Game 11 - Minnesota Vikings @ BEARS - 12 PM

[ctcf]

Can Jay and Shea's brains be OK now?

 

7-3

 

ZE GAUNTLET - 0-2

 

Houston (L 13-6)

@ San Francisco (L 32-7)

Minnesota

Seattle

@Minnesota

Green Bay

[ctcf]

Bears head coach Lovie Smith said after Monday night's loss that Jay Cutler (concussion) was "feeling a lot better" and it's "looking good" for a Week 12 return against the Vikings.

If you watched Monday night's blowout loss against the 49ers, then it's easy to see that this team doesn't stand much of a chance without Cutler under center. Jason Campbell was a sitting duck behind a leaky Chicago offensive line and doesn't offer much mobility. By no means is Cutler a running quarterback, but he has the ability to escape some heavy pressure. The Bears return to the practice field on Wednesday, so we should have an update no later than then.

 

Some positive news via Rotoworld.

[Guest]

It's CT's fault.

[treebird]

It's CT's fault.

 

too bad last year's hot hand and the guy who turned things around for the bears this year wasn't around to start game threads.

[Smack]

I'm going to pretend like last night never happened.

[Banedon]

Because I need cheering up...

 

[Guest]

love that gif

[Banedon]

Jay is doing his radio show now. He says he's feeling good, normal.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-jay-cutler-recovery-concussion-20121120,0,4536829.story

[jersey cubs fan]

Jay is doing his radio show now. He says he's feeling good, normal.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-jay-cutler-recovery-concussion-20121120,0,4536829.story

 

He should be feeling vindicated.

[cubbyvirus00]

On the bright side, if the Bears lose again and again perhaps we get a new coach. The Lovie era leaves a lot to be desired.

[Banedon]

On the bright side, if the Bears lose again and again perhaps we get a new coach. The Lovie era leaves a lot to be desired.

 

You have a twisted idea of "the bright side".

[Banedon]

Jay trying to be nice, but admitting that he's had to change his game during the last 4 years knowing that protection is an issue.

[cubbyvirus00]

On the bright side, if the Bears lose again and again perhaps we get a new coach. The Lovie era leaves a lot to be desired.

 

You have a twisted idea of "the bright side".

 

Being a Cubs and Bears fan has made me a twisted person.

[cubbyvirus00]

Cutler unsure if he's playing Sunday.

[UMFan83]

10 games in...lets take a look at the playoff picture in the NFC. Bears were obviously in a better position 2 weeks ago but overall still looking good to make the playoffs despite the rather difficult schedule the last 6 games.

 

S - Atlanta 9-1

W - San Francisco 7-2-1

N - Green Bay 7-3*

E - New York 6-4

WC - Chicago 7-3

WC - Seattle 6-4*

------------------

7 - Tampa Bay 6-4

8 - Minnesota 6-4

9 - Dallas 5-5

10 - New Orleans 5-5

 

There are a couple of 4-6 teams out there too, but if they make up 3 games on the Bears over a 6 game stretch, the Bears probably aren't worried much about the playoffs. Of those 10 teams, the Bears lose tie-breakers to just San Francisco, win the tiebreaker against Dallas, and still control their tiebreaker destiny over Minnesota and Seattle (they don't control TB destiny over GB, even assuming a Bears H2H win but obviously can still win the TB)

 

I'm gonna guess that Dallas isn't a factor because, well, they aren't that good. I think regardless of how we do against Minnesota, they have a really difficult schedule and won't be as much of a factor. It will come down to Bears/Packers, Seahawks, Buccaneers and Saints for 2 WC spots. Sounds crazy to say this but the Bears/Seahawks game next week might be a big one, thank God its not at their place.

[Banedon]

10 games in...lets take a look at the playoff picture in the NFC. Bears were obviously in a better position 2 weeks ago but overall still looking good to make the playoffs despite the rather difficult schedule the last 6 games.

 

S - Atlanta 9-1

W - San Francisco 7-2-1

N - Green Bay 7-3*

E - New York 6-4

WC - Chicago 7-3

WC - Seattle 6-4*

------------------

7 - Tampa Bay 6-4

8 - Minnesota 6-4

9 - Dallas 5-5

10 - New Orleans 5-5

 

There are a couple of 4-6 teams out there too, but if they make up 3 games on the Bears over a 6 game stretch, the Bears probably aren't worried much about the playoffs. Of those 10 teams, the Bears lose tie-breakers to just San Francisco, win the tiebreaker against Dallas, and still control their tiebreaker destiny over Minnesota and Seattle (they don't control TB destiny over GB, even assuming a Bears H2H win but obviously can still win the TB)

 

I'm gonna guess that Dallas isn't a factor because, well, they aren't that good. I think regardless of how we do against Minnesota, they have a really difficult schedule and won't be as much of a factor. It will come down to Bears/Packers, Seahawks, Buccaneers and Saints for 2 WC spots. Sounds crazy to say this but the Bears/Seahawks game next week might be a big one, thank God its not at their place.

 

I posted this in the NFL thread....but the ESPN Playoff Machine is up.

[UMFan83]

Cutler unsure if he's playing Sunday.

 

Of course he's going to say that right now. He hasn't passed his concussion tests yet, and even if he had, he's not going to give anything away to Minnesota before the Bears have to.

[UMFan83]

10 games in...lets take a look at the playoff picture in the NFC. Bears were obviously in a better position 2 weeks ago but overall still looking good to make the playoffs despite the rather difficult schedule the last 6 games.

 

S - Atlanta 9-1

W - San Francisco 7-2-1

N - Green Bay 7-3*

E - New York 6-4

WC - Chicago 7-3

WC - Seattle 6-4*

------------------

7 - Tampa Bay 6-4

8 - Minnesota 6-4

9 - Dallas 5-5

10 - New Orleans 5-5

 

There are a couple of 4-6 teams out there too, but if they make up 3 games on the Bears over a 6 game stretch, the Bears probably aren't worried much about the playoffs. Of those 10 teams, the Bears lose tie-breakers to just San Francisco, win the tiebreaker against Dallas, and still control their tiebreaker destiny over Minnesota and Seattle (they don't control TB destiny over GB, even assuming a Bears H2H win but obviously can still win the TB)

 

I'm gonna guess that Dallas isn't a factor because, well, they aren't that good. I think regardless of how we do against Minnesota, they have a really difficult schedule and won't be as much of a factor. It will come down to Bears/Packers, Seahawks, Buccaneers and Saints for 2 WC spots. Sounds crazy to say this but the Bears/Seahawks game next week might be a big one, thank God its not at their place.

 

I posted it in the NFL thread....the ESPN Playoff Machine is up.

 

Dude come on. It's already a short week, and now you just cut at least 2 more hours out of my day. How am I going to get any work done?

[Banedon]

10 games in...lets take a look at the playoff picture in the NFC. Bears were obviously in a better position 2 weeks ago but overall still looking good to make the playoffs despite the rather difficult schedule the last 6 games.

 

S - Atlanta 9-1

W - San Francisco 7-2-1

N - Green Bay 7-3*

E - New York 6-4

WC - Chicago 7-3

WC - Seattle 6-4*

------------------

7 - Tampa Bay 6-4

8 - Minnesota 6-4

9 - Dallas 5-5

10 - New Orleans 5-5

 

There are a couple of 4-6 teams out there too, but if they make up 3 games on the Bears over a 6 game stretch, the Bears probably aren't worried much about the playoffs. Of those 10 teams, the Bears lose tie-breakers to just San Francisco, win the tiebreaker against Dallas, and still control their tiebreaker destiny over Minnesota and Seattle (they don't control TB destiny over GB, even assuming a Bears H2H win but obviously can still win the TB)

 

I'm gonna guess that Dallas isn't a factor because, well, they aren't that good. I think regardless of how we do against Minnesota, they have a really difficult schedule and won't be as much of a factor. It will come down to Bears/Packers, Seahawks, Buccaneers and Saints for 2 WC spots. Sounds crazy to say this but the Bears/Seahawks game next week might be a big one, thank God its not at their place.

 

I posted it in the NFL thread....the ESPN Playoff Machine is up.

 

Dude come on. It's already a short week, and now you just cut at least 2 more hours out of my day. How am I going to get any work done?

 

You're welcome.

[UMFan83]

So looking at the schedule this week..

 

If you are a pessimist and are worried about the wild card..

-Cheer for Atlanta over Tampa Bay

-Cheer for Miami over Seattle

-Cheer for San Francisco over New Orleans

-Cheer for Washington over Dallas

-Cheer for the Giants over Green Bay

 

If you are an optimist and have your sights set on a bye...

-Cheer for Tampa Bay over Atlanta

-Cheer for New Orleans over San Francisco

-Cheer for the Giants over Green Bay

[Banedon]

So really, root for all of those, and just change your Atlanta vs TB desires based on WC or bye?

[Guest]

So really, root for all of those, and just change your Atlanta vs TB desires based on WC or bye?

 

And NO vs SF.

[Banedon]

So really, root for all of those, and just change your Atlanta vs TB desires based on WC or bye?

 

And NO vs SF.

 

Well dammit. I was specifically looking for differences and missed that.

[rawaction]

10 games in...lets take a look at the playoff picture in the NFC. Bears were obviously in a better position 2 weeks ago but overall still looking good to make the playoffs despite the rather difficult schedule the last 6 games.

 

S - Atlanta 9-1

W - San Francisco 7-2-1

N - Green Bay 7-3*

E - New York 6-4

WC - Chicago 7-3

WC - Seattle 6-4*

------------------

7 - Tampa Bay 6-4

8 - Minnesota 6-4

9 - Dallas 5-5

10 - New Orleans 5-5

 

There are a couple of 4-6 teams out there too, but if they make up 3 games on the Bears over a 6 game stretch, the Bears probably aren't worried much about the playoffs. Of those 10 teams, the Bears lose tie-breakers to just San Francisco, win the tiebreaker against Dallas, and still control their tiebreaker destiny over Minnesota and Seattle (they don't control TB destiny over GB, even assuming a Bears H2H win but obviously can still win the TB)

 

I'm gonna guess that Dallas isn't a factor because, well, they aren't that good. I think regardless of how we do against Minnesota, they have a really difficult schedule and won't be as much of a factor. It will come down to Bears/Packers, Seahawks, Buccaneers and Saints for 2 WC spots. Sounds crazy to say this but the Bears/Seahawks game next week might be a big one, thank God its not at their place.

 

Tampa's schedule is rough. 2 vs. Atlanta, @ NO and @ Denver.

Minnesota's is even tougher with the Bears twice, GB twice, and Houston with 4 of the next 5 on the road.

If Seattle can't figure out how to win on the road (also have SF at home) that's going to leave the door open for Dallas and NO to get in.

 

An NFC playoffs with GB, SF, NYG, Dallas and NO is a dangerous group for the Bears to have to face, if they are the 6th team in and having no offense.

[hawkeyecub]

Right now the Vikings would be the 6 seed but if they can get to 8-8 with their remaining schedule I'll consider it a success. The only way I can see them getting to 9-7 is if Cutler were out this Sunday or the Packers don't have much to play for in week 17.