Week 12 - Bears (6-4) at St Louis (4-6) - 12:00 PM, FOX

[rawaction]

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/11/18/report-cutler-to-return-dec-1-at-minnesota/?utm_medium=VPH&utm_source=topvph_sports&utm_campaign=508016

[JonJayCutler]

Hmm, interesting. I obviously believe Jay more than any other source, and I have a hard time believing he'll go from being ruled out so quickly this week to playing next week. Stranger things have happened I guess.

 

I'll predict Cutler and Briggs both return on the MNF game against Dallas on Dec. 9. They don't need either to beat Minnesota.

[UMFan83]

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/11/18/report-cutler-to-return-dec-1-at-minnesota/?utm_medium=VPH&utm_source=topvph_sports&utm_campaign=508016

 

That report was exactly what started the discussion about his injury on the Jay Cutler Show yesterday. Cutler immediately dismissed it and started all that negative talk.

 

But then again Jay was very non-committal about playing in the Lions game the week leading up to it, but yesterday on the show he pretty much implied that he knew he was going to be back for that game during the bye week.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/11/18/report-cutler-to-return-dec-1-at-minnesota/?utm_medium=VPH&utm_source=topvph_sports&utm_campaign=508016

 

That report was exactly what started the discussion about his injury on the Jay Cutler Show yesterday. Cutler immediately dismissed it and started all that negative talk.

 

But then again Jay was very non-committal about playing in the Lions game the week leading up to it, but yesterday on the show he pretty much implied that he knew he was going to be back for that game during the bye week.

 

The only conclusion is the organization is pushing Jay to come back, knowing he isn't ready, so he will look bad and it will help justify not bringing him back.

[Sammy Sofa]

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/11/18/report-cutler-to-return-dec-1-at-minnesota/?utm_medium=VPH&utm_source=topvph_sports&utm_campaign=508016

 

That report was exactly what started the discussion about his injury on the Jay Cutler Show yesterday. Cutler immediately dismissed it and started all that negative talk.

 

But then again Jay was very non-committal about playing in the Lions game the week leading up to it, but yesterday on the show he pretty much implied that he knew he was going to be back for that game during the bye week.

 

The only conclusion is the organization is pushing Jay to come back, knowing he isn't ready, so he will look bad and it will help justify not bringing him back.

 

It's ridiculous how he's screwed PR-wise regardless of what he chooses/can do.

[KingCubsFan]

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/11/18/report-cutler-to-return-dec-1-at-minnesota/?utm_medium=VPH&utm_source=topvph_sports&utm_campaign=508016

 

That report was exactly what started the discussion about his injury on the Jay Cutler Show yesterday. Cutler immediately dismissed it and started all that negative talk.

 

But then again Jay was very non-committal about playing in the Lions game the week leading up to it, but yesterday on the show he pretty much implied that he knew he was going to be back for that game during the bye week.

 

The only conclusion is the organization is pushing Jay to come back, knowing he isn't ready, so he will look bad and it will help justify not bringing him back.

You really think they're trying to put themselves in a position to lose games so they don't have to bring back Cutler (who they don't have to bring back anyways)?

[UMFan83]

For nerds like me: ESPN's playoff machine is back!

 

http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/machine

[Banedon]

Doesn't seem to work right at the moment. Layout is all jacked.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/11/18/report-cutler-to-return-dec-1-at-minnesota/?utm_medium=VPH&utm_source=topvph_sports&utm_campaign=508016

 

That report was exactly what started the discussion about his injury on the Jay Cutler Show yesterday. Cutler immediately dismissed it and started all that negative talk.

 

But then again Jay was very non-committal about playing in the Lions game the week leading up to it, but yesterday on the show he pretty much implied that he knew he was going to be back for that game during the bye week.

 

The only conclusion is the organization is pushing Jay to come back, knowing he isn't ready, so he will look bad and it will help justify not bringing him back.

You really think they're trying to put themselves in a position to lose games so they don't have to bring back Cutler (who they don't have to bring back anyways)?

 

No, but that wasn't at all implied in the joke either.

 

The point was if he isn't healthy enough to return, and the Bears know he isn't healthy enough to return, the conspiracy theorist view would be they are leaking that "they expect him to return on 12/1", knowing full well he won't be able to return on 12/1, therefore painting him in a bad light.

[UMFan83]

Doesn't seem to work right at the moment. Layout is all jacked.

 

right...you can still use it but its difficult. im sure it will be fixed.

 

I went through it and had the following

 

1. Seattle 14-2

2. New Orleans 12-4

 

6 Arizona 9-7 @ 3 Green Bay 10-6

5 San Francisco 10-6 @ 4 Dallas 9-7

 

1. Indianapolis 13-3

2. Denver 13-3

 

6 Miami 9-7 @ 3 New England 11-5

5 Kansas City 12-4 @ 3 Cincinnati 9-7

 

Bears finish 9-7 and join other 9-7 teams Detroit and Carolina out of the playoffs.

 

Not sure how I made Carolina collapse, Green Bay only lose once the rest of the way, and the remnants of Miami making the playoffs. If I give Chicago the win over GB in Week 17, then 10-6 Chicago wins the division and plays 9-7 Carolina in the 1st round.

[SouthSideRyan]

My run-through had the Bears missing out at 10-6 (Only 10-6 team to miss)

 

Best Case:

 

DEN

CLE

JAX

NYJ

KC

OAK

 

CHI

SEA

CAR

WAS

TB

ATL

[Guest]

I'm not sure I can handle another 10-6 Bears team missing the playoffs, especially while the NFC East is allowed a playoff team.

[Soul]

That cannot be allowed to happen

[rawaction]

Oh to have the last 2 minutes of the Washington and Detroit home games back. Hell, I'd take the same record and trade a win in one of those for a loss to Baltimore.

 

Really needed Carolina to lose last night.

[UMFan83]

I've seen a couple of people in the comments post their scenarios where the Bears finish 11-5 and miss the playoffs. I would not be able to handle that.

[Guest]

I've seen a couple of people in the comments post their scenarios where the Bears finish 11-5 and miss the playoffs. I would not be able to handle that.

 

If that happened, I would become more powerful than you could ever imagine.

[JonJayCutler]

Yeah, would be nice to have the Washington and the home Detroit game back, like Raw said.

 

But realizing that all of our wins with the exception of maybe the Steelers game could have easily been losses makes me feel better though. In GB the game was mostly in control but no Rodgers. The other four wins could have easily swung the other way at the end.

 

Too many close games.

[UMFan83]

For a team with a 15 point differential this year, Football Outsiders is pretty high on the Bears.

 

5th overall DVOA, 6th best offensive DVOA, 13th defensive, and 10th special teams. According to their projections, the Bears should be 7.5-2.5 right now.

[BigSlick]

For a team with a 15 point differential this year, Football Outsiders is pretty high on the Bears.

 

5th overall DVOA, 6th best offensive DVOA, 13th defensive, and 10th special teams. According to their projections, the Bears should be 7.5-2.5 right now.

It's certainly surprising to see the Bears have above average defensive and special teams metrics according to their systems, though I haven't a keen eye on the rest of the league.

[rawaction]

Well, the offense is understandably rated highly. Putting up points, putting up yards, not giving up sacks, and for the most part not turning the ball over.

 

Defensively, they do force turnovers better than most teams. Near the league lead in INTs, most forced fumbles by 3-4, even though they have only recovered half. Almost an INT (14) for every TD (15) allowed in the air. And maybe it's me, but I feel like the Bears have either given up a big run (double digits) or stuffed the run within 3 yards. Kind of an all or nothing run D. As bad as the run D has been, the "all" has been there more than the "nothing".

[Guest]

Bears are gonna have two 1,000 yard receivers for the first time since Jeff Graham and Curtis Conway.

[apete6]

For a team with a 15 point differential this year, Football Outsiders is pretty high on the Bears.

 

5th overall DVOA, 6th best offensive DVOA, 13th defensive, and 10th special teams. According to their projections, the Bears should be 7.5-2.5 right now.

 

Which makes those Washington and Detroit games even shittier in retrospect. They win those 2, they're 8-2, guaranteed of the playoffs and Super Bowl contenders. [expletive] sports.

[Sammy Sofa]

Bears are gonna have two 1,000 yard receivers for the first time since Jeff Graham and Curtis Conway.

 

That team also did not make the playoffs.

[UMFan83]

Bears are gonna have two 1,000 yard receivers for the first time since Jeff Graham and Curtis Conway.

 

That team also did not make the playoffs.

 

Also?

[Banedon]

WMBD 31's Kurt Pegler has confirmed the Chicago Bears have reached out to ‪#‎Washington‬ High School for permission to wear Panther t-shirts before and after Sunday's game at St. Louis vs. the Rams. ‪#‎BearDown‬ ‪#‎CentralIllinoisStrong‬