11/20 Chicago Bears vs. Carolina Panthers

[Keener98]

i didn't see anyone mention this: the screen to smith in which he burned peanut, did anyone notice who ran smith down from behind? everyone's favorite middle linebacker. it's plays like that that make urlacher who he is--the best MLB in the game.

 

the announcers were saying that smith runs like a 4.2, that's got to put him up there among the fastest guys in football. amazing one-armed tackle on urlacher's part, if he doesn't get him, the game's complexion might have been changed quite a bit.

I've been convinced of that since last year when he ran down Portis in the open field.

 

Completely agree. Urlacher is the best MLB in the league.

 

Also, Burnt, love the sig, that is awesome.

[Jon]

Another example of how fast Urlacher is: http://www.jonmdavis.net/vasher2.avi

 

Play follow the Urlacher. You'll be impressed.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

Another example of how fast Urlacher is: http://www.jonmdavis.net/vasher2.avi

 

Play follow the Urlacher. You'll be impressed.

Man, I could watch that return all day.

[Jon]

Another example of how fast Urlacher is: http://www.jonmdavis.net/vasher2.avi

 

Play follow the Urlacher. You'll be impressed.

Man, I could watch that return all day.

There are some of us who do. We should form a support group.

[Banedon]

From ESPN page 2....

 

                                        Alan Grant   Brian Murphy   Scoop Jackson   Mike Philbrick

Joke team that will make the playoffs:   St. Louis    Chicago        The Redskins    Da Bears 

 

Looks like there's still some non-believers.

[ChiblueTNT]

Muhammad drops another pass.

 

thats almost as common as the pack losing.

[EricG]

Another example of how fast Urlacher is: http://www.jonmdavis.net/vasher2.avi

 

Play follow the Urlacher. You'll be impressed.

Man, I could watch that return all day.

There are some of us who do. We should form a support group.

Reminds me of Rosie Colvin returning a blocked FG for a TD while at Purdue. link

I watch that one every year.

[Careless]

From ESPN page 2....

 

                                        Alan Grant   Brian Murphy   Scoop Jackson   Mike Philbrick

Joke team that will make the playoffs:   St. Louis    Chicago        The Redskins    Da Bears 

 

Looks like there's still some non-believers.

Pretty surprising. And chicago is the only one of the 3 that will make the playoffs. Wildcards will be one of NY/dallas (dallas) and TB/carolina.

[Andy]

From ESPN page 2....

 

                                        Alan Grant   Brian Murphy   Scoop Jackson   Mike Philbrick

Joke team that will make the playoffs:   St. Louis    Chicago        The Redskins    Da Bears 

 

Looks like there's still some non-believers.

Pretty surprising. And chicago is the only one of the 3 that will make the playoffs. Wildcards will be one of NY/dallas (dallas) and TB/carolina.

Carolina's winning the South. Chris Simms doesn't win division titles and Vick has looked like crap lately.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

From ESPN page 2....

 

                                        Alan Grant   Brian Murphy   Scoop Jackson   Mike Philbrick

Joke team that will make the playoffs:   St. Louis    Chicago        The Redskins    Da Bears 

 

Looks like there's still some non-believers.

Pretty surprising. And chicago is the only one of the 3 that will make the playoffs. Wildcards will be one of NY/dallas (dallas) and TB/carolina.

Carolina's winning the South. Chris Simms doesn't win division titles and Vick has looked like crap lately.

What are you talking about? Both of them played a lot better than Delhomme last week. Both of them have played really well the last three weeks.

[rawaction]

From ESPN page 2....

 

                                        Alan Grant   Brian Murphy   Scoop Jackson   Mike Philbrick

Joke team that will make the playoffs:   St. Louis    Chicago        The Redskins    Da Bears 

 

Looks like there's still some non-believers.

Pretty surprising. And chicago is the only one of the 3 that will make the playoffs. Wildcards will be one of NY/dallas (dallas) and TB/carolina.

Carolina's winning the South. Chris Simms doesn't win division titles and Vick has looked like crap lately.

What are you talking about? Both of them played a lot better than Delhomme last week. Both of them have played really well the last three weeks.

 

Yeah, Vick had one of the best game's of his career yesterday. Simms had his best last week.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Another example of how fast Urlacher is: http://www.jonmdavis.net/vasher2.avi

 

Play follow the Urlacher. You'll be impressed.

Man, I could watch that return all day.

There are some of us who do. We should form a support group.

 

I don't need support to watch Vasher return that FG all day long, I can do it on my own.

[Jon]

I don't need support to watch Vasher return that FG all day long, I can do it on my own.

You're just too stubborn to ask for help.

 

Packers can't help as Edinger delivers one more dagger.

 

  NFC North  
Team      W L
Chicago   7 3
Minnesota 5 5
Detroit   4 6
Green Bay 2 8

[David]

So the magic number remains 4. Technically, at least. The tiebreakers and all that could make that a little different.

[Chocolate Milk]

Another example of how fast Urlacher is: http://www.jonmdavis.net/vasher2.avi

 

Play follow the Urlacher. You'll be impressed.

Man, I could watch that return all day.

There are some of us who do. We should form a support group.

 

I don't need support to watch Vasher return that FG all day long, I can do it on my own.

 

Sometimes I watch Brown's hit on Marcus Pollard about 25 times in a row.

[biittner77]

I used to have this dream of having picture in Picture queued to Joe Theisman's career ending injury so I could play it every time he annoyed me during Sunday Night football games.

[TruffleShuffle]

I used to have this dream of having picture in Picture queued to Joe Theisman's career ending injury so I could play it every time he annoyed me during Sunday Night football games.

 

I have a similar dream, except it involves Paul McGuire getting hit in the face with a brick every time he says something stupid.

[David]

I think it was Lawrence Holmes (of WSCR) who spoke with Rex at the elementary school that Rex and another player were visiting.

 

Said Rex is really pumped and "has that look in his eye" like expects to be in uniform in Tampa Bay this weekend. Expects to be practicing at full speed this week and that he's a little over 90%...

 

Also, as we already knew, he'll be wearing a special shoe Reebok made for him to give his ankle some protection.

 

It'd sure be nice to see Rex back in uniform, even though it'll just be on the sidelines. How can you not feel for the guy, after what he's gone through for the past 14 months or so.

 

For the record, I would fully support a switch at QB (although probably not this week).

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

From ESPN page 2....

 

                                        Alan Grant   Brian Murphy   Scoop Jackson   Mike Philbrick

Joke team that will make the playoffs:   St. Louis    Chicago        The Redskins    Da Bears 

 

Looks like there's still some non-believers.

 

Good. We will get to enjoy watching the Bears cram some more crow down their throats. :twisted:

[Banedon]

For the record, I would fully support a switch at QB (although probably not this week).

 

Since I know your feelings on the QB situation, let me run this by you.

 

Let's say that Grossman is healthy this weekend and that Lovie, despite a 6 game win streak and a nice game by Orton this past weekend, decides that Grossman shouldn't lose his starter status to injury and starts him.

 

Now, just for the sake of arguement, lets say that Grossman has some bad games, with a couple of key interceptions and that we lose to both Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh. What then? Would you ride Grossman out win or lose and possibly let Minnesota catch us? Or do you go back to Orton and say "I know you weren't good enough 2 weeks ago, but now you are"...?

 

Barring injury, and barring Orton just completely falling apart, I just don't see how Lovie starts Grossman this season. I don't see how you take the only Bears quarterback to start 10 games since what...'95 or so...a rookie no less...and say "Sorry...7-3 isn't good enough...we're gonna let the guy who's started 6 career games have the start ahead of you."

 

I just don't see it.

 

The most popular guy on any football team is the backup/injured QB.

[Keener98]

For the record, I would fully support a switch at QB (although probably not this week).

 

Since I know your feelings on the QB situation, let me run this by you.

 

Let's say that Grossman is healthy this weekend and that Lovie, despite a 6 game win streak and a nice game by Orton this past weekend, decides that Grossman shouldn't lose his starter status to injury and starts him.

 

Now, just for the sake of arguement, lets say that Grossman has some bad games, with a couple of key interceptions and that we lose to both Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh. What then? Would you ride Grossman out win or lose and possibly let Minnesota catch us? Or do you go back to Orton and say "I know you weren't good enough 2 weeks ago, but now you are"...?

 

Barring injury, and barring Orton just completely falling apart, I just don't see how Lovie starts Grossman this season. I don't see how you take the only Bears quarterback to start 10 games since what...'95 or so...a rookie no less...and say "Sorry...7-3 isn't good enough...we're gonna let the guy who's started 6 career games have the start ahead of you."

 

I just don't see it.

 

The most popular guy on any football team is the backup/injured QB.

 

I completely agree with everything you said. The best thing that could happen to the the Bears and Grossman is for the Bears to beat Tampa and then BLOW OUT Green Bay. I would love to see a blow out of the Packers for 2 reasons. 1) Well blowing out the Packers would just be fun.2) So they can bring Grossman into a meaningless game and let him get some game action and see how he does.

[goonys evil twin]

For the record, I would fully support a switch at QB (although probably not this week).

 

Since I know your feelings on the QB situation, let me run this by you.

 

Let's say that Grossman is healthy this weekend and that Lovie, despite a 6 game win streak and a nice game by Orton this past weekend, decides that Grossman shouldn't lose his starter status to injury and starts him.

 

Now, just for the sake of arguement, lets say that Grossman has some bad games, with a couple of key interceptions and that we lose to both Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh. What then? Would you ride Grossman out win or lose and possibly let Minnesota catch us? Or do you go back to Orton and say "I know you weren't good enough 2 weeks ago, but now you are"...?

 

Barring injury, and barring Orton just completely falling apart, I just don't see how Lovie starts Grossman this season. I don't see how you take the only Bears quarterback to start 10 games since what...'95 or so...a rookie no less...and say "Sorry...7-3 isn't good enough...we're gonna let the guy who's started 6 career games have the start ahead of you."

 

I just don't see it.

 

The most popular guy on any football team is the backup/injured QB.

 

I see your hypothetical is unrealistic. There's no way Rex starts Sunday, and there's no way he should start Sunday. At this point, I think the Bears can wait for two bad games in a row before replacing Orton. Rex needs time to get back into the swing of things anyway. If the Bears lose to Tampa and Minn wins. Then you start talking about a change. But even then you can afford one more week of sticking with Kyle and easing Rex back into the game. If the Bears are 7-5 going into the Pitt game, and Minn is 7-5, I think you absolutely have to make a change. If they still have a lead and Orton has been okay, you can stick with Kyle.

 

Odds are Rex will be starting a game before the season ends. Let's not fool ourselves in thinking Orton is the reason this team is winning. It's been the defense, the schedule and the running game.

 

My prediction is if the Bears lose 2 of the next 3, Rex starts vs Atlanta. If they win all 3, Kyle stays. If they win 2 of 3 and Minn wins 3 in a row, then you have to have an honest assessment of Kyle's play and not get caught up in just the final score. If you do that, you'll probably go with Rex.

[Banedon]

For the record, I would fully support a switch at QB (although probably not this week).

 

Since I know your feelings on the QB situation, let me run this by you.

 

Let's say that Grossman is healthy this weekend and that Lovie, despite a 6 game win streak and a nice game by Orton this past weekend, decides that Grossman shouldn't lose his starter status to injury and starts him.

 

Now, just for the sake of arguement, lets say that Grossman has some bad games, with a couple of key interceptions and that we lose to both Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh. What then? Would you ride Grossman out win or lose and possibly let Minnesota catch us? Or do you go back to Orton and say "I know you weren't good enough 2 weeks ago, but now you are"...?

 

Barring injury, and barring Orton just completely falling apart, I just don't see how Lovie starts Grossman this season. I don't see how you take the only Bears quarterback to start 10 games since what...'95 or so...a rookie no less...and say "Sorry...7-3 isn't good enough...we're gonna let the guy who's started 6 career games have the start ahead of you."

 

I just don't see it.

 

The most popular guy on any football team is the backup/injured QB.

 

I see your hypothetical is unrealistic. There's no way Rex starts Sunday, and there's no way he should start Sunday. At this point, I think the Bears can wait for two bad games in a row before replacing Orton. Rex needs time to get back into the swing of things anyway. If the Bears lose to Tampa and Minn wins. Then you start talking about a change. But even then you can afford one more week of sticking with Kyle and easing Rex back into the game. If the Bears are 7-5 going into the Pitt game, and Minn is 7-5, I think you absolutely have to make a change. If they still have a lead and Orton has been okay, you can stick with Kyle.

 

Odds are Rex will be starting a game before the season ends. Let's not fool ourselves in thinking Orton is the reason this team is winning. It's been the defense, the schedule and the running game.

 

My prediction is if the Bears lose 2 of the next 3, Rex starts vs Atlanta. If they win all 3, Kyle stays. If they win 2 of 3 and Minn wins 3 in a row, then you have to have an honest assessment of Kyle's play and not get caught up in just the final score. If you do that, you'll probably go with Rex.

 

Agreed...it's not realistic that he starts this week, but the same question could have been posed with any two games. The specific games lost wasn't really my point in the argument. It was the handling of the scenario if Grossman tanks, and you didn't address that Goony.

 

And if Orton is able to go 2-3 against Tampa, Green Bay, and Pittsburgh, that would leave us at 9-4. I guess I still don't see that as a problem. I don't see them changing QB in that scenario.

 

I do agree with you though that if they lose 2 of 3, then Lovie will start thinking about a change, but that's what I meant by Kyle falling apart. I'm not fooling myself and thinking that Orton is the reason that the Bears are winning. But I'm not thinking Grossman is gonna be the reason they win either.

 

And sorry...but the final score is what's important to me. If Kyle's winning, and not playing badly, he keeps the job IMO, and I think that's the way the Bears are thinking as well. Easing Grossman in when possible is fine with me, but the way the Bears have been playing these games, they're going to be tight games most of the way. It'll be interesting to see if Lovie uses the "Benson" scenario and says he'll get Grossman in, but leave him on the sidelines most of the time.

[goonys evil twin]

And if Orton is able to go 2-3 against Tampa, Green Bay, and Pittsburgh, that would leave us at 9-4.

 

I'm not fooling myself and thinking that Orton is the reason that the Bears are winning.

 

And sorry...but the final score is what's important to me. If Kyle's winning, and not playing badly, he keeps the job IMO, and I think that's the way the Bears are thinking as well.

 

I see some contradictions here. In one breath you say Kyle isn't the reason they are winning, but then you talk of Kyle winning the games, when he's never been the reason they've one a game, and isn't likely to be a reason you win.

 

I think it's a cop-out to say the team is winning therefore we cannot change. That's similar to saying the team is winning despite a leadoff hitter who doesn't get on base, so I won't change. Or Joe Borowski isn't pitching well but he's completed 8 save opportunities in a row so he's my closer. The Bears were winning with Edwards at fullback, but they didn't have a problem making a change when better options returned from injury. Yes, FB is different than QB, but on this team, the QB isn't much more than a role player. I do give more credence to the concept of chemistry and intangibles in football than in baseball, but not a whole lot. Remember, this Oline was great a week after two of its members brawled. Every report indicated the team loved Rex when he was healthy. If Grossman is healthy and practicing well, and Orton keeps playing like he's been playing, I'd go with Rex. The only way I'd consider staying with Orton is if his play improves dramatically or the team doesn't lose again.

 

Either way, I'm excited about a summer 2006 QB competition between Orton and Rex.

[Banedon]

And if Orton is able to go 2-3 against Tampa, Green Bay, and Pittsburgh, that would leave us at 9-4.

 

I'm not fooling myself and thinking that Orton is the reason that the Bears are winning.

 

And sorry...but the final score is what's important to me. If Kyle's winning, and not playing badly, he keeps the job IMO, and I think that's the way the Bears are thinking as well.

 

I see some contradictions here. In one breath you say Kyle isn't the reason they are winning, but then you talk of Kyle winning the games, when he's never been the reason they've one a game, and isn't likely to be a reason you win.

 

I think it's a cop-out to say the team is winning therefore we cannot change. That's similar to saying the team is winning despite a leadoff hitter who doesn't get on base, so I won't change. Or Joe Borowski isn't pitching well but he's completed 8 save opportunities in a row so he's my closer. The Bears were winning with Edwards at fullback, but they didn't have a problem making a change when better options returned from injury. Yes, FB is different than QB, but on this team, the QB isn't much more than a role player. I do give more credence to the concept of chemistry and intangibles in football than in baseball, but not a whole lot. Remember, this Oline was great a week after two of its members brawled. Every report indicated the team loved Rex when he was healthy. If Grossman is healthy and practicing well, and Orton keeps playing like he's been playing, I'd go with Rex. The only way I'd consider staying with Orton is if his play improves dramatically or the team doesn't lose again.

 

Either way, I'm excited about a summer 2006 QB competition between Orton and Rex.

 

I'll agree with you about the summer competition part of it... :)

 

And you're right...Kyle isn't winning the games....but he's not losing them either. My point is, that we don't know if Grossman will be able to do the same...not lose games. You still haven't addressed what would happen if Grossman comes in and performs poorly. I think that's got to be a consideration.

 

As far as what the team thinks, this is from the Tribune today:

Both coach Lovie Smith and general manager Jerry Angelo have made it clear Kyle Orton will remain the starting quarterback—whenever Grossman suits up again this season. Grossman knows this, understands this and accepts this.

 

None of this is to say that Grossman won't be, or isn't now, a better quarterback than Orton. Perhaps he is. But maybe he isn't. And is the playoff push really the time you want to find out? My argument isn't, and hasn't been, against the move itself, merely the timing of it. I think it's best left to offseason, injury, or Kyle losing us games.