NFC Championship (Bears fans)

[Banedon]

Deferring is a non-issue. I would probably defer 9 times out of 10, especially when I have a strong defensive team.

 

But we were playing one of the hottest (the hottest?) offense in the NFL. Giving them the ball first is a mistake, imo. I'm not saying it was the reason they lost by any means, but it was something I'd have done differently.

 

I'm torn on it. I can see the advantage of putting your defense on the field first, because the Bears defense has been very good this year. If we get that 3-and-out, it really sets up well for us afterwards.

 

On the other hand, if you put your offense on the field first and they go 3-and-out, then you just blew the coin toss win in the space of a few minutes.

 

I can see the other side of it, too.

 

Mostly, I think it's a more worthy discussion point than Cutler :)

 

I also like the idea of Hester being the first person in the game to touch the football.

[Banedon]

You know what makes me as upset as anything else. It's 7 months or so until we get to see the Bears take the field again.

[Soul]

Deferring is a non-issue. I would probably defer 9 times out of 10, especially when I have a strong defensive team.

 

But we were playing one of the hottest (the hottest?) offense in the NFL. Giving them the ball first is a mistake, imo. I'm not saying it was the reason they lost by any means, but it was something I'd have done differently.

 

I'm torn on it. I can see the advantage of putting your defense on the field first, because the Bears defense has been very good this year. If we get that 3-and-out, it really sets up well for us afterwards.

 

On the other hand, if you put your offense on the field first and they go 3-and-out, then you just blew the coin toss win in the space of a few minutes.

 

I can see the other side of it, too.

 

Mostly, I think it's a more worthy discussion point than Cutler :)

 

I also like the idea of Hester being the first person in the game to touch the football.

 

I hadn't thought of that. Good point. It certainly worked out well for us in the Super Bowl -- though what came afterwards was less than thrilling.

[Soul]

You know what makes me as upset as anything else. It's 7 months or so until we get to see the Bears take the field again.

 

We've got actual draft picks this year! We can actually watch the draft with some interest for a change.

 

Of course they've got to actually sign a labor agreement.

 

I, for one, am excited about the prospect of having a 2nd year in the same offensive system for our QB.

[Banedon]

Now profootballtalk.com is getting on Jay because of the Trotter article. Giving him crap about crying.

[Banedon]

Urlacher backs out of the pro bowl. London Fletcher takes his place.

[Flames24Rulz]

Now profootballtalk.com is getting on Jay because of the Trotter article. Giving him crap about crying.

 

That site is a cesspool.

[Banedon]

Now profootballtalk.com is getting on Jay because of the Trotter article. Giving him crap about crying.

 

That site is a cesspool.

 

Yeah, it's good for fast news during the day at work since I don't have access to twitter here, but the opinions and comments are just meatball stuff.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Few quick thoughts on the game:

 

*The 3rd and 3 call is inexcusable. That was supposedly called, then changed it, called a timeout and ran it coming it out of the timeout anyway. How do you run that play to the short side of the field? Absolutely terrible.

 

*Lovie Smith is such a puss when it come to field goal/punting/field position decisions. Robbie Gould gets a ton of love for how accurate he is, but if the guy can't even be sent out on the field for a ~50 yard field goal, then how good is he? Mike Mulligan this morning said that Gould was easily hitting from that length into that endzone during pre-game.

 

*I'm firmly in the anti-meatball camp concerning Jay Cutler's toughness. I don't wish an injury on anyone but I hope Cutler does indeed have that MCL tear that is being suspected.

 

Days like today reaffirm my views that I hate, hate, hate talking any sports with anyone in any circumstances. People...they're the worst.

[Soul]

Surely Gould had a decent shot at that 49 yarder.

 

I do not understand that call unless Gould has an injury, which I heard nothing about.

 

He can make a 49 yarder. Pretty much end of story. He should have been allowed to attempt that field goal. We needed points there to try to break up the momentum that the Packers had established.

[dew1679666265]

*Lovie Smith is such a [expletive] when it come to field goal/punting/field position decisions. Robbie Gould gets a ton of love for how accurate he is, but if the guy can't even be sent out on the field for a ~50 yard field goal, then how good is he? Mike Mulligan this morning said that Gould was easily hitting from that length into that endzone during pre-game.

 

Both Lovie and McCarthy passed up long field goals or convertable 4th down chances to punt from the 31-36 yard line range. Made no sense to me at all. When the Bears punted from the 31, they got all of 11 net yards (due to a touchback). How is that worth not either going for points (FG) or going for it?

[Soul]

It's not worth it.

 

The call makes no sense. If you don't trust Gould, then that's ridiculous after all he's done. And even if you say you don't trust Gould, you just deferred the opening kickoff because you trust your defense. So giving the Packers the ball on the 31 shouldn't be that big of a deal.

 

It simply makes no logical sense.

[UMFan83]

I read somewhere that there was something wrong with the radio in Hanie's helmet and it was going in and out. Maybe some justification for the TO?

[Banedon]

*Lovie Smith is such a [expletive] when it come to field goal/punting/field position decisions. Robbie Gould gets a ton of love for how accurate he is, but if the guy can't even be sent out on the field for a ~50 yard field goal, then how good is he? Mike Mulligan this morning said that Gould was easily hitting from that length into that endzone during pre-game.

 

Both Lovie and McCarthy passed up long field goals or convertable 4th down chances to punt from the 31-36 yard line range. Made no sense to me at all. When the Bears punted from the 31, they got all of 11 net yards (due to a touchback). How is that worth not either going for points (FG) or going for it?

 

Well it's not of course. But Graham nearly saved that ball from being a touchback. If they'd pinned the packers on the 1, that call wouldn't be second guessed nearly like it is now.

[OleMissCub]

some brutal stuff out there today

 

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/7630/roflcutler.jpg

[Soul]

I was kind of hoping this thread would be a refuge from things like that today, but thanks.

[Banedon]

Hmmm. I'm a fan of a team that lost to the only sub-.500 team to ever make the playoffs. Should I go to a Chicago message board, and post a picture taunting the QB of the team that just lost the NFC Championship last night?

 

Yeah, that sounds like a great idea!

[dew1679666265]

It's not worth it.

 

The call makes no sense. If you don't trust Gould, then that's ridiculous after all he's done. And even if you say you don't trust Gould, you just deferred the opening kickoff because you trust your defense. So giving the Packers the ball on the 31 shouldn't be that big of a deal.

 

It simply makes no logical sense.

 

Exactly. Either kick a long field goal (not sure on Gould's range or accuracy on long FGs) or go for it. If you don't convert the 4th down, you're not even giving the Packers much better than average field position. Starting a drive from the 31 isn't really that big of a deal – certainly not like starting from around the 50.

 

It's the safe call, though, which I think is why many head coaches make it. If you go for it there, don't get it and the Packers drive down and score, you're lambasted for not trying to pin them deep. Going with conventional wisdom, even if it's wrong, is the easy thing to do.

[OleMissCub]

Hmmm. I'm a fan of a team that lost to the only sub-.500 team to ever make the playoffs. Should I go to a Chicago message board, and post a picture taunting the QB of the team that just lost the NFC Championship last night?

 

Yeah, that sounds like a great idea!

 

Jesus Christ on the cross....I said it's brutal stuff i.e. it's wrong/unfair

 

I guess I should have had a 15 paragraph disclaimer saying that I think the "Cutler is gutless" type stuff is out of control and only idiots would think he doesn't have heart, etc., before posting that.

[dew1679666265]

Well it's not of course. But Graham nearly saved that ball from being a touchback. If they'd pinned the packers on the 1, that call wouldn't be second guessed nearly like it is now.

 

Whether the result of the play worked or not is (or should be) irrelevant as to whether it was a good idea or not. Chances are very low, unless the Bears' punter is excellent at that sort of thing, that the punt would have been pinned inside the 5. The much more likely route of success was to go for it or kick the field goal.

 

I understand what you're saying that many people wouldn't have questioned it at all if the ball had been saved there, I just still don't think it's the right call even if you do end up pinning them on the 1.

[Banedon]

Hmmm. I'm a fan of a team that lost to the only sub-.500 team to ever make the playoffs. Should I go to a Chicago message board, and post a picture taunting the QB of the team that just lost the NFC Championship last night?

 

Yeah, that sounds like a great idea!

 

Jesus Christ on the cross....I said it's brutal stuff i.e. it's wrong/unfair

 

I guess I should have had a 15 paragraph disclaimer saying that I think the "Cutler is gutless" type stuff is out of control and only idiots would think he doesn't have heart, etc., before posting that.

 

Or just don't post it.

[Banedon]

Well it's not of course. But Graham nearly saved that ball from being a touchback. If they'd pinned the packers on the 1, that call wouldn't be second guessed nearly like it is now.

 

Whether the result of the play worked or not is (or should be) irrelevant as to whether it was a good idea or not. Chances are very low, unless the Bears' punter is excellent at that sort of thing, that the punt would have been pinned inside the 5. The much more likely route of success was to go for it or kick the field goal.

 

I understand what you're saying that many people wouldn't have questioned it at all if the ball had been saved there, I just still don't think it's the right call even if you do end up pinning them on the 1.

 

Agreed. Coaching in that game was not a strong suit for the Bears.

[dew1679666265]

Agreed. Coaching in that game was not a strong suit for the Bears.

 

Or the Packers. McCarthy did the same thing once or twice, which is even stranger than Lovie doing it.

[OleMissCub]

Hmmm. I'm a fan of a team that lost to the only sub-.500 team to ever make the playoffs. Should I go to a Chicago message board, and post a picture taunting the QB of the team that just lost the NFC Championship last night?

 

Yeah, that sounds like a great idea!

 

Jesus Christ on the cross....I said it's brutal stuff i.e. it's wrong/unfair

 

I guess I should have had a 15 paragraph disclaimer saying that I think the "Cutler is gutless" type stuff is out of control and only idiots would think he doesn't have heart, etc., before posting that.

 

Or just don't post it.

 

sorry...you should have got on the guys last night for posting all the negative tweets by NFL players.

[Banedon]

Hmmm. I'm a fan of a team that lost to the only sub-.500 team to ever make the playoffs. Should I go to a Chicago message board, and post a picture taunting the QB of the team that just lost the NFC Championship last night?

 

Yeah, that sounds like a great idea!

 

Jesus Christ on the cross....I said it's brutal stuff i.e. it's wrong/unfair

 

I guess I should have had a 15 paragraph disclaimer saying that I think the "Cutler is gutless" type stuff is out of control and only idiots would think he doesn't have heart, etc., before posting that.

 

Or just don't post it.

 

sorry...you should have got on the guys last night for posting all the negative tweets by NFL players.

 

A 15yo creating funny pictures in his parents basement isn't quite the same as NFL players collectively ripping into the starting QB in the NFC Championship. Slightly different levels of newsworthiness there.