is a coincidence in the way that if you force turnovers, some are bound to be like that.

 

My point really was that the Bears force turnovers that give them a short field. Some are obviously going to be shorter than others, and yes...there certainly some luck/coincidence involved there with just how short a field that may be.

[VVMattVV]

It seems to me that all the media outside of Chicago is picking the Panthers to win against us at home...

 

I remember what happened last time they did that.

[goonys evil twin]

I'm thinking Carolina will find a way to score a TD, probably to Smith, and they'll get a big turnover, possibly Rex with a bad throw in his own end, maybe leading to a FG. But I also think the Bears O can drive on their own for a TD and a FG, so that right there is a 10-10 game. The game will come down to whether the Bears D can come up big if/when the Bears O screws up, and whether or not they can create a big turnover of their own, possibly scoring.

 

If all goes well, the Bears win 17-13, if the defense can't make a big play, or the Panthers D scores on its own, they could lose 21-10.

 

One thing I'm hoping is that it doesn't come down to Gould trying a 48+ yard field goal with time expiring to win or tie.

[goonys evil twin]

It seems to me that all the media outside of Chicago is picking the Panthers to win against us at home...

 

I remember what happened last time they did that.

 

I think it's been a pretty fair balance between those picking the Panthers or Bears. This really isn't a "no respect" situation.

[jaydee]

They are right. This is a different Carolina team. The Carolina team the bears played in Week 11 had won 6 straight and was an offensive juggernaut. They are not playing nearly as well right now as they were in Week 11, despite what all the "experts" (most of whom have no greater knowledge than you or me) say.

[Andy]

The Carolina team that had won six straight had played two teams that finished the year with a winning record in that span, and since Minny was in shambles at the point Carolina beat them, counting them as a winning record is a technicality at best.

 

This Panthers team just beat one of the best offenses in the league like a White Sox fan's wife and held the 2nd best RB in the league to 41 yards on the ground.

 

Yes, this is a different Panthers team.

 

Sulley, the Bears' D played unbelievably that day, but neither of Delhomme's picks (TERRIBLE throws) happened to be on plays where he was under heavy pressure. They were simply awful throws. The phrase "spotting you 10 points" is an accurate assessment.

[Banedon]

The Carolina team that had won six straight had played two teams that finished the year with a winning record in that span, and since Minny was in shambles at the point Carolina beat them, counting them as a winning record is a technicality at best.

 

This Panthers team just beat one of the best offenses in the league like a White Sox fan's wife and held the 2nd best RB in the league to 41 yards on the ground.

 

Yes, this is a different Panthers team.

 

Sulley, the Bears' D played unbelievably that day, but neither of Delhomme's picks (TERRIBLE throws) happened to be on plays where he was under heavy pressure. They were simply awful throws. The phrase "spotting you 10 points" is an accurate assessment.

 

A lot of teams spotted the Bears points this year then.

[jaydee]

This Panthers team just beat one of the best offenses in the league like a White Sox fan's wife and held the 2nd best RB in the league to 41 yards on the ground.

.

 

im confused?

[Outshined_One]

Carolina's record in their past 6 games is 4-2. Two of those games were against Top 10 defenses.

 

Guess which games they lost, at home, no less?

[Magnetic Curses]

Sulley, the Bears' D played unbelievably that day, but neither of Delhomme's picks (TERRIBLE throws) happened to be on plays where he was under heavy pressure. They were simply awful throws. The phrase "spotting you 10 points" is an accurate assessment.

 

when you get that much pressure, the QB begins to anticipate being rushed and hurries his throws, often causing INT's.

[YearofDaCubs]

I can't stand the talk about other teams spotting another 10 points either. This is football and turnovers are part of the game. How is this a different Carolina team? The only difference I see is Foster is their starter now instead of S.Davis which by the way Foster had more carries against us than Davis did anyways. They have the same OL, same DL. Maybe their OL got better because the first time around they could not stop our D-line and that is what won the game for us. I have a lot of respect for Carolina and I know this won't be easy and I know better than to think we have an easy win coming I can honestly say it could go either way but if their O-Line can't stop us I believe Carolina will lose. Bears have a lot of ? marks too. They are coming off a ridiculously long bye when you consider the starters also rested in week 17 too. Some of our starters havent played in like 6 weeks(Hillenmeyer, M. Brown). How will the team respond after such a long layoff? How will Grossman respond in the playoffs when considering he has only played 1.5 games all season? Man, I just can't wait until Sunday.

[Andy]

A key matchup that no one is talking about:

 

Rex Grossman vs. Kenny Lucas/Chris Gamble/Ricky Manning (two of the best corners in the league, plus one in Manning who came up huge last time we were in the playoffs). I think that one might end up determining the outcome as much or more than the battle in the trenches. Remember that Plaxico had no catches last week, and no doubt the Panthers will look to put the same lockdown on Muhsin Muhammad.

[cubweiser03]

A key matchup that no one is talking about:

 

Rex Grossman vs. Kenny Lucas/Chris Gamble/Ricky Manning (two of the best corners in the league, plus one in Manning who came up huge last time we were in the playoffs). I think that one might end up determining the outcome as much or more than the battle in the trenches. Remember that Plaxico had no catches last week, and no doubt the Panthers will look to put the same lockdown on Muhsin Muhammad.

 

Gamble please. That dude is a risk taker that is suseptible to the long ball. I hope he gets stuck on Berrien because he will burn him deep. He was overrated in college and still is.

[Banedon]

A key matchup that no one is talking about:

 

Rex Grossman vs. Kenny Lucas/Chris Gamble/Ricky Manning (two of the best corners in the league, plus one in Manning who came up huge last time we were in the playoffs). I think that one might end up determining the outcome as much or more than the battle in the trenches. Remember that Plaxico had no catches last week, and no doubt the Panthers will look to put the same lockdown on Muhsin Muhammad.

 

In the last game Muhsin was the only weapon the Panthers KNEW the Bears had and they didn't shut him down, he just plain dropped balls. And even if they do, don't overlook Berrian.

[Brian]

And even if they do, don't overlook Berrian.

 

I'd like to see the first play from scrimmage be a bomb to Berrian

[frostwyrm]

The Vegas over/under is 30.5, easily the lowest of all the playoff games. The spread is 2.5, so I guess that means Vegas foresees something like a 17-14 score. That sounds reasonable to me, although Rex is a big question mark. If he turns the ball over in Bears territory the Panthers could win pretty handily.

[Banedon]

The Vegas over/under is 30.5, easily the lowest of all the playoff games. The spread is 2.5, so I guess that means Vegas foresees something like a 17-14 score. That sounds reasonable to me, although Rex is a big question mark. If he turns the ball over in Bears territory the Panthers could win pretty handily.

 

And if Delhomme turns it over in in Panthers territory, then the Bears win handily...and Delhomme has already done that, so we know that's possible.

[YearofDaCubs]

The Vegas over/under is 30.5, easily the lowest of all the playoff games. The spread is 2.5, so I guess that means Vegas foresees something like a 17-14 score. That sounds reasonable to me, although Rex is a big question mark. If he turns the ball over in Bears territory the Panthers could win pretty handily.

I always wondered what Vegas(handicappers) take into account when they set the marks. Do they read stats have scouts at games? Just take wild guesses? I don't know I just always wondered.

[jaydee]

Why is nobody talking about Thomas Jones in the lead up to this game? All I hear is Grossman and foster

[frostwyrm]

The Vegas over/under is 30.5, easily the lowest of all the playoff games. The spread is 2.5, so I guess that means Vegas foresees something like a 17-14 score. That sounds reasonable to me, although Rex is a big question mark. If he turns the ball over in Bears territory the Panthers could win pretty handily.

I always wondered what Vegas(handicappers) take into account when they set the marks. Do they read stats have scouts at games? Just take wild guesses? I don't know I just always wondered.

 

They'll never tell us everything. If we knew all their methodology then anyone could do their job. It would also make it too easy for bettors to beat the odds.