Bears game 16: January 2 @ GB, 3:15 on Fox

[Banedon]

I know we have an outside shot at the #1 seed but I'd hate to see Cutler go out there and get knocked senseless because he and the offense in general aren't 100% focused. Seemed like it happened to the Eagles last night who thought the Vikings would be a walk over and Vick got smashed a few times.

 

Vick gets smashed because he's much more of a runner.

 

Personally, I have no problem if they let the starters play all game.

 

Same. I don't want them to have two weeks of not playing. They've been playing well...lets keep it rollin.

[davell]

What does it mean to be a franchise QB anyway? To me it means that a player is automatically assumed as a team's QB going into each season without any question or controversy. Eli and Cutler have both reached that status. They don't necessarily have to be elite QBs to build a team around them.

 

I think franchise QB implies "elite" or near elite status.

 

Yeah, I'm not sure exactly what "franchise" QB truly means to other people, but here's my list of them anyway.......

 

Brady

P Manning

Roethlisberger

Rivers

E Manning

Vick

Rodgers

Cutler

Brees

Ryan

 

Guys that I expect to make this list very soon would be......

Bradford

Freeman

 

 

Guys that CAN make this list......

 

Stafford

Flacco

 

 

Guys I don't consider at all, but could see some people that would......

 

Romo

Schaub

Cassel

Sanchez

[jersey cubs fan]

He got hit in the pocket quite a bit last night. The Eagles weren't focused, IMO. It's like they had never seen a corner blitz.

 

Plus I worry about Cutler not having much to play for. As glorious as it would be to knock GB out on their field that seems like more of a motivation for fans. The Pack will be in desperation mode from kickoff...and they have a good pass rush to begin with.

 

Cutler is better at exploiting the blitz with quick passes.

[SpongeWorthy]

I'd give the core starters a quarter or so if the Bears can't the 1 seed.

[jersey cubs fan]

What does it mean to be a franchise QB anyway? To me it means that a player is automatically assumed as a team's QB going into each season without any question or controversy. Eli and Cutler have both reached that status. They don't necessarily have to be elite QBs to build a team around them.

 

I think franchise QB implies "elite" or near elite status.

 

Yeah, I'm not sure exactly what "franchise" QB truly means to other people, but here's my list of them anyway.......

 

Brady

P Manning

Roethlisberger

Rivers

E Manning

Vick

Rodgers

Cutler

Brees

Ryan

 

Guys that I expect to make this list very soon would be......

Bradford

Freeman

 

 

Guys that CAN make this list......

 

Stafford

Flacco

 

 

Guys I don't consider at all, but could see some people that would......

 

Romo

Schaub

Cassel

Sanchez

 

How is Flacco so low?

[Flames24Rulz]

He got hit in the pocket quite a bit last night. The Eagles weren't focused, IMO. It's like they had never seen a corner blitz.

 

Plus I worry about Cutler not having much to play for. As glorious as it would be to knock GB out on their field that seems like more of a motivation for fans. The Pack will be in desperation mode from kickoff...and they have a good pass rush to begin with.

 

Cutler is better at exploiting the blitz with quick passes.

 

We don't blitz as much as we should. That could come in handy this week.

[SouthSideRyan]

And why is Freeman ahead of Stafford?

[jersey cubs fan]

I'd give the core starters a quarter or so if the Bears can't the 1 seed.

 

There are only so many backups they can use at once. And the more you put in there, the more you are exposing your remaining starters by forcing them to play with lesser players. You only get 45 actives, and WR, TE, RB, DL and DB all use some sort of rotation already. And most of those guys all play special teams as well. What do you do, take out Urlacher, Forte, Cutler, Briggs, Peppers, Tillman, Hester and Knox?

[Banedon]

And why is Freeman ahead of Stafford?

 

Stafford hasn't even played a full seasons worth of games yet, for one.

[SpongeWorthy]

And why is Freeman ahead of Stafford?

 

Stafford can't even get on the field and Freeman is pretty good?

[JonJayCutler]

Don't make Romo pay because he's injured. He's a franchise QB in every sense.

[SpongeWorthy]

I'd give the core starters a quarter or so if the Bears can't the 1 seed.

 

There are only so many backups they can use at once. And the more you put in there, the more you are exposing your remaining starters by forcing them to play with lesser players. You only get 45 actives, and WR, TE, RB, DL and DB all use some sort of rotation already. And most of those guys all play special teams as well. What do you do, take out Urlacher, Forte, Cutler, Briggs, Peppers, Tillman, Hester and Knox?

 

I'd take Cutler and Forte out. Reduce snaps on Urlacher, Briggs, and Peppers if not take them out completely. Take Hester and Knox off of returns. Bennett is gimped right now so they probably have to play receiver.

 

Edit: 98% of my concern would be alleviated if Cutler were taken out. Let him get reps in a crazy/loud environment to give him a taste of playoff football and then take him out. I'll trust Lovie to manage everyone else's snaps properly.

Edited December 29, 2010 by SpongeWorthy

[JonJayCutler]

I imagine Forte and Knox are at least going to play until they reach 1,000 yards on the season. Forte needs 22, Knox needs 40.

[SouthSideRyan]

I did not realize how good a season Freeman was having. I stand by considering Stafford a potential stud

[Banedon]

I did not realize how good a season Freeman was having. I stand by considering Stafford a potential stud

 

Well that's why he was listed as "can make the list" of franchise QB's. He just hasn't been able to stay on the field long enough to know.

[davell]

On the guys I don't have as "franchise" types yet.....

 

I may very welL have put Flacco too low, I could easily move him into the "almost definitely will be a franchise guy" pile with Bradford and Freeman. Both of whom I think are going to be excellent longterm QB's.

 

I would put Stafford in that group as well, if it weren't for me being concerned over his injuries so far. Is he injury-prone or has he just been unlucky? Not ready to answer that one yet, so I drop him down a notch, but totally think he has the ABILITY to be bigtime......

 

As for the other 4 guys, I think Romo is an average QB. Always have, always will. He's got some weapons around him and I think quite a few QB's could do lots more with what he's had than what he's done.

 

Cassel is kind of a question mark, since he's had an excellent year for sure, but I think that lots of QB's could have great years if given the running attack he's got going for him. If there's one of these 4 that I could see myself changing my tune on though, it's him.

 

Sanchez has a damn good supporting cast and a damn good defense(when not playing the Bears). He does an average job with these advantages. Therefore, he's an average QB in my book.

 

Schaub has as good of a running back as there's been in football this year and one of the 2-3 best receivers in the game as well. Schaub should be better. Not much else to say here.

[UK1679666180]

If I'm the Bears, I'd do everything I could to keep GB out of the playoffs. Its a bad matchup for them with their passing attack.

 

In terms of teams that present the most problems for the Bears:

NO

ATL

GB

PHI

NYG

TB

Stl/Sea

 

That would be how I'd rank the teams

[jersey cubs fan]

If I'm the Bears, I'd do everything I could to keep GB out of the playoffs. Its a bad matchup for them with their passing attack.

 

In terms of teams that present the most problems for the Bears:

NO

ATL

GB

PHI

NYG

TB

Stl/Sea

 

That would be how I'd rank the teams

 

You have to qualify that for where they play. New Orleans would be in Chicago, I'd like the Bears chances against them there a lot more than Chicago in Atlanta.

[bukie]

Yeah, I think the most unwinnable game for the Bears in the NFC playoffs would be an NFC championship game in New Orleans. So, no matter what happens next week, I'd rather Atlanta get the 1 seed than the Saints.

 

If I were to rank the five scariest potential NFC playoff games for the Bears:

 

1. at NO

2. vs GB

3. at ATL

4. vs NO

5. vs PHI

 

Not that I'd think any of those were unwinnable, but I'd much rather see, say, home game vs Tampa/St. Louis than any of those above.

[UK1679666180]

I still think it is a better matchup for the Bears in Atl than NO even in Chicago.

[jersey cubs fan]

I still think it is a better matchup for the Bears in Atl than NO even in Chicago.

 

That doesn't make any sense.

[jersey cubs fan]

I would love for Drew Brees and his 21 INT to come to Chicago for the championship game.

[SouthSideRyan]

I would love for Drew Brees and his 21 INT to come to Chicago for the championship game.

 

Jaws would like to have a word with you.

[UK1679666180]

I still think it is a better matchup for the Bears in Atl than NO even in Chicago.

 

 

That doesn't make any sense.

Sure it does, NO's passing game is more critical to the Bears than HFA and the possibility of bad weather. That short passing game will exploit the Bears weaknesses more than the standard 5 step drop of ATL. Atl will try and get Turner going and then go vertical with Jenkins/White, the one concern would be Gonzalez. The Saints will carbon copy NE and unlike ATL have the ability to rack up points like that regardless of location/atmosphere.

[JonJayCutler]

I think I'd rather face New Orleans in Chicago than Philly again.