Bears game 12: Sunday, Dec 5 at DET on FOX

[rawaction]

lol, in that Playoff Machine thing, I made a scenario where the Bears finish 12-4 and don't make the playoffs.

 

Edit: Also found another one where 3 NFC West teams make it.

 

Is that even possible?

[CubColtPacer]

lol, in that Playoff Machine thing, I made a scenario where the Bears finish 12-4 and don't make the playoffs.

 

If that happened, I'd be perfectly fine with no NFL in 2011. Hell I'll be pissed if 11-5 doesn't make it.

 

I still think its insane that the Pats went 11-5 a couple years back and didn't make the playoffs. How the hell is that not good enough to play in the playoffs? Heck, 10-6 and no playoffs makes me angry too.

 

The worst thing about that 12-4 and no playoffs scenario is that I think the NFC west team qualified for the playoffs at 8-8. Could you imagine the backlash if a 12-4 team didn't make the playoffs and an 8-8 team got a home playoff game?

 

It wouldn't be that different than the 2008 season you mentioned. The 11-5 Patriots missed the playoffs and the 12-4 Colts had to go to San Diego to face an 8-8 Chargers team.

[UMFan83]

lol, in that Playoff Machine thing, I made a scenario where the Bears finish 12-4 and don't make the playoffs.

 

Edit: Also found another one where 3 NFC West teams make it.

 

Is that even possible?

 

Yup, I'll try to receate it again in a bit to show you how its possible.

[UMFan83]

BTW, Mortensen and Schefter picked the Lions this weekend. I don't think its crazy to predict a Lions win at home even with their 3rd string guy, but I am surprised some of the media did. It's usually not difficult to predict the media's thinking and after a big win over the Eagles that proved the Bears were at least semi-legit to most people, combined with Hill being out, I expected the media to be almost unanimously in favor of the Bears.

[Soul]

BTW, Mortensen and Schefter picked the Lions this weekend. I don't think its crazy to predict a Lions win at home even with their 3rd string guy, but I am surprised some of the media did. It's usually not difficult to predict the media's thinking and after a big win over the Eagles that proved the Bears were at least semi-legit to most people, combined with Hill being out, I expected the media to be almost unanimously in favor of the Bears.

 

Agreed it's slightly surprising. They probably feel like Hill/Stanton is essentially not much difference since neither is more than a bench QB. After that, you're left with whether you think this is a valid letdown game for CHI - obviously a couple do.

 

I don't agree with it but I can imagine that's the thought process.

[Soul]

I know HOU's defense sucks but watching the Eagles blow through them at will still makes me appreciate our D more.

 

Vick couldn't do really anything like this against us.

[UMFan83]

This is a scenario where the Bears would finish 12-4 and not make the playoffs.

 

Week 13:

Bears over Lions

Eagles over Texans

Saints over Bengals

Packers over 49ers

Buccaneers over Falcons

 

Week 14:

Bears over Patriots

Eagles over Cowboys

Saints over Rams

Packers over Lions

Buccaneers over Redskins

Falcons over Panthers

 

Week 15:

Bears over Vikings

Eagles over Giants

Saints over Ravens

Packers over Patriots

Buccaneers over Lions

Falcons over Seahawks

 

Week 16:

Bears over Jets

Eagles over Vikings

Saints over Falcons

Packers over Giants

Buccaneers over Seahawks

 

Week 17:

Packers over Bears

Eagles over Cowboys

Buccaneers over Saints

Falcons over Panthers

 

1. Falcons (12-4)

2. Packers (12-4)

3. Eagles (12-4)

4. 49ers (6-10)

5. Buccaneers (12-4)

6. Saints (12-4)

----------------

7. Bears (12-4)

8. Giants (10-6)

 

Not sure which tiebreakers the Bears lose out on with the Packers, Bucs and Saints, it's just what ESPN spit out.

[Wilson A2000]

Has a 12 win team ever missed the playoffs?

[UMFan83]

Has a 12 win team ever missed the playoffs?

 

No...I think the Pats were the 2nd 11-5 team to miss the playoffs when they missed a couple years ago.

 

This 12-4 scenario is highly unlikely so I doubt it happens this year. But I feel like it's very likely that a 10-6 team misses the playoffs in the NFC.

[Old Style]

The Niners could win the West with a 6-10 record?

[JonJayCutler]

What's scary about that scenario is that it's not even that unpractical. Good Lord.

[UMFan83]

The Niners could win the West with a 6-10 record?

 

Yup. It would involve all the other teams also finishing 6-10.

[David]

BTW, Mortensen and Schefter picked the Lions this weekend. I don't think its crazy to predict a Lions win at home even with their 3rd string guy, but I am surprised some of the media did. It's usually not difficult to predict the media's thinking and after a big win over the Eagles that proved the Bears were at least semi-legit to most people, combined with Hill being out, I expected the media to be almost unanimously in favor of the Bears.

 

Schefter has been trolling with his picks all year.

[Soul]

The Niners could win the West with a 6-10 record?

 

Yup. It would involve all the other teams also finishing 6-10.

 

And since it's the NFL, and they'd be the home team, they could even win that opening game.

 

LOL.

[bcl412]

The Niners could win the West with a 6-10 record?

 

Yup. It would involve all the other teams also finishing 6-10.

 

And since it's the NFL, and they'd be the home team, they could even win that opening game.

 

LOL.

 

That pretty much makes you want the NFL to reconsider having divisions really. That's just stupid.

[jersey cubs fan]

BTW, Mortensen and Schefter picked the Lions this weekend. I don't think its crazy to predict a Lions win at home even with their 3rd string guy, but I am surprised some of the media did. It's usually not difficult to predict the media's thinking and after a big win over the Eagles that proved the Bears were at least semi-legit to most people, combined with Hill being out, I expected the media to be almost unanimously in favor of the Bears.

 

I'm not sure why you would expect unanimous support of the Bears. They are only 3.5 point favorites. They were 3.5 point dogs last week and many people picked them. It's perfectly reasonable to pick the Lions in an upset this week. It's almost a classic trap game, if New England was an NFC team.

[Banedon]

The Niners could win the West with a 6-10 record?

 

Yup. It would involve all the other teams also finishing 6-10.

 

And since it's the NFL, and they'd be the home team, they could even win that opening game.

 

LOL.

 

That pretty much makes you want the NFL to reconsider having divisions really. That's just stupid.

 

I'm ok with divisions, so long as they redo the seeding process. If you want an NFC west champion in the playoffs, I can kind of understand that...but they shouldn't have a home game, or be seeded as highly as they will be. Make them the 6th seed.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm ok with divisions, so long as they redo the seeding process. If you want an NFC west champion in the playoffs, I can kind of understand that...but they shouldn't have a home game, or be seeded as highly as they will be. Make them the 6th seed.

 

I think the problem is what is the cutoff? Is it all about record? That's unfair when teams can double up on weak divisions for opponents. Should a 12-4 wild card really get homefield over an 11-5 division winner? I think they could make something say you need 10 wins to host a playoff game. But that's difficult.

[Banedon]

I'm ok with divisions, so long as they redo the seeding process. If you want an NFC west champion in the playoffs, I can kind of understand that...but they shouldn't have a home game, or be seeded as highly as they will be. Make them the 6th seed.

 

I think the problem is what is the cutoff? Is it all about record? That's unfair when teams can double up on weak divisions for opponents. Should a 12-4 wild card really get homefield over an 11-5 division winner? I think they could make something say you need 10 wins to host a playoff game. But that's difficult.

 

Yeah, I think you'd just have to do it by record. Yeah, you'd have teams that beef up on weak divisions, but when you start evaluating "strength of schedule" as a factor or something, you start getting toward subjective stuff. I'm open to other ideas, but I think you still have to do it by record + tiebreakers.

[David]

BTW, Mortensen and Schefter picked the Lions this weekend. I don't think its crazy to predict a Lions win at home even with their 3rd string guy, but I am surprised some of the media did. It's usually not difficult to predict the media's thinking and after a big win over the Eagles that proved the Bears were at least semi-legit to most people, combined with Hill being out, I expected the media to be almost unanimously in favor of the Bears.

 

I'm not sure why you would expect unanimous support of the Bears. They are only 3.5 point favorites. They were 3.5 point dogs last week and many people picked them. It's perfectly reasonable to pick the Lions in an upset this week. It's almost a classic trap game, if New England was an NFC team.

 

 

They're actually 5 point favorites.

[jersey cubs fan]

BTW, Mortensen and Schefter picked the Lions this weekend. I don't think its crazy to predict a Lions win at home even with their 3rd string guy, but I am surprised some of the media did. It's usually not difficult to predict the media's thinking and after a big win over the Eagles that proved the Bears were at least semi-legit to most people, combined with Hill being out, I expected the media to be almost unanimously in favor of the Bears.

 

I'm not sure why you would expect unanimous support of the Bears. They are only 3.5 point favorites. They were 3.5 point dogs last week and many people picked them. It's perfectly reasonable to pick the Lions in an upset this week. It's almost a classic trap game, if New England was an NFC team.

 

 

They're actually 5 point favorites.

 

When did that happen?

[Banedon]

BTW, Mortensen and Schefter picked the Lions this weekend. I don't think its crazy to predict a Lions win at home even with their 3rd string guy, but I am surprised some of the media did. It's usually not difficult to predict the media's thinking and after a big win over the Eagles that proved the Bears were at least semi-legit to most people, combined with Hill being out, I expected the media to be almost unanimously in favor of the Bears.

 

I'm not sure why you would expect unanimous support of the Bears. They are only 3.5 point favorites. They were 3.5 point dogs last week and many people picked them. It's perfectly reasonable to pick the Lions in an upset this week. It's almost a classic trap game, if New England was an NFC team.

 

 

They're actually 5 point favorites.

 

When did that happen?

 

I think when it was reported that Stanton was starting.

[David]

Not sure... That's a pretty big road favorite, though.

[jersey cubs fan]

BTW, Mortensen and Schefter picked the Lions this weekend. I don't think its crazy to predict a Lions win at home even with their 3rd string guy, but I am surprised some of the media did. It's usually not difficult to predict the media's thinking and after a big win over the Eagles that proved the Bears were at least semi-legit to most people, combined with Hill being out, I expected the media to be almost unanimously in favor of the Bears.

 

I'm not sure why you would expect unanimous support of the Bears. They are only 3.5 point favorites. They were 3.5 point dogs last week and many people picked them. It's perfectly reasonable to pick the Lions in an upset this week. It's almost a classic trap game, if New England was an NFC team.

 

 

They're actually 5 point favorites.

 

When did that happen?

 

I think when it was reported that Stanton was starting.

 

Maybe I was just looking at old data but I looked after it was first reported and still saw 3.5. I thought the Hill injury was out early and speculation about Stanton came well before it was announced. I'm glad my pick-em leagues are set at the lower number.

[Banedon]

Chester Taylor and Kahlil Bell had to be separated during practice Thursday afternoon in the Walter Payton Center. The situation was resolved before it escalated, according to a source, who said there was a suspicion something had been brewing between the two. Practice quickly resumed.