Week 13: BEARS vs. Arizona Cardinals

[raw]

Obligatory....Bears are still in the playoff picture post. Only 1 game in back of the 7th wildcard spot!!!

 

But anyway, we don't know who the QB will be in this game. There have been reports that Fields is expected to play. There are others that said more serious than originally thought. Nagy may say "F it" and just start Dalton anyway. Best player on defense may also miss this game after Roquan Smith hurt his hamstring on Thanksgiving. Best hope for the Bears is the Cards have a lot of rust with Kyler/Hopkins playing for the first time in about a month and they are weary from the travel after the bye week.

 

4-2 has a decent chance of getting the Bears in, even with the next 2 being mismatches on paper, win the last 4 and they'll have a fighting chance as long as there are no upsets (other than Bears twice over Minnesota) and the Bucs in particular have something to play for Week 18.

 

Lets get crazy!

[UMFan83]

This "one game back of playoffs" chatter, which technically true, is a bunch of [expletive]. And I know no one here is saying its realistic, just pointing out all the twitter chatter. Let's game it out....

 

They are behind 7 other teams for that last playoff spot:

 

WFT - 1 game behind, has a 5-2 conference record vs. the Bears 2-4. Almost certain to lose this tiebreaker

Vikings - 1 game behind but 2 H2H's left so technically the Bears can with both and get the tiebreaker (and probably need to)

Falcons - 1 game behind, they have a 2-5 conference record so we might be able to win a tiebreaker

Saints - 1 game behind, has a 4-4 conference record so probably losing that tiebreaker

Eagles - 0.5 games behind, has 4-4 conference record so same

Panthers - 0.5 games behind, 3-5 conference record so potentially can win tiebreaker

Giants - tied, can win H2H tiebreaker

Seahawks - 1 game ahead, can win H2H tiebreaker

 

They basically would need to finish the last 6 games 2 games better than WFT and Saints (so 4-2 requires both to go 2-4 or worse), 1.5 games better than Eagles (4-2 means 2-3), win both the Vikings games plus Giants and Seahawks. And hope the conference tiebreaker works out against Panthers and Falcons.

 

First 2 games on the schedule: Arizona and GB. Is there a scenario where the Bears lose those 2 and then win the rest and make the playoffs? I guess but not very likely.

[Tim]

so you're saying there's a chance...

[UMFan83]

[jumbo]

Something looks....not right about this picture of him

Like he is crazy enough to believe they had a SB chance last year

[Tryptamine]

Kyler Murray may be back for this one. I'd have to imagine the spread starts approaching 12 to 13 if that's true.

[BigSlick]

God. I feel absolutely no desire to watch this game, whether or not Justin Fields plays. If he doesn't play: no reason to watch, if he does play: oh watch Justin get fed into a woodchipper.

 

This team is so damn grim.

[raw]

Kyler Murray may be back for this one. I'd have to imagine the spread starts approaching 12 to 13 if that's true.

 

Eh, I doubt it moves too much. Bears are the home team. Early start for a team from out west. Bears QB situation probably won't affect things too much. Cards have also been decent without Murray. Doubt it moves to more than -8 or -9.

[UMFan83]

I know Thursday is the better day to assess injuries but looks like Hicks, Robinson, Roquan and Kmet DNP today.

 

Fields was limited and apparently Dalton was exclusively taking snaps with the starters.

 

[gflore34]

I know Thursday is the better day to assess injuries but looks like Hicks, Robinson, Roquan and Kmet DNP today.

 

Fields was limited and apparently Dalton was exclusively taking snaps with the starters.

 

 

Dalton was, is, and always will be Nagy' QB, I'm certain of it and now, with Fields being limited, Nagy has his excuse to go with his boy. Maybe, its for the best - Nagy' not capable of fully utilizing the things Fields does best and more times than not puts him in harms way, I'd rather see Dalton get smashed than Fields.

[David]

I know Thursday is the better day to assess injuries but looks like Hicks, Robinson, Roquan and Kmet DNP today.

 

Fields was limited and apparently Dalton was exclusively taking snaps with the starters.

 

 

Dalton was, is, and always will be Nagy' QB, I'm certain of it and now, with Fields being limited, Nagy has his excuse to go with his boy. Maybe, its for the best - Nagy' not capable of fully utilizing the things Fields does best and more times than not puts him in harms way, I'd rather see Dalton get smashed than Fields.

 

he has cracked ribs. he absolutely should sit.

[raw]

Bears have had a stellar few weeks managing the IR. If Hicks and ARob can't go, they will have NOT gone on short-term IR despite missing the minimum 3 games, which is especially hurtful considering there was a bye week mixed in. So that means they mis-assessed 4+ week injuries as being < 3 weeks and could have used the roster spots (I know can call up infinite practice squad guys).

 

Damien Williams hasn't played since Week 8, with no IR

Khalil Mack wasn't put on IR until after they determined he was going to be out for the year, 3 weeks after they sat him down

[WrigleyField 22]

Bears have had a stellar few weeks managing the IR. If Hicks and ARob can't go, they will have NOT gone on short-term IR despite missing the minimum 3 games, which is especially hurtful considering there was a bye week mixed in. So that means they mis-assessed 4+ week injuries as being < 3 weeks and could have used the roster spots (I know can call up infinite practice squad guys).

 

Damien Williams hasn't played since Week 8, with no IR

Khalil Mack wasn't put on IR until after they determined he was going to be out for the year, 3 weeks after they sat him down

I think I had mentioned before, but yea I think the PS call-ups really alleviate some of that need. Since you can't dress the entire 53 man anyways, it just costs extra money for a pretty low benefit.

 

It's kind of hard to remember, but it used to be going on the IR meant you were out for the year. It's gradually been relaxed to a very loose injury provision that it is now, but maybe managing it judicially and saving cap space is a good thing?

[jersey cubs fan]

Bears have had a stellar few weeks managing the IR. If Hicks and ARob can't go, they will have NOT gone on short-term IR despite missing the minimum 3 games, which is especially hurtful considering there was a bye week mixed in. So that means they mis-assessed 4+ week injuries as being < 3 weeks and could have used the roster spots (I know can call up infinite practice squad guys).

 

Damien Williams hasn't played since Week 8, with no IR

Khalil Mack wasn't put on IR until after they determined he was going to be out for the year, 3 weeks after they sat him down

I think that speaks more to highly compensated vets on the way out being unmotivated to return again with a crap coach leading things.

[raw]

Bears have had a stellar few weeks managing the IR. If Hicks and ARob can't go, they will have NOT gone on short-term IR despite missing the minimum 3 games, which is especially hurtful considering there was a bye week mixed in. So that means they mis-assessed 4+ week injuries as being < 3 weeks and could have used the roster spots (I know can call up infinite practice squad guys).

 

Damien Williams hasn't played since Week 8, with no IR

Khalil Mack wasn't put on IR until after they determined he was going to be out for the year, 3 weeks after they sat him down

I think I had mentioned before, but yea I think the PS call-ups really alleviate some of that need. Since you can't dress the entire 53 man anyways, it just costs extra money for a pretty low benefit.

 

It's kind of hard to remember, but it used to be going on the IR meant you were out for the year. It's gradually been relaxed to a very loose injury provision that it is now, but maybe managing it judicially and saving cap space is a good thing?

 

Yeah, the rules have evolved just in the last few years. Used to be IR = out of the year. Then they added where you could have 1 or 2 guys come back from IR, but it meant they were out at least 8 weeks. Then I think within the last 2 years they added the short-term IR. That used to be limited to a certain number of players as well, but then they allowed for everyone along with the whole 21 day thing with those not on short-term.

 

But yeah, I guess it does save money. And it does make sense to do it this way if guys are going to miss 2-4 games. I know you can't know how guys will heal from every injury and you are cautious with the better players, especially as they get older. So, it makes sense to evaluate the guys on your practice squad weekly over putting a guy on the active roster, be stuck with him for 3-4 games if he can't play and then add new guys to the PS just to cut guys for roster moves in a few weeks.

[raw]

Bears have had a stellar few weeks managing the IR. If Hicks and ARob can't go, they will have NOT gone on short-term IR despite missing the minimum 3 games, which is especially hurtful considering there was a bye week mixed in. So that means they mis-assessed 4+ week injuries as being < 3 weeks and could have used the roster spots (I know can call up infinite practice squad guys).

 

Damien Williams hasn't played since Week 8, with no IR

Khalil Mack wasn't put on IR until after they determined he was going to be out for the year, 3 weeks after they sat him down

I think that speaks more to highly compensated vets on the way out being unmotivated to return again with a crap coach leading things.

 

Probably right. Didn't really happen in years past. Mack, Quinn, Hicks, Trevathan, etc. gutted out injuries when they potentially had something (and somebody) worth playing for.

[WrigleyField 22]

Bears have had a stellar few weeks managing the IR. If Hicks and ARob can't go, they will have NOT gone on short-term IR despite missing the minimum 3 games, which is especially hurtful considering there was a bye week mixed in. So that means they mis-assessed 4+ week injuries as being < 3 weeks and could have used the roster spots (I know can call up infinite practice squad guys).

 

Damien Williams hasn't played since Week 8, with no IR

Khalil Mack wasn't put on IR until after they determined he was going to be out for the year, 3 weeks after they sat him down

I think I had mentioned before, but yea I think the PS call-ups really alleviate some of that need. Since you can't dress the entire 53 man anyways, it just costs extra money for a pretty low benefit.

 

It's kind of hard to remember, but it used to be going on the IR meant you were out for the year. It's gradually been relaxed to a very loose injury provision that it is now, but maybe managing it judicially and saving cap space is a good thing?

 

Yeah, the rules have evolved just in the last few years. Used to be IR = out of the year. Then they added where you could have 1 or 2 guys come back from IR, but it meant they were out at least 8 weeks. Then I think within the last 2 years they added the short-term IR. That used to be limited to a certain number of players as well, but then they allowed for everyone along with the whole 21 day thing with those not on short-term.

 

But yeah, I guess it does save money. And it does make sense to do it this way if guys are going to miss 2-4 games. I know you can't know how guys will heal from every injury and you are cautious with the better players, especially as they get older. So, it makes sense to evaluate the guys on your practice squad weekly over putting a guy on the active roster, be stuck with him for 3-4 games if he can't play and then add new guys to the PS just to cut guys for roster moves in a few weeks.

And perhaps you'd be more agressive with a better roster with better chances, but maybe pocketing the little amount of cap space for rollover, in a pointless season is a good thing. It's a small amount, but I'm also just really getting used to orienting myself to the new reality when carry a half dozen injured active guys had been the norm for a long time.

[UMFan83]

[UMFan83]

Dalton starting Sunday. Will have gone a month between Fields starts, which is literally the only reason to watch the Bears this year.

[gflore34]

Dalton starting Sunday. Will have gone a month between Fields starts, which is literally the only reason to watch the Bears this year.

 

Plus 5 more after this, 5 more games of Dalton throwing, regardless of Kmet' health status, to Graham, 5 more games of Nagy stunting the development of younger players because he thinks he's got a better chance to win by going with trusted veterans. It's really depressing, January 10, 2022 cannot come soon enough.

[Soul]

LOL.

 

Dalton is such a pro QB.

[UMFan83]

This is going well

[UMFan83]

Appreciate the veteran leadership Andy is showing by sucking so bad that even a galaxy brained moron like Nagy can’t considering starting him when Fields is healthy

[Soul]

It’s so dumb to waste precious weekend downtime watching this slop and yet here I am.

[d_money]

It’s so dumb to waste precious weekend downtime watching this slop and yet here I am.

Don’t feel bad - there’s ~ 60K suckers who paid to watch this in person