Week 16: Packers @ Bears, MNF on ESPN (7:30 CT)

[jersey cubs fan]

I cant remember the Bears making or losing out of the playoffs because of a tiebreaker. They've been in or out because of record alone. Being on the short end of a tiebreaker stick sucks.

 

 

1995

 

13-year-old KyleJRM listening to the 49ers/Falcons game knowing there is no *way* Steve Young fails to get a measly field goal drive to win it and put the Bears in the playoffs.

 

Oops.

 

 

I was at the Bears/Eagles game. Christmas Eve. The stadium started to worry when the scoreboard stopped showing the other game's score.

i was at that game too. ugh.

 

So was I. It was maybe my 4th or 5th Bears game ever, went with my brother and dad when I was home from college.

[bukie]

I was going to be surprised at how nobody caught on in 1985...until I remembered that you'd have to be about 30 to remember that much...yeah...

 

I was too busy celebrating my fourth birthday to watch the big game.

I was seven during the entire 1985 season. I remember going into the 1986 season basically expecting the Bears to destroy every team, which they did in the regular season. And then they lost in the divisional round of the playoffs to Washington. By a lot. From that point on, I've hated the Redskins.

[UK1679666180]

I can't believe 1995 was the first year for some many people. I vividly remember the Bears beating the Vikings in the Metrodome in the 1994 Playoffs and then remember me being naive and thinking we had a shot to beat the 49ers in SF the next week. Well we took a 3-0 lead and I was so excited. Unfortunately, I think the 49ers scored the next 44 points....

 

Well, we're all about the same age.

 

I know, I'm about the same age too. Just can't believe people remember the horrible 1995 finish and were too young to remember the fun 1994 finish.

 

I enjoyed Raymont Harris.

 

I still despise the Redskins of the mid to late 80s.

 

D. Williams, Gary Clark, Monk, Didier, D. Green returning the kick for the TD.

 

Edit:Bukie beat me to it.

[soapy]

I cant remember the Bears making or losing out of the playoffs because of a tiebreaker. They've been in or out because of record alone. Being on the short end of a tiebreaker stick sucks.

 

 

1995

 

13-year-old KyleJRM listening to the 49ers/Falcons game knowing there is no *way* Steve Young fails to get a measly field goal drive to win it and put the Bears in the playoffs.

 

Oops.

 

 

I was at the Bears/Eagles game. Christmas Eve. The stadium started to worry when the scoreboard stopped showing the other game's score.

i was at that game too. ugh.

 

So was I. It was maybe my 4th or 5th Bears game ever, went with my brother and dad when I was home from college.

i was a senior in HS. it just dawned on me though; that was the last time i've been to soldier field. yikes. i need to fix that.

[UMFan83]

I can't believe 1995 was the first year for some many people. I vividly remember the Bears beating the Vikings in the Metrodome in the 1994 Playoffs and then remember me being naive and thinking we had a shot to beat the 49ers in SF the next week. Well we took a 3-0 lead and I was so excited. Unfortunately, I think the 49ers scored the next 44 points....

 

Well, we're all about the same age.

 

I know, I'm about the same age too. Just can't believe people remember the horrible 1995 finish and were too young to remember the fun 1994 finish.

 

I enjoyed Raymont Harris.

 

I still despise the Redskins of the mid to late 80s.

 

D. Williams, Gary Clark, Monk, Didier, D. Green returning the kick for the TD.

 

Edit:Bukie beat me to it.

 

It's funny because, although I was born in Chicago, I grew up for 6 years in Baltimore MD during my formative years, and I fell in love with the Redskins, especially the 1991 team that won the Super Bowl. Finally I came to my senses and realized that the Redskins suck and I was a Bears fan when I moved back to Chicago.

[Handlebar McSkullet]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/playoffscenario

 

its fun

[wekse]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/playoffscenario

 

its fun

 

i'd take the winning % scenario...bears would have a really good chance to at least make it to the divisional round in that case

[UMFan83]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/playoffscenario

 

its fun

 

i'd take the winning % scenario...bears would have a really good chance to at least make it to the divisional round in that case

 

I created a scenario where the 6 seeded Vikings go to Soldier Field to face the Division champion Bears in the first round.

[soapy]

it just doesn't look like NYG will be playing for anything that last week against MIN. their seed will be decided this week against Carolina, no?

[bukie]

it just doesn't look like NYG will be playing for anything that last week against MIN. their seed will be decided this week against Carolina, no?

Technically, if they lose and Minnesota wins, they're still playing for a bye, since Minnesota could still tie them and take the bye with a head-to-head victory.

 

Of course, in that scenario the Bears are already eliminated, so yeah.

[Mark_R]

In this season of disappointment, a Packers win knocking the Bears out of playoff contention would be a decent consolation prize, but I am not confident in that happening.

[UMFan83]

In this season of disappointment, a Packers win knocking the Bears out of playoff contention would be a decent consolation prize, but I am not confident in that happening.

 

I'd rather get knocked out before the game starts than get knocked out by the Packers.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

Karma?

 

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/16/sports/FBN-Vikings-PWilliams-Out.php

[rawaction]

So, basically Bears have to win out in any scenario.

 

Vikings either have to lose twice or.....

 

-Eagles have to lose this week to the Skins, but beat the Cowboys to end the season AND

-Dallas has to lose to Eagles AND

-Falcons have to lose once (Minnesota and St. Louis)

 

This would create a 3-way tie for the 6th seed (Tampa would get the 5, assuming they don't lose to SD and Oakland both).

 

 

Then the 3-way tiebreaker is:

 

1. Apply division tie breaker to eliminate all but the highest ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to step 2. The original seeding within a division upon application of the division tie breaker remains the same for all subsequent applications of the procedure that are necessary to identify the two Wild-Card participants.

2. Head-to-head sweep. (Applicable only if one club has defeated each of the others or if one club has lost to each of the others.)

3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.

4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.

5. Strength of victory.

6. Strength of schedule.

7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.

8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.

9. Best net points in conference games.

10. Best net points in all games.

11. Best net touchdowns in all games.

12. Coin toss

 

1 and 2 don't apply. Falcons, Bears, Cowboys would all be 7-5 vs. the NFC. Bears and Cowboys would both be 3-2 vs. common opponents (PHI, TB, GB. StL). Bears would be 7-4 vs DET, TB, CAR, GB, MIN, STL, PHI, and NO while ATL would be 6-5. I'm not sure how strength of victory would work out w/ Bears and Dallas.

[Guest]

Lance Briggs is the only Bear Pro Bowler.

 

The alternates:

 

TE Greg Olsen (second), C Olin Kreutz (second), DT Tommie Harris (first :shock: ), ILB Brian Urlacher (third), P Brad Maynard (second), KR Devin Hester (third :shock: ).

[Handlebar McSkullet]

Lance Briggs is the only Bear Pro Bowler.

 

The alternates:

 

TE Greg Olsen (second), C Olin Kreutz (second), DT Tommie Harris (first :shock: ), ILB Brian Urlacher (third), P Brad Maynard (second), KR Devin Hester (third :shock: ).

 

If you are not a die hard Bears fan, you would think Tommie had a solid season. 5 sacks for a DT is pretty good. Yet we all know better. Who is the first alternate for TE and C, my only legit beef with what is presented above.

[rchap24]

Lance Briggs is the only Bear Pro Bowler.

 

The alternates:

 

TE Greg Olsen (second), C Olin Kreutz (second), DT Tommie Harris (first :shock: ), ILB Brian Urlacher (third), P Brad Maynard (second), KR Devin Hester (third :shock: ).

 

If you are not a die hard Bears fan, you would think Tommie had a solid season. 5 sacks for a DT is pretty good. Yet we all know better. Who is the first alternate for TE and C, my only legit beef with what is presented above.

 

The only alternate/s I'd say that are worth even a reserve spot are Maynard and possibly Olsen depending on who he was picked over

[jersey cubs fan]

Second time this year that Packer week has been dull as heck on this board. The line has moved down to 4 from 4.5 as people are apparantly betting the Packers.

 

David Haugh wrote an article claiming that missing the playoffs wouldn't make this season a failure. I agree with the premise. I don't know where I had them in the preseason, but I think 8 wins was above the average expectation, and 9 would have been considered a success. It's funny that we're talking about the blown chances that have kept them from winning 11 already. They've been beaten thoroughly by Minnesota once, Green Bay once, and Tennessee.

 

That being said, the 10 wins Haugh comments on is far from a guarantee. I'm guessing they finish 1-1 for 9 total wins, a reasonably decent season, given the summertime expectations. But that's only because the talent level is far lower than it should be.

[UMFan83]

Packer week is dead because we're all but finished. It would be different if we still had a decent shot at the playoffs. Hell, it would be different if we were both out of it or if the Packers were in it and we weren't because that's all we had to play for. But its just kinda depressing to be 8-6 and own a record that 9 seasons out of 10 good enough to have a good shot at the playoffs, rather than just about eliminated.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Packer week is dead because we're all but finished. It would be different if we still had a decent shot at the playoffs. Hell, it would be different if we were both out of it or if the Packers were in it and we weren't because that's all we had to play for. But its just kinda depressing to be 8-6 and own a record that 9 seasons out of 10 good enough to have a good shot at the playoffs, rather than just about eliminated.

 

Just a weird, weird season all around. Everyone convinced the team is bad, they win more than expected, lots of weird finishes, and now probably being eliminated with two games to go despite being 8-6.

 

The only thing normal that happened was a QB injury.

[Soul]

Yeah, just kind of a weird one. I really wasn't all that excited about it from the beginning, mostly because of the Cubs while TC/Preseason was going on.

 

Then they ripped my heart out with some really bad late losses, and I haven't been all that excited about anything since. I didn't even put forth more than the token effort at getting tickets.

 

I'm more or less considering this a transition season -- hoping for a couple good players in this offseason to lift us to a better level next year. I am suprised they've won as many games as they have though. I think they overachieved in some areas, but held themselves back with some very disappointing defensive breakdowns.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm more or less considering this a transition season -- hoping for a couple good players in this offseason to lift us to a better level next year.

 

Unfortunately, the core of the defense is getting no younger. The youngest star, Harris, is already playing like an old man. They still need to add to the offense, but are becoming desperate for fresh blood on defense.

[rawaction]

I'm more or less considering this a transition season -- hoping for a couple good players in this offseason to lift us to a better level next year.

 

Unfortunately, the core of the defense is getting no younger. The youngest star, Harris, is already playing like an old man. They still need to add to the offense, but are becoming desperate for fresh blood on defense.

 

At this point, I'm hoping for another defense heavy draft. The QB, RB, and WRs are all pretty young. Olsen is young. The OL will be 2/5 really young with Beekman and Williams next year. Buenning and JSC aren't old either. Bears could use a DE and FS in the first 2 rounds. This draft is heavy in both. I'd get one more young OL in the 3rd. But you have to think about OLB and DT too.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

If you want a dominant defense, you pretty much have to draft it every year. The attrition rate is quite high.

[Jon]

I can't imagine the Packers are going to be super pumped to play in what will likely be -15 to -25 degree wind chills throughout the game. If the Bears are eliminated beforehand, I can't imagine they'll be, either.