Week 1: Bears at Colts - 8:15 pm Eastern, NBC

[jersey cubs fan]

Are people that disinterested in the Bears that nobody has a game thread up yet?

 

The Bears stand at 9.5 point underdogs, only one other week 1 game has a wider spread, with New England favored by 16. Indy is likely without Jeff Saturday, but the Bears might be missing Tommie Harris, or at least a healthy Tommie Harris, so it is questionable how much push they can get toward a somewhat hobbled Peyton Manning. That is really the team's only hope this weekend. They need to pressure Manning, make him move and hope he is just rusty enough to not rip the defense to shreds. And the Bears really need to run. As soon as they get into a clear passing situation, Indy is going to pin their ears back and manhandle the line.

 

Early pick is Indy covering, with ease.

[kujay]

Is that Bears "sister site" still up and running? I seem to remember last year Tim was trying to direct us there.

[UMFan83]

Tommie Harris is hurt?? Shows you how disinterested I've been about the Bears.

 

Can that man ever be healthy?

[Cynosure]

Windy City Football?

 

No one ever goes there =\

[soapy]

i actually passed on tickets to this game. i just can't bear (punny) the thought of sitting through a Colts love-fest to open their new stadium just to watch them man-handle the Bears' offensive line. probably makes me less of a true-fan, but so be it. i'll be hoping for the best, but expecting the worst; without the annoyance of 50,000 Colts fans screaming in my ear.

 

here's hoping for some success. got to find a way to get to Manning and rattle him a bit with the bad knee. then maybe they can force some mistakes and take advantages with some turnovers.

[jersey cubs fan]

Tommie Harris is hurt?? Shows you how disinterested I've been about the Bears.

 

Can that man ever be healthy?

 

My response didn't go through. Anyway, Comcast had a brief story about Tommie's knee bothering him all preseason and rumors that he'd be on the injury report today and potentially out of Sunday.

[UMFan83]

i actually passed on tickets to this game. i just can't bear (punny) the thought of sitting through a Colts love-fest to open their new stadium just to watch them man-handle the Bears' offensive line. probably makes me less of a true-fan, but so be it. i'll be hoping for the best, but expecting the worst; without the annoyance of 50,000 Colts fans screaming in my ear.

 

here's hoping for some success. got to find a way to get to Manning and rattle him a bit with the bad knee. then maybe they can force some mistakes and take advantages with some turnovers.

 

If you can still get them, give them to me haha. My girlfriend's best friend (who lives in Indy) has box seats to the game. That stadium looks absolutely incredible, so I would have gone in a heartbeat.

[UMFan83]

Tommie Harris is hurt?? Shows you how disinterested I've been about the Bears.

 

Can that man ever be healthy?

 

My response didn't go through. Anyway, Comcast had a brief story about Tommie's knee bothering him all preseason and rumors that he'd be on the injury report today and potentially out of Sunday.

 

Yeah I just read up on it. That sucks.

 

What is everyone's best case scenario, everything goes right optimistic prediction about this season?

 

I think it everything goes right within reason the Bears finish 8-8 or 9-7.

 

Realistically, I'm thinking 5-11.

[soapy]

i actually passed on tickets to this game. i just can't bear (punny) the thought of sitting through a Colts love-fest to open their new stadium just to watch them man-handle the Bears' offensive line. probably makes me less of a true-fan, but so be it. i'll be hoping for the best, but expecting the worst; without the annoyance of 50,000 Colts fans screaming in my ear.

 

here's hoping for some success. got to find a way to get to Manning and rattle him a bit with the bad knee. then maybe they can force some mistakes and take advantages with some turnovers.

 

If you can still get them, give them to me haha. My girlfriend's best friend (who lives in Indy) has box seats to the game. That stadium looks absolutely incredible, so I would have gone in a heartbeat.

 

i can't get them anymore. this was a few weeks ago.

 

i live in Indy so that probably makes me a little more sour toward the Colts than some people. the way people get on me about the Bears in the office gets tired, particularly when they play eachother. it's good natured except for the secretaries, which is hilarious. they get really pissed off just thinking about me rooting for the Bears. like i'm personally offending them. monday will be funny either way. i look forward to my cubicle being heavily decorated if the Colts win.

[minnesotacubsfan]

in an effort too trick myself into being excited about this season, I'm calling upset

 

Bears 12

Dolts 9

[Banedon]

I'm surprised that Booker made the team over Rideau.

[jersey cubs fan]

Tommie Harris is hurt?? Shows you how disinterested I've been about the Bears.

 

Can that man ever be healthy?

 

My response didn't go through. Anyway, Comcast had a brief story about Tommie's knee bothering him all preseason and rumors that he'd be on the injury report today and potentially out of Sunday.

 

Yeah I just read up on it. That sucks.

 

What is everyone's best case scenario, everything goes right optimistic prediction about this season?

 

I think it everything goes right within reason the Bears finish 8-8 or 9-7.

 

Realistically, I'm thinking 5-11.

 

I think Vegas has the over/under around 6.5. It was 8 wins early in the summer and I'm sure people bet heavily on the under. I could easily see this team lose 12 games. They could have a historically bad offense with a mediocre defense (a group that relies on speed and athleticism doesn't hold up with age and no youthful reinforcements). That being said, with everything going right, maybe, possibly, it could happen, that they win 10. It's possible the defense returns to dominate, possible but doubtful. The offense could show enough to be competent. I'd still bet the under on 6.5 wins, thinking 6 is more likely. But I don't have a decent grasp on this team at all.

 

They should be a desperate bunch, and it's not like they are suffering from some sort of hangover season. But every good defensive player has been paid and is not fighting for money, while there isn't an offensive player capable of performing like a star. The only motivation they have is pride, and that just isn't good enough. I see this team underperforming and the Lovie/Angelo era wimpering toward a few 7-9 seasons in the coming years before a change is made.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

That's the beauty of the NFL.

 

You can add 2-4 wins just through lucky bounces (*cough*2001 Bears*cough), and you can add another 2-4 just from staying healthy if everyone else gets hurt.

 

So if the Bears are lucky, I don't see why they can't win 10+ games. They could easily lose 13+ as well.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Embarrassed on national TV. Nice way to start the season.

[BigbadB]

in an effort too trick myself into being excited about this season, I'm calling upset

 

Bears 12

Dolts 9

 

I have to get excited about the Bears. I dropped a $20 on them beating the Colts in a suicide pool. A lot of Bears players have a lot to prove. Hope Clark and Olson are ready to catch a lot of quick, short passes.

 

I know. It's a crazy pick. But, I won an NCAA pool and am still way ahead in winnings. Not to mention the fact that I'm about to win two more bets. Mike Cameron only needs to hit one more home run and Tampa needs to stay ahead of Toronto in the NL East for the other bet. These are bets I made in the preseason.

 

Realistically, I see the Bears at 8-8. The offense will be quite frustrating, but between defense and special teams, there are enough possession guys on offense to score enough points to be a .500 team this year.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm surprised that Booker made the team over Rideau.

 

He shouldn't have, but I'm not surprised. Even though NFL coaches are far more likely to hand jobs to deserving youngsters than MLB people are, they still do tend to rely on "veteran presence" a bit too much. Booker was brought in to be the steady short yardage 3rd down receiver you can count on. They probably think that if there is any hope for a playoff team in 2008, they need a guy like Booker to perform as well as they think he can. If this was a new staff not worried about keeping their jobs beyond 2008, they probably would have gone with the youngster (like Miami getting rid of Booker). But Lovie, and especially Turner, probably need to win as many games as possible to avoid the firing line. In those situations, coaches nearly always go with experience over the unknown youth.

[UMFan83]

in an effort too trick myself into being excited about this season, I'm calling upset

 

Bears 12

Dolts 9

 

I have to get excited about the Bears. I dropped a $20 on them beating the Colts in a suicide pool. A lot of Bears players have a lot to prove. Hope Clark and Olson are ready to catch a lot of quick, short passes.

 

I know. It's a crazy pick. But, I won an NCAA pool and am still way ahead in winnings. Not to mention the fact that I'm about to win two more bets. Mike Cameron only needs to hit one more home run and Tampa needs to stay ahead of Toronto in the NL East for the other bet. These are bets I made in the preseason.

 

Realistically, I see the Bears at 8-8. The offense will be quite frustrating, but between defense and special teams, there are enough possession guys on offense to score enough points to be a .500 team this year.

 

Wait you picked the Bears to beat the Colts in your suicide pool?? The Bears going into Indy, in their first game in their new stadium, and beating the Colts? I know Peyton might not be 100% and I know everyone has been dogging the Bears, but you must be crazy!

[jersey cubs fan]

in an effort too trick myself into being excited about this season, I'm calling upset

 

Bears 12

Dolts 9

 

I have to get excited about the Bears. I dropped a $20 on them beating the Colts in a suicide pool. A lot of Bears players have a lot to prove. Hope Clark and Olson are ready to catch a lot of quick, short passes.

 

I know. It's a crazy pick. But, I won an NCAA pool and am still way ahead in winnings. Not to mention the fact that I'm about to win two more bets. Mike Cameron only needs to hit one more home run and Tampa needs to stay ahead of Toronto in the NL East for the other bet. These are bets I made in the preseason.

 

Realistically, I see the Bears at 8-8. The offense will be quite frustrating, but between defense and special teams, there are enough possession guys on offense to score enough points to be a .500 team this year.

 

Wait you picked the Bears to beat the Colts in your suicide pool?? The Bears going into Indy, in their first game in their new stadium, and beating the Colts? I know Peyton might not be 100% and I know everyone has been dogging the Bears, but you must be crazy!

 

Maybe he thinks a suicide pool means killing your chances of winning a bet.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I'm surprised that Booker made the team over Rideau.

 

He shouldn't have, but I'm not surprised. Even though NFL coaches are far more likely to hand jobs to deserving youngsters than MLB people are, they still do tend to rely on "veteran presence" a bit too much. Booker was brought in to be the steady short yardage 3rd down receiver you can count on. They probably think that if there is any hope for a playoff team in 2008, they need a guy like Booker to perform as well as they think he can. If this was a new staff not worried about keeping their jobs beyond 2008, they probably would have gone with the youngster (like Miami getting rid of Booker). But Lovie, and especially Turner, probably need to win as many games as possible to avoid the firing line. In those situations, coaches nearly always go with experience over the unknown youth.

 

exactly. its a shame tho.

[BigbadB]

in an effort too trick myself into being excited about this season, I'm calling upset

 

Bears 12

Dolts 9

 

I have to get excited about the Bears. I dropped a $20 on them beating the Colts in a suicide pool. A lot of Bears players have a lot to prove. Hope Clark and Olson are ready to catch a lot of quick, short passes.

 

I know. It's a crazy pick. But, I won an NCAA pool and am still way ahead in winnings. Not to mention the fact that I'm about to win two more bets. Mike Cameron only needs to hit one more home run and Tampa needs to stay ahead of Toronto in the NL East for the other bet. These are bets I made in the preseason.

 

Realistically, I see the Bears at 8-8. The offense will be quite frustrating, but between defense and special teams, there are enough possession guys on offense to score enough points to be a .500 team this year.

 

Wait you picked the Bears to beat the Colts in your suicide pool?? The Bears going into Indy, in their first game in their new stadium, and beating the Colts? I know Peyton might not be 100% and I know everyone has been dogging the Bears, but you must be crazy!

 

Maybe he thinks a suicide pool means killing your chances of winning a bet.

 

And won't you all look like fools when all those people who picked Indy are signing up for a new suicide pool? :grin:

 

If you can't bet on your favorite team to win a stupid game, what good are they?

 

And I trust that my allegiance to the Bears will never again be called into question.

[jersey cubs fan]

If you can't bet on your favorite team to win a stupid game, what good are they?

 

And I trust that my allegiance to the Bears will never again be called into question.

 

The suicide pool I've seen is worth about 18k to the winner. It's all fine and dandy to make stupid bets on your team, but I wouldn't do that in a suicide pool, with the Bears, in Indy, in week 1. Throw $20 on them with the local bookie if you must.

[Sammy Sofa]

Bears go 3-13.

[CubColtPacer]

in an effort too trick myself into being excited about this season, I'm calling upset

 

Bears 12

Dolts 9

 

I have to get excited about the Bears. I dropped a $20 on them beating the Colts in a suicide pool. A lot of Bears players have a lot to prove. Hope Clark and Olson are ready to catch a lot of quick, short passes.

 

I know. It's a crazy pick. But, I won an NCAA pool and am still way ahead in winnings. Not to mention the fact that I'm about to win two more bets. Mike Cameron only needs to hit one more home run and Tampa needs to stay ahead of Toronto in the NL East for the other bet. These are bets I made in the preseason.

 

Realistically, I see the Bears at 8-8. The offense will be quite frustrating, but between defense and special teams, there are enough possession guys on offense to score enough points to be a .500 team this year.

 

Wait you picked the Bears to beat the Colts in your suicide pool?? The Bears going into Indy, in their first game in their new stadium, and beating the Colts? I know Peyton might not be 100% and I know everyone has been dogging the Bears, but you must be crazy!

 

Maybe he thinks a suicide pool means killing your chances of winning a bet.

 

And won't you all look like fools when all those people who picked Indy are signing up for a new suicide pool? :grin:

 

If you can't bet on your favorite team to win a stupid game, what good are they?

 

And I trust that my allegiance to the Bears will never again be called into question.

 

Don't you have to win multiple weeks and only use each team once to win though? I can understand having faith in your team, but why not save them for an easier week? There are several games that the Bears will have even greater chances to win here in the next 5 weeks (Panthers without Smith, Lions, Falcons). Didn't you do this exact same thing last year in week 1?

 

It should be a good game. Decently close, probably with several mistakes on both sides. There are a lot of question marks with each team at the moment, so it's really a tough game to handicap.

[jersey cubs fan]

Bears go 3-13.

 

Gutsy call. Definitely the most pessimistic I've seen, but many have said 4-12. I think they are probably mediocre enough to win a couple more and stay out of the top 5 in the draft, but maybe not.

[jersey cubs fan]

It should be a good game. Decently close, probably with several mistakes on both sides. There are a lot of question marks with each team at the moment, so it's really a tough game to handicap.

 

If it's decently close, I don't think it will be a good game. As you noted, it will be because of mistakes. The only way the Bears win is if Manning is either out of synch, or injured. In fact, that's the only way it stays close. Go ugly or go home.