Week 2: Bears at Panthers - 12 noon CT, FOX

[Banedon]

The Bears are somehow already on the "Best of the NFC" radar after Sunday's game, along with the entire NFC East, New Orleans and Carolina. I'm still approaching the season with guarded optimism and low expectations to this point. They could still very easily be 1-3 after four weeks, and yet still not be a bad team.

 

Really? Not saying you're wrong, but where have you read/heard that talk?

 

Peter King, specifically. Not the most reputable of sources or analysis, but at least getting a mention in the upper echelon already.

 

Yeah...I really take his rankings pretty non-seriously. For one, 4 teams have yet to play this week...lol

[jersey cubs fan]

The Bears are somehow already on the "Best of the NFC" radar after Sunday's game, along with the entire NFC East, New Orleans and Carolina. I'm still approaching the season with guarded optimism and low expectations to this point. They could still very easily be 1-3 after four weeks, and yet still not be a bad team.

 

Really? Not saying you're wrong, but where have you read/heard that talk?

 

Peter King, specifically. Not the most reputable of sources or analysis, but at least getting a mention in the upper echelon already.

 

Yeah, I think they are on the radar, but they aren't yet considered to be in that group by a widespread group. I would be interested to see where Dr. Z ranks them. He has historically marked the Bears relatively low, but if he's already brought them from 24 to 8 like King, that would be a strong indication that the masses are ready to pile on. People like trends, and while the loser of the Super Bowl having a bad year is widely known, people generally expect those teams to bounce back one year later.

 

 

All that being said, I don't know much about Carolina. I don't have a good idea how they match up with the Bears. I could see a letdown game coming, but Carolina is coming home after a surprise road win, with a little more of a flukey nature than the Bears big win. Whichever team loses, their media will call it a letdown game, but I'm not sure that will be the case.

[Andy]

Carolina likes to run the ball, and with Stewart the power back in to complement the speedy Williams, they looked good doing it in week 1. But with Delhomme back, they can pass it too. If Dante Rosario continues to be as good as he was last week, the Panthers might have a decent trio of guys (Moose and Jarrett as well - Jarrett has a nice week 1) to complement Smith once Smith is back. The offense got to the red zone 4 times and gained 282 yards in the 1st half against SD but only scored 9 points. Dumb mistakes kept that game from being an easy win as opposed to a miraculous one.

 

As for this week, the key for Carolina is taking care of the ball. I think the Panther D can hold the Bears' offense and keep the game reasonably close if the offense can manage to avoid turnovers against the opportunistic Bears defense. That means Jake has to replicate his 0-INT week 1 and our backs have to continue holding on to the ball.

 

My prediction is that if Carolina can get a really really big defensive or special teams play, like a touchdown or close to one, and also hold Chicago without one, they'll win. If they can't get one of those plays, the Bears will win. If you guys play as well as you did last night you'll win regardless, but I (optimistically) doubt a team can repeat such a well-played game.

 

Good luck, guys. This one looked like a horrible game 24 hours ago but now is one of the best games of week 2.

[BigbadB]

I watched Carolina yesterday (since the Chargers game was the only afternoon game on here) and their run game ran roughshod on the Chargers defense. DeAngelo Williams and another cat named Stewart (I believe) found holes and exploited what was supposed to be a strong Charger defense. Carolina owned the ball most of the game. They did a pretty good job defensively of keeping Tomlinson in check. The Chargers didn't play well enough to win that game (except for the last drive of the game), but they nearly manage to win anyway.

 

Glad Smith won't be playing, because he owns the Bears. Based on what I saw yesterday, Carolina will move the ball well between the 20's, but might have to settle for field goals, which is pretty much what Cover 2 accomplishes.

[BigbadB]

Carolina likes to run the ball, and with Stewart the power back in to complement the speedy Williams, they looked good doing it in week 1. But with Delhomme back, they can pass it too. If Dante Rosario continues to be as good as he was last week, the Panthers might have a decent trio of guys (Moose and Jarrett as well - Jarrett has a nice week 1) to complement Smith once Smith is back. The offense got to the red zone 4 times and gained 282 yards in the 1st half against SD but only scored 9 points. Dumb mistakes kept that game from being an easy win as opposed to a miraculous one.

 

As for this week, the key for Carolina is taking care of the ball. I think the Panther D can hold the Bears' offense and keep the game reasonably close if the offense can manage to avoid turnovers against the opportunistic Bears defense. That means Jake has to replicate his 0-INT week 1 and our backs have to continue holding on to the ball.

 

My prediction is that if Carolina can get a really really big defensive or special teams play, like a touchdown or close to one, and also hold Chicago without one, they'll win. If they can't get one of those plays, the Bears will win. If you guys play as well as you did last night you'll win regardless, but I (optimistically) doubt a team can repeat such a well-played game.

 

Good luck, guys. This one looked like a horrible game 24 hours ago but now is one of the best games of week 2.

 

That Rosario cat looks scary good. He leaped completely over a Charger defender without missing a beat for a big gain. :shock:

[UMFan83]

People are talking like its just natural that the Bears had a bad team last year and they are going back to being Super Bowl contenders.

 

This team is completely different than the 2006 team. New QB, new RB, new backup RB, all new WRs (besides Bradley and Davis), 2 new offensive lineman, new NT, 2 new safeties (considering Brown was hurt almost all year), the rest of the core is 2 years older. Really nothing that's "new" on the team can be considered an upgrade to their 2006 counterpart (unless you want to say Grossman). This is a completely different team and opinions should not be made from one game.

[Banedon]

People are talking like its just natural that the Bears had a bad team last year and they are going back to being Super Bowl contenders.

 

This team is completely different than the 2006 team. New QB, new RB, new backup RB, all new WRs (besides Bradley and Davis), 2 new offensive lineman, new NT, 2 new safeties (considering Brown was hurt almost all year), the rest of the core is 2 years older. Really nothing that's "new" on the team can be considered an upgrade to their 2006 counterpart (unless you want to say Grossman). This is a completely different team and opinions should not be made from one game.

 

Forte-Jones could be an upgrade over Jones-Benson...but that certainly remains to be seen long term.

[jersey cubs fan]

My prediction is that if Carolina can get a really really big defensive or special teams play, like a touchdown or close to one, and also hold Chicago without one, they'll win. If they can't get one of those plays, the Bears will win.

 

That's not really a prediction now is it? Which one of those things do you think happens?

 

If you guys play as well as you did last night you'll win regardless, but I (optimistically) doubt a team can repeat such a well-played game.

 

Good luck, guys. This one looked like a horrible game 24 hours ago but now is one of the best games of week 2.

 

It is funny how this game features two of the three biggest underdogs from week 1, with Philly/Dallas being on MNF, I could see this being the featured Fox game. GB plays at a crappy Lions team, Giants play at a crappy Rams team. New Orleans plays at a very mediocre Washington, and Atlanta/SF are featured in the other 2 games.

 

Had the Bears just pulled that game out of their butts, I don't think people would make much of it other than getting lucky the Colts line was banged up and Manning was rusty. But winning the way they did probably peaked some interest. If they play that way again, they can probably beat anybody in the league. But I'm not so sure they are capable of repeating that performance. Teams will key on Forte and probably get to Orton eventually.

[Andy]

My prediction is that if Carolina can get a really really big defensive or special teams play, like a touchdown or close to one, and also hold Chicago without one, they'll win. If they can't get one of those plays, the Bears will win.

 

That's not really a prediction now is it? Which one of those things do you think happens?

If I have to answer honestly, I think you'll beat us. With Smith I think I would be more optimistic. But I was assuming an 0-2 start, so if you beat us and we don't look horrible, I'll live with it.

[jersey cubs fan]

If I have to answer honestly, I think you'll beat us. With Smith I think I would be more optimistic. But I was assuming an 0-2 start, so if you beat us and we don't look horrible, I'll live with it.

 

Funny, so was I, for the Bears.

 

I want to say I see the Bears winning by a touchdown. But I know I'm completely basing that off the shocking result from last night. I'll probably take 3 points in my pick 'em league, but I'm hesistant to completely buy into this team right now, considering how down I was on them the past couple months.

[bukie]

Kind of fun that the Bears get to play the two teams that last knocked them out of the playoffs to start the year. Albeit different teams.

 

I'm concerned about Rosario duplicating his effort from this week. I think a key to the Bears looking so good on defense was Dallas Clark going down so early. The Bears' D has historically been picked apart in the flat to the tight end, and that ended up just not being possible with Clark out, allowing them to focus on avoiding the run and the deep ball. Once the Colts went to Wayne in the flat, they were able to move the ball pretty well. After that, I'm not sure whether the Bears adjusted to that, or the Colts abandoned the strategy, because it basically stopped happening after the third quarter.

[UMFan83]

My prediction is that if Carolina can get a really really big defensive or special teams play, like a touchdown or close to one, and also hold Chicago without one, they'll win. If they can't get one of those plays, the Bears will win.

 

That's not really a prediction now is it? Which one of those things do you think happens?

If I have to answer honestly, I think you'll beat us. With Smith I think I would be more optimistic. But I was assuming an 0-2 start, so if you beat us and we don't look horrible, I'll live with it.

 

I think both teams fans are skeptical of their team's performance, because I think the Panthers will win.

[Andy]

My prediction is that if Carolina can get a really really big defensive or special teams play, like a touchdown or close to one, and also hold Chicago without one, they'll win. If they can't get one of those plays, the Bears will win.

 

That's not really a prediction now is it? Which one of those things do you think happens?

If I have to answer honestly, I think you'll beat us. With Smith I think I would be more optimistic. But I was assuming an 0-2 start, so if you beat us and we don't look horrible, I'll live with it.

 

I think both teams fans are skeptical of their team's performance, because I think the Panthers will win.

If you want some ammo for optimism, we've lost 4 home openers in a row, and it'd be 5 if Delhomme hadn't miraculously rallied us back against Jacksonville in 2003 to spark the magic ride that season was.

[rawaction]

Carolina has a pretty good offensive line. They are young, but they are big and talented. The key for the Bears D is for the LBs not to get caught up with the interior linemen. If Urlacher and Briggs stay free, they will make a lot of tackles. I'd like to see Payne cheat up a lot too. I like the 1-on-1 matchups with the Bears CBs on their WRs if necessary. Carolina isn't anything special defensively. Rivers had a 121 rating against them yesterday. LT averaged 4.6 ypc yesterday.

[David]

People are talking like its just natural that the Bears had a bad team last year and they are going back to being Super Bowl contenders.

 

This team is completely different than the 2006 team. New QB, new RB, new backup RB, all new WRs (besides Bradley and Davis), 2 new offensive lineman, new NT, 2 new safeties (considering Brown was hurt almost all year), the rest of the core is 2 years older. Really nothing that's "new" on the team can be considered an upgrade to their 2006 counterpart (unless you want to say Grossman). This is a completely different team and opinions should not be made from one game.

 

Forte-Jones could be an upgrade over Jones-Benson...but that certainly remains to be seen long term.

 

To me, the TEs and RBs are an upgrade over that team, while I don't see how 08 Orton is an upgrade over 06 Grossman, but I suppose we'll see.

 

The rest of the defense is two years older, but at least, for now, we have the *hope* of Mike Brown and Tommie Harris for a full season, and we have Dusty, too.

 

Also, going into that season, the WR core was considered a major weakness also. Nobody expected Berrian to emerge like that and I think his emergence was more of a product of Grossman looking to him and hitting him on all those deep balls early in the season. It's not like he was this stud receiver. There are a couple guys on this WR corps that are probably pretty comparable to Berrian as a receiver.

[jersey cubs fan]

Early weather forecast is calling for temps in the low 80s and some thunderstorms Sunday in Charlotte. I'm not sure how that plays into a game. But Houston has a home game scheduled for 4pm Sunday, right around when Ike might be plowing through town.

[Soul]

I love the NFL. There's always a few teams that surprise everyone, and there's always a few that disappoint.

 

I'm not saying the Panthers & Bears are definitely going to be there at the end. It's too early for that. But I do love how unpredictable it can be from season to season; even week to week.

[UK1679666180]

I wouldn't put the Bears into the best of the NFC yet, althoiugh yesterday's win probably bumped them to a 7 win team, IMO.

 

Dallas is better than anybody in the NFC by a decent margain.

[Soul]

I wouldn't put the Bears into the best of the NFC yet, althoiugh yesterday's win probably bumped them to a 7 win team, IMO.

 

Dallas is better than anybody in the NFC by a decent margain.

They were last year too and look what happened.

[BigbadB]

People are talking like its just natural that the Bears had a bad team last year and they are going back to being Super Bowl contenders.

 

This team is completely different than the 2006 team. New QB, new RB, new backup RB, all new WRs (besides Bradley and Davis), 2 new offensive lineman, new NT, 2 new safeties (considering Brown was hurt almost all year), the rest of the core is 2 years older. Really nothing that's "new" on the team can be considered an upgrade to their 2006 counterpart (unless you want to say Grossman). This is a completely different team and opinions should not be made from one game.

 

I'm not at all shocked that you are providing pessimism in the Bears game thread considering how much pessimism you toss around in the Cubs game threads. It was a tremendous road victory against a team that very well could be representing the AFC in the Super Bowl this year. By your views, we should all be gloomy and doomy with dread on how horribly the Bears will perform in the next 15 games rather than share a little excitement of how well they performed last night.

 

This team is not completely different. Sure, the personnel is different. But, the playbook looks pretty much the same. That's because Lovie is still coaching this team.

 

Truth be told, the offense is a run oriented, ball control offense and the defense is the biggest strength of the team, and the team will live and die by how the defense performs. I can look all the way back to the early '80's and see the same identical team I see now. Back then, the team was a run oriented, ball control offense that lived and died by how the defense performs. Sound familiar? That's because the team isn't really all that different.

[UK1679666180]

I wouldn't put the Bears into the best of the NFC yet, althoiugh yesterday's win probably bumped them to a 7 win team, IMO.

 

Dallas is better than anybody in the NFC by a decent margain.

They were last year too and look what happened.

 

Playoffs are a crapshoot, over the 16 games Dallas was the best team in the NFC and are likely better this year than last.

[jersey cubs fan]

I wouldn't put the Bears into the best of the NFC yet, althoiugh yesterday's win probably bumped them to a 7 win team, IMO.

 

Dallas is better than anybody in the NFC by a decent margain.

 

Winning a game that everybody (except BBB) had written in as a loss in permanent ink, and doing so in such impressive fashion, has to put them in 8 win territory. Were you predicting 4 before this game?

[Soul]

I wouldn't put the Bears into the best of the NFC yet, althoiugh yesterday's win probably bumped them to a 7 win team, IMO.

 

Dallas is better than anybody in the NFC by a decent margain.

They were last year too and look what happened.

 

Playoffs are a crapshoot, over the 16 games Dallas was the best team in the NFC and are likely better this year than last.

 

Maybe so, I'm just saying, I wouldn't be penciling in Dallas for anything just yet. I wouldn't pencil in anyone for anything in this league at this point.

[UMFan83]

People are talking like its just natural that the Bears had a bad team last year and they are going back to being Super Bowl contenders.

 

This team is completely different than the 2006 team. New QB, new RB, new backup RB, all new WRs (besides Bradley and Davis), 2 new offensive lineman, new NT, 2 new safeties (considering Brown was hurt almost all year), the rest of the core is 2 years older. Really nothing that's "new" on the team can be considered an upgrade to their 2006 counterpart (unless you want to say Grossman). This is a completely different team and opinions should not be made from one game.

 

I'm not at all shocked that you are providing pessimism in the Bears game thread considering how much pessimism you toss around in the Cubs game threads. It was a tremendous road victory against a team that very well could be representing the AFC in the Super Bowl this year. By your views, we should all be gloomy and doomy with dread on how horribly the Bears will perform in the next 15 games rather than share a little excitement of how well they performed last night.

 

 

Ouch. If you were playing darts, you would have just missed the board completely. -1 respect

Edited September 8, 2008 by UMFan83

[jersey cubs fan]

I wouldn't put the Bears into the best of the NFC yet, althoiugh yesterday's win probably bumped them to a 7 win team, IMO.

 

Dallas is better than anybody in the NFC by a decent margain.

They were last year too and look what happened.

 

Playoffs are a crapshoot, over the 16 games Dallas was the best team in the NFC and are likely better this year than last.

 

Eh, they still haven't won a big game in the Romo era. They didn't impress me against a mediocre Bears team early last year, not doing much until Bears defenders began dropping like flies.

 

I think the 2006 Bears were more clearly the best NFC team than the 2007 Cowboys were.

 

The playoffs are not a crapshoot, as much as they are a who is playing their best now thing. Teams don't win and lose in the playoffs based on chance. Football in general is a game that can swing at any point. They were a very good passing team, but nothing special on defense or running the ball. It should not have surprised anybody that they would potentially have trouble in the playoffs.