Bears game 14: Monday Dec 20, at MIN (TCF)

[jersey cubs fan]

Has anybody heard how late in the week they will allow Minnesota where this game will be played? The college field was supposedly off limits due to lack of time to prepare. Now that shouldn't be an issue. I don't think they can allow them to go until Friday before figuring out if this will be a dome or outdoor game, not to mention what state it will be played in.

[hawkeyecub]

Has anybody heard how late in the week they will allow Minnesota where this game will be played? The college field was supposedly off limits due to lack of time to prepare. Now that shouldn't be an issue. I don't think they can allow them to go until Friday before figuring out if this will be a dome or outdoor game, not to mention what state it will be played in.

 

FWIW on KFAN in the twin cities this morning a worker for U of M/TCF Bank Stadium phoned in and said that that they were called in and told to prepare to work all week to get the stadium ready.

[Banedon]

Has anybody heard how late in the week they will allow Minnesota where this game will be played? The college field was supposedly off limits due to lack of time to prepare. Now that shouldn't be an issue. I don't think they can allow them to go until Friday before figuring out if this will be a dome or outdoor game, not to mention what state it will be played in.

 

I've heard that U of Minnesota is the backup option, but that they think that the Metrodome should be good. I would imagine that they will make every effort to have it in the metrodome so they don't lose out on the money from refunds. Also U of Minnesota holds something like 14k less ppl.

[jersey cubs fan]

Has anybody heard how late in the week they will allow Minnesota where this game will be played? The college field was supposedly off limits due to lack of time to prepare. Now that shouldn't be an issue. I don't think they can allow them to go until Friday before figuring out if this will be a dome or outdoor game, not to mention what state it will be played in.

 

I've heard that U of Minnesota is the backup option, but that they think that the Metrodome should be good. I would imagine that they will make every effort to have it in the metrodome so they don't lose out on the money from refunds. Also U of Minnesota holds something like 14k less ppl.

 

If they put it at the college stadium they should be able to make up most of their losses for that game, at least. My guess is you could offer everybody a refund or a seat for same cost with a few exceptions, and come out close to even when all is said and done.

 

And while they might be able to fix the metrodome in time, I do not think the NFL can allow that decision to wait until Friday when the difference is a dome game versus an outdoor game.

[JonJayCutler]

It should also be pointed out that it's very unlikely now that the Bears end up with a WC. Simply because in order to not win the division, it would require us going 1-2 or 0-3 in the final 3 games, in which case it's very doubtful we'd get a WC either.

 

In fact, I believe it's now impossible for us to go 2-1 and get a WC instead of the division, because 2-1 wins us the division regardless of who the two wins are against. Right? The only way we can get a WC is if we lose games against the Vikings and Packers but beat the Jets, and then two of the Giants/Eagles/Bucs decide to tank and finish at 10-6 (in the case of the Eagles) or below.

 

Playoff scenarios are tiring.

[jersey cubs fan]

It should also be pointed out that it's very unlikely now that the Bears end up with a WC. Simply because in order to not win the division, it would require us going 1-2 or 0-3 in the final 3 games, in which case it's very doubtful we'd get a WC either.

 

In fact, I believe it's now impossible for us to go 2-1 and get a WC instead of the division, because 2-1 wins us the division regardless of who the two wins are against. Right? The only way we can get a WC is if we lose games against the Vikings and Packers but beat the Jets, and then two of the Giants/Eagles/Bucs decide to tank and finish at 10-6 (in the case of the Eagles) or below.

 

Playoff scenarios are tiring.

 

Yeah I mentioned that WC is becoming a long shot.

 

But they can go 2-1, vs MIN and NYJ and still lose the division if Green Bay wins out. That would be unlikely but New England has lost to both the Jets and Cleveland, a team that is no better than the Bears and a very mediocre at best team.

[JonJayCutler]

I've heard that U of Minnesota is the backup option

 

That's the best case scenario for the Bears I think. Simply because it's playing a dome team outdoors and it's not like the weather could get any worse than what the Bears just played in. What are the other options? Ford Field? Edward Jones?

[jersey cubs fan]

I've heard that U of Minnesota is the backup option

 

That's the best case scenario for the Bears I think. Simply because it's playing a dome team outdoors and it's not like the weather could get any worse than what the Bears just played in. What are the other options? Ford Field? Edward Jones?

 

Actually I'm not so sure it's the best option. It probably is if brittle Brett plays, but the Bears are not a cold weather team, and Minnesota is not New Orleans. I'd rather they play at Ford Field, but that probably can't happen.

[CubColtPacer]

It should also be pointed out that it's very unlikely now that the Bears end up with a WC. Simply because in order to not win the division, it would require us going 1-2 or 0-3 in the final 3 games, in which case it's very doubtful we'd get a WC either.

 

In fact, I believe it's now impossible for us to go 2-1 and get a WC instead of the division, because 2-1 wins us the division regardless of who the two wins are against. Right? The only way we can get a WC is if we lose games against the Vikings and Packers but beat the Jets, and then two of the Giants/Eagles/Bucs decide to tank and finish at 10-6 (in the case of the Eagles) or below.

 

Playoff scenarios are tiring.

 

Yeah I mentioned that WC is becoming a long shot.

 

But they can go 2-1, vs MIN and NYJ and still lose the division if Green Bay wins out. That would be unlikely but New England has lost to both the Jets and Cleveland, a team that is no better than the Bears and a very mediocre at best team.

 

In that scenario the Bears would win due to having a better division record. 11 wins gives the Bears the division no matter how it's done.

[hawkeyecub]

I've heard that U of Minnesota is the backup option

 

That's the best case scenario for the Bears I think. Simply because it's playing a dome team outdoors and it's not like the weather could get any worse than what the Bears just played in. What are the other options? Ford Field? Edward Jones?

 

I'm pretty sure it will be in Minnesota somewhere. It's the final home game and this is the 50th anniversary. They've been splashing the 50 stuff on everything all year and are having this huge event coinciding with the game where they're bringing in a ton of people from the past and having a large gala the night before the game.

 

With this much time left to prepare I think they'll have TCF ready to go if the dome isn't fixed. The dome would be louder but I think the crowd may be rowdier if it's outdoors.

Edited December 13, 2010 by hawkeyecub

[JonJayCutler]

But they can go 2-1, vs MIN and NYJ and still lose the division if Green Bay wins out.

 

I don't think so. That puts both teams at 11-5, but since the Bears would have beaten the Vikings, they would hold the division record tiebreaker 5-1 over 4-2.

 

2-1 wins us the division regardless.

[jersey cubs fan]

In that scenario the Bears would win due to having a better division record. 11 wins gives the Bears the division no matter how it's done.

 

True, that would give them the Vikings game, which I forgot to take into account on division standings.

 

 

Thanks Detroit!

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Kinnick Stadium is available. Move it there and give away free tickets.

[jersey cubs fan]

I've heard that U of Minnesota is the backup option

 

That's the best case scenario for the Bears I think. Simply because it's playing a dome team outdoors and it's not like the weather could get any worse than what the Bears just played in. What are the other options? Ford Field? Edward Jones?

 

I'm pretty sure it will be in Minnesota somewhere. It's the final home game and this is the 50th anniversary. They've been splashing the 50 stuff on everything all year and are having this huge event coinciding with the game where they're bringing in a ton of people from the past and having a large gala the night before the game.

 

With this much time left to prepare I think they'll have TCF ready to go if the dome isn't fixed. The dome would be louder but I think the crowd may be rowdier if it's outdoors.

 

I assume this is the case, but I still want to hear how long the NFL will allow Minnesota to dick around on this issue. They can't wait until the last minute to decide. Of course the NFL allowed Minnesota to screw around with their stadium to bring the need for a new one on the front pages so maybe they will allow them to play dirty on this issue all week.

[hawkeyecub]

I would guess that they make a decision by Friday. It would be a dick move to wait until Saturday or Sunday to tell people who had tickets that there was no longer room for them to see the game after they had traveled.

[jersey cubs fan]

I would guess that they make a decision by Friday. It would be a dick move to wait until Saturday or Sunday to tell people who had tickets that there was no longer room for them to see the game after they had traveled.

 

Friday is way too late given the practice schedule for NFL teams. It has to be Tuesday. Odds are the Vikings will know the answer themselves long before Friday, so allowing them to plan for the game while the Bears are hung out to dry would be a bad move by the NFL.

[hawkeyecub]

I would guess that they make a decision by Friday. It would be a dick move to wait until Saturday or Sunday to tell people who had tickets that there was no longer room for them to see the game after they had traveled.

 

Friday is way too late given the practice schedule for NFL teams. It has to be Tuesday. Odds are the Vikings will know the answer themselves long before Friday, so allowing them to plan for the game while the Bears are hung out to dry would be a bad move by the NFL.

 

I don't think it has to be Tuesday for a Monday night game. That means the players are basically off until Wednesday. Is the game plan THAT dependent upon weather that you need 6 days? Most of the inital works the coaches are doing is just based on matchups and tendencies.

 

The contractors and workers are evaluating and getting to it today though so I think there will probably be a pretty good idea by tomorrow or Wednesday. They may not make it official right away but I highly doubt the Vikings are going to know where it is and the NFL lets the Bears dangle in the wind.

[Soul]

They can't hold their 50th anniversary over the league's head as a reason this must be in Minnesota.

 

They should have thought about that when they decided to let their stadium become a decrepit dump.

[Banedon]

I've heard that U of Minnesota is the backup option

 

That's the best case scenario for the Bears I think. Simply because it's playing a dome team outdoors and it's not like the weather could get any worse than what the Bears just played in. What are the other options? Ford Field? Edward Jones?

 

I'd much, much rather they just get the Metrodome fixed and play there. We can beat the Vikings there. The Bears defense is based on getting to the ball carrier fast...I think that's part of where we suffered on Sunday (among a ton of other things). I think the Bears are built more for warm weather/domes.

 

EDIT:

 

"There's a reason they call it the Tampa-2," he quipped. "Because they were playing that defense when it's 70 degrees in December on nice Bermuda grass down there. Think about it."

 

"That's the thing about our defense. If you're a fast defense, you play better on turf or a fast surface. With their defense, it's a 3-4 where guys stand up, stand around. Really, traction, coming off the ball is not a problem for them. They just stand there. But that is no excuse. They just beat us."

[Banedon]

A decision on whether or not they'll be able to play there is expected today.

 

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/12/decision-on-metrodome-status-expected-monday.html

[JonJayCutler]

I'd actually be quite surprised if the game is still played in the Metrodome. I'm not an expert on architecture or construction, but it just seems like a lot of crap to clean up and fix in a week's time.

[Banedon]

I'd actually be quite surprised if the game is still played in the Metrodome. I'm not an expert on architecture or construction, but it just seems like a lot of crap to clean up and fix in a week's time.

 

Like you, I'm not expert on the subject, but I'm guessing the cleanup is much less of a concern than the fixing of the holes in the roof. If those holes are fixed, I think they'd play.

[kujay]

Selfishly, St. Louis would be a sweet location for the game.

 

But I'm sure they'll do everything they can to play it up there.

[Flames24Rulz]

I heard something that the Carrier Dome has an extra panel that they would send over to Minnesota to help repair the roof.

[CubColtPacer]

I'm pretty sure Brad Biggs said the Jets game wasn't going to be changed

 

The current Sunday night game, Cincy/San Diego is a complete dog that has to be switched out. The NFL announces 12 days in advance and will take it's time on this one since it's nearing the end of the season (they can announce week 17 6 days in advance). Chicago/NY is huge. Two big city teams with major followings both in need of wins for playoff hopes. They might want to hold back the Bears for a weeky 17 sunday night game. NYG/GB is currently slated as a 4:15 game, but that could be a night game. I think Fox has the doubleheader. But I think it's still a possibility.

 

Minnesota-Philly has been flexed to the 8:20 game that week. Apparently the Colts-Raiders game was strongly considered but they ultimately went away from it after the Raiders lost yesterday.