Week 7 - Bears (4-2) @ Humanskins (1-3) 12 pm CT FOX

[jersey cubs fan]

Didn't watch Sunday Night? He looked a lot better this week. Believe he ran for 74 yards and moved in the pocket a lot better. Not getting a pass rush might work better, keep him in the pocket and focus on contain.

 

And yes, I hate this game. The Skins were in a similar situation last year and really took off at this point in the year (or so). They're probably better than the Giants, who the Bears barely beat, and get to play at home. But the Bears gotta win this game if they are going to be contenders. They're clearly the better team. Schedule turns up a notch after the bye, so this one is extremely important to get.

 

He looked very good Sunday, like somebody this defense could not hope to stop.

[Sammy Sofa]

They're clearly the better team.

 

http://img.mylot.com/2132449.gif

[jersey cubs fan]

They're clearly the better team.

 

http://img.mylot.com/2132449.gif

 

They being the Bears.

[Banedon]

Didn't watch Sunday Night? He looked a lot better this week. Believe he ran for 74 yards and moved in the pocket a lot better. Not getting a pass rush might work better, keep him in the pocket and focus on contain.

 

And yes, I hate this game. The Skins were in a similar situation last year and really took off at this point in the year (or so). They're probably better than the Giants, who the Bears barely beat, and get to play at home. But the Bears gotta win this game if they are going to be contenders. They're clearly the better team. Schedule turns up a notch after the bye, so this one is extremely important to get.

 

He looked very good Sunday, like somebody this defense could not hope to stop.

 

Yeah ok, I made that comment at the wrong time. I didn't see how well he'd done on Sunday.

[Sammy Sofa]

They're clearly the better team.

 

http://img.mylot.com/2132449.gif

 

They being the Bears.

 

Yes, I know.

[jersey cubs fan]

They're clearly the better team.

 

http://img.mylot.com/2132449.gif

 

They being the Bears.

 

Yes, I know.

 

So you think it's a stretch to say the Bears are better than the skins?

[Sammy Sofa]

It's semantics, but I don't think the Bears are "clearly better" than a lot of teams with how bad and vulnerable the defense has looked to this point. I love what we've seen from the offense, but that's still a work in progress itself. Basically it wouldn't surprise me to see the Bears lose to almost anyone left on their schedule.

[Banedon]

Anything can happen, but it'd definitely surprise me to see the Bears lose to anyone that is under .500. I don't think the Bears are an elite squad, but they're a good team, with flaws.

 

That's a lot more than I can say for the Redskins.

[jersey cubs fan]

It's semantics, but I don't think the Bears are "clearly better" than a lot of teams with how bad and vulnerable the defense has looked to this point. I love what we've seen from the offense, but that's still a work in progress itself. Basically it wouldn't surprise me to see the Bears lose to almost anyone left on their schedule.

 

Okay, I get that. But the Redskins and the entire NFC East are, I believe, more flawed.

[Sammy Sofa]

It's semantics, but I don't think the Bears are "clearly better" than a lot of teams with how bad and vulnerable the defense has looked to this point. I love what we've seen from the offense, but that's still a work in progress itself. Basically it wouldn't surprise me to see the Bears lose to almost anyone left on their schedule.

 

Okay, I get that. But the Redskins and the entire NFC East are, I believe, more flawed.

 

This is true.

[rawaction]

It's semantics, but I don't think the Bears are "clearly better" than a lot of teams with how bad and vulnerable the defense has looked to this point. I love what we've seen from the offense, but that's still a work in progress itself. Basically it wouldn't surprise me to see the Bears lose to almost anyone left on their schedule.

 

I think the defensive struggles are overblown. I'm working on some stuff for my blog either this week or during the bye to show that. They aren't anywhere near good by any means, but people act as if the defense is going to stop this team from succeeding. Hell, the defense was great last year and they still failed when it mattered to get this team to the playoffs (Seattle, Minnesota).

 

People, this is an offensive team now. This is what we all wanted for years to keep up with the rest of the league. Now we're fretting because the defense isn't dominating.

[Sammy Sofa]

I'm hardly worried because they're not "dominating;" I'm worried because they're simply giving up too many points to shitty teams.

[Banedon]

It's semantics, but I don't think the Bears are "clearly better" than a lot of teams with how bad and vulnerable the defense has looked to this point. I love what we've seen from the offense, but that's still a work in progress itself. Basically it wouldn't surprise me to see the Bears lose to almost anyone left on their schedule.

 

I think the defensive struggles are overblown. I'm working on some stuff for my blog either this week or during the bye to show that. They aren't anywhere near good by any means, but people act as if the defense is going to stop this team from succeeding. Hell, the defense was great last year and they still failed when it mattered to get this team to the playoffs (Seattle, Minnesota).

 

People, this is an offensive team now. This is what we all wanted for years to keep up with the rest of the league. Now we're fretting because the defense isn't dominating.

 

Sure, but it's not like we've got a top 10 offense right now either. It's that awkward middle stage where both sides are, at best, mediocre. I'm hoping the offense improves quickly, because it appears that the defense is declining quickly.

[rawaction]

It's semantics, but I don't think the Bears are "clearly better" than a lot of teams with how bad and vulnerable the defense has looked to this point. I love what we've seen from the offense, but that's still a work in progress itself. Basically it wouldn't surprise me to see the Bears lose to almost anyone left on their schedule.

 

I think the defensive struggles are overblown. I'm working on some stuff for my blog either this week or during the bye to show that. They aren't anywhere near good by any means, but people act as if the defense is going to stop this team from succeeding. Hell, the defense was great last year and they still failed when it mattered to get this team to the playoffs (Seattle, Minnesota).

 

People, this is an offensive team now. This is what we all wanted for years to keep up with the rest of the league. Now we're fretting because the defense isn't dominating.

 

Sure, but it's not like we've got a top 10 offense right now either. It's that awkward middle stage where both sides are, at best, mediocre. I'm hoping the offense improves quickly, because it appears that the defense is declining quickly.

 

You're right. 11th in total yards per game. 3rd in PPG. I know the D has scored, but take those scores out and still top 10 scoring offense.

[jersey cubs fan]

It's semantics, but I don't think the Bears are "clearly better" than a lot of teams with how bad and vulnerable the defense has looked to this point. I love what we've seen from the offense, but that's still a work in progress itself. Basically it wouldn't surprise me to see the Bears lose to almost anyone left on their schedule.

 

I think the defensive struggles are overblown. I'm working on some stuff for my blog either this week or during the bye to show that. They aren't anywhere near good by any means, but people act as if the defense is going to stop this team from succeeding. Hell, the defense was great last year and they still failed when it mattered to get this team to the playoffs (Seattle, Minnesota).

 

People, this is an offensive team now. This is what we all wanted for years to keep up with the rest of the league. Now we're fretting because the defense isn't dominating.

 

It's not a lack of dominating, as others noted, that bothers me. It's the complete lack of any pass rush, and multiple big money stars and recent 1st rounder being quite disappointing that is the issue. They aren't league worst or anything, but they went from great to mediocre in a hurry.

[Guest]

It's semantics, but I don't think the Bears are "clearly better" than a lot of teams with how bad and vulnerable the defense has looked to this point. I love what we've seen from the offense, but that's still a work in progress itself. Basically it wouldn't surprise me to see the Bears lose to almost anyone left on their schedule.

 

I think the defensive struggles are overblown. I'm working on some stuff for my blog either this week or during the bye to show that. They aren't anywhere near good by any means, but people act as if the defense is going to stop this team from succeeding. Hell, the defense was great last year and they still failed when it mattered to get this team to the playoffs (Seattle, Minnesota).

 

People, this is an offensive team now. This is what we all wanted for years to keep up with the rest of the league. Now we're fretting because the defense isn't dominating.

 

Sure, but it's not like we've got a top 10 offense right now either. It's that awkward middle stage where both sides are, at best, mediocre. I'm hoping the offense improves quickly, because it appears that the defense is declining quickly.

 

You're right. 11th in total yards per game. 3rd in PPG. I know the D has scored, but take those scores out and still top 10 scoring offense.

 

9th in yards.

 

I'd say 3rd in PPG is misleading given the defensive and ST scores (and ST and defensively aided scores).

 

 

Don't have DVOA updated yet for this week, but they were 10th in offensive DVOA for week 5.

[rawaction]

It's semantics, but I don't think the Bears are "clearly better" than a lot of teams with how bad and vulnerable the defense has looked to this point. I love what we've seen from the offense, but that's still a work in progress itself. Basically it wouldn't surprise me to see the Bears lose to almost anyone left on their schedule.

 

I think the defensive struggles are overblown. I'm working on some stuff for my blog either this week or during the bye to show that. They aren't anywhere near good by any means, but people act as if the defense is going to stop this team from succeeding. Hell, the defense was great last year and they still failed when it mattered to get this team to the playoffs (Seattle, Minnesota).

 

People, this is an offensive team now. This is what we all wanted for years to keep up with the rest of the league. Now we're fretting because the defense isn't dominating.

 

Sure, but it's not like we've got a top 10 offense right now either. It's that awkward middle stage where both sides are, at best, mediocre. I'm hoping the offense improves quickly, because it appears that the defense is declining quickly.

 

You're right. 11th in total yards per game. 3rd in PPG. I know the D has scored, but take those scores out and still top 10 scoring offense.

 

9th in yards.

 

I'd say 3rd in PPG is misleading given the defensive and ST scores (and ST and defensively aided scores).

 

 

Don't have DVOA updated yet for this week, but they were 10th in offensive DVOA for week 5.

 

Are u taking out every team's defense and ST aided scores? The Bears special teams haven't been very good this year. Their defense has gotten turnovers, but its not like they are lapping the league in turnovers.

 

Again, this I'd what we wanted. Stop trying to downplay the offense now that the Bears actually have one.

[Sammy Sofa]

Again, this I'd what we wanted.

 

Pretty sure nobody wanted the defense and special teams to fall off as dramatically as they have.

[Banedon]

It's semantics, but I don't think the Bears are "clearly better" than a lot of teams with how bad and vulnerable the defense has looked to this point. I love what we've seen from the offense, but that's still a work in progress itself. Basically it wouldn't surprise me to see the Bears lose to almost anyone left on their schedule.

 

I think the defensive struggles are overblown. I'm working on some stuff for my blog either this week or during the bye to show that. They aren't anywhere near good by any means, but people act as if the defense is going to stop this team from succeeding. Hell, the defense was great last year and they still failed when it mattered to get this team to the playoffs (Seattle, Minnesota).

 

People, this is an offensive team now. This is what we all wanted for years to keep up with the rest of the league. Now we're fretting because the defense isn't dominating.

 

Sure, but it's not like we've got a top 10 offense right now either. It's that awkward middle stage where both sides are, at best, mediocre. I'm hoping the offense improves quickly, because it appears that the defense is declining quickly.

 

You're right. 11th in total yards per game. 3rd in PPG. I know the D has scored, but take those scores out and still top 10 scoring offense.

 

Well [expletive], I'm gonna stop saying things today. I'm saying things without actually looking up numbers and looking pretty stupid.

[rawaction]

Again, this I'd what we wanted.

 

Pretty sure nobody wanted the defense and special teams to fall off as dramatically as they have.

Being an ass or u really don't get it? We wanted an offensive led football team. The offense is top 10 good and everyone has caveats. The defense doesn't have to carry the team and people are upset that they aren't capable of it anymore, despite the fact that they still get turnovers at a league best rate.

 

The offense has made up for the decline on defense like we hoped.

[Sammy Sofa]

Again, this I'd what we wanted.

 

Pretty sure nobody wanted the defense and special teams to fall off as dramatically as they have.

Being an ass or u really don't get it? We wanted an offensive led football team. The offense is top 10 good and everyone has caveats. The defense doesn't have to carry the team and people are upset that they aren't capable of it anymore, despite the fact that they still get turnovers at a league best rate.

 

The offense has made up for the decline on defense like we hoped.

 

Squeaking out last second wins and barely beating ass teams isn't what we hoped for. Like I said, the offense is trending clearly in the right direction and things look really good on that end for the future, but to sit back and say right now that everything is essentially fine this season isn't being realistic. There's a massive, massive gap between the defense carrying the team and the mess that it is right now, so to act like people "don't get it" when they're pointing how obviously flawed the team is right now is just ridiculous. The Bears are a decent team that is likely going to to either miss the playoffs or get knocked out very early because everything besides the offense is old and declining fast.

[jersey cubs fan]

Again, this I'd what we wanted.

 

Pretty sure nobody wanted the defense and special teams to fall off as dramatically as they have.

Being an ass or u really don't get it? We wanted an offensive led football team. The offense is top 10 good and everyone has caveats. The defense doesn't have to carry the team and people are upset that they aren't capable of it anymore, despite the fact that they still get turnovers at a league best rate.

 

The offense has made up for the decline on defense like we hoped.

 

I think you are mischaracterizing what people are upset about. It's not that we wanted them to carry the team, it's just that they fell pretty damn quickly. The offense has improved at an acceptable rate. The defense has regressed at too fast a rate for my liking. It's not just a lack of dominance, but rather long bouts of incompetence.

 

I'm not apoplectic, I just wished the defense would give the offense a little more cushion to gel, since I was expecting it to take some time.

[Sammy Sofa]

Again, this I'd what we wanted.

 

Pretty sure nobody wanted the defense and special teams to fall off as dramatically as they have.

Being an ass or u really don't get it? We wanted an offensive led football team. The offense is top 10 good and everyone has caveats. The defense doesn't have to carry the team and people are upset that they aren't capable of it anymore, despite the fact that they still get turnovers at a league best rate.

 

The offense has made up for the decline on defense like we hoped.

 

I think you are mischaracterizing what people are upset about. It's not that we wanted them to carry the team, it's just that they fell pretty damn quickly. The offense has improved at an acceptable rate. The defense has regressed at too fast a rate for my liking. It's not just a lack of dominance, but rather long bouts of incompetence.

 

I'm not apoplectic, I just wished the defense would give the offense a little more cushion to gel, since I was expecting it to take some time.

 

Exactly. I want the offense to be the main strength, so it's not like I'm bemoaning how they're looking so far. My disappointment stems from not expecting both the special teams and the defense to start declining so sharply and relatively quickly as they have. It's not something that's going to (ideally) cripple them for the long run, but it makes the outlook for THIS season not all of that optimistic.

[rawaction]

So they aren't winning by enough? The Bears are not a picture of precision on offense yet, but this is the same formula many teams have used to great success in recent years. The Colts won a ring with a terrible D. The Saints were a bad D that forced a ton of turnovers and got a ring. Atlanta, Denver, New England all had varying degrees of mediocre to bad defenses last year.

 

And if u are disappointed by an early playoff exit in year 1 of a new regime, your expectations are to blame.

[jersey cubs fan]

So they aren't winning by enough? The Bears are not a picture of precision on offense yet, but this is the same formula many teams have used to great success in recent years. The Colts won a ring with a terrible D. The Saints were a bad D that forced a ton of turnovers and got a ring. Atlanta, Denver, New England all had varying degrees of mediocre to bad defenses last year.

 

And if u are disappointed by an early playoff exit in year 1 of a new regime, your expectations are to blame.

 

To a certain extent, yes, they aren't winning by enough. They are 4-2 but have only outscored opponents by 11 points. They are 1-5 against the spread. And they've lost by 8 twice.

 

I'm not sure why you are glossing over the entire point that while the offense has improved, it is going to take time to be really good. But it hasn't taken long for the defense to slide.

 

I was hoping for an improvement in the offense and only a moderate backslide by the D, but the D has done more than a moderate backslide.From 5th in yards/game and points/game to 20th and 26th for those stats. And they have only faced two upper echelon offenses in these first six games.