Week 16: Bears vs. Vikings, Mon. 7:30 P.M., ESPN

[Guest]

Also, had the Bears used that time out after that run, they would have had about 45 seconds AND 2 time outs at their disposal when they got the ball back.

 

Here is the play by play to end regulation. I'd say 45 seconds is probably about how much time they would have had left.

 

3rd and 9 at CHI 18 (Shotgun) B.Favre pass short right to S.Rice to CHI 7 for 11 yards (L.Briggs, N.Vasher).

Timeout #1 by MIN at 01:04.

1st and 7 at CHI 7 P.Harvin left end to CHI 7 for no gain (J.Bullocks).

2nd and 7 at CHI 7 B.Favre pass short right to J.Kleinsasser ran ob at CHI 6 for 1 yard.

3rd and 6 at CHI 6 (Shotgun) B.Favre pass incomplete short left to P.Harvin [A.Brown].

Timeout #2 by MIN at 00:22.

Timeout #1 by CHI at 00:22.

4th and 6 at CHI 6 (Shotgun) B.Favre pass short left to S.Rice for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 29 30

R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-C.Loeffler, Holder-C.Kluwe. 30 30

R.Longwell kicks 57 yards from MIN 30 to CHI 13. D.Aromashodu to CHI 31 for 18 yards (J.Sanford).

DRIVE TOTALS: MIN 30, CHI 30, 14 plays, 68 yards, 4:39 elapsed

 

Chicago Bears at 0:16 MIN CHI

1st and 10 at CHI 31 J.Cutler kneels to CHI 30 for -1 yards.

End of Period

[minnesotacubsfan]

bears were up, at home. giving the Vikings more time to collect themselves and ACCEPTING that they will score is moronic

[17 Seconds]

bears were up, at home. giving the Vikings more time to collect themselves and ACCEPTING that they will score is moronic

 

that's dumb. the vikings didn't even use their 3rd timeout. if they could gain an advantage by an extra timeout, then why didn't they even use all of theirs?

 

and you're not accepting that they'll score. you're giving yourself a chance to still win at the end of regulation IF they do score. if you call timeouts there, you're giving yourself a better chance to win the game, period. thinking otherwise is just being shortsighted.

 

this is not even some bizarre strategy or anything. this is pretty much basic clock management. a head coach usually uses the timeouts in that situation.

[minnesotacubsfan]

the only thing the bears were at risk of by not taking that time out was the Vikings going to the 2 pt conversion. if they miss that, they loose the game, if they kick the e pnt, the game goes to overtime. Besides, with Cutler's struggles in late and tight situations, so realistically the only chance the Bears really had at that point was a good kick return. And when was the last time RT called an excellent 2-min drill (which he would have had to going against a very good - albeit injured - D)? Rare to never. it makes perfect sense to let the game go to OT

 

I had no problem with Lovie's non-call there. There are plenty of other likely reasons to call for his head, but that situation is overblown in those regards.

[rawaction]

Again, I think the key point is the Bears were winning by 7 points. They had no chance of losing the game in regulation with NOT calling timeouts. Best case scenario, stop the Vikings or get a turnover and take a couple knees. Worst case scenario, go to OT. It would have been a completely different story if they were up 1-6 there, because they would have needed time to score still to win.

 

If they do call a timeout after the Harvin end around, sure they have 45 seconds and 2 TOs. But you run the risk of Cutler adding to his league leading INT total. You run the risk of a 3 and out with a couple incomplete passes, which would give Minnesota time on the clock to block a punt, run back a punt (with the league's best punt returner by the way), or take a shot at getting another Favre miracle to get into FG range.

[Guest]

Again, I think the key point is the Bears were winning by 7 points. They had no chance of losing the game in regulation with NOT calling timeouts. Best case scenario, stop the Vikings or get a turnover and take a couple knees. Worst case scenario, go to OT. It would have been a completely different story if they were up 1-6 there, because they would have needed time to score still to win.

 

If they do call a timeout after the Harvin end around, sure they have 45 seconds and 2 TOs. But you run the risk of Cutler adding to his league leading INT total. You run the risk of a 3 and out with a couple incomplete passes, which would give Minnesota time on the clock to block a punt, run back a punt (with the league's best punt returner by the way), or take a shot at getting another Favre miracle to get into FG range.

 

I'm speechless that anyone would defend letting the clock run down like that. You have so little faith in Cutler to play a series of downs without throwing an INT? Really? Honestly? This same guy you just extended halfway through the next decade? He can't be trusted now to play one series of downs without turning the ball over? I'm not even close to being at that point yet.

 

45 seconds and 2 timeouts is plenty of time to get the ball to Robbie for a game winning field goal. If you stop Minnesota, it's game over anyway. But, you absolutely MUST protect the clock in the event they do score. Guaranteed possession with 45 seconds and 2 timeouts is way better than a 50/50 shot of losing the coin toss in OT. Especially with even more defenders out for the remainder of the game (Peanut/Idonije).

[minnesotacubsfan]

Again, I think the key point is the Bears were winning by 7 points. They had no chance of losing the game in regulation with NOT calling timeouts. Best case scenario, stop the Vikings or get a turnover and take a couple knees. Worst case scenario, go to OT. It would have been a completely different story if they were up 1-6 there, because they would have needed time to score still to win.

 

If they do call a timeout after the Harvin end around, sure they have 45 seconds and 2 TOs. But you run the risk of Cutler adding to his league leading INT total. You run the risk of a 3 and out with a couple incomplete passes, which would give Minnesota time on the clock to block a punt, run back a punt (with the league's best punt returner by the way), or take a shot at getting another Favre miracle to get into FG range.

 

I'm speechless that anyone would defend letting the clock run down like that. You have so little faith in Cutler to play a series of downs without throwing an INT? Really? Honestly? This same guy you just extended halfway through the next decade? He can't be trusted now to play one series of downs without turning the ball over? I'm not even close to being at that point yet.

 

45 seconds and 2 timeouts is plenty of time to get the ball to Robbie for a game winning field goal. If you stop Minnesota, it's game over anyway. But, you absolutely MUST protect the clock in the event they do score. Guaranteed possession with 45 seconds and 2 timeouts is way better than a 50/50 shot of losing the coin toss in OT. Especially with even more defenders out for the remainder of the game (Peanut/Idonije).

 

my fear has more to do with RT then Cutler, although Cutler has hardly been stellar this year

[NCCubFan]

I can still remember clearly Dennis McKinnon running back the first kick in overtime all the way for a touchdown on one cold Thanksgiving day many years ago.

It was actually Dave Williams. Thanksgiving 1980 against the Lions. I remember listening to the game on the radio while driving somewhere.

 

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198011270det.htm

[gflore34]

I can still remember clearly Dennis McKinnon running back the first kick in overtime all the way for a touchdown on one cold Thanksgiving day many years ago.

It was actually Dave Williams. Thanksgiving 1980 against the Lions. I remember listening to the game on the radio while driving somewhere.

 

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198011270det.htm

 

I also distinctly remember Jimmy the Greek, during CBS' halftime show, saying the Bears would win in OT.

[Guest]

I can still remember clearly Dennis McKinnon running back the first kick in overtime all the way for a touchdown on one cold Thanksgiving day many years ago.

It was actually Dave Williams. Thanksgiving 1980 against the Lions. I remember listening to the game on the radio while driving somewhere.

 

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198011270det.htm

 

Wow. I guess I don't remember it that clearly. But, the point remains that the Bears won that game in OT by a kick return because they won the coin flip.

[Guest]

After rewatching the game, the Bears would have had 44 seconds and whatever time came off the clock on the kickoff.

 

Of course, that's ignoring that there was always the possibility that the Vikings would throw it into the endzone on the very next play after the timeout, which would have left somewhere around 54 seconds at the very least.

[rawaction]

Again, I think the key point is the Bears were winning by 7 points. They had no chance of losing the game in regulation with NOT calling timeouts. Best case scenario, stop the Vikings or get a turnover and take a couple knees. Worst case scenario, go to OT. It would have been a completely different story if they were up 1-6 there, because they would have needed time to score still to win.

 

If they do call a timeout after the Harvin end around, sure they have 45 seconds and 2 TOs. But you run the risk of Cutler adding to his league leading INT total. You run the risk of a 3 and out with a couple incomplete passes, which would give Minnesota time on the clock to block a punt, run back a punt (with the league's best punt returner by the way), or take a shot at getting another Favre miracle to get into FG range.

 

I'm speechless that anyone would defend letting the clock run down like that. You have so little faith in Cutler to play a series of downs without throwing an INT? Really? Honestly? This same guy you just extended halfway through the next decade? He can't be trusted now to play one series of downs without turning the ball over? I'm not even close to being at that point yet.

 

45 seconds and 2 timeouts is plenty of time to get the ball to Robbie for a game winning field goal. If you stop Minnesota, it's game over anyway. But, you absolutely MUST protect the clock in the event they do score. Guaranteed possession with 45 seconds and 2 timeouts is way better than a 50/50 shot of losing the coin toss in OT. Especially with even more defenders out for the remainder of the game (Peanut/Idonije).

 

I didn't say he couldn't be trusted. I just said it made it possible. And Cutler doesn't have the best track record with INTs in the final seconds vs. GB, ATL, and SF. I personally think the Bears had a better shot going thru their playbook and not hurrying, like they did to put up the first 30 points in the game.