mul21

This was one of like 4 Bears games I've been to. It was like 10 degrees that day and that ending made it an absolutely awful afternoon.

I didn't know Coomer has started writing for BA.

This was my immediate reaction. Call something where Fields can use his legs. hell, they wouldn't have even been at the 5 yard line if not for that, so use your best weapon. We've seen Mahomes walk into the end zone time after time on misdirection plays and there's no reason Fields shouldn't be able to do something similar.

I hate, hate, hate going for 2 that early in the game because there are so many permutations where it ends up costing you in the end, just like it did yesterday. They kick the extra point and everything else goes as it did, the Vikings only go for 1 and are up 28-23 and a TD in the last 2 minutes wins the game instead of tying it or putting you in a position where you have to go for 2 to win. Statistically it may well be the right call but I just don't like it in that spot at all.

That's rather shocking. I'm happy to see the team winning games, and the defense is really good, but it still doesn't feel like there's any way they are one of the best 25 teams. But let's win a few more games and go to a semi-respectable bowl game for a change!It appears Vegas agrees, as the #24 Illini are 4 point home dogs to unranked Minnesota next week (and I agree with this assessment, I think Minnesota is the one legit team in the BTW this season). I'll be curious to see if that changes if DeVito is cleared to play. The backup is hot garbage.

He definitely passed the eye test. He made a lot of really good decisions and anticipated the rush exceptionally well a couple times. The one reverse spin move out of the pocket where he essentially left 2 Vikings defenders grasping at air was impressive as hell. This very much looked like him finally feeling comfortable with where guys are going to be and when they're going to be there. I can't say I'm surprised it's taken a bit with a young QB learning a new offense. I really would have liked to see them let him make a play instead of a run up the middle on 3rd down before the last FG.

That's an impressively dumb way to lose a game. Wow.

You mean the fact that the Vikings have actual skill position players so there are viable options on where you can go with the ball?

That was a very generous spot on the 2nd down run. May have cost the Bears on the 3rd down play.

Man, Cook is tough.

No. I get why it was called but the WR had a hand on the front of the DB's jersey and the DB flopped.

Kinda BS call on the penalty there but that run was incredible. Great hit against the blitz.

Absolute garbage call.

The Cardinals are starting Quintana in game 1. That tells me everything I need to know about their rotation. Stupid pixie dust.

Speaking of Quintana, he's starting game 1 for them today, which WTF?

horsefeathers my life. Just imagine the first time a Cardinal gets a big strikeout of a Cub and seeing Willson hopping up from behind the plate and pumping his fist in celebration. I would be incredibly surprised if they sign him. Between what he's likely to get paid, the Arrenado and Goldschmidt contracts and the fiery personality, just doesn't seem like a great fit. And much like the McGwire replacement was always going to have enormous pressure to perform, just not being Molina will be enough of a knock against the next guy that it's probably not a great investment overall for them next year.

Not sure we have the horses to compete with Michigan yet. I will say this Wisconsin win felt different. Felt like a program turning point. There was no fluke to that win. Illinois absolutely imposed their will on Wisconsin the way Wisconsin has on Illinois all these years. That defensive line is for real. That'll keep you in B1G games pretty often. I don't know if the offense can continue to be as efficient as they were Saturday, but it's better than I expected. Bielema is a turd but the guy can apparently recruit and coach in the midwest.

That was cool as hell. oh FFS You have bad takes on everything no matter what direction of the compass you want to point toward, so I'll take that as a compliment. How do you make a tribute to the fans that come to Wrigley by showing an empty Wrigley Field? The video was neat, the same way the bowling alley one that was done, what 4 years ago? The logistics of doing what they did were probably ridiculous in the first place and it likely would have been even more difficult and probably unsafe to try to pull it off with fans in the stands because people are morons. You're dead wrong here. That was cool af too. Well executed.

Think of it this way: we're just helping them get a lower draft pick.

I feel like this says it all:

Those numbers come down a lot when you figure in the 46 and 27 yd long runs for both backs. Pollard still had a very solid 5 ypc but Zeke goes down to 3.3 ypc without his long. The Barkley TD run was impressive though. He made a cut at the 20 yd line and just ran away from everyone without any help.

I didn't say he was Hader, just that usage might be the most optimal way to deploy his skillset.

I have no idea, but you would see the same thing about Thompson and Adbert. Let me try a different angle... What is it in Thompson's skillset makes you think he *can't* succeed as a starter? He's got an adequate pitch mix. He's shown the ability to hold velocity deep into games. It's true that he hasn't shown sustained success in that role yet, but he's shown enough success to have reason to believe. If your argument is that he's so valuable as a multi-inning reliever that it isn't worth trying to convert him to starter, then you'd have to believe that he's massively better in that role because middle-relievers are typically not near the top of the food chain from a value perspective. If your argument is that he's got the makings of a top-notch closer...then I'm really confused. He hasn't succeeded in that role yet, either. What is it specifically in his skillset (as opposed to results to date) that makes you think he's better suited to a single-inning relief pitcher role? I don't know that he can't succeed as a starter, but there may be higher quality options to fill what would be his rotation spot next year. The other thing that keeps popping into my head is to try to use him like Hader was used early in his career. He's proven to be so tough out of the pen that I kind of want to see how he may develop in that role and that's certainly not an unvaluable position to have locked down. I know that this regime has been very good at building quality pens, but having that bird in hand at a very low cost is definitely desirable.

They can't. So the question is, is Sampson really a thing? Watching tonight, no way. I'm not sure what the peripherals will say, but that was an ugly 1 ER performance. He was in some sort of trouble almost every inning and the defense bailed him out at least 3 times with either catches of a rocket or turning a really tough DP. As was said above, he's nice to have around as insurance since he has options but if he's anything more than injury replacement insurance or middle relief next year, that team isn't sniffing the postseason.

Is Assad a thing or is this just smoke and mirrors?