JonJayCutler

And if true, that's the biggest joke of all. Everything is forgiven after a win that doesn't even guarantee the Packers the division? Give me a [expletive] break.

The destined storybook ending means that Favre can't lose tonight. The crowd will be insane. I really think we're completely screwed.

Dumb question. The latter and it's not close.

I have a question though. Favre was officially ruled out by the Vikings. Is that something you can reverse? Why didn't they just list him as doubtful?

WTF. Wouldn't surprise me if ruling Favre out was part of a plot to get the Bears to prepare solely for Webb. Good though, let it happen. There's no way we're getting beat by an immobile QB with a bum shoulder. I don't care who he is.

Yeah he isn't 100%. I'm really not sure how he benefits from snowy conditions either, as someone previously suggested. The guy has yet to fumble this year, which is insane. He is definitely due. Also, this notion that the Bears can't play in the cold and snow is getting pretty ridiculous. They got destroyed last week because they played the best team in the NFL who happens to play their best football in snowy conditions (See game vs. Titans last year). At first the idea of snow scared me for this game, but why wouldn't we want to face a rookie third-string QB in snow? Webb is from the south and I read he's never played in snow or temps below 40 degrees. Also, the Vikings run defense is a shell of it's former self, they got absolutely gashed last week. I expect a pretty big night from Forte.

It's going to be hilarious to watch Packers fans forgive the Vikings for the years of hatred and the Favre thing if they win this game.

All is not lost if we lose this game. The Bears could still clinch next week with a Packers loss and a win over the Jets. The Giants go into GB next week with a chance to clinch a WC spot, and needless to say are probably pretty pissed about what happened today. Them winning isn't that far-fetched. The Bears meanwhile draw the Jets, whose win today was definitely good news. It means next week becomes less of a must-win for them, having all but wrapped up a playoff spot in the AFC. Despite that scenario, tomorrow obviously remains by far the easiest route to get in, and if we can't beat a 5-8 Vikings team who is starting a rookie third-string QB, I don't like our chances to beat the Jets or Packers either one.

Yep lol.

seriously, why is everyone so annoyed by TCF? is it because you wanted them to play in Detroit? Indy? I really think anywhere but TCF. Hell at this point I'd take the Metrodome over this. This surface is a concussion waiting to happen for Cutler and it sounds like now there will be blizzard-like conditions similar to what we had last week. There are just too many factors that could alter the outcome of the game. I'm fine with playing in the cold, but after last week I've absolutely had enough of the snow, and now it looks like we're in for some more tomorrow.

No, but beating two playoff-caliber teams in back-to-back games won't be an easy task, even though both games are at Lambeau. Even if the Bears win the division before Week 17, they'll likely still be playing for the 2nd seed and a first-round bye in that game.

Gotcha. Didn't know that. Everything that happened today made a Bears-Packers matchup in the first round of playoffs A LOT more likely.

You would also need the Bucs to lose one of their final two games or the Vikings to beat the Bears tomorrow, assuming GB loses at NE tonight.

I remember a very good offensive performance against a good Minnesota team on MNF last year with temps close to zero. They're definitely built for speed on offense, and snow really seems to hinder that. But I don't think the offense is slowed by the cold temps themselves. Mike Martz wasn't the OC last year I assume you're arguing that his offenses are built for domes? Perhaps. I just don't think the temps themselves make that big of a difference. It wasn't exactly warm during the Eagles game, which was easily the best this offense has been all year.

I remember a very good offensive performance against a good Minnesota team on MNF last year with temps close to zero. They're definitely built for speed on offense, and snow really seems to hinder that. But I don't think the offense is slowed by the cold temps themselves.

Exactly. I'm nor sure why CubsBearsMagic likes that trade. Would I have rather had Carmelo or Paul? Of course, no brainer. But this is a rather low-risk, high-reward type of move. All we had to give up was a declining Rashard Lewis, and in return we get a guy who, when healthy and at his best, was an elite player. He's still just 28, therefore I think it's worth gambling on him staying healthy. I felt like in order to land Carmelo or Paul we would have had to give up more than I would have felt comfortable with, and we almost definitely would not have ended up with Richardson and Turkoglu in addition. So instead of adding 1 superstar, we added 3 good to great players while at the same time getting rid of our two oldest starters who have gone almost completely downhill the past couple seasons. I really think Turkoglu might still have something left in the tank. Otis Smith could have done a lot worse.

Ugh.

And another reason to root for that scenario is if for some reason the Eagles beat out the Bears for the 2nd seed, the Bears get a nice consolation prize in getting to play the warm-weather Bucs in freezing Chicago in the 1st round.

Of course this is all assuming the Bears beat the Vikings and the Bucs keep winning, which looking at their schedule, I think they will. It would indeed be huge for the entire NFC though, because I actually don't think the Falcons are that unbeatable. It would take close to a perfect game to win a game in Atlanta, but still.

Haven't you heard? The game is going to be played outside. In the cold. And there are no heating coils under the field, either. This game is a toss-up, at best. I assume this is sarcasm? If not, I don't understand why the weather would hurt a cold-weather team like the Bears more than the Vikings. Besides, the latest forecast now calls for a low of 22, which is quite a bit warmer than they projected before. I heard the field is "already softening" as well, but who knows what that really means. Despite that, the Bears apparently practiced on an icy and frozen field at Northwestern today in preparation for TCF. Sounds like Lovie is doing his best to prepare the team.

Speaking of Jarron Gilbert, I heard yesterday that he was signed to the 53-man of another team. I want to say the Jets. I'm sure Rex Ryan can fix whatever's wrong with him.

Huge trading day for the Magic. First they swapped Arenas for Rashard Lewis, a deal I like quite a bit. While Arenas can be a headache, he is a superior player to Lewis and is 3 years younger as well. Lewis has began declining pretty sharply over the past two seasons, although Arenas hasn't played a full season since 06-07 and is quite injury prone. It's a wonderful trade if he stays healthy, but that's a big "if". The 2nd trade saw Vince Carter, Gortat, Pietrus, a future 1st-round pick and cash to the Suns for Jason Richardson, Turkoglu and second-year player Earl Clark, who I believe will backup Dwight at center. I'm not sure yet if I like the second trade. Carter is obviously old and declining, but so is Turkoglu. He did, however, seem to mesh well with this style of offense so there's that hopefully. I'm a fan of Jason Richardson so I like that a lot, and I've soured on Gortat quite a bit anyway. Pietrus can't do anything but shoot threes so that's whatever. I'm not sure if this Clark guy is capable of holding his own if Dwight gets into foul trouble but we'll see. I am, however, a little upset about having to give up the 1st-rounder. If nothing else we got somewhat younger going from Arenas to Lewis and Carter to Turkoglu. J. Richardson SF Turkoglu PF Howard C Arenas SG Nelson PG Not a bad starting five. Can't wait to see how this works.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81cffe15/article/favre-nogo-so-vikings-will-start-rookie-qb-webb-vs-bears?module=breaking_news Favre officially not playing. Steve Hutchinson also ruled out. There really is no excuse to lose this game.

Plenty of reasons to be worried about this game. Not only will Harvin be back, but Joe Webb rushed for 2400+ yards combined in his last two years at UAB. Of course it was against pretty weak competition, but the guy can run. Maybe start out with the Vick defensive gameplan? It doesn't take a genious to figure out between him and AP, the Vikings will come out running. Cutler being protected is huge in this game. Not only for the success of the offense, but I'll be holding my breath everytime he's sacked on that hard surface. If he suffers another concussion (or any other injury) I don't see our season ending well.

http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=7391 Here is the article I'm referring to specifically. Cutler and Chris Harris seem pretty upset about it. Interesting thing is Gould keeps referring to a "decision" that he is confident will still be made. I can only assume this means moving the game to Indy or Atlanta.