Divisional Round: Bears vs. Seahawks - Sun Jan 14, 12 pm CST

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Seahawks at Bears, 12 noon CT on Sunday 1/14. The game is on FOX.

 

GO BEARS!!!

Edited January 8, 2007 by CaliforniaRaisin

[soccer10k]

I predict the off week will intercept Grossman at least once.

[UMFan83]

Ugh, do we have to discuss the Bears?

[Productive Outs]

the bears will not survive their first game. MARK MY WORDS

[rawaction]

Seattle suffered another injury yesterday to a defensive back (can't remember which one, but one of the corners), so I think they may be in trouble. Philly will win, so the Bears will play the winner of Seattle v. Dallas.

 

If it's Dallas, the key will be getting Tait's ankle better so he has a chance against Demarcus Ware. If the Tait of last night shows up, Rex will get blindside pressure all day. I think former Bear Columbo going against his former practice mates (Brown and Ogunleye) will be a good matchup. As will T.O. and Glenn vs. Tillman and Vasher.

 

If it's Seattle, the key is pounding the ball. Seattle, NO, and Philly are among the bottom 10 teams against the run in all of football. If the Bears do get Seattle, they can make a Superbowl run with little from the QB position, provided the D steps up (they only gave up 13 points, and just 3 when GB had a short field).

[soccer10k]

Seattle suffered another injury yesterday to a defensive back (can't remember which one, but one of the corners), so I think they may be in trouble. Philly will win, so the Bears will play the winner of Seattle v. Dallas.

 

If it's Dallas, the key will be getting Tait's ankle better so he has a chance against Demarcus Ware. If the Tait of last night shows up, Rex will get blindside pressure all day. I think former Bear Columbo going against his former practice mates (Brown and Ogunleye) will be a good matchup. As will T.O. and Glenn vs. Tillman and Vasher.

 

If it's Seattle, the key is pounding the ball. Seattle, NO, and Philly are among the bottom 10 teams against the run in all of football. If the Bears do get Seattle, they can make a Superbowl run with little from the QB position, provided the D steps up (they only gave up 13 points, and just 3 when GB had a short field).

 

Kelly Herndon broke his ankle yesterday for Seattle.

[rawaction]

Seattle suffered another injury yesterday to a defensive back (can't remember which one, but one of the corners), so I think they may be in trouble. Philly will win, so the Bears will play the winner of Seattle v. Dallas.

 

If it's Dallas, the key will be getting Tait's ankle better so he has a chance against Demarcus Ware. If the Tait of last night shows up, Rex will get blindside pressure all day. I think former Bear Columbo going against his former practice mates (Brown and Ogunleye) will be a good matchup. As will T.O. and Glenn vs. Tillman and Vasher.

 

If it's Seattle, the key is pounding the ball. Seattle, NO, and Philly are among the bottom 10 teams against the run in all of football. If the Bears do get Seattle, they can make a Superbowl run with little from the QB position, provided the D steps up (they only gave up 13 points, and just 3 when GB had a short field).

 

Kelly Herndon broke his ankle yesterday for Seattle.

 

Thanks. That's what it was.

[Omar]

Will anyone be coming off the injured list during the playoffs?

[Flames24Rulz]

Will anyone be coming off the injured list during the playoffs?

 

I don't think you can come off the IR at any point in the season.

[Roast]

I predict the off week will intercept Grossman at least once.

 

LOL that made me laugh.

[Soriano12]

the bears will not survive their first game. MARK MY WORDS

 

Well thats it. Cancel the postseason. Forfeit the game. The NFL expert "Dobson" has spoken with his in-depth anaylsis.

 

You sure as hell sold me.

[Guest]

the bears will not survive their first game. MARK MY WORDS

 

Well thats it. Cancel the postseason. Forfeit the game. The NFL expert "Dobson" has spoken with his in-depth anaylsis.

 

You sure as hell sold me.

 

you need to lighten up.

[BigSlick]

I think we'd be able to beat the Seahawks if AWFUL REX doesn't show up, even with our patheti-weak defense.

 

The Cowboys are in free fall...matters how they show up in their game.

 

I also think we could handle the Giants.

 

I mean, New Years was literally, LITERALLY worst case scenario. The defense didn't play very well, both quarterbacks looked like garbage...

 

But again, it was a meaningless game.

[sethuel1]

the bears will not survive their first game. MARK MY WORDS

 

Well thats it. Cancel the postseason. Forfeit the game. The NFL expert "Dobson" has spoken with his in-depth anaylsis.

 

You sure as hell sold me.

 

you need to lighten up.

 

Just imagine his posts as parodies and it's a lot funnier

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

the bears will not survive their first game. MARK MY WORDS

 

Well thats it. Cancel the postseason. Forfeit the game. The NFL expert "Dobson" has spoken with his in-depth anaylsis.

 

You sure as hell sold me.

 

you need to lighten up.

 

Just imagine his posts as parodies and it's a lot funnier

 

:lol:

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

Personally I think the Bears will win and represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. I have yet to buy into the fact that they could beat a Charger team or New England, even Baltimore, but the Defense will rise to the occasion and Rex can only get better, it is almost impossible to get worse, correct?

 

That being said, pray for cold, and snow. It can only help the Bears and their pursuit of the NFC Championship.

[USSoccer]

Interesting point: Zach Zaidman reported this morning that in the locker room after the game on Sunday, Lovie pulled Rex aside and they had about a 5 minute heart to heart, in which Lovie reassured Rex that he was still his starting QB. That warrants mentioning.

 

I have the feeling that the Bears got all their "suck" out of their system Sunday. There's no possible way the offense will be that bad in 2 weeks time. I have more worries about the defense than the offense, because if worse comes to worse, they can break out the Orton Plan and just run the ball 40 times with Benson and Jones, with the occasional play action pass.

 

As far as who the Bears face, I'm sure it will end up being either Seattle or New York. I don't see Dallas going into Seattle and winning, especially if Romo gets any kind of flustered. As far as NYG/Philly goes, I think NY can beat Philly. I'm not sold on Jeff Garcia.

[Derwood]

Maybe Lovie can practice a Hook N' Ladder and Statue of Liberty play for the playoffs

[UMFan83]

I have the feeling that the Bears got all their "suck" out of their system Sunday. There's no possible way the offense will be that bad in 2 weeks time. I have more worries about the defense than the offense, because if worse comes to worse, they can break out the Orton Plan and just run the ball 40 times with Benson and Jones, with the occasional play action pass.

 

Again, with our defense playing the way it is, the "Orton Plan" might not be very realistic. What Ron Turner needs to do these next 2 weeks is figure out how to not FREAK OUT when the team gets behind by a score. Just about every time we are down, he starts calling for bombs down the field.

 

The thing about the defense and the difference between the first 8 games and now is the D-Line, not as much the secondary (although the secondary is a huge concern). With Tommie Harris out, the Bears have had significant trouble pressuring the QB. Thus, they must blitz. When they blitz, they use the linebackers, causing the short pass to be extremely vaunerable. Thus the huge success of the slant route. When the short passes are exploited, the safeties must cheat, and the deep pass is exposed. Everything goes downhill when you can't pressure the QB with your D-Line alone.

 

But then again, I kinda believe Lovie didn't change his game plan to protect slant routes and short passes on purpose. Part of me wants to believe that, like the preseason, he is pulling the wool over everyones eyes, and once the playoffs start, the team will look crisp again.

[Soriano12]

If the Bears give the ball to Benson 25+ times a game, they will not lose at home during the playoffs. It is that simple.

[UMFan83]

If the Bears give the ball to Benson 25+ times a game, they will not lose at home during the playoffs. It is that simple.

 

What if the defense gives up 35 points?

[Soriano12]

If the Bears give the ball to Benson 25+ times a game, they will not lose at home during the playoffs. It is that simple.

 

What if the defense gives up 35 points?

 

The defense won't give up 35 points.

 

Benson will conistently get 4-5 yards every carry. The Bears will possess the ball more. Grossman will be less likely to turn the ball over.

 

The opposing offense won't get a chance to score that much.

[USSoccer]

Again, with our defense playing the way it is, the "Orton Plan" might not be very realistic. What Ron Turner needs to do these next 2 weeks is figure out how to not FREAK OUT when the team gets behind by a score. Just about every time we are down, he starts calling for bombs down the field.

 

The thing about the defense and the difference between the first 8 games and now is the D-Line, not as much the secondary (although the secondary is a huge concern). With Tommie Harris out, the Bears have had significant trouble pressuring the QB. Thus, they must blitz. When they blitz, they use the linebackers, causing the short pass to be extremely vaunerable. Thus the huge success of the slant route. When the short passes are exploited, the safeties must cheat, and the deep pass is exposed. Everything goes downhill when you can't pressure the QB with your D-Line alone.

 

But then again, I kinda believe Lovie didn't change his game plan to protect slant routes and short passes on purpose. Part of me wants to believe that, like the preseason, he is pulling the wool over everyones eyes, and once the playoffs start, the team will look crisp again

.

 

I dunno, considering how bad the secondary has looked, and how bad the tackling has been, controlling time of possesion via the Orton Plan might not be a terrible idea. The less time the defense is on the field, the better.

 

I agree with you 100% on Ron Turner. There needs to be a serious self examination there. More crossing routes, less TE drags in the flat. He needs to realize that chucking the ball up to Berrian downfield isn't an offensive game plan unless you're playing "Madden". He also needs to design a game plan that protects Rex from what's sure to be a big push up the middle of the O-Line. I don't know if that means going max protect, calling some draws or rollouts, but if the O-Line lets Rex get pressured, he's going to make mistakes.

 

The first couple series are going to be absolutely critical for the offense. Rex needs to find a rythym. With the atmosphere in Chicago right now, he can't afford an early turnover or a 1-12 start like he had last January in Carolina.

 

EDIT: One other thing that needs to be said: The home crowd needs to get their heads out and not boo and freak out on Rex if he does throw a pick, or start off slowly. It's one thing to freak out in the regular season, but it's entirely another thing to take HFA and turn it against your own team. I'm not saying that fans don't have a right to boo (I'm not opening up that can of worms), but what I am saying is that in this situation, it would be totally stupid to do so.

Edited January 2, 2007 by USSoccer

[Banedon]

Chris Petersen for Bears Offensive Coordinator! And I'm not even talking about the trick plays.

[Sammy Sofa]

If the Bears give the ball to Benson 25+ times a game, they will not lose at home during the playoffs. It is that simple.

 

What if the defense gives up 35 points?

 

The defense won't give up 35 points.

 

Didn't you sarcastically respond to someone making a similarly declarative statement on the 1st page of this thread?

 

With as bad as the defense has looked over the past month, I am completely baffled as to how you see Benson getting most of the carries (which he should) is going to make up for the Bears' very serious defensive problems.

 

If the Bears manage to score first, I will be far more confident that they have a good shot at winning. If they don't, I think they've basically lost the game at that point. They simply are performing way too far below the level they were at when they came back against Arizona and New York.