raw

Yeah, the early part of the game is key. The Packers have scored on their opening drive 12 times in the 15 games. Eight of those 12 have been opening drive TDs, including each of the last 3 games. In contrast, they've only scored 6 times to open 2nd halves (with five 3 & outs). To make things even worse, they are even more deadly on their 2nd drive. In fact, they have scored 212 points total in games before they've even had to punt the ball. Granted that does include a safety, a couple turnovers on downs, the fumble 6 against the Bears last time, and the 40-point 0 punt game last week. But that's an average of 14 points per game before they punt. If they get the ball first and get 1 stop, they'll very likely be up 14-0....as we saw in the first matchup....and the game is basically over at that point. In the Bears favor is that they've actually been pretty elite in the first half of games recently. During their 4 game 30-point streak, they've scored a league leading 86 first half points. So, it's going to come down to which defense can stop the scripted plays to start. The Packers aren't a mystery. The Bears have seen everything they will try to do. But that won't help the stop the Packers. They gotta get off the field on 3rd and long. As for the Bears on offense, they are a different group than the Packers saw 5 weeks ago. That was the first game with Trubisky, Mustipher, and Bars at RG. The Bears weren't really running the RPO and playaction heavy offense yet. So I do actually like the Bears chances to stay in it early if the Packers prove unstoppable on offense. But the key is Mitch. He has to keep up his play against a non-terrible team with a non-terrible defense.

https://buffstreams.tv/watch-football

Rumors out of Jacksonville that Marrone is out and Urban Meyer is their top candidate.

Not that I am making excuses for him but it was not re-assuring to see him shaking his throwing arm after nearly every play in the 2nd half. Maybe the 3rd string should have gotten some reps. Yeah, i guess he separated his shoulder. Before the injury, he didn't look comfortable throwing anything beyond 4 yards.

Turns out that Jack Tuttle is terrible.

Are you saying bumping/crowding Adams is the way to attack him? Can't say that I agree. Saying you can't just do one thing against him. Youcan have Fuller follow, but he plays off coverage best, and you can't give that to Adams all game. You can press him at times, but that's not Fuller's strong suit. The key part wasn't the bump coverage part, it was mixing it up. Sent from my SM-A115AZ using Tapatalk

6th concussion of Skrine's career. He's in the same boat Taylor Gabriel was in last year. As a Bears fan, shouldn't be too worried though as he's not been very good this year. He also isn't likely to be back next year, so get a chance to see what Shelley and Vildor can do. As a football fan, who doesn't want to see anything bad happen to anyone, should be pretty worried for his long-term health. Also, Fuller vs. Adams isn't a great matchup for Fuller. He's an off-man guy. Rodgers and Adams have amazing chemistry, so they'd just hit throws in front of Fuller all day. Vildor (and Johnson) is more physical and can at least attempt to disrupt the QB/WR timing with some bumping at the LOS. I have no problem mixing up the coverage against Adams. Slightly related. Alvin Kamara tested positive for Covid (I believe for the 2nd time). Strong possibility he's not able to play the playoff game. So, if he Bears get in and get the Saints, this could be very relevant.

Jaylon Johnson (and Buster Skrine) out on Sunday.

I'm guessing the point differential thing isn't a thing anymore, but that's something that needs to come back. Bring back incentive to beat the breaks off of teams!

Not watching, but how the hell does he have a -24 in a 1 point game?

Ball State! Had some fun nights there, and has several of my HS teammates play there. Congrats.

Apparently, David Bahktiari tore his ACL in practice today. HUGE break for the Bears, HUGE loss for the Packers.

Sounds like he's getting close, but still didn't practice today. They said last week he could play without practicing and didn't even rule him out until Saturday despite him not practicing last week. Biggs seems to think he might play. I'd love to see Johnson out there on the outside (on Adams), Vildor on the other side, and Fuller roaming the slot. Jackson over the top helping on Adams. Fuller's never done it before, but has the skillset for it and did play slot in college some. Duke Shelley has played well in the slot though, so I doubt they'd make such a bold change right now.

Obviously, can't blitz every play, but the most Rodgers has been blitzed all years was 48% against Tampa, and that is the only game of the last 14 that Rodgers had under a 107 QB rating. Yes, literally other than that game he's been the best QB in NFL history every week this year except Week 2 vs. Carolina (where he had a mere 91 QB rating). So, the Bears have to blitz him. They have to get pressure. IF they cant do it with the front 4, they gotta bring Roquan or Trevathan. You have to play man against top QBs anyway because they'll destroy zone defenses. The Bears get beat vs man against Rodgers as is. They've actually done a pretty decent job at shutting down Adams throughout the years. He's averaging 100+ receiving yards per game, but has only done so three times against the Bears in the last 5 years and took at least 13 targets each time to do so.

Cubs were first on the trend of just loading up on power hitters. Maybe the new market inefficiency is soft throwers.

Yeah, no chance to play after he actually had surgery.

I'm really interested to see how this Trubisky situation plays out. Just so many factors at play for his future. On one hand, he's not going to be handed a starting job on any other team in the league. But his situation isn't like Jameis' because he doesn't have character issues nor did he throw 30 INTs. His situation is probably most similar to Mariota's (former #2 pick, not good enough but not a disaster) except Mitch didn't have the other QB come in and play at a high level after replacing him. On the other hand, the Bears probably can't do any better than him for 2021. It'll be interesting to see how (presumably) Pace plays this. I personally would play hardball with him. Let him test the market and see what he can get. I think around the league he gets valued more toward Winston or Dalton than someone guaranteeing him 9-10M to be a backup like Mariota. So, I would gamble on that then hope the Mariota deal looks good to him in comparison or if someone does offer him similar, he'd take that deal to get a better chance to start for the Bears than to compete with a Taysom Hill, Drew Lock, or Alex Smith in NO, DEN or WAS, respectively (for example). If he does go elsewhere, I think there are enough avenues to get similar QB play for that type of cost or better. Best thing for the Bears right now may be their cap situation. They can't afford to pay Bridgewater money to Trubisky and pay/franchise Allen Robinson. So that may force their hand into playing it out this way.

They aren't completely devoid of talent either. They have some solid OL talent. Chark is a high end #2 WR at worst, Robinson is a solid RB, and Shenault looks like a potential asset in the slot. Their only significant FA is Cam Robinson, their LT, who is just 25 and they obviously can afford to re-sign. Even if they don't they can upgrade him. But the right coaching hire can go a long way for them. Lawrence is a QB you can do anything with, run any scheme. I think they may go for a guy like Joe Brady, who's young and has recent college experience.

In the Bears favor, the Cardinals aren't that good of a team. They just got beat by CJ Beathard and if Robbie Gould could kick they'd been blown out. So, there's a solid chance the Rams with a backup or injured QB could run and short pass enough to beat the Cardinals mediocre D, and their great defense can shutdown Murray.

Week 17 championships are terrible.

Would the Packers bench the starters for next week to guarantee everyone is healthy for the playoffs? They have nothing to play for. EDIT: Ahh, they would lose the 3 way tie scenario with Seattle and New Orleans. So GB would have something to play for if both won. I never saw the Packers sitting anyone anyway. Best case scenario was they clinched and played starters for a half. Last 1st half against the Bears they're up 27-3, do that might be all they need anyway. Sent from my SM-A115AZ using Tapatalk

So uh, go Rams. Bears getting mollywhopped next week. Sent from my SM-A115AZ using Tapatalk

Washington/Eagles flexed Sent from my SM-A115AZ using Tapatalk

Next week moved to 3:25/4:25 Sent from my SM-A115AZ using Tapatalk

So.....how good is Cade Cunningham? Sent from my SM-A115AZ using Tapatalk