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

[manbearcub]

The Bears are pretty much screwed. The Giants will have literally nothing to play for in Minnesota next week

The Vikings have blown much easier chances.

 

Never fails to put a smile on my face. :-))

[Flames24Rulz]

The Bears are pretty much screwed. The Giants will have literally nothing to play for in Minnesota next week

 

Just like the 3-12 Cardinals had nothing to play for a few years back when they beat the Vikings to knock them out of the playoffs?

 

No denying that the Vikes are choke artists. One of the sweetest sports moments ever.

[17 Seconds]

The Bears are pretty much screwed. The Giants will have literally nothing to play for in Minnesota next week

 

Just like the 3-12 Cardinals had nothing to play for a few years back when they beat the Vikings to knock them out of the playoffs?

 

That's completely different though. That team was playing the spoiler role, so they had that to play for. That is motivation. The Giants have no motivaiton whatsoever. They'll be resting guys and basically just going through the motions and trying to avoid injuries. I'd probably rather have them play a crappy team than play a good team that has already clinched everything they can.

[Fred Hornkohl]

Everything that needed to happen to keep the Bears in the playoff hunt came to fruition today, which is a good thing.

 

Which means it will be even sweeter when the Packers win tomorrow night.

 

Couldn't you be court martialed for this ?? or excommunicated, or something ?

[apete6]

The Bears are pretty much screwed. The Giants will have literally nothing to play for in Minnesota next week

 

Just like the 3-12 Cardinals had nothing to play for a few years back when they beat the Vikings to knock them out of the playoffs?

 

That's completely different though. That team was playing the spoiler role, so they had that to play for. That is motivation. The Giants have no motivaiton whatsoever. They'll be resting guys and basically just going through the motions and trying to avoid injuries. I'd probably rather have them play a crappy team than play a good team that has already clinched everything they can.

 

I wouldn't count on Coughlin mailing it in. They played NE tough last year in the last game when they really had nothing to play for, and it helped start their momentum toward the Super Bowl. Jacobs probably doesn't play because he's hurt, but I would be Eli starts and plays the whole game, as does most of their starting offense and defense.

[UMFan83]

The Bears are pretty much screwed. The Giants will have literally nothing to play for in Minnesota next week

 

Just like the 3-12 Cardinals had nothing to play for a few years back when they beat the Vikings to knock them out of the playoffs?

 

That's completely different though. That team was playing the spoiler role, so they had that to play for. That is motivation. The Giants have no motivaiton whatsoever. They'll be resting guys and basically just going through the motions and trying to avoid injuries. I'd probably rather have them play a crappy team than play a good team that has already clinched everything they can.

 

Still, I wouldn't count the Giants out just yet. Last year the Giants played all their starters because they had a chance to spoil the Pats perfect season, and it ended working out perfectly as the Giants got hot and won the Super Bowl. Don't be surprised if Coughlin does something similar after what happened last year. Especially with the bye week in between to rest guys.

[Banedon]

I haven't listened to Mike Murphy much recently, but this would motivate me to call during his "tool of the week" segment...

 

http://blogs.suntimes.com/bears/2008/12/exbears_wr_wade_bears_will_def.html

 

"We need the Bears to blow it,'' Wade told reporters in Minneapolis with a laugh. ``Where are they playing, at home? Great. They'll definitely blow it.''

[Guest]

Everything that needed to happen to keep the Bears in the playoff hunt came to fruition today, which is a good thing.

 

Which means it will be even sweeter when the Packers win tomorrow night.

 

It will be even sweeter when the Bears shut up the cheeseheads and the fairweathered fans that grew up in Chicago and inexplicably decided to root for the Packers just because the Bears had a couple of down years :)

 

Heh, nice post.

[Cynosure]

Gonna be sober tonight :( Oh well, go Bears!

[NOLA]

I have scanned this thread and cannot find the scenario by which Chicago makes the playoffs. Bears win next two games and Vikes lose next week and Chicago wins the division? Can the Bears still win a wildcard spot? ESPN still doesn't have playoff scenarios anywhere yet for the conferences. Thanks in advance.

 

EDIT: Nevermind. Found it. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3711069

Edited December 22, 2008 by NOLA

[bukie]

I have scanned this thread and cannot find the scenario by which Chicago makes the playoffs. Bears win next two games and Vikes lose next week and Chicago wins the division? Can the Bears still win a wildcard spot? ESPN still doesn't have playoff scenarios anywhere yet for the conferences. Thanks in advance.

Bears need to win out to make the playoffs.

 

If the Vikings lose, the Bears win the NFC North, and are the 3 seed, and would host Dallas, Tampa, Philly, or Minnesota.

 

If the Vikings win, but the Cowboys and Bucs lose, the Bears get the 6 seed and play at Minnesota.

[jersey cubs fan]

I have scanned this thread and cannot find the scenario by which Chicago makes the playoffs. Bears win next two games and Vikes lose next week and Chicago wins the division? Can the Bears still win a wildcard spot? ESPN still doesn't have playoff scenarios anywhere yet for the conferences. Thanks in advance.

Bears need to win out to make the playoffs.

If the Vikings lose, the Bears win the NFC North, and are the 3 seed, and would host Dallas, Tampa, Philly, or Minnesota.

 

If the Vikings win, but the Cowboys and Bucs lose, the Bears get the 6 seed and play at Minnesota.

 

It sounds to me like a lot of the media, and probably many fans, are assuming 10 wins, which tells me they are probably going to lose tonight.

[ConstableRabbit]

Are draft picks based on records or on who makes the playoffs? Playoffs, right?

[bukie]

I have scanned this thread and cannot find the scenario by which Chicago makes the playoffs. Bears win next two games and Vikes lose next week and Chicago wins the division? Can the Bears still win a wildcard spot? ESPN still doesn't have playoff scenarios anywhere yet for the conferences. Thanks in advance.

Bears need to win out to make the playoffs.

If the Vikings lose, the Bears win the NFC North, and are the 3 seed, and would host Dallas, Tampa, Philly, or Minnesota.

 

If the Vikings win, but the Cowboys and Bucs lose, the Bears get the 6 seed and play at Minnesota.

 

It sounds to me like a lot of the media, and probably many fans, are assuming 10 wins, which tells me they are probably going to lose tonight.

It would not surprise me to see the Bears lose tonight or win a close one.

 

It would surprise me immensely to see the Bears win in a blowout.

[jersey cubs fan]

Are draft picks based on records or on who makes the playoffs? Playoffs, right?

 

I believe the 12 playoff teams get the last 12 picks and then it's record.

 

Bukie, I wouldn't be surprised with just about any outcome, from a blowout loss to a blowout win and everything in between. This team has been horribly unpredictable and inconsistent.

[rawaction]

Minnesota owns all tiebreakers.

 

If the Bears win both and Minnesota loses next week, the Bears would get in because they would have a better record than the Vikings (10-6 vs. 9-7)

[rawaction]

Are draft picks based on records or on who makes the playoffs? Playoffs, right?

 

I believe the 12 playoff teams get the last 12 picks and then it's record.

 

Bukie, I wouldn't be surprised with just about any outcome, from a blowout loss to a blowout win and everything in between. This team has been horribly unpredictable and inconsistent.

 

Record. The playoff teams pick based on when they are eliminated in the playoffs. The teams that lose Wildcard weekend will then be ranked based on record, and so forth. So, the team with the worst record to go out the first week will pick 21 and so forth. I'm not sure how these tiebreakers work.

[rchap24]

Minnesota owns all tiebreakers.

 

If the Bears win both and Minnesota loses next week, the Bears would get in because they would have a better record than the Vikings (10-6 vs. 9-7)

 

We need to win out...We need the Giants to try even though they have nothing to play for on the road against the Vikes....

 

Or we need the Eagles to beat the Cowboys and the Raiders to beat the Bucs....Besides that though we still would need to win out

[rawaction]

Minnesota owns all tiebreakers.

 

If the Bears win both and Minnesota loses next week, the Bears would get in because they would have a better record than the Vikings (10-6 vs. 9-7)

 

We need to win out...We need the Giants to try even though they have nothing to play for on the road against the Vikes....

 

Or we need the Eagles to beat the Cowboys and the Raiders to beat the Bucs....Besides that though we still would need to win out

 

I figure even if the Giants don't try, they still have a legit shot to win. The defense will probably play a lot to get them back on track against a strong running team. Tavares had a decent game completion % wise this week. And last week's 4 TD game. So, if he slips up (which is likely, IMO), the Giants can easily win.

 

Still neither of these games are gimmes for the Bears. Houston is tough at home.

[rchap24]

Minnesota owns all tiebreakers.

 

If the Bears win both and Minnesota loses next week, the Bears would get in because they would have a better record than the Vikings (10-6 vs. 9-7)

 

We need to win out...We need the Giants to try even though they have nothing to play for on the road against the Vikes....

 

Or we need the Eagles to beat the Cowboys and the Raiders to beat the Bucs....Besides that though we still would need to win out

 

I figure even if the Giants don't try, they still have a legit shot to win. The defense will probably play a lot to get them back on track against a strong running team. Tavares had a decent game completion % wise this week. And last week's 4 TD game. So, if he slips up (which is likely, IMO), the Giants can easily win.

 

Still neither of these games are gimmes for the Bears. Houston is tough at home.

 

Yeah if any team has a chance even though they aren't trying its the Giants. Also to add on to it they get to play against one of the most inconsistent QB's in the league. We need to win though bottom line

[mul21]

The Bears are pretty much screwed. The Giants will have literally nothing to play for in Minnesota next week

 

Just like the 3-12 Cardinals had nothing to play for a few years back when they beat the Vikings to knock them out of the playoffs?

 

That's completely different though. That team was playing the spoiler role, so they had that to play for. That is motivation. The Giants have no motivaiton whatsoever. They'll be resting guys and basically just going through the motions and trying to avoid injuries. I'd probably rather have them play a crappy team than play a good team that has already clinched everything they can.

 

I wouldn't count on Coughlin mailing it in. They played NE tough last year in the last game when they really had nothing to play for, and it helped start their momentum toward the Super Bowl. Jacobs probably doesn't play because he's hurt, but I would be Eli starts and plays the whole game, as does most of their starting offense and defense.

 

This is exactly what I was going to post. Last year they had the playoffs locked up and still went balls to the wall to try to beat the Pats. Wouldn't surprise me a bit to see them play their regulars most, if not all, of the game.

[kujay]

The Bears are pretty much screwed. The Giants will have literally nothing to play for in Minnesota next week

 

Just like the 3-12 Cardinals had nothing to play for a few years back when they beat the Vikings to knock them out of the playoffs?

 

That's completely different though. That team was playing the spoiler role, so they had that to play for. That is motivation. The Giants have no motivaiton whatsoever. They'll be resting guys and basically just going through the motions and trying to avoid injuries. I'd probably rather have them play a crappy team than play a good team that has already clinched everything they can.

 

I wouldn't count on Coughlin mailing it in. They played NE tough last year in the last game when they really had nothing to play for, and it helped start their momentum toward the Super Bowl. Jacobs probably doesn't play because he's hurt, but I would be Eli starts and plays the whole game, as does most of their starting offense and defense.

 

This is exactly what I was going to post. Last year they had the playoffs locked up and still went balls to the wall to try to beat the Pats. Wouldn't surprise me a bit to see them play their regulars most, if not all, of the game.

 

Agreed, especially since that approach was validated last year by his team playing so well in the playoffs.

[jersey cubs fan]

The one thing working in the Bears favor is that NY has a bye week and thus doesnt' have to worry as much about resting guys for the first round.

[rchap24]

The one thing working in the Bears favor is that NY has a bye week and thus doesnt' have to worry as much about resting guys for the first round.

 

Yeah true, but if they do have someone who's even remotely injured they'll rest him

[ELCABALLO45]

Well... I would like the Bears to make the playoffs over the Vikings. I would like to beat the Bears. I would like a high draft pick.

 

I also think the Giants will play most regulars next week, if u remember last year they went balls to the wall against New England in the final game, and it seemed to help them.

 

If the Packers win I will be excited, but if they don't please win next week Chicago.