Week 11 - Bears (5-4) vs Baltimore (4-5) - 12:00 PM, CBS

[Guest]

Bostic made an Urlacher-like interception yesterday, that was nice to see.

 

Yeah, that was really impressive. For some reason he also looked "bigger" to me on the field. Maybe Baltimore has some smaller offensive players (not just Ray Rice), or maybe he was just making more of an impact. The third option is that I was sitting closer to the TV.

 

lol. but the main thing is that he wasn't noticeably out of place or running with his back to the QB in any of the shots that i saw.

[UMFan83]

Is the field always that bad this time of year?

 

It's always that bad when they stupidly take the tarp off to play a game during what they know will be a huge storm. Had they just delayed the start and kept it covered until the worst passed they would have been fine.

 

Don't think they could keep the tarp out no matter what during a tornado warning.

 

They could have kept it on longer than they did and kept the players off until the storm passed. Instead they started it "on time" knowing there would be a delay. That led to pregame and 1st quarter activities ripping up the field and an impossible condition to return to.

 

That's definitely a problem with the NFL. I don't think I've ever seen a game delayed because of the threat of lightning/tornadoes. Their policy seems to be keep playing until you see lightning.

[Guest]

Is the field always that bad this time of year?

 

It's always that bad when they stupidly take the tarp off to play a game during what they know will be a huge storm. Had they just delayed the start and kept it covered until the worst passed they would have been fine.

 

Don't think they could keep the tarp out no matter what during a tornado warning.

 

They could have kept it on longer than they did and kept the players off until the storm passed. Instead they started it "on time" knowing there would be a delay. That led to pregame and 1st quarter activities ripping up the field and an impossible condition to return to.

 

That's definitely a problem with the NFL. I don't think I've ever seen a game delayed because of the threat of lightning/tornadoes. Their policy seems to be keep playing until you see lightning.

 

i'm really happy they started it on time because they don't run games on CBS concurrent with Packers games on Fox and vice versa, so if it was a 3 pm-ish start, i wouldn't have gotten to see it.

[sneakypower]

The McCown over Cutler thing is like the ultimate litmus test for meatball idiocy.

 

Yep.

• "Consistently good in every game he’s played, Josh McCown is now up to 7th in our PFF QB Rating which takes account of drops, spikes throw-aways etc. Coincidently he’s also now up to 7th in our overall grading."

[Sammy Sofa]

It's stunning to me the sheer number of people who claim to be Bears fans and who have no [expletive] clue how old McCown is.

[rawaction]

Also loved this quote from McCown:

 

"It was definitely one of those days when you look across the field and [see] Joe Flacco, and look on the sideline and Jay's [Cutler] over there and I'm like can I borrow someone's arm?" McCown said.

Look like he did on that seam pass to Bennett. That was a rocket I didn't think he was capable of.

[Banedon]

It's stunning to me the sheer number of people who claim to be Bears fans and who have no [expletive] clue how old McCown is.

 

Most of them can't say his name correctly judging by talk radio.

[bukie]

It's stunning to me the sheer number of people who claim to be Bears fans and who have no [expletive] clue how old McCown is.

There's a decent contingent of Bears fans who think he's Cade McNown.

[jersey cubs fan]

It's stunning to me the sheer number of people who claim to be Bears fans and who have no [expletive] clue how old McCown is.

 

I knew early-to-mid 30's but was not positive he was 34 until looking it up.

[jersey cubs fan]

Also loved this quote from McCown:

 

"It was definitely one of those days when you look across the field and [see] Joe Flacco, and look on the sideline and Jay's [Cutler] over there and I'm like can I borrow someone's arm?" McCown said.

Look like he did on that seam pass to Bennett. That was a rocket I didn't think he was capable of.

 

I didn't consider it a rocket. Pretty nice pass that was harder than his typical deliveries, but nothing huge. It looked really good coming out of his hand but toward the end it was just sort of hanging up there by the time it reached Bennett.

[UMFan83]

Sneaky posted the bit about McCown already but the rest of PFFs comments on the game so far.

 

The three highest graded players were Marshal Yanda (+7.7), Josh McCown (+3.6) and Gino Gradkowski (+3.6)

 

- The three lowest graded players were Landon Cohen (-6.2), Terrell Suggs (-3.2) and Martellus Bennett (-3.1)

 

 

- Consistently good in every game he’s played, Josh McCown is now up to 7th in our PFF QB Rating which takes account of drops, spikes throw-aways etc. Coincidently he’s also now up to 7th in our overall grading.

 

- The Bears defense appears to be getting back to basics. For many years they’ve been known as one of the best tackling units around but through week 8 were averaging a fraction under 10 a game. In the last two weeks they’ve missed five combined and just two here.

 

- The much maligned Ravens offensive line had by far their best showing of the year. They only allowed Joe Flacco to be pressured on 21% of throws and some of the run blocking, particularly from a dominant Marshal Yanda, was outstanding.

[gscool89]

Beginning to think Trestman is much better suited as an offense coordinator. Obviously things will change when he's more accustomed to the NFL game again but his game-coaching has been brutal the last two games.

[USSoccer]

I wish I could say I didn't understand why they can't just be happy we have a capable backup and still accept that Cutler is a lot better at playing QB, but I do understand. Chicago sports fans in general and Bears fans in particular are idiots.

[jersey cubs fan]

- The Bears defense appears to be getting back to basics. For many years they’ve been known as one of the best tackling units around but through week 8 were averaging a fraction under 10 a game. In the last two weeks they’ve missed five combined and just two here.

 

That is a strangely worded nugget.

[UMFan83]

More PFF leaking out:

 

#Bears worst @PFF grades vs Ravens:

Cohen -6.2(-5.1 run def), MBennett -3.1, Wootton -2.7(-2.4 pass rush), Anderson -2.4, Frey -1.5

 

#Bears best @PFF grades vs Ravens:

McCown +3.6, Bass +2.2, Ozougwu +2.0, Jennings +1.9, Bushrod/Paea +1.4, Wright +1.1

 

Also found this on Twitter (not updated for yesterday's game)

 

[jersey cubs fan]

I wish I could say I didn't understand why they can't just be happy we have a capable backup and still accept that Cutler is a lot better at playing QB, but I do understand. Chicago sports fans in general and Bears fans in particular are idiots.

 

I don't see what Chicago has to do with it. It is universal that large portions of a fan base will both be hung up on predetermined storylines about a player, and will blame the QB disproportionately for all struggles prior to winning a super bowl. The backup QB is the most popular player on a team is a saying that has held true for decades, by all fan bases.

[USSoccer]

I wish I could say I didn't understand why they can't just be happy we have a capable backup and still accept that Cutler is a lot better at playing QB, but I do understand. Chicago sports fans in general and Bears fans in particular are idiots.

 

I don't see what Chicago has to do with it. It is universal that large portions of a fan base will both be hung up on predetermined storylines about a player, and will blame the QB disproportionately for all struggles prior to winning a super bowl. The backup QB is the most popular player on a team is a saying that has held true for decades, by all fan bases.

 

You and I have talked about this before, IIRC. Chicago fans eat their own; they gobble up any idiot narrative our idiot media wants to assemble and would never change their minds.

 

If Cutler took them to a Superbowl they'd still bitch about him.

[apete6]

I wish I could say I didn't understand why they can't just be happy we have a capable backup and still accept that Cutler is a lot better at playing QB, but I do understand. Chicago sports fans in general and Bears fans in particular are idiots.

 

I don't see what Chicago has to do with it. It is universal that large portions of a fan base will both be hung up on predetermined storylines about a player, and will blame the QB disproportionately for all struggles prior to winning a super bowl. The backup QB is the most popular player on a team is a saying that has held true for decades, by all fan bases.

 

You and I have talked about this before, IIRC. Chicago fans eat their own; they gobble up any idiot narrative our idiot media wants to assemble and would never change their minds.

 

If Cutler took them to a Superbowl they'd still bitch about him.

 

That's where you're wrong. Chicago fans will hate all day long, but if you win, you are golden forever. The mid-80s Bears underachieved big time when considering their roster, but there is not 1 member of that 85 team that will ever pay for a meal in Chicago.

If Derrick Rose or Cutler, or whoever the whipping boy of the day is ends up winning a title, they are golden forever.

[Guest]

I wish I could say I didn't understand why they can't just be happy we have a capable backup and still accept that Cutler is a lot better at playing QB, but I do understand. Chicago sports fans in general and Bears fans in particular are idiots.

 

I love Jay Cutler, but it's not like McCown hasn't been really [expletive] good or anything. I mean, meatballs will be meatballs, but McCown has been really [expletive] good, i mean really good.

[gscool89]

I guess the fact that McCown is 34 makes me lukewarm on anything he does. He's not the future. If he was 23 I would be going bat-[expletive] crazy.

 

And between the Cutler and Derrick Rose hate the last 2 years, it's really making Chicago fans look like the worst fans in sports. Especially Derrick Rose who won a [expletive] MVP 2 years ago.

[Guest]

groin-grabbingly good

[Guest]

I guess the fact that McCown is 34 makes me lukewarm on anything he does. He's not the future. If he was 23 I would be going [expletive] crazy.

 

And between the Cutler and Derrick Rose hate the last 2 years, it's really making Chicago fans look like the worst fans in sports. Especially Derrick Rose who won a [expletive] MVP 2 years ago.

 

second-coming-of-Rich Gannon-good

[Guest]

and I still think Sam Bradford and Marc Trestman were fated to work together and win super bowls together

[jersey cubs fan]

I wish I could say I didn't understand why they can't just be happy we have a capable backup and still accept that Cutler is a lot better at playing QB, but I do understand. Chicago sports fans in general and Bears fans in particular are idiots.

 

I don't see what Chicago has to do with it. It is universal that large portions of a fan base will both be hung up on predetermined storylines about a player, and will blame the QB disproportionately for all struggles prior to winning a super bowl. The backup QB is the most popular player on a team is a saying that has held true for decades, by all fan bases.

 

You and I have talked about this before, IIRC. Chicago fans eat their own; they gobble up any idiot narrative our idiot media wants to assemble and would never change their minds.

 

If Cutler took them to a Superbowl they'd still bitch about him.

 

If he just took them and did not win? Probably. Just like Grossman, or just like Philly did with McNabb, or just like just about any fan base would do with a 30 year old QB who has not yet won them a Super Bowl. There are Steelers fans who kind of hate Big Ben right now and lots of NY people wanting to dump Manning.

 

Unless you are among the best of the best and can back it up with the stats, you are going to run afoul with fan bases across the league. It is not a Chicago thing.

[jersey cubs fan]

I guess the fact that McCown is 34 makes me lukewarm on anything he does. He's not the future. If he was 23 I would be going [expletive] crazy.

 

And between the Cutler and Derrick Rose hate the last 2 years, it's really making Chicago fans look like the worst fans in sports. Especially Derrick Rose who won a [expletive] MVP 2 years ago.

 

This is not at all unique to Chicago.

 

And as for Rose, you are talking about a guy who was medically cleared to play who decided he didn't want to play. That's a whole 'nother level that will rile up any fan base.