Bears vs. Seahawks, Sunday Jan 16 at noon

[bukie]

Dreaming of a Packers-Bears showdown

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/35602/dreaming-of-a-packers-bears-showdown

 

Do you realize that in the 89-year history of the rivalry, the Bears and Packers have played exactly one playoff game against each other? In fact, as the chart at the bottom of this post illustrates, there have been only four occasions when both teams have made the playoffs in the same season.

 

Even that one head-to-head matchup was played only because the Packers and Bears finished tied atop the Western Division in (yes) 1941. They had split their regular-season games, each accounting for the other's only loss that season, and thus were scheduled for a one-game playoff to determine who advanced to the NFL Championship Game.

One of those four occasions where both teams made the playoffs was in 1994, when the Packers, Bears, Vikings, and Lions all made the playoffs. None made the NFC Championship.

[UMFan83]

Yeah 94 was crazy. It was an all NFC Central Wild Card round. Packers beat the Lions (naturally), Bears beat the Vikings (in an upset in the Metrodome), and then both teams got killed by the vastly superior 49ers (over the Bears 44-15) and Cowboys (over GB something like 35-13) in the next round. That was to this point the closest they've come to playing in the NFC title game.

 

 

94 was the first year I really started watching the Bears, so I remember it fondly even though we were a really really mediocre team. If anyone wants to see the Bears get smashed, that whole 49ers game is on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quh-TLZ-RlI . I only watch for the first 10 minutes when the 49ers fumble the ball to the Bears in a scoreless game and the Bears hit a FG to take a 3-0 lead :)

[sneakypower]

wasn't the '94 playoff game where Barry got held to negative rushing yards?

[jersey cubs fan]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/don_banks/01/11/super-bowl-xlv-scenarios/index.html?eref=sihp

 

Don Banks is at it again. He ranks the 16 most entertaining possible SB matchups. Chicago doesn't appear until 6 (vs Patriots), and Chicago/Pittsburgh is 15th, with every potential Seattle matchup besides the Jets being rated as more entertaining. I think Chicago/Pittsburgh is probably a top 3 potential marquee matchup.

[UMFan83]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/don_banks/01/11/super-bowl-xlv-scenarios/index.html?eref=sihp

 

Don Banks is at it again. He ranks the 16 most entertaining possible SB matchups. Chicago doesn't appear until 6 (vs Patriots), and Chicago/Pittsburgh is 15th, with every potential Seattle matchup besides the Jets being rated as more entertaining. I think Chicago/Pittsburgh is probably a top 3 potential marquee matchup.

 

I'm guessing the Seahawks are rated so highly becuase if they got to the SB it would be the ultimate underdog story. But for some reason, the seahawks don't seem very appealing to me (beyond the fact that they must lose this sunday). It's not like they were a perrenial loser that comes out of nowhere to get to the SB. They just got done with a long run of playoff teams culminating in a SB appearence in 2005. If they made the SB, the 7-9 thing would hold some appeal, but it really wouldnt be a SB that I'd look forward to watching very much.

 

Also, I'd say that Bears-Steelers would be the most riveting of the matchups involving the Bears. The teams are two of the longest running franchises in the NFL with huge dedicated fan bases and they don't play each other enough. The Pats would be next, and I get the SB20 rematch with the roles reversed thing, but the Pats just throttled us on our home field. the general public would probably assume its gonna be another blowout, which would kill the appeal. I think even Jets-Bears might be a better draw, due to the NY/Chicago thing.

[UMFan83]

Is Banks from Atlanta or something? He rates Falcons-Pats and Falcons-Ravens as the 2 more intreaguing matchups? I can't think of 2 matchups with less potential storylines....His biggest reasoning is because Brady plays in Boston and Matt Ryan played his college ball at Boston College. Wow.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/don_banks/01/11/super-bowl-xlv-scenarios/index.html?eref=sihp

 

Don Banks is at it again. He ranks the 16 most entertaining possible SB matchups. Chicago doesn't appear until 6 (vs Patriots), and Chicago/Pittsburgh is 15th, with every potential Seattle matchup besides the Jets being rated as more entertaining. I think Chicago/Pittsburgh is probably a top 3 potential marquee matchup.

 

I'm guessing the Seahawks are rated so highly becuase if they got to the SB it would be the ultimate underdog story. But for some reason, the seahawks don't seem very appealing to me (beyond the fact that they must lose this sunday). It's not like they were a perrenial loser that comes out of nowhere to get to the SB. They just got done with a long run of playoff teams culminating in a SB appearence in 2005. If they made the SB, the 7-9 thing would hold some appeal, but it really wouldnt be a SB that I'd look forward to watching very much.

 

The thing about Seattle in the Super Bowl is the only way that conceivably happens is if they upset Chicago (everybody will say that was just an indication of how bad the Bears really were) and then get to play GB in Seattle and have homefield advantage. They aren't winning in Atlanta. They aren't going on a barnstorming trip around the toughest venues in the league. They would have won 2 home games due to luck of the draw/system.

[Banedon]

They would have won 2 home games due to luck of the draw/system.

 

Would you still think that seeding isn't an issue?

[jersey cubs fan]

They would have won 2 home games due to luck of the draw/system.

 

Would you still think that seeding isn't an issue?

 

Not an issue that MUST be addressed. It's not going to happen anyway. But I still don't like the idea of a 11-5 wild card team being seeded higher than a 10-6 division winner when it could just as easily be about getting to face weaker competition. If they want to force you to be over .500 to host a game, sure, but adding in those kinds of qualifiers still seems weird to me.

[minnesotacubsfan]

why am I not surprised

http://www.ajhawk.com/images/07_aj_hawk.jpg

[Banedon]

Apparently the Bears originally had planned to take James Starks instead of LeFevour.

 

While on the clock in the sixth round with the 181st overall pick, the Bears phoned Starks and his agent to tell them they were selecting the running back. That's the story about Starks and the Bears that Greg Gabriel, the team's former college scouting director, revealed Tuesday in the National Football Post.

 

After the Bears made the decision to draft Starks, they followed a protocol they do with each pick. Contract negotiator Cliff Stein called Starks' agent Dave Butz Jr. to ask him if he would do a four-year contract and complete a deal before Memorial Day. Butz agreed. Then, Gabriel called Starks to congratulate him.

 

Before equipment manager Tony Medlin -- the team's contact at the draft in New York -- could turn in the card to the NFL, and while Gabriel was explaining rookie minicamp to Starks, general manager Jerry Angelo changed his mind. He wanted LeFevour, the Downers Grove native and record-setter from Central Michigan.

 

"I was on the phone for a good 90 seconds with Starks when Angelo walked in my office and told me he had changed his mind and was drafting LeFevour," Gabriel wrote. "I put Starks on hold and then said to Angelo that Stein had already talked to the agent and I had the player on the phone, this was not acceptable. He said he was sorry but the card had been turned in.

 

"I then had to tell a player (and a player that I had had a personal relationship with for about two years) that in fact we were not drafting him. Hearing a kid go from being extremely excited to silence is not easy. It was the most embarrassing moment I had experienced while scouting."

 

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2011/01/bears-told-packers-rb-starks-they-were-drafting-him.html

[OleMissCub]

Seattle blew their wad on us. Y'all will be totally fine and will probably kill them.

[Wilson A2000]

It will be better for Starks in Green Bay where he might have a shot to start next year. Then again, if Starks is any good, he could have replaced Chester Taylor next year.

[Flames24Rulz]

Yeah 94 was crazy. It was an all NFC Central Wild Card round. Packers beat the Lions (naturally), Bears beat the Vikings (in an upset in the Metrodome), and then both teams got killed by the vastly superior 49ers (over the Bears 44-15) and Cowboys (over GB something like 35-13) in the next round. That was to this point the closest they've come to playing in the NFC title game.

 

How about 2001 when both the Bears and Packers were in the divisional round?

[UMFan83]

Yeah 94 was crazy. It was an all NFC Central Wild Card round. Packers beat the Lions (naturally), Bears beat the Vikings (in an upset in the Metrodome), and then both teams got killed by the vastly superior 49ers (over the Bears 44-15) and Cowboys (over GB something like 35-13) in the next round. That was to this point the closest they've come to playing in the NFC title game.

 

How about 2001 when both the Bears and Packers were in the divisional round?

 

I forgot about that since the Packers were so badly beaten.

[UMFan83]

Apparently the Bears originally had planned to take James Starks instead of LeFevour.

 

While on the clock in the sixth round with the 181st overall pick, the Bears phoned Starks and his agent to tell them they were selecting the running back. That's the story about Starks and the Bears that Greg Gabriel, the team's former college scouting director, revealed Tuesday in the National Football Post.

 

After the Bears made the decision to draft Starks, they followed a protocol they do with each pick. Contract negotiator Cliff Stein called Starks' agent Dave Butz Jr. to ask him if he would do a four-year contract and complete a deal before Memorial Day. Butz agreed. Then, Gabriel called Starks to congratulate him.

 

Before equipment manager Tony Medlin -- the team's contact at the draft in New York -- could turn in the card to the NFL, and while Gabriel was explaining rookie minicamp to Starks, general manager Jerry Angelo changed his mind. He wanted LeFevour, the Downers Grove native and record-setter from Central Michigan.

 

"I was on the phone for a good 90 seconds with Starks when Angelo walked in my office and told me he had changed his mind and was drafting LeFevour," Gabriel wrote. "I put Starks on hold and then said to Angelo that Stein had already talked to the agent and I had the player on the phone, this was not acceptable. He said he was sorry but the card had been turned in.

 

"I then had to tell a player (and a player that I had had a personal relationship with for about two years) that in fact we were not drafting him. Hearing a kid go from being extremely excited to silence is not easy. It was the most embarrassing moment I had experienced while scouting."

 

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2011/01/bears-told-packers-rb-starks-they-were-drafting-him.html

 

That's kind of embarrassing. I expect to see Starts have at least 150 yards rushing if the Bears and Packers meet next week.

[Banedon]

Fun Fact!

 

Our backup QB has started more playoff games than our starting QB....1 game. Collins started one playoff for the Redskins and lost....to the Seahawks.

 

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200801050sea.htm

[Flames24Rulz]

Yeah 94 was crazy. It was an all NFC Central Wild Card round. Packers beat the Lions (naturally), Bears beat the Vikings (in an upset in the Metrodome), and then both teams got killed by the vastly superior 49ers (over the Bears 44-15) and Cowboys (over GB something like 35-13) in the next round. That was to this point the closest they've come to playing in the NFC title game.

 

How about 2001 when both the Bears and Packers were in the divisional round?

 

I forgot about that since the Packers were so badly beaten.

 

It wasn't that much worse than those games in 94.

[NCCubFan]

wasn't the '94 playoff game where Barry got held to negative rushing yards?

Yep; -1 for Sanders, -4 for the entire team.

[UMFan83]

Yeah 94 was crazy. It was an all NFC Central Wild Card round. Packers beat the Lions (naturally), Bears beat the Vikings (in an upset in the Metrodome), and then both teams got killed by the vastly superior 49ers (over the Bears 44-15) and Cowboys (over GB something like 35-13) in the next round. That was to this point the closest they've come to playing in the NFC title game.

 

How about 2001 when both the Bears and Packers were in the divisional round?

 

I forgot about that since the Packers were so badly beaten.

 

It wasn't that much worse than those games in 94.

 

True I just wanted an excuse for forgetting about them.

[rawaction]

Apparently the Bears originally had planned to take James Starks instead of LeFevour.

 

While on the clock in the sixth round with the 181st overall pick, the Bears phoned Starks and his agent to tell them they were selecting the running back. That's the story about Starks and the Bears that Greg Gabriel, the team's former college scouting director, revealed Tuesday in the National Football Post.

 

After the Bears made the decision to draft Starks, they followed a protocol they do with each pick. Contract negotiator Cliff Stein called Starks' agent Dave Butz Jr. to ask him if he would do a four-year contract and complete a deal before Memorial Day. Butz agreed. Then, Gabriel called Starks to congratulate him.

 

Before equipment manager Tony Medlin -- the team's contact at the draft in New York -- could turn in the card to the NFL, and while Gabriel was explaining rookie minicamp to Starks, general manager Jerry Angelo changed his mind. He wanted LeFevour, the Downers Grove native and record-setter from Central Michigan.

 

"I was on the phone for a good 90 seconds with Starks when Angelo walked in my office and told me he had changed his mind and was drafting LeFevour," Gabriel wrote. "I put Starks on hold and then said to Angelo that Stein had already talked to the agent and I had the player on the phone, this was not acceptable. He said he was sorry but the card had been turned in.

 

"I then had to tell a player (and a player that I had had a personal relationship with for about two years) that in fact we were not drafting him. Hearing a kid go from being extremely excited to silence is not easy. It was the most embarrassing moment I had experienced while scouting."

 

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2011/01/bears-told-packers-rb-starks-they-were-drafting-him.html

 

That's kind of embarrassing. I expect to see Starts have at least 150 yards rushing if the Bears and Packers meet next week.

 

Starks would have never gotten a shot with the Bears. I actually had Starks on my 1st mock before the Bears signed Chester Taylor. At that point, no real reason to draft him with Khalil Bell and Taylor on the roster still. Can draft a Starks in the 6th round every year if you want.

[Soul]

Apparently the Bears originally had planned to take James Starks instead of LeFevour.

 

While on the clock in the sixth round with the 181st overall pick, the Bears phoned Starks and his agent to tell them they were selecting the running back. That's the story about Starks and the Bears that Greg Gabriel, the team's former college scouting director, revealed Tuesday in the National Football Post.

 

After the Bears made the decision to draft Starks, they followed a protocol they do with each pick. Contract negotiator Cliff Stein called Starks' agent Dave Butz Jr. to ask him if he would do a four-year contract and complete a deal before Memorial Day. Butz agreed. Then, Gabriel called Starks to congratulate him.

 

Before equipment manager Tony Medlin -- the team's contact at the draft in New York -- could turn in the card to the NFL, and while Gabriel was explaining rookie minicamp to Starks, general manager Jerry Angelo changed his mind. He wanted LeFevour, the Downers Grove native and record-setter from Central Michigan.

 

"I was on the phone for a good 90 seconds with Starks when Angelo walked in my office and told me he had changed his mind and was drafting LeFevour," Gabriel wrote. "I put Starks on hold and then said to Angelo that Stein had already talked to the agent and I had the player on the phone, this was not acceptable. He said he was sorry but the card had been turned in.

 

"I then had to tell a player (and a player that I had had a personal relationship with for about two years) that in fact we were not drafting him. Hearing a kid go from being extremely excited to silence is not easy. It was the most embarrassing moment I had experienced while scouting."

 

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2011/01/bears-told-packers-rb-starks-they-were-drafting-him.html

 

That's kind of embarrassing. I expect to see Starts have at least 150 yards rushing if the Bears and Packers meet next week.

 

Starks would have never gotten a shot with the Bears. I actually had Starks on my 1st mock before the Bears signed Chester Taylor. At that point, no real reason to draft him with Khalil Bell and Taylor on the roster still. Can draft a Starks in the 6th round every year if you want.

 

Biggs apparently thinks if the Packers didn't have Starks, they'd have no running game. Which is pretty ridiculous IMO.

[Old Style]

Fun Fact!

 

Our backup QB has started more playoff games than our starting QB....1 game. Collins started one playoff for the Redskins and lost....to the Seahawks.

 

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200801050sea.htm

That fact isn't very fun.

[rawaction]

Biggs apparently thinks if the Packers didn't have Starks, they'd have no running game. Which is pretty ridiculous IMO.

 

They have Starks and have no running game. Or are we now counting 1 good game as the gospel?

[UMFan83]

Biggs apparently thinks if the Packers didn't have Starks, they'd have no running game. Which is pretty ridiculous IMO.

 

They have Starks and have no running game. Or are we now counting 1 good game as the gospel?

 

Seahawks fans are