Week 18, Bears at Packers, noon Sunday, Fox

[Derwood]

1 minute ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

Is that a last place schedule?  Because it sure doesn't feel like one.

Raiders, 49ers and Saints are your last place prizes. Everything else is NFC North, NFC East and AFC North

[UMFan83]

3 hours ago, jersey cubs fan said:

I thought they snapped at 15. 

Nah, here is the snap

 

 

Then they ran a play that was a sideline throw to DJ that ended with :15 left but as soon as they snapped it they threw the flag for illegal shift.  The next play was snapped with :15 left.  I googled illegal shift and it says: Yes, an "illegal shift" is considered a pre-snap penalty in football, and the play clock does not move when it is called; the offensive team is simply penalized 5 yards and must re-set their formation"

 

[Irrelevant Dude]

Not directly Bears related, but I have no idea how Detroit is hanging on to the lead in this game.  They should probably be down 2 touchdowns.

[gflore34]

33 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

Not directly Bears related, but I have no idea how Detroit is hanging on to the lead in this game.  They should probably be down 2 touchdowns.

They just scored again, WTF all world greatest ever Justin Jefferson?  Can't get open against a JV secondary?  And here I thought the Vikings would light up the scoreboard.

[Soul]

Detroit might be the best coached team in football.  How are they putting up this defense?  Vikings have no idea how to get going.

[Irrelevant Dude]

2 minutes ago, Soul said:

Detroit might be the best coached team in football.  How are they putting up this defense?  Vikings have no idea how to get going.

With a bunch of reserves no less.  No excuses, they just get the job done.  I'm afraid the injuries may finally catch up to them in the playoffs, but I still wouldn't bet against them.

[Brian707]

Darnold turned into pre 2024 Darnold. Should have scored tds on 2 red zone possessions early in game

[gflore34]

2 minutes ago, Brian707 said:

Darnold turned into pre 2024 Darnold. Should have scored tds on 2 red zone possessions early in game

That was always there, wouldn't be surprised if the Rams take care of them next week.

[gflore34]

Honestly, Rome Odunze' earlier sideline catch has been better than anything Mr. Greatest WR Jefferson has done tonight.

[UMFan83]

Can we discuss the offense? I've watched the last 2 Bengals games and Burrow is just slinging it all over the place to Chase, Higgins, etc.  Then I watch the Bears and its just WR screens and short dump off throws until there's a 2 minute drill where suddenly Caleb finds WRs downfield.  I am not sure why the gameplan with the WRs we have.  I get that the line is terrible and under pressure and I get that we won the game today but we had like 280 yards of total offense and really nothing going most of the game.  Obviously none of it matters because we'll have a new staff and hopefully a better designed offense but I just don't see how it helps Caleb develop to throw a bunch of screens all game.  Feels like we didnt get to fully see what we have in him due to what he was asked to do.

Edited January 6, 2025 by UMFan83

[Hairyducked Idiot]

1 hour ago, UMFan83 said:

Can we discuss the offense? I've watched the last 2 Bengals games and Burrow is just slinging it all over the place to Chase, Higgins, etc.  Then I watch the Bears and its just WR screens and short dump off throws until there's a 2 minute drill where suddenly Caleb finds WRs downfield.  I am not sure why the gameplan with the WRs we have.  I get that the line is terrible and under pressure and I get that we won the game today but we had like 280 yards of total offense and really nothing going most of the game.  Obviously none of it matters because we'll have a new staff and hopefully a better designed offense but I just don't see how it helps Caleb develop to throw a bunch of screens all game.  Feels like we didnt get to fully see what we have in him due to what he was asked to do.

I didn't mind like 90% of it.  Every time we tried anything else the last few weeks it would end with Williams taking five sacks in one quarter.

Our offensive line today was starting Larry Borom, Matt Pryor and Jake Curhan.  And despite that, Williams only took one sack today, the fumbled snap to open the game.

We were just trying to let Williams get to the end of the season intact, and it did the job.

But surely we could have mixed in a *couple* slants before the crucial final drive.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

My dream for the off-season is that we use it to start building toward what we want to be long-term and don't just spackle over whatever holes are most apparent to try to save some face.

And I want that vision to be building the best offense in the league around Caleb Williams.

Obviously you'll have to sign two starting guards. Shelton isn't amazing but there's not really anything better hitting FA.  Then draft OL with two of your early picks including the first, let those guys compete for jobs but don't just slot them in blindly. Rookies don't have to be day 1 starters if they aren't ready.

Shake Keenan Allen's hand and wish him well, let him go back to SD.  Sign a speed receiver to place outside opposite Moore, shift Odunze to the slot

 Release Everett, sign a better TE2, draft TE3 in the middle rounds.

With one of your top 4 picks, take an RB to challenge Swift for 1a status.

Also, find a veteran QB to back up and mentor Williams. We're all very impressed that you found a slightly not terrible backup in division II Poles, but we can move on. Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if he made it to the practice squad anyway.

Oh, and let Cairo Santos go out on a high and go find a kicker who can hit the modern 55+ kicks expected of an NFL kicker.

 

The defense can have some UDFAs or hold tryouts I guess 

 

[BigbadB]

The OLine needs a HUGE overhaul. Only Darnell Wright and Braxton Jones seem worth saving, and Jones probably needs to move inside. Shelton could be a decent backup/placeholder at Center, but I think you need a better Center. Jenkins, Bates, Borom and Curhan can kick rocks, but maybe you do bring Jenkins back as a backup G. I don't think you can just give him the starting gig or give him a bunch of money to be such a part time player. Pryor and Murray seemed okay as backups, and honestly, they likely can't replace everyone. I don't have any idea what to think of Amegadjie. If he could play G, he might be useful as a backup there, but I doubt you can trust him to be a starter there with so little game time. 

It would be nice if they had better internal options, but I think they will need to draft at least two OLinemen and sign 1 more, with more free agent contracts for depth. Draft your starting LT with the first pick, sign a stud G in free agency. Draft your Center. 

[BigbadB]

While it felt great to see the Bears get the monkey off their back against GB, the game wasn't fun at all. They played not to lose rather than to win, and that's been Eberflus' theme as a coach, and it seems his understudies didn't learn anything from that. That game sucked. 

Go out and get real coaching. I'm still in favor of #1- Ben Johnson, #2- Joe Brady and #3 Kliff Kingsbury. I want an offensive minded coach. I don't think you have to have a veteran coach. None of the others in the NFC North are previous head coaches. Get a creative offensive mind who is willing to sling the damn ball. 

 

[NorthsideAvenger]

12 hours ago, Derwood said:

Kindly go eff yourself, NFL. 

 

[WrigleyField 22]

I think I'd really consider bringing Jenkins back even though it won't be cheap and he'll likely miss so much time.  There just aren't enough good options hitting FA.  You just have to build a deep line, which you should be doing anyways, just a little more emphasis.  Go grab another top G in FA.  Upgrade Shelton if you can or likely bring him back as a 1 year stop gap.  Bring in good swing OT an IOL.  Spend one of the top 3 picks on OL and add some flyers in day 3 and FA as well. People have mentioned Jones as filling in one OT spot and he's missed as many snaps as Jenkins the past 2 years.   They just have to treat the OL like a group that has to go 8 deep with decent quality.  At some point it'd be great if they found themselves a couple studs who also stayed healthy.

Edited January 6, 2025 by WrigleyField 22

[Brian707]

21 minutes ago, NorthsideAvenger said:

Kindly go eff yourself, NFL. 

 

They use a formula that is known years in advance who the schedule is against.  Only 3 games each year are undetermined until the previous season is complete Raiders,49ers, Saints are the 4th place teams that got plugged in. 

[gflore34]

17 minutes ago, WrigleyField 22 said:

I think I'd really consider bringing Jenkins back even though it won't be cheap and he'll likely miss so much time.  There just aren't enough good options hitting FA.  You just have to build a deep line, which you should be doing anyways, just a little more emphasis.  Go grab another top G in FA.  Upgrade Shelton if you can or likely bring him back as a 1 year stop gap.  Bring in good swing OT an IOL.  Spend one of the top 3 picks on OL and add some flyers in day 3 and FA as well. People have mentioned Jones as filling in one OT spot and he's missed as many snaps as Jenkins the past 2 years.   They just have to treat the OL like a group that has to go 8 deep with decent quality.  At some point it'd be great if they found themselves a couple studs who also stayed healthy.

Why wouldn't it be a cheap incentive laden contract?  I'd offer him a one-year prove it deal.  With his lack of availability, I don't believe he'll get a multi-year guaranteed money offer on the open market.

Edited January 6, 2025 by gflore34

[Derwood]

[WrigleyField 22]

27 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

Why wouldn't it be a cheap incentive laden contract?  I'd offer him a one-year prove it deal.  With his lack of availability, I don't believe he'll get a multi-year guaranteed money offer on the open market.

Incentives and heavy per game bonuses sounds reasonable.

 

I think he hits the market though.  So I does depend what other teams give too.

[jersey cubs fan]

Jenkins is definitely one of those guys another team sells to the fan base as a player they admired from afar that needed to be put in a better situation who will benefit from coming to our system….

 

The bears will probably sign two of the same guy from outside 

[WrigleyField 22]

If Poles is really here to stay I'd put the chances at less than like 5%.  He never seemed to like Jenkins and I doubt that's changing.

[NorthsideAvenger]

54 minutes ago, Brian707 said:

They use a formula that is known years in advance who the schedule is against.  Only 3 games each year are undetermined until the previous season is complete Raiders,49ers, Saints are the 4th place teams that got plugged in. 

I get that. It just feels like they are taking a crap on the Bears. I know that is not the case.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Jenkins is gonna be another Columbo. Stay healthy and get some PB nods and be a top 10 G after his Bears career is done. 

[Derwood]

1 hour ago, NorthsideAvenger said:

Kindly go eff yourself, NFL. 

 

FWIW, the other NFC teams get:

Detroit - Tampa Bay, LA Rams, Kansas City
Minnesota - Atlanta, Seattle, LA Chargers
Green Bay - Carolina, Arizona, Denver