UMFan83

All day? They tried 9 times (and 2 cutler scrambles) and abandoned it. They were down by double digits in the first half itself and Forte was averaging less than 0.5 yard per carry. Thank goodness they abandoned it when they did. Now, Martz called some inexplicably dumb pass plays given the quality of the line and receivers but that's a different argument. Have you never seen a team struggle with the run for a chunk of the game and eventually find some holes, wear down the D and finish with a decent game? I just think that balance is very important. I didn't see the game so I don't know how GB was aligning defensively in the 2nd half but I'd imagine they were dropping 7-8 guys back into pass coverage. Granted the Bears were down double digits the majority of the game, so its more understandable than last week but 9 carries is extremely low for an NFL team. In fact, the Bears had the lowest number of rushing yards in a game since 1954 yesterday, and only because of Jay Cutler scrambling did they avoid having the lowest in NFL history. That said, I'm not too upset about it, because like I said, being down 14 points early causes you to change your game plan. As does getting 0.5 YPC on the ground. But there needs to be more emphasis in general on the running game. It doesn't have to be 50-50 every game, but there should be enough to throw the defense off a little. The Bears won't win many games throwing as often as they have, and it shows, having scored 13 and 17 points the last 2 weeks.

I am ok with just taking the 4 best teams, seeding them, and holding a playoffs, but to do so they have to balance the schedules. As of now, divisions make sense because you play the other teams in your division for almost half of your games. So if you play in a division that has 3-4 decent teams that beat up on each other, you might have a 87 win team that finishes 1st and has the worst record of all playoff teams. I think its fair that the division champion should be rewarded with a playoff spot. As far as the existance of divisions, it does seem to create a lot more excitement, and due to geographical closeness seems to really create and maintain rivalries. There are some negatives of course but nothing is going to be perfect.

All day? They tried 9 times (and 2 cutler scrambles) and abandoned it.

I predict the Bears win a really ugly one. 19-16 in OT

I love this idea. I can't stand when Wild Card winners all jump on each other and celebrate when they clinch their wild card spot. I bet they won't be going crazy and celebrating now. I remember one year the Yankees and Red Sox had a 3 game series at the end of the season and they had both clinched playoff spots and were 'competing' for the division, and the series was halfhearted at best because both teams were more concerned with setting up their playoff rotations than winning an extra home game. Can you imagine the drama of that series where the team that loses the series has to go into a winner take all game while the winner rests for their 1st round series. I think this adds so much more drama and just about completely fixes the issue of the Wild Card team not getting penalized for not winning their division. Look at how this would work out this year: Red Sox vs. Rays from Fenway Park Teams still alive in last week: Angels (2 gb) Braves vs. Cardinals from Turner Field Teams still alive in last week: Giants (4 gb) I can see how a little drama could be lost in these final 3 games because in the NL the Cardinals and Braves would have both clinched WC spots and would only be playing for HFA for the wild card game, but fighting for 1 home game in a 1 game series has a ton more drama than teams fighting for 1 home game in a 5 game playoff series 2010: Yankees vs. Red Sox from Yankee Stadium Teams still alive in last week: White Sox (1 gb), Blue Jays (4 gb) Braves vs. Padres from Turner Field Teams still alive in last week: Cardinals (4 gb) 2009: Red Sox vs. Rangers from Fenway Park Teams still alive in last week: Tigers (1.5 gb), Mariners (2 gb), Rays (3 gb) Rockies vs. Giants from Coors Field Teams still alive in last week: Marlins (1 gb), Braves (2 gb), Cubs (4.5 gb) Look at 2009, 16 out of 30 teams are still alive for the playoffs going into the last week of the season. This year, if the Red Sox and Braves didn't completely choke there would have been maybe 9-10 teams alive.

first of all, the missed PI on woodson when he fell into hester like an oaf was pretty impactful. because it wasn't called, the bears punted and gave the packers great field position, which they used to score a TD. the punt return was just another bad call by the refs. I know, I admitted that in an earlier post. That's why I'm surprised there wasn't more complaining about that one. Fact, is I'd be more upset about that one then the punt return. The punt return was just a cooler play and the last one. I'm really not trying to be an A-hole (ok, I probably was a-holeish on in a post or two). I've had discussions/arguements with fans of my team on other boards regarding stuff like this as well. There is a lot of time until next Sunday and I like posting about the game that took place. Fact is I enjoy posting on this site more than other ones. the problem is, a call like that probably sabotaged our season, and i've seen the packers get the benefit of every call and every break for about what, 10 weeks in a row? it's frustrating to watch things like this continue to happen for a team that i'm not fond of. the packers are the better team, i'm not saying the bears are better by any stretch, but their run of luck has been nothing short of astonishing. Says the fan of the team that was considered the luckiest team ever in 2010. Not trying to defend the Packers, but while I hated hearing about how lucky we supposedly were last year, we did get to play the [expletive] Seahawks in the playoffs. It doesnt get much luckier than that.

I'm late to this Soriano hate thread. Did anyone make the "Yeah well I feel mistreated by Soriano" joke already?

So Bears fans bitching about "bs non calls" in a loss against the Packers is ok, but if the shoe was on the other foot Packers fans would be told to "stop crying" and "the Bears won fair and square", etc. It works both ways. Now you've got it. As long as you can admit the hypocrisy. Well duh, I and many Bears fans treat this as a Bears thread meaning they act as biased and hopelessly illogical as they want to.

So Bears fans bitching about "bs non calls" in a loss against the Packers is ok, but if the shoe was on the other foot Packers fans would be told to "stop crying" and "the Bears won fair and square", etc. It works both ways. Now you've got it.

Fire Angelo. No offensive improvements with $30 million to spend and the 30th ranked offense the previous year. This is inexcusable. I think Angelo is working for another NFC North team.

We've gotta have the worst 3rd down defense in the NFL this year. It feels like out opponents get 1st downs exclusively on 3rd Down plays

Apparently being 30 yards from tying the game with 2 minutes left isn't considered "making a game of it"

True or False: The Bears offense will score 14 or more points this game. Ps fire Angelo

This offense is broken

I believe his velocity is down this year. I could be wrong though.

I dont know if the Cardinals are done. Looking like 2 out with 4 to play. Cardinals play the Lastros and the Braves play the Phillies. Phillies will be resting starters but the Braves are seemingly in a tailspin so who knows. Cardinals will probably sweep.

Aka I complain everytime someone directly or indirectly disrespects the Bears.

Im sick of everyone thinking the Packers are God's gift to football. I get your point, but they are the reigning Superbowl champions, with the most talented roster in the league, who haven't lost a game that Aaron Rodgers has started and finished since November 2010. People have every right to think the Packers are going to kill the Bears. Just a look at the last 3 packers bears games, the last 2 with the season on the line for the packers should give us an indication of whether the packers have a gear that will cause them to destroy the Bears. Hell even in 09 when the Bears sucked they lost something like 21-15 and 21-7 in the 2 games.

Simmons: Im sick of everyone thinking the Packers are God's gift to football.

1998 was the most enjoyable year for me as a Cubs fan but only because I was 15 and the result of the Cubs game was the only thing that mattered to me. Much worse than even my mid aughts NSBB angst if you can believe that. At one point in my life I could tell you the result of every game that year and how many home runs Sammy hit. Now I can't tell you what the Cubs did last week. Growing up sucks. Even booze isn't as fun.

I want to pick the Bears. It feels like the Bears "contain" Rodgers better than just about every team out there (an by contain I mean 275 yards and 2 TDs). Maybe I'm basing too much off of last week, but you know Capers is going to throw different variations of what the Saints did last weekend, which means heavy blitzing. Until the line, without Carimi and probably Louis, proves that they can protect Jay in that type of situation, I have a hard time picking the Bears to beat a quality team like GB. The one thing I worry about is Jay getting hit early and thinking "here we go again" an go into his shell like he did last week. Granted the line wasn't giving him anytime to do anything but by the end of the game it seemed like he was just resigned to having a guy in his face witting 3 seconds every down. He didn't look like the same decision maker out there. Anyways, I'll go Packers 24-16. I hate myself

Probably to your mom's house if the line isn't too long. Well I had sex with your wife. I engaged in intercourse with your spouse or significant other.

Everyone will say the Bears luck is evening out from last year, but wasn't last year an evening out from all the injuries in 2009?

They can't allow the Big East to remain a BCS conference if they replace Syracuse and Pitt with Air Force and Navy can they? Can you imagine Navy finishing 7-5 (6-2) and playing in the Orange Bowl against Oklahoma?

So he refuses trades to contenders for 2 years saying he's happy here and then now all the sudden he's all about playing for a contender. Hmm ok. Wish we could have gotten something for him.