Bears game 13: Sunday, Dec 12 @ Den 3pm

[Theo]

Dude, its an MCL sprain. No way he plays this week.

[Banedon]

Dude, its an MCL sprain. No way he plays this week.

 

He didn't miss a game in 2009 when he had the same injury. Granted, there's no way to know if this is the same severity without asking Matt specifically.

[jersey cubs fan]

"As far as when, I'll just say we're still evaluating him," Smith said. "He looked pretty good this morning. ... There is concern."

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and say Forte plays this Sunday.

 

I'm starting to lean that way too. It's the same injury Julius Peppers has been playing with, and he hasn't missed a game. Granted, Peppers doesn't have to make sharp cuts, but he definitely changes direction a lot. If it wasn't for his contract situation, I would put it as high as 80% that Forte plays this week. Right now, I'd say a little less than 50/50 that he plays, but that's a lot higher than the 0% that most people have assumed.

 

I would gladly sell you both on those odds. I can't see anyway Forte needlessly goes out and risks reinjury this week. I could see it being 1-3 weeks instead of 2-6, but he has very little, if nothing, to gain from playing.

[minnesotacubsfan]

yea, not having a contract after this season gives him very little to play for when he isn't 100% and has a medical eval showing him to have an injury. It would be one thing if he was "faking" it, but I think its clear that this is for real.

[bukie]

Caleb Hanie had a total of three plays in the red zone on Sunday. Those results: two sacks and an interception.

[Banedon]

Caleb Hanie had a total of three plays in the red zone on Sunday. Those results: two sacks and an interception.

 

Not good, but to be fair, the pick was a drop from Williams.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I see Hanie making a lot of the same mistakes Jay made early in the Martz scheme. when he panics, the tries to force things. It takes along time to learn that scheme, and sitting on the bench being Martz's punching bag isn't quality learning time. I'm not that down on Hanie, this experience is good for him. Our lack of talent around him becomes much more glaring then it was with Cutler because Cutler learned how to make up for that, and Cutler is obviously more talented.

 

Hanie needs time to get in a groove with the system, and having the o-line in flux again doesn't help. unfortunately, we just don't have time.

[Banedon]

I see Hanie making a lot of the same mistakes Jay made early in the Martz scheme. when he panics, the tries to force things. It takes along time to learn that scheme, and sitting on the bench being Martz's punching bag isn't quality learning time. I'm not that down on Hanie, this experience is good for him. Our lack of talent around him becomes much more glaring then it was with Cutler because Cutler learned how to make up for that, and Cutler is obviously more talented.

 

Hanie needs time to get in a groove with the system, and having the o-line in flux again doesn't help. unfortunately, we just don't have time.

 

Martz just needs to go back to basics with the offense, and just go with some easy [expletive] until Jay is back. Just go to a "don't lose" offense.

[minnesotacubsfan]

yea, but thats not Martz. he thinks its an insult to the players if he dumbs down the scheme. that, and he seems to want to prove to the team his worth as an OC

 

 

I really love the Martz scheme when it is working, we were one of the top 3-4 teams in the league prior to Cutler's injury. I hate to see that go.

Edited December 7, 2011 by minnesotacubsfan

[cubweiser03]

I'm starting to really like this Chris Conte kid. He is really solid on the underneath running and passing routes, would like to see him a little more tested on the over the top passing stuff, not sure this is the week for that though. Will the Bears offense take advantage of any short fields they get from Denver this game? I dont have a lot of confidence but when they get the chance in the RZ they got to make it happen. They obviously aren't going to march down the field except for maybe one time or 2 times.

 

2 stats popped out to me last week while watching the game. Bears 3rd down conversions and RZ td efficiency. Both of those stats screamed out to me Jay Cutler. No way does this offense accomplish those numbers without him.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Martz "plans" on being back

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-martz-embarrassed-by-rumors-20111207,0,1564821.story

 

also, will be more aggressive Sunday

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-martz-bears-will-be-more-aggressive-20111207,0,1386309.story

 

 

ohhhh boy

[ConstableRabbit]

Cutty Come Back

[JonJayCutler]

Cutty Come Back

 

It's really painful to think where we'd be hadn't Cutler gotten hurt. Very likely 9-3 right now, probably looking at 11 or 12 wins and easily the 5th seed. But it's sports and these things happen. I guess the consolation is that we might save ourselves another potential NFCCG loss against GB, but I would still have loved to have that chance.

 

And while the "window" on defense may be closing slightly, I think our offense will only get better from here. The offensive line is a work in progress and is probably one more good piece away from being an above-average to good o-line. The WR group is shaky, still in need of that stud #1 WR, and in my opinion is the #1 priority in draft. We addressed it in FA which failed horribly, as Roy Williams needs cut. Hester should be KR/PR only, which is what he's been for the past couple weeks. Bennett and Knox can stay, but there should at least be one WR ahead of them, probably two. The draft needs to go like this:

 

WR

OL

LB

TE

 

I know it seems like I've thrown in the towel on this season, but frankly I don't see the Bears beating the Broncos which is an absolute must to keep it alive. If they manage to pull it out, it changes everything with a beatable Seattle team coming to town the following week.

[Soul]

It's just something that happens. The key is being able to consistently be a contender. Cutler and Forte aren't always going to get hurt.

[UMFan83]

Things change in the blink of an eye in the NFL. One week your offense look anemic and can't do anything right. The next week they find the right formula and things look completely different. I could easily see the Bears randomly get things going and looking like a completely different offense this week.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Matt Forte (MCL sprain) has been using former teammate Tommie Harris' hyperbaric chamber this week to help speed up the healing process.

Even with the contract issue hanging over his head, Forte's motivation to play can't be questioned. In addition to the hyperbaric chamber, Forte has also received a platelet rich plasma injection in his knee. He's believed to be targeting Christmas Day against the Packers for a Week 16 return.

[jersey cubs fan]

I know it seems like I've thrown in the towel on this season, but frankly I don't see the Bears beating the Broncos which is an absolute must to keep it alive. If they manage to pull it out, it changes everything with a beatable Seattle team coming to town the following week.

 

I'm expecting a loss in Denver, but even a win doesn't "change everything". Their primary WC opponents still have the advantage, and a beatable Seattle team still is a big threat to this Bears team. They are already going to lose to Green Bay as well.

[JonJayCutler]

I know it seems like I've thrown in the towel on this season, but frankly I don't see the Bears beating the Broncos which is an absolute must to keep it alive. If they manage to pull it out, it changes everything with a beatable Seattle team coming to town the following week.

 

I'm expecting a loss in Denver, but even a win doesn't "change everything". Their primary WC opponents still have the advantage, and a beatable Seattle team still is a big threat to this Bears team. They are already going to lose to Green Bay as well.

 

A win against Denver could mean the difference between 9-7 and 10-6, which would likely make a difference in getting a WC. If we lose against Denver, we're not getting to 10 wins or the playoffs because we're not beating GB, like you said.

[jersey cubs fan]

I know it seems like I've thrown in the towel on this season, but frankly I don't see the Bears beating the Broncos which is an absolute must to keep it alive. If they manage to pull it out, it changes everything with a beatable Seattle team coming to town the following week.

 

I'm expecting a loss in Denver, but even a win doesn't "change everything". Their primary WC opponents still have the advantage, and a beatable Seattle team still is a big threat to this Bears team. They are already going to lose to Green Bay as well.

 

A win against Denver could mean the difference between 9-7 and 10-6, which would likely make a difference in getting a WC. If we lose against Denver, we're not getting to 10 wins or the playoffs because we're not beating GB, like you said.

 

But 10-6 can still easily leave the Bears on the outside, given ATL and DET schedules. And a win against this team doesn't make me any more confident about facing Seattle next week. We have an offense that on any given Sunday could be shut out. 1 week, even if it's an impressive win, won't change that. Every remaining game on the schedule is a major hurdle.

[JonJayCutler]

I know it seems like I've thrown in the towel on this season, but frankly I don't see the Bears beating the Broncos which is an absolute must to keep it alive. If they manage to pull it out, it changes everything with a beatable Seattle team coming to town the following week.

 

I'm expecting a loss in Denver, but even a win doesn't "change everything". Their primary WC opponents still have the advantage, and a beatable Seattle team still is a big threat to this Bears team. They are already going to lose to Green Bay as well.

 

A win against Denver could mean the difference between 9-7 and 10-6, which would likely make a difference in getting a WC. If we lose against Denver, we're not getting to 10 wins or the playoffs because we're not beating GB, like you said.

 

But 10-6 can still easily leave the Bears on the outside, given ATL and DET schedules. And a win against this team doesn't make me any more confident about facing Seattle next week. We have an offense that on any given Sunday could be shut out. 1 week, even if it's an impressive win, won't change that. Every remaining game on the schedule is a major hurdle.

 

Yes you're correct, but going from almost no WC chance to a decent WC chance with a win is "changing everything" to me. You're trying to assign your own definition to what I said.

 

In other words, this is an important game and pretty much decides whether our season continues. All I was trying say.

[jersey cubs fan]

In other words, this is an important game and pretty much decides whether our season continues. All I was trying say.

 

Okay, that's fine. I was just pointing out that until, and/or unless they beat GB, I'm going to doubt their chances against every remaining team, and doubt their chances to make the playoffs. Had Roy Williams made that catch and they won against that pathetic KC team, I'd feel differently, but that loss basically killed their chances.

[Guest]

12 against 11 is certainly not fair, especially when the 12th guy is invisible.

 

We lose this one.

[rawaction]

I think the Bears win this game.

 

The only good run defense the Broncos have faced with Tebow at QB was Miami, in Tebow's 1st game. And back then, Miami was playing terribly overall and still only lost in OT. The only other teams they've played even in the top 20 in run D, are the Jets (15th) and the Vikings (12th). They got help from a pick 6 to beat the Jets 17-13. And they got a pick 6 and 2 long passes to Demaryius Thomas to help beat the Vikes.

 

I think Peppers can contain Tebow's running game better than any DE/OLB he has ever faced in his career, and I think the Bears D will be as disciplined as any team they will face in the pass game.

 

The offense just has to minimize the mistakes. After back-to-back 3 INT games, I would guess the Bears will really come out and protect Hanie and the ball. Similar game plan to last week, with some extra help given to Lance Louis in pass protection, and the Bears win this game.

[minnesotacubsfan]

The draft needs to go like this:

 

WR

OL

CB

LB

 

 

fixed

[Yeti]

The draft needs to go like this:

 

WR

OL

CB

LB

 

 

fixed

sure doesnt seem like it's been 24 hours