Bears game 15: December 26 vs JETS on CBS

[jersey cubs fan]

The threat of a letdown is obviously there for the Bears, after becoming the first team to clinch. We talk a lot about getting byes and homefield, but it never seems to me that teams really put that much emphasis on it.

 

The Bears need this game if they want to go far in the playoffs. Philly is going to crush the Vikings and Dallas the next two weeks. And I really don't want to face the Packers in week 1.

 

The Jets are very beatable. They probably should have 6 or 7 already. They also more or less wrapped up a wild card spot this weekend with a win over Pittsburgh, who for some reason didn't really care about that game. They also get to finish with Buffalo at home as a sort of cushion game to wrap up the spot. The Jets don't really throw the ball. They have relatively few attempts and a very low yards/attempt. They do a decent job protecting the QB, but Sanchez is susceptible to being rattled. The Jets do run the ball a lot, although they aren't that dangerous of a running team. The y/a are nice, but they've come down as Tomlinson's production has slipped after a hot start. Greene is a threat, but hasn't done much of late.

 

The defense is good, but probably not as good as the reputation. They do not shut down the passing game like they once did, and their best weapon, playing Revis against your #1 to shut him down isn't really an advantage against a Bears team without a #1. The Jets only have 7 INT but they cause a lot of fumbles and they limit their own turnovers.

 

No doubt it is a solid team. The Bears were early 1.5 point favorites but the line is currently off as they adjust to the demolition on the ice rink. It's going to be cold for this game. Chicago should win. There's no good reason why they can't. But I really fear the letdown after clinching and the potential for looking ahead to GB.

[KingCubsFan]

We're a better team, but I fear a letdown after the big win. If we beat the Jets, how secure is the #2 seed?

[Wilson A2000]

Sanchez has a sore shoulder from landing on it Sunday and got an MRI which came out negative. The breaks keep coming Chicago's way even though Sanchez will play.

[rawaction]

We're a better team, but I fear a letdown after the big win. If we beat the Jets, how secure is the #2 seed?

 

No more secure than it is now. Philly will beat the Vikings.

[Wilson A2000]

We're a better team, but I fear a letdown after the big win. If we beat the Jets, how secure is the #2 seed?

 

No more secure than it is now. Philly will beat the Vikings.

 

And the Cowboys. The Bears will probably need to win out to get the first round bye.

[JonJayCutler]

We're a better team, but I fear a letdown after the big win. If we beat the Jets, how secure is the #2 seed?

 

Not very, unless Philly loses, then we would clinch the 2nd seed. I'm resigned to the fact that Philly is going to win their remaining two games, both of which are at home against the Vikings and Cowboys. Therefore we're most likely going to have to win our last two to get that first-round bye. I don't see it happening.

 

When's the last time the Bears played during WC weekend? 1994?

[David]

I could see Philly losing to the Cowboys. It's not like the Eagles are some juggernaut. They were very lucky (and so were we) to beat the Giants. The Vikings, not so much... unless AP comes back and has some monster game.

[rawaction]

I've been waiting all year to use this line:

 

Forget Revis Island, you are about to take a trip to........JOHNNY KNOXVILLE!

[jersey cubs fan]

I could see Philly losing to the Cowboys. It's not like the Eagles are some juggernaut. They were very lucky (and so were we) to beat the Giants. The Vikings, not so much... unless AP comes back and has some monster game.

 

Philly did just sneak away with win in Dallas and against the Giants. If GB beats the Giants, the Eagles could just as easily suffer their own letdown game.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I've been waiting all year to use this line:

 

Forget Revis Island, you are about to take a trip to........JOHNNY KNOXVILLE!

 

you should have kept it to yourself

[Sammy Sofa]

TRADE HESTER.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm kind of annoyed by all the "who ever would have thought the Bears could contend or win 10 games this year" talk. The Bears had the upside for 10 or more wins all along. The only people who can't realize that are the ones who insist Jay Cutler is horrible. He's a really good QB on a team that finally went with an NFL coaching staff. 10 wins was well within reason, and 11-12 shouldn't be that surprising.

[jersey cubs fan]

Bears now showing up as 2.5 point favorites.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I'm kind of annoyed by all the "who ever would have thought the Bears could contend or win 10 games this year" talk. The Bears had the upside for 10 or more wins all along. The only people who can't realize that are the ones who insist Jay Cutler is horrible. He's a really good QB on a team that finally went with an NFL coaching staff. 10 wins was well within reason, and 11-12 shouldn't be that surprising.

I think I had them around 11 wins before the season.

[David]

Same. I thought the people predicting 4-5 wins were bordering on insane. Add Peppers, Urlacher, Martz and get worse?

 

Sure, in the NFL anything is possible, but I would've bet a good amount of money on over 8 wins.

 

 

Saw anywhere between 9-11 wins as reasonable.

[UMFan83]

If the Eagles were playing anyone but Joe Webb's Vikings I would suggest a letdown for the Eagles after pretty much clinching the division in an emotional comeback victory over a heated rival. But I just can't see the Vikings offense giving the Eagles any sort of threat after whats happened to them the last 2 weeks. We need a win.

 

I know jersey said that teams don't seem to get up for these byes or seeding after they clinch the division, and he is right. But I think these Bears know how much a bye means to their Super Bowl chances and will play their asses off to try to clinch it. They control their destiny.

[UMFan83]

I'm kind of annoyed by all the "who ever would have thought the Bears could contend or win 10 games this year" talk. The Bears had the upside for 10 or more wins all along. The only people who can't realize that are the ones who insist Jay Cutler is horrible. He's a really good QB on a team that finally went with an NFL coaching staff. 10 wins was well within reason, and 11-12 shouldn't be that surprising.

 

I was on the "Bears have the potential to go 4-12 or 12-4 this year" bandwagon. I really didn't know what to think given that our biggest need wasn't addressed (o-line) in the offseason, our second biggest need was addressed big time (Peppers), but partially negated (so I thought) by cutting Alex Brown. They looked awful in the preseason even though I thought I conditioned myself to not take much from preseason results, and they were facing what looked like a really really tough schedule. But I knew the potential of Cutler, I was optimistic about the return of Urlacher and Pisa to go along with Peppers and Major Wright as additions, and hoped the team would respond with Lovie's back against the wall. They did.

[Guest]

Are the Packers going to make the playoffs? Don't they have to leapfrog over the Saints and Giants? Do they own any tie breakers on those two teams?

 

Even if this game is a letdown potential, won't we still rise up against the Packers if it means keeping them from making the playoffs AND potentially securing a bye? Will Rodgers be back for either of their last two games?

[bukie]

Are the Packers going to make the playoffs? Don't they have to leapfrog over the Saints and Giants? Do they own any tie breakers on those two teams?

 

Even if this game is a letdown potential, won't we still rise up against the Packers if it means keeping them from making the playoffs AND potentially securing a bye? Will Rodgers be back for either of their last two games?

The Packers will own a tiebreaker over the Giants if they beat the Giants this week.

[UMFan83]

Are the Packers going to make the playoffs? Don't they have to leapfrog over the Saints and Giants? Do they own any tie breakers on those two teams?

 

Even if this game is a letdown potential, won't we still rise up against the Packers if it means keeping them from making the playoffs AND potentially securing a bye? Will Rodgers be back for either of their last two games?

 

The Packers need to win out to make the playoffs OR they can lose to the Bears if the Giants lose out and the Bucs lose 1 of their 2 games.

 

So if the Packers beat the Giants next week, and the Bucs lose to the Seahawks, the Packers will need just a Giants loss to Washington OR a Packers win over the Bears to get in. If the Bucs beat the Seahawks this week, they will need a Giants loss to Washington AND a Bucs loss to the Saints OR just a win over the Bears.

[Guest]

I don't remember what my prediction for the Bears was this season, but I was one of the koolaid drinkingest people in the bunch, so I suppose I'm not too far off. However, after watching the offensive line entirely implode in the first month of games, my optimism crumbled a bit.

 

They have the talent and potential to beat anyone on a given day. Let's hope they can grab a bye so that they don't have to prove it four times instead of just three.

[jersey cubs fan]

Are the Packers going to make the playoffs? Don't they have to leapfrog over the Saints and Giants? Do they own any tie breakers on those two teams?

 

Even if this game is a letdown potential, won't we still rise up against the Packers if it means keeping them from making the playoffs AND potentially securing a bye? Will Rodgers be back for either of their last two games?

 

The Packers could easily still make the playoffs over the Giants. Getting back up for the Packers is great, but if they lose to the Jets it could be too little too late where the bye is concerned.

[minnesotacubsfan]

which is my irrational fear of Lovie slacking and loosing not being able to get the team back up for the playoffs

 

 

just win out, BEARS.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

why don't all of your words have multiple o's?

[mul21]

I'm kind of annoyed by all the "who ever would have thought the Bears could contend or win 10 games this year" talk. The Bears had the upside for 10 or more wins all along. The only people who can't realize that are the ones who insist Jay Cutler is horrible. He's a really good QB on a team that finally went with an NFL coaching staff. 10 wins was well within reason, and 11-12 shouldn't be that surprising.

 

I think a lot of my concern came from the fact that I didn't think Cutler would make it through the season as bad as the line was expected to be. I'm fairly surprised they've come out as well as they have. The 2 early wins against the Packers and Cowboys were a bit surprising.