Bears game 11: Sunday, Nov 28 vs PHI on FOX

[UMFan83]

According to Football outsiders efficiency ratings the Eagles should be number 1 and the Bears should be 24th.

[rawaction]

I keep thinking about how big these 2 games are. Actually how big this game is in particular to set up the rest of our season.

 

If we can win this game, we are 8-3 with the worst team left on our schedule coming up. By no means is Detroit a gimme, although it seems like several close losses have killed their spirit a bit. But its a game that we should win if we are a playoff team. And if we beat Philly, theres no reason to turn around and lose to Detroit.

 

I honestly think this team can beat Philly. And I am pretty sure that we will at the very minimum have a very close game on our hands. We haven't been blown out against anyone this year and with how good the defense is playing, I can't see even a good offensive team like Philly blowing us out.

 

Huge game. Lose this, and the Bears have no possible wildcard tiebreakers, at least at the moment. That would put them at 5-4 in the conference, while NO (assuming they beat Dallas) is 7-2 and Tampa 5-2 vs. the NFC. Then you have to sweep the division games just to get to 8-4 in the NFC, and to get the tiebreaker over GB.

[Guest]

It's horrible - I still have little confidence in this team.

[bukie]

According to Football outsiders efficiency ratings the Eagles should be number 1 and the Bears should be 24th.

Of course, those haven't taken into account this week's results.

 

Also, the Bears should get a bit of a disclaimer for 6 quarters of Todd Collins football.

[UMFan83]

According to Football outsiders efficiency ratings the Eagles should be number 1 and the Bears should be 24th.

Of course, those haven't taken into account this week's results.

 

Also, the Bears should get a bit of a disclaimer for 6 quarters of Todd Collins football.

 

Sure but I don't know how much of a bump we will get. The bears already rank 6th in their d rankings so I'd expect a bit of a bump. The offense is 30tj and is a huge gap below 29th and was nothing special in all metrics on Thursday. So they might be like 20th or something.

[UMFan83]

I'm with ya on the disclaimer but even still on the game Collins started the rushed for the most yards a bears team has in almost 15 years so I'm not sure the bears even had a huge knock in rankings for that game. The biggest factor that's weighing them down is the oline and in particular pass blocking which was historically bad until a couple weeks ago.

[ELCABALLO45]

There are only three 8-2 teams. Packers beat the Jets in NY....who beat the Pats. None of them have played Atlanta yet. The team of the moment is the Eagles who the Packers beat in Philly, though that was pre-Vick taking over.

 

Since the horrible loss at home vs. Miami (where they had major injury issues), they've won 4 straight, giving up an average of 3 points in the last 3. Granted Dallas and Minnesota probably quit, but neither game was anywhere near being in doubt (76-10 combined score). And you still have the impressive shutout in NY to give those wins merit.

 

Maybe Atlanta should be #1, but Green Bay has just as good an argument as anyone.

 

Vick did take over half way through the 2nd quarter.

 

Against Washington the Redskins couldn't move the ball at all, and McNabb had zero time to throw it. Clay goes down and funny McNabb has all day to throw it. Packers lose in OT and next week Clay doesn't play and they lose at home to Miami. The fact that the you can even make a decent argument for the Packers as best team in the NFL after all these injuries floors me. We will see how good they are next week when they go to Atlanta.

 

And UMFan, I didn't read that right so my bad.

[rawaction]

Hakeem Nicks of the Giants out for 3 weeks. With Steve Smith out at least 1-2 more, the Giants (who are already 1 game behind the top of the NFC) look to be in trouble....which is to the Bears advantage. However, they do have some winnable games at home vs. Jax and Washington then @ Minnesota the next 3. They'll get Nicks back in time to face Green Bay, Philly and go to Washington.

 

If the Giants lose a couple of the next 3, the Bears are in very good shape, as I still don't believe Tampa is good enough to go any better than 3-3 or 2-4 the rest of the way. Meaning ATL, NO, GB, PHI, CHI, NFC West champ are the 6 playoff teams.

[Flames24Rulz]

If the Giants lose a couple of the next 3, the Bears are in very good shape, as I still don't believe Tampa is good enough to go any better than 3-3 or 2-4 the rest of the way. Meaning ATL, NO, GB, PHI, CHI, NFC West champ are the 6 playoff teams.

 

I'm cool with that.

[DivineBovine]

I have little faith in winning this game. But if they do, it'll make me a believer. This would be a signature win.

[jersey cubs fan]

On his podcast Simmons said that he thought the line should be Philly by 3, but that since Chicago is getting so much respect he is guessing Chicago by 2.5. And Cousin Sal says "they do get a ton of respect'. What in the world is he talking about? They are consistently the lowest rated team with their record by most people. They were 2 point dogs last week and won by 16. They were dogs to Minnesota at home when the Vikings were mid-freefall. Why would you think Chicago would be favored?

[UMFan83]

On his podcast Simmons said that he thought the line should be Philly by 3, but that since Chicago is getting so much respect he is guessing Chicago by 2.5. And Cousin Sal says "they do get a ton of respect'. What in the world is he talking about? They are consistently the lowest rated team with their record by most people. They were 2 point dogs last week and won by 16. They were dogs to Minnesota at home when the Vikings were mid-freefall. Why would you think Chicago would be favored?

 

I have no idea how Simmons manages to be completely off the mark about everything he says about the Bears, but he does.

[SpongeWorthy]

The line is Philly -4. We've got respect out the yin yang baby!

[jersey cubs fan]

The line is Philly -4. We've got respect out the yin yang baby!

 

I haven't seen that one yet. Just 3, and 3.5. CBS pick-em is using 3.5 and Philly is getting 75% of the vote, so it wouldn't surprise me to see it go to 4 or 4.5.

[jersey cubs fan]

Why is there an article in the Trib that says "Not the time to extend Lovie's contract"? What moron has suggested it is the time? They have won 7 games. They won 7 games last year. This is not an accomplishment worth rewarding. Making the playoffs is not reason enough for an extension. If he wins the Super Bowl, go ahead, but he's already signed through next season and the last time they gave him an extension his team did nothing but disappoint for three straight seasons.

[CubColtPacer]

On his podcast Simmons said that he thought the line should be Philly by 3, but that since Chicago is getting so much respect he is guessing Chicago by 2.5. And Cousin Sal says "they do get a ton of respect'. What in the world is he talking about? They are consistently the lowest rated team with their record by most people. They were 2 point dogs last week and won by 16. They were dogs to Minnesota at home when the Vikings were mid-freefall. Why would you think Chicago would be favored?

 

I just listened to it and Simmons said that he thought they would be getting respect now from people (why I'm not sure). And Sal when he said the line "they do get a ton of respect" was talking about the Eagles because he then mentioned that the Bears are the flip side of that and the home team should normally be favored in this situation.

[jersey cubs fan]

On his podcast Simmons said that he thought the line should be Philly by 3, but that since Chicago is getting so much respect he is guessing Chicago by 2.5. And Cousin Sal says "they do get a ton of respect'. What in the world is he talking about? They are consistently the lowest rated team with their record by most people. They were 2 point dogs last week and won by 16. They were dogs to Minnesota at home when the Vikings were mid-freefall. Why would you think Chicago would be favored?

 

I just listened to it and Simmons said that he thought they would be getting respect now from people (why I'm not sure). And Sal when he said the line "they do get a ton of respect" was talking about the Eagles because he then mentioned that the Bears are the flip side of that and the home team should normally be favored in this situation.

 

No, you are wrong. You aren't paying attention to context.

They were specifically talking about the Bears getting respect. It was not "now they will". Simmons has been baffled about the Bears getting more respect than he has given them all season. He guessed they would be significant dogs in Buffalo and was shocked they were favored. He throught they would be huge dogs against Minnesota and had no idea why they were only like 1 or 1.5 point dogs. He's called them a bottom three team in the league at points this year, and after briefly saying they were good thought they were a horrible team again midseason. He correctly guessed the line as philly -3, but said because Vegas keeps giving the Bears more credit than he gives them figured it would be something like Bears -2.

 

The point is he's completely oblivious to his own idiocy. He's the one who has been giving them negative respect, and therefore when Vegas surprises him with a line, it's because he has no clue.

Edited November 24, 2010 by jersey cubs fan

[rawaction]

Why is there an article in the Trib that says "Not the time to extend Lovie's contract"? What moron has suggested it is the time? They have won 7 games. They won 7 games last year. This is not an accomplishment worth rewarding. Making the playoffs is not reason enough for an extension. If he wins the Super Bowl, go ahead, but he's already signed through next season and the last time they gave him an extension his team did nothing but disappoint for three straight seasons.

 

Winning the Superbowl is still not reason to give Lovie an extension, IMO. Like you said, last time he took the Bears to the Superbowl, it didn't start any sort of consistent winning. So, why extend him when history shows you could just go 7-9 again next year? With 1 more year on his deal, the decision doesn't have to made this year at all, and shouldn't by any means. Bears go deep into the playoffs, and start next season 7-3, then talk extension. This is not even close to a rush situation no matter how much they win this year.

[Flames24Rulz]

They are consistently the lowest rated team with their record by most people.

 

That's simply not true. Tampa Bay?

 

The Minnesota game was a joke, though. They lost something like their last 8 road games and they beat the Bears once in Chicago over the last several years. Not to mention everybody knows how Favre struggles in less than ideal conditions. Vegas is usually pretty smart, but that was a dumb line. More people should have taken advantage of that.

[jersey cubs fan]

They are consistently the lowest rated team with their record by most people.

 

That's simply not true. Tampa Bay?

 

I've seen them below Tampa on many lists. They've been behind a crappy Oakland team and the rest of that weak AFC West as well.

[evv98]

There are only three 8-2 teams. Packers beat the Jets in NY....who beat the Pats. None of them have played Atlanta yet. The team of the moment is the Eagles who the Packers beat in Philly, though that was pre-Vick taking over.

 

Since the horrible loss at home vs. Miami (where they had major injury issues), they've won 4 straight, giving up an average of 3 points in the last 3. Granted Dallas and Minnesota probably quit, but neither game was anywhere near being in doubt (76-10 combined score). And you still have the impressive shutout in NY to give those wins merit.

 

Maybe Atlanta should be #1, but Green Bay has just as good an argument as anyone.

 

Vick did take over half way through the 2nd quarter.

 

FWIW, Vick took over at halftime of the game. Kolb got concussed on a third down run midway through the second quarter. He then came back for the Eagles last series of the half, a three-and-out. Vick came in on the first series of the second half, which lasted three plays because of a fumble on a pass play. By the time Vick got the ball a second time, the Packers were ahead 20-3.

 

After the game, I remember thinking the Eagles looked like the better team with Vick at QB. Both teams are obviously better teams that what they showed week 1, but I think the Eagles are better.

[jersey cubs fan]

Why is there an article in the Trib that says "Not the time to extend Lovie's contract"? What moron has suggested it is the time? They have won 7 games. They won 7 games last year. This is not an accomplishment worth rewarding. Making the playoffs is not reason enough for an extension. If he wins the Super Bowl, go ahead, but he's already signed through next season and the last time they gave him an extension his team did nothing but disappoint for three straight seasons.

 

Winning the Superbowl is still not reason to give Lovie an extension, IMO. Like you said, last time he took the Bears to the Superbowl, it didn't start any sort of consistent winning. So, why extend him when history shows you could just go 7-9 again next year? With 1 more year on his deal, the decision doesn't have to made this year at all, and shouldn't by any means. Bears go deep into the playoffs, and start next season 7-3, then talk extension. This is not even close to a rush situation no matter how much they win this year.

 

While I see no reason to rush, a Super Bowl victory is obviously a reason to extend him. He's only signed through next season, and a super bowl winning coach doesn't work in lame duck fashion. If all they do is make the playoffs then I don't talk extension until after the CBA is finalized, and even then it has to be done without a raise, because he certainly hasn't earned one. Haugh is claiming he's done more with less this year which is absolutely absurd. This team is talented enough to make the playoffs. They are light on the line and WR. But they've spent big money on big time players, Peppers, Urlacher and Briggs are huge investments. Not to mention Harris and Tillman. And they have gone out and acquired a big time QB.

[UMFan83]

They are consistently the lowest rated team with their record by most people.

 

That's simply not true. Tampa Bay?

 

I've seen them below Tampa on many lists. They've been behind a crappy Oakland team and the rest of that weak AFC West as well.

 

Yeah just about every ranking I've seen has TB over the bears. Still not sure why though.

[Flames24Rulz]

They are consistently the lowest rated team with their record by most people.

 

That's simply not true. Tampa Bay?

 

I've seen them below Tampa on many lists. They've been behind a crappy Oakland team and the rest of that weak AFC West as well.

 

I'd like to see these lists.

 

Tampa Bay didn't even have their highlights shown on SportsCenter after shutting out the Niners. I know that's not exactly a big game, but a team did move to 7-3 because of it. I think most of the general public just seems to think of the Bucs as a joke that really do not do anything well where people know the Bears can at least play defense and special teams at a high level.

[jersey cubs fan]

They are consistently the lowest rated team with their record by most people.

 

That's simply not true. Tampa Bay?

 

I've seen them below Tampa on many lists. They've been behind a crappy Oakland team and the rest of that weak AFC West as well.

 

I'd like to see these lists.

 

Tampa Bay didn't even have their highlights shown on SportsCenter after shutting out the Niners. I know that's not exactly a big game, but a team did move to 7-3 because of it. I think most of the general public just seems to think of the Bucs as a joke that really do not do anything well where people know the Bears can at least play defense and special teams at a high level.

 

That's nice and all, but this season has been going on for a while now and lists are updated every week. Many times Tampa has been ranked ahead of Chicago. A couple weeks ago Simmons had the Bears ranked 28 while Tampa was upper half. After week 10, Don Banks had the Bears 16 and Tampa 13. After week 11 it was Bears 14 Tampa 11. I've seen this is multiple places. Not all of them, but multiple.