Week 16: Bears vs Packers Saturday 7:20pm on FOX

[jersey cubs fan]

9 minutes ago, minnesotacubsfan said:

right now, I'm more worried about a trap game against SF. Saturday was such a huge emotional swing. I trust Ben, but SF isnt a pushover and they are still fighting out their season. 

A letdown game is possible after clinching a playoff spot, but this isn’t a trap game. They are underdogs on the road against a Super Bowl contender. 
 

[UMFan83]

We live in a world where the Brewers knocked the Cubs out of the playoffs like 2 months ago.  I can handle the risk of the Packers, who have already owned us for decades, knocking out if it happens.  It's not like this is a last dance for this Bears team.

[Banedon]

13 minutes ago, minnesotacubsfan said:

right now, I'm more worried about a trap game against SF. Saturday was such a huge emotional swing. I trust Ben, but SF isnt a pushover and they are still fighting out their season. 

 I don't know how a game against one of the other teams in contention for the #1 seed would be a trap game.

[Banedon]

2 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

We live in a world where the Brewers knocked the Cubs out of the playoffs like 2 months ago.  I can handle the risk of the Packers, who have already owned us for decades, knocking out if it happens.  It's not like this is a last dance for this Bears team.

There are no guarantees.  Being good this year doesn't mean we're gonna be good next year, unfortunately.

[gflore34]

1 minute ago, UMFan83 said:

We live in a world where the Brewers knocked the Cubs out of the playoffs like 2 months ago.  I can handle the risk of the Packers, who have already owned us for decades, knocking out if it happens.  It's not like this is a last dance for this Bears team.

Between the Lions and Packers, I'd rather it be the Packers.  I know any QB and offense can be effective against this Bears defense.  Still, though, Lions have many weapons and are far more lethal on offense than the Packers.

[UMFan83]

4 minutes ago, Banedon said:

There are no guarantees.  Being good this year doesn't mean we're gonna be good next year, unfortunately.

No but if you believe you have the coach, in general you should have hope that there will be more good years than bad years.  And if you believe you have the QB even doubly so.

I guess the biggest doubt I have is whether the GM can build something sustainable especially when Caleb's rookie contract is up, but I also believe Ben has some say in how they build the team.

Edited December 22, 2025 by UMFan83

[gflore34]

1 minute ago, UMFan83 said:

No but if you believe you have the coach, in general you should have hope that there will be more good years than bad years.  And if you believe you have the QB even doubly so.

One can point to the Commanders this season and somewhat, the Texans last year however, there's one major difference, Ben Johnson >>>>Quinn or Ryans.  Additionally, we've not yet seen the best from Caleb, appears we've seen the best from Stroud, while Daniels is incomplete although, there's a good chance 2024 was Daniels' best.  He was quite good in 2024. 

[Soul]

22 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

One can point to the Commanders this season and somewhat, the Texans last year however, there's one major difference, Ben Johnson >>>>Quinn or Ryans.  Additionally, we've not yet seen the best from Caleb, appears we've seen the best from Stroud, while Daniels is incomplete although, there's a good chance 2024 was Daniels' best.  He was quite good in 2024. 

Daniels needs to put in another healthy season before we will know if he’s “real.”  I think he’s good.  Just has to have another healthy season or two to settle in.

Caleb is still a guy with superior skills but I’m wary of the inconsistency.  He pulls a rabbit out of the hat if he’s given the opportunity and that’s amazing.  He wouldn’t have to if he’d do it earlier in these games.  I think he will get there though.  He’s got the best in the biz coaching him.  I’m with UMFan on this. Win or lose this year, with BJ we are set up to experience long term success.

[Banedon]

Hmmm, Kyle Brandt said that he thought that Caleb throw was the most exciting single play from the Bears since the Hester return in the Super Bowl and I'm struggling to think of any play that would prove that statement wrong.

[minnesotacubsfan]

5 minutes ago, Banedon said:

Hmmm, Kyle Brandt said that he thought that Caleb throw was the most exciting single play from the Bears since the Hester return in the Super Bowl and I'm struggling to think of any play that would prove that statement wrong.

to cross sports, it felt like Botes GS. Bears really didnt do anything until the last pitch, so to speak, and then it was all fireworks

 

[Banedon]

Ugh, linking to X again but this is sooooo great for my soul...
 

 

[Old Style]

That. Is. AMAZING!

My favorite reactions are the dude just sitting on the couch in utter shock with his jaw dropped wide open and the drummer watching over his shoulder on the big screen in the middle of the gig. And that last camera angle is magical. 

[BigSlick]

1 hour ago, Soul said:

Daniels needs to put in another healthy season before we will know if he’s “real.”  I think he’s good.  Just has to have another healthy season or two to settle in.

Caleb is still a guy with superior skills but I’m wary of the inconsistency.  He pulls a rabbit out of the hat if he’s given the opportunity and that’s amazing.  He wouldn’t have to if he’d do it earlier in these games.  I think he will get there though.  He’s got the best in the biz coaching him.  I’m with UMFan on this. Win or lose this year, with BJ we are set up to experience long term success.

I’m not picking on you but I do want to comment on something that I’ve seen others say about this last game;

Caleb didn’t start slow this game. He was actually incredible from go : he made several amazing, in rhythm throws AND improvisational throws (the one to Zaccheus in stride in particular) on the opening drive and let’s be honest, Ben Johnson boofed it on 4th down, 

The Bears only had one more real drive the whole half.  We got into Packers territory and a Wright false start threw off the drive. After that theres semi-aborted 2 minute drill (Caleb makes two nice throws) that stalls out in Green Bay territory on 4th and 4 with what I’m still not sure was a purposeful delay of game or not.

What makes it seem like Caleb started off slow is a really bad momentum swinging play and execution near the Packers goal line and a defense that couldn’t get off the field. Packers effectiveness controlling the ball plus the Bears with a run heavy attack meant we had very limited drives throughout the game. 

[UMFan83]

1 hour ago, Banedon said:

Hmmm, Kyle Brandt said that he thought that Caleb throw was the most exciting single play from the Bears since the Hester return in the Super Bowl and I'm struggling to think of any play that would prove that statement wrong.

It would have been Urlacher having a 100 yard pick 6 in the 2010 NFC championship game but somehow stupid Rodgers got his ankle and tripped him up

[Banedon]

16 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

It would have been Urlacher having a 100 yard pick 6 in the 2010 NFC championship game but somehow stupid Rodgers got his ankle and tripped him up

Also featuring a legendary Bears QB named Caleb. 

[Banedon]

Johnson mentioned they're hopeful Kyler could be back for the playoffs.

[BigSlick]

47 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

It would have been Urlacher having a 100 yard pick 6 in the 2010 NFC championship game but somehow stupid Rodgers got his ankle and tripped him up

It’s funny, I hadn’t thought about it much but the Chris Conte Fall Down loss feels worse to me in my memory than the loss in the NFC Championship. I’m not even sure why, given we lost out on a Super Bowl bid vs the Packers of all teams, but losing the NFC North on a last second pass… that was more painful. Maybe because that whole back half of that season was a slow motion train crash I was wishing beyond hope to see avoided. Everything went wrong when it needed to go wrong for them to miss the playoffs. Seeing that was worse for whatever reason. 

[Banedon]

[Banedon]

Also, I'd completely forgotten about this but...DJ has done this before....

*Looks like you'll have to click through to youtube for this one.*
 

 

[The_Achiever]

The Bears have an awesome (young) coach and awesome (young) quarterback.  I keep pinching myself but it's simply the truth.   

[Bertz]

 

 

[gflore34]

Guess Booker is going to get fined for the hit Love, that's okay, he lead with his helmet.  Unfortunately Love kind of ducked into getting his helmet hit. Don't believe there was any dirty intent on Booker' part other trying to hit Love as hard as he possibly can.  Nixon very much deserves a fine as well, blind sided Moore with a dirty cheap shot.  There was clear intent, Moore wasn't blocking, didn't have the ball, Nixon could have easily run around him, instead he nailed Moore in the back.

Edited December 22, 2025 by gflore34

[Brian707]

I guess the main negative from the game was Johnson getting too cute on 4th down on the opening drive. They go up 7-0 there its a totally different game.  Maybe he will learn from it.

[minnesotacubsfan]

1 hour ago, Banedon said:

Also, I'd completely forgotten about this but...DJ has done this before....

*Looks like you'll have to click through to youtube for this one.*
 

 

DJ has been overshadowed by Rome and Burden, but he is still a very good WR. I'm excited that Williams has had to lean on him the last couple of games, a productive DJ Moore in this offense has to be a good thing, right?

[Brian707]

3 hours ago, Banedon said:

Hmmm, Kyle Brandt said that he thought that Caleb throw was the most exciting single play from the Bears since the Hester return in the Super Bowl and I'm struggling to think of any play that would prove that statement wrong.

Yeah I think that is correct.

Honorable mentions non Bears:

Kane in 2010 game 6 but that was weird

Schwarber's dong vs the Cardinals in game 4 that landed on the video board I think.

Of course Zobrist in the 10th of game 7