Divisional Round: Bears vs Rams Sunday at 5:30 on NBC

[Soul]

1 minute ago, Wilson A2000 said:

If it was his first time ever doing it, maybe. But it’s not his first time. Remember the play he took off last year and just went to the sideline? He’s done it a few other times too.

This wasn’t some regular season game.  I just can’t believe any player just says screw it in that situation.  Something else happened.  He was banged up.  He was in the tent.  Maybe he really was concussed.

[NorthsideAvenger]

I'm as disappointed as anybody but given how the Bears started and where they ended up, I am beyond thrilled about the development of this team. 

We have a HC and most importantly, we have a QB. Ryan Poles you have 52 days.

[UMFan83]

17 minutes ago, Banedon said:

Can't be mad at this team.  What an amazing season.  I'm sad but not devastated.

This is one of those losses where I went in thinking that the season could definitely end tonight and was at peace with it (though obviously not conceding the game) but because of how it ended with being 15 yards away from potentially winning it, it sucked me in and kicked me in the gut.  That said I'm not as devastated as I would think I would be.  My 10 year old though is experiencing his first true sports heartbreak which makes me very sad for him.

[SpongeWorthy]

Just now, Soul said:

This wasn’t some regular season game.  I just can’t believe any player just says screw it in that situation.  Something else happened.  He was banged up.  He was in the tent.  Maybe he really was concussed.

ben needs to understand the texture of the game better, you're not getting fresh leg efforts from any WR at that point in the game, in these conditions. you've got the upper hand, call a run, a higher percentage pass play, or something with a more obvious scramble option for caleb with that game situation. 

[Banedon]

 

 

[Banedon]

2 minutes ago, SpongeWorthy said:

ben needs to understand the texture of the game better, you're not getting fresh leg efforts from any WR at that point in the game, in these conditions. you've got the upper hand, call a run, a higher percentage pass play, or something with a more obvious scramble option for caleb with that game situation. 

Lol everybody was crushing him all night for calling too many runs that went nowhere

[UMFan83]

21 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

Is really easy to look back in hindsight, but I didn't like that last pass play at all.  The Bears were in complete control at that point and just needed to control the ball and get a first down.

What was it 2nd and 8?  It probably needed to be a pass.  Probably didnt need to be 25 yards downfield.  But that's where the Bears have lived all year so it is what it is I guess.  If it's an accurate pass and DJ doesn't slow up on it, the Bears are celebrating right now.

[Irrelevant Dude]

The defense was outstanding tonight.  The only thing they didn't do was turn the ball over, partially because the bounces went the Rams way when the ball was on the ground.

[gflore34]

Guys over at Brewers Fanatic on banking hard on Caleb not improving and the league adjusting to the off script plays.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Caleb just needs to scramble more, period. It is a huge weapon and he is mostly not utilizing it.

 

I cannot believe we had like 5x more drops than the warm weather team. Those receivers should be ashamed of their terrible play tonight. The Rams caught impossible passes and we horsefeathers the bed over and over. 

 

The 3rd down runs were boring and obviously predictable. We need more boots and quick passes in the slot. 

 

That last pick from Caleb was a total unforced error. We had the momentum and pissed it away. 

 

Thank you for the great season though! So excited for next year, although Poles and co have a lot of tough decisions to make.

[UMFan83]

1 minute ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

The defense was outstanding tonight.  The only thing they didn't do was turn the ball over, partially because the bounces went the Rams way when the ball was on the ground.

Granted I'm several beers in and I think the defense played better than expected but Stafford was so off most of the night.  Not sure how much of it was the cold affecting him.  Crazy that they turned in a decent defensive performance without a single turnover.

[Banedon]

I'm really interested in seeing some analysis of Thuney and McFadden tonight.  Did that limit what Ben could call?

[gflore34]

1 minute ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

The defense was outstanding tonight.  The only thing they didn't do was turn the ball over, partially because the bounces went the Rams way when the ball was on the ground.

Which tells me that with an improvement in talent and health the Bears will be at least, average on defense.  And an average defense is going to be good enough.

[UMFan83]

6 minutes ago, Banedon said:

Lol everybody was crushing him all night for calling too many runs that went nowhere

I wonder if things would have been different if he had just kept Thuney at LG and Benedet at LT.  Benedet is a much better run blocker than a pass blocker.  Caleb evades sacks at an elite level, maybe we should have kept things the way they were? 

[Irrelevant Dude]

4 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

Stafford was so off most of the night.  Not sure how much of it was the cold affecting him.

The Bears were getting just enough pressure on him to make him uncomfortable.  Maybe the cold played a part.  Maybe his finger isn't right.  But I give the Bears defense and Dennis Allen credit for keeping the pressure on him and not letting him sit back in the pocket all day.

Edited January 19 by Irrelevant Dude

[gflore34]

2 minutes ago, Banedon said:

I'm really interested in seeing some analysis of Thuney and McFadden tonight.  Did that limit what Ben could call?

There's no way it didn't.  Can't expect to have everything at their disposal after one week.  Point is, it didn't kill them and gave them a chance.

[SpongeWorthy]

3 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

Caleb just needs to scramble more, period. It is a huge weapon and he is mostly not utilizing it.

 

I cannot believe we had like 5x more drops than the warm weather team. Those receivers should be ashamed of their terrible play tonight. The Rams caught impossible passes and we horsefeathers the bed over and over. 

 

The 3rd down runs were boring and obviously predictable. We need more boots and quick passes in the slot. 

 

That last pick from Caleb was a total unforced error. We had the momentum and pissed it away. 

 

Thank you for the great season though! So excited for next year, although Poles and co have a lot of tough decisions to make.

finding the right equilibrium between free lancing and playing within structure is the whole thing. if caleb had kyler murray's head he probably runs for 80-100+ yards today and maybe we win but then you stretch that out for a whole season and he's probably getting hurt all the time or missing shots in the pass game.

[Old Style]

Not even upset right now. Disappointed, sure. But this was such a fun season and the future is super bright. As someone that wasn’t on the Caleb train until earlier this season, I couldn’t be more thrilled to be very wrong on him. He’s got plenty of room to improve but I have no reason to believe he won’t get there. He will win multiple Super Bowls. 

[Soul]

6 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

Guys over at Brewers Fanatic on banking hard on Caleb not improving and the league adjusting to the off script plays.

😂😂😂

I’m all ears.  How does one “adjust” to the 4th down throw last week or the one that just happened?

[Wilson A2000]

6 minutes ago, Banedon said:

I'm really interested in seeing some analysis of Thuney and McFadden tonight.  Did that limit what Ben could call?

It sure did seem like they ran way more plays to the right

[Banedon]

I know we need to draft defense, but if you have doubts about Trapillo's long term ability to recover, you might think about spending a high pick on LT.  No matter what happens, you have to protect Caleb.

[BigSlick]

Thuney was heroic in pass pro but I don’t think they got any push on the left side on run plays.  It was a trade off. Ben gambled and it mostly worked. 

[Banedon]

1 minute ago, Wilson A2000 said:

It sure did seem like they ran way more plays to the right

Which is the kind of stuff that makes me be a little more forgiving about the play-calling.  We just don't have all the info.

[gflore34]

Just now, Soul said:

😂😂😂

I’m all ears.  How does one “adjust” to the 4th down throw last week or the one that just happened?

I was thinking the same thing, don't really know, maybe. their Packers will figure it out.  Just like the Bears did with Rodgers' off script stuff.

[gflore34]

4 minutes ago, Banedon said:

I know we need to draft defense, but if you have doubts about Trapillo's long term ability to recover, you might think about spending a high pick on LT.  No matter what happens, you have to protect Caleb.

Without a doubt, can't assume Trapillo' going to fully recover.  I'd go defense, OL, defense with the first three picks.

Edited January 19 by gflore34