Week 16: Bears (8-6) @ Eagles (8-6) 7:30 PM NBC

[Brian]

Briggs was hyping on Twitter that he was going to announce if he was playing on Sunday on his show last night, but I've kind of looked around and it doesn't look like anything is definite yet. Anybody watch?

[UMFan83]

Not sure if he said anything on the show but he did practice today but was limited. Conditioning is obviously the concern because he hasnt played in over 2 months and is playing an extremely uptempo offense.

 

Also this from Trestman:

 

I've spent no time thinking about whether I'd treat the Eagles game differently if DET & GB results make it meaningless to NFCN.

 

A Lions loss and Packers win would make the result of the Eagles game meaningless (except for potential seeding)

[Banedon]

Briggs was hyping on Twitter that he was going to announce if he was playing on Sunday on his show last night, but I've kind of looked around and it doesn't look like anything is definite yet. Anybody watch?

 

He said on his show that he had to go through the process...yadda yadda. It was all very optimistic, and he thought he'd play, but officially has to get all the right clearances.

[Splendid Splinter]

Briggs was hyping on Twitter that he was going to announce if he was playing on Sunday on his show last night, but I've kind of looked around and it doesn't look like anything is definite yet. Anybody watch?

 

He said on his show that he had to go through the process...yadda yadda. It was all very optimistic, and he thought he'd play, but officially has to get all the right clearances.

 

 

Seems like he said something similar to that like 3 weeks ago? Maybe I was just imagining it.

[jersey cubs fan]

Briggs was hyping on Twitter that he was going to announce if he was playing on Sunday on his show last night, but I've kind of looked around and it doesn't look like anything is definite yet. Anybody watch?

 

He said on his show that he had to go through the process...yadda yadda. It was all very optimistic, and he thought he'd play, but officially has to get all the right clearances.

I saw it last night and wouldn't say "very optimistic" what *I* heard was pretty cautious.

Edited December 19, 2013 by jersey cubs fan

[minnesotacubsfan]

Not sure if he said anything on the show but he did practice today but was limited. Conditioning is obviously the concern because he hasnt played in over 2 months and is playing an extremely uptempo offense.

 

Also this from Trestman:

 

I've spent no time thinking about whether I'd treat the Eagles game differently if DET & GB results make it meaningless to NFCN.

 

A Lions loss and Packers win would make the result of the Eagles game meaningless (except for potential seeding)

 

I started typing a response to this, and your right it would be meaningless. And really [expletive] weird.

[SouthSideRyan]

Not sure if he said anything on the show but he did practice today but was limited. Conditioning is obviously the concern because he hasnt played in over 2 months and is playing an extremely uptempo offense.

 

Also this from Trestman:

 

I've spent no time thinking about whether I'd treat the Eagles game differently if DET & GB results make it meaningless to NFCN.

 

A Lions loss and Packers win would make the result of the Eagles game meaningless (except for potential seeding)

 

I started typing a response to this, and your right it would be meaningless. And really [expletive] weird.

 

And if the Cowboys beat the Skins it's meaningless for the Eagles

[ctcf]

Not sure if he said anything on the show but he did practice today but was limited. Conditioning is obviously the concern because he hasnt played in over 2 months and is playing an extremely uptempo offense.

 

Also this from Trestman:

 

I've spent no time thinking about whether I'd treat the Eagles game differently if DET & GB results make it meaningless to NFCN.

 

A Lions loss and Packers win would make the result of the Eagles game meaningless (except for potential seeding)

 

I started typing a response to this, and your right it would be meaningless. And really [expletive] weird.

 

Wait, why would a Lions loss and a Packers win make it meaningless?

[SouthSideRyan]

Not sure if he said anything on the show but he did practice today but was limited. Conditioning is obviously the concern because he hasnt played in over 2 months and is playing an extremely uptempo offense.

 

Also this from Trestman:

 

I've spent no time thinking about whether I'd treat the Eagles game differently if DET & GB results make it meaningless to NFCN.

 

A Lions loss and Packers win would make the result of the Eagles game meaningless (except for potential seeding)

 

I started typing a response to this, and your right it would be meaningless. And really [expletive] weird.

 

Wait, why would a Lions loss and a Packers win make it meaningless?

 

Because the Bears are up 1/2 game on the Packers with a win and down 1/2 game with a loss. The only way it matters is if the Bears-Packers tie in Week 17

[ctcf]

Not sure if he said anything on the show but he did practice today but was limited. Conditioning is obviously the concern because he hasnt played in over 2 months and is playing an extremely uptempo offense.

 

Also this from Trestman:

 

I've spent no time thinking about whether I'd treat the Eagles game differently if DET & GB results make it meaningless to NFCN.

 

A Lions loss and Packers win would make the result of the Eagles game meaningless (except for potential seeding)

 

I started typing a response to this, and your right it would be meaningless. And really [expletive] weird.

 

Wait, why would a Lions loss and a Packers win make it meaningless?

 

Because the Bears are up 1/2 game on the Packers with a win and down 1/2 game with a loss. The only way it matters is if the Bears-Packers tie in Week 17

 

Wow thanks, that's nuts.

[UMFan83]

Good point about the tie. However unlikely that is, I think that plus the obvious seeding implications with the Eagles, would give Trestman enough motivation to play to win this weekend

[bukie]

Also, the Lions now need to win out to make the playoffs, since they can't win the NFC North at 8-8.

[Banedon]

http://i.imgur.com/OKygVbz.png

[rawaction]

I've read some speculation (from people NOT in the know) that the Eagles may take it easy if the Cowboys beat the Redskins. The main concern seems to be McCoy. Many around the Eagles (fans, writers) feel that if the Cowboys win, Shady may only get 10-15 touches and sit most, if not all, of the 2nd half.

 

They also think the Bears may see a very vanilla offense/gameplan as they won't want to give the Cowboys too much more to gameplan for. Even though they did play already this year, that was when Vick was technically the starter still. He was hurt and missed the game. But Foles got hurt during the game and Matt Barkley was their leading passer.

[UMFan83]

I've read some speculation (from people NOT in the know) that the Eagles may take it easy if the Cowboys beat the Redskins. The main concern seems to be McCoy. Many around the Eagles (fans, writers) feel that if the Cowboys win, Shady may only get 10-15 touches and sit most, if not all, of the 2nd half.

 

They also think the Bears may see a very vanilla offense/gameplan as they won't want to give the Cowboys too much more to gameplan for. Even though they did play already this year, that was when Vick was technically the starter still. He was hurt and missed the game. But Foles got hurt during the game and Matt Barkley was their leading passer.

 

Yeah, I think the most likely scenario is that the Eagles have nothing to play for and the Bears do. I am assuming the Cowboys will manage to beat the Redskins, and I think the Lions will beat the Giants and Packers beat the Steelers, meaning the Bears would need to beat Philly to continue to control their own destiny in Week 17.

[rawaction]

I wouldn't be so sure about the Packers. Rodgers would give them a boost if he plays, but the Steelers have been playing decent football recently. The Packers defense has been terrible lately (5.54 yards per carry the last 8 weeks) and I wouldn't pencil in a win for any team starting a QB that was picked up off the waiver wire during the season.

[Banedon]

"This is a big game for us, very big," McCoy said. "I feel like this game I have to put the offense on my back. I want to get going.

 

"Me and the guys up front, we have to set the tone. Once we do that we can worry about the other teams. Right now, the big guys up front and I, we have to put this one on our back."

 

The weather forecast calls for balmy conditions and heavy rain in Philadelphia on Sunday night. Just two weeks ago McCoy set the franchise single game rushing record with 217 yards on a snow covered field.

 

What can fans and his teammates look forward to if there turns out to be a sloppy track Sunday night?

 

"The rain, man," McCoy said. "I may run for 300."

 

http://www.eagledelphia.com/2013/12/lesean-mccoy-i-want-to-carry-this-game-on-my-back-.html#more

[jersey cubs fan]

"This is a big game for us, very big," McCoy said. "I feel like this game I have to put the offense on my back. I want to get going.

 

"Me and the guys up front, we have to set the tone. Once we do that we can worry about the other teams. Right now, the big guys up front and I, we have to put this one on our back."

 

http://www.eagledelphia.com/2013/12/lesean-mccoy-i-want-to-carry-this-game-on-my-back-.html#more

 

McCoy has been very vocal about how easy this defense should be to run on. In the old days you might think the Bears would find a way to rally around the slights and shut him down, but the current days are not old.

[Banedon]

"This is a big game for us, very big," McCoy said. "I feel like this game I have to put the offense on my back. I want to get going.

 

"Me and the guys up front, we have to set the tone. Once we do that we can worry about the other teams. Right now, the big guys up front and I, we have to put this one on our back."

 

http://www.eagledelphia.com/2013/12/lesean-mccoy-i-want-to-carry-this-game-on-my-back-.html#more

 

McCoy has been very vocal about how easy this defense should be to run on. In the old days you might think the Bears would find a way to rally around the slights and shut him down, but the current days are not old.

 

How big of a difference can Briggs make by himself?

[UMFan83]

I'm still not sure how many snaps we can even expect Briggs to play after not playing for over 2 months. Maybe half the snaps? Philly's offense is obviously very fast paced and will leave little time for a possibly under conditioned athlete to rest.

[JonJayCutler]

Briggs will help, just not sure how much.

[rawaction]

Briggs can make a big difference. The defense is allowing like 90 more yards per game and 1.5 ypc more without him. The combo of Briggs and Ratliff at 100% can make a huge difference going forward.

 

But this week, I'm not seeing it. Like was said, there's no way he can play every snap against a fast paced offense like this after 2 months off. And the Bears D of old struggled against McCoy also, IIRC. They've always had trouble with guys that can cut quickly like McCoy. The best hope for the D is the offense can score and have the Eagles playing from behind and abandoning the run somewhat.

[jersey cubs fan]

Briggs can make a big difference. The defense is allowing like 90 more yards per game and 1.5 ypc more without him. The combo of Briggs and Ratliff at 100% can make a huge difference going forward.

 

But this week, I'm not seeing it. Like was said, there's no way he can play every snap against a fast paced offense like this after 2 months off. And the Bears D of old struggled against McCoy also, IIRC. They've always had trouble with guys that can cut quickly like McCoy. The best hope for the D is the offense can score and have the Eagles playing from behind and abandoning the run somewhat.

 

The defense needs an early turnover, but without bringing it back to the end zone since they will just go right back out there.

[rawaction]

Briggs can make a big difference. The defense is allowing like 90 more yards per game and 1.5 ypc more without him. The combo of Briggs and Ratliff at 100% can make a huge difference going forward.

 

But this week, I'm not seeing it. Like was said, there's no way he can play every snap against a fast paced offense like this after 2 months off. And the Bears D of old struggled against McCoy also, IIRC. They've always had trouble with guys that can cut quickly like McCoy. The best hope for the D is the offense can score and have the Eagles playing from behind and abandoning the run somewhat.

 

The defense needs an early turnover, but without bringing it back to the end zone since they will just go right back out there.

 

LOL. It's funny because the old D used to turn it up a notch after they scored. Always felt like they would score again. But now it's like, "good, that'll make up for the TD they're about to give up".

[JonJayCutler]

GB and PIT is going to be a blizzard game. Not sure if that'll factor into Rodgers playing or not.