Are You Ready for Some FOOTBALL! - Week 14

[Sava]

Originally posted by -Jrabbit
(and frankly, Jeff Blake might be their best)

okay... I think I will be ignoring all your football opinions from now on

[snoopy369]

I'll actually say that Jeff Blake isn't THAT bad.

[MOBIUS]

Originally posted by Sava
Carolina was averaging 27.4 points per game before the Bears game.

Delholmme had a QB rating above 90 before that game.

Steve Smith is the NFL's leading receiver.

And most of their victories were against the teams with poor records up until then...

Maybe they were just good at scoring points, defensive TDs, luck - loads of reasons...

However after 12 games (before their loss to TB) their overall offense ranks a paltry 23rd...

Also, the Bears offense outgained the Cincinatti offense in the Bears/Bengals game earlier this year.

By 11 yards...

Yeah, how ironic it was that the Bengals 'D' outdid the Chicago one that game with a +5 turnover ratio...

BTW, this defense, best in the NFL in nearly every category, also around 20% in red zone efficiency, is one of the best in NFL history to this point in the season. Troy Aikman has a new rating that takes into account many factors in team defense. It's a bit like QB rating, but for team defenses. This Bears team ranks above 100 (however I have not seen it updated for after the Pittsburgh game). The 85 Bears, 2000 Ravens, 2002 Bucs are all in the mid 90's on Aikman's rating.

oh BTW, the Bears, with their Red Zone efficiency in the 20% range, lead the NFL...

nobody else in the NFL is below 40%

Ooh look at all the fancy numbers...

Fact is, if you're gonna play **** offenses, you're bound to get better numbers...

Your schedule is a who's who of crap offenses - in fact you've only played two games against offenses in the top half of the league and you lost to both of them: Was 12th and Cin 1st and you lost to both!

In fact the team with the best offense that the Bears have beaten is the lowly Saints - at 18th...

Yep, 11 of 13 games against the NFL's worst offenses, including the mighty 49ers!

You'd have to be a team of Stephen Hawkings' not to have a top rated 'D' against that rabble...

[Ming]

True enough MOBIUS...
But it's tough on the defense when they spend so much time on the field because the offense is sooooooo bad.

And the defense has looked like crap for two games in a row now.

[-Jrabbit]

I remain amazed at the vast body of ppl who think Rex Grossman (2-4 lifetime with a 70.9 rating) can instantly turn the offense around. It's illogical.

BTW, while Carolina no longer ranks in the top half of the league in offense (yards), they were when the Bears beat them. And the remain #9 in total points (which is what actually matters) today.

Cutting to the chase: Basically the Bears have the opposite problem that Cinci is facing now (and Indy faced in thepast). The offense sucks, and there's no easy cure. Best bet is to continue to rely on the defense.

When they fall behind like yesterday, they should let Orton fling it around the yard like he did in preseason, when he was regularly outperforming Grossman (albeit working with the 3rd team, against other teams' scrubs). It's their best shot. Not a great shot, but it's all that's available to them.

Fanboys who see a weak NFC and a shot at getting to the big game should remember 2 things: (1) on any given day, the Bears can win on defense alone, and (2) even if they somehow get to the Super Bowl, they will be outgunned on offense (on paper) no matter who's under center.

They do have an elite defense, but are not (yet) an elite team.

[Jaguar]

There is no team in the NFC that can be sure of its ability to move the ball against the Bears. There certainly isn't any passing-based attack good enough.

I think Atlanta could put up decent offensive production, but that's about it. They've got a great line, and Dunn and Duckett can probably do half as well as Parker and Bettis did. And that's gonna be all they need.

[Sava]

Originally posted by Jaguar
There is no team in the NFC that can be sure of its ability to move the ball against the Bears. There certainly isn't any passing-based attack good enough.

I think Atlanta could put up decent offensive production, but that's about it. They've got a great line, and Dunn and Duckett can probably do half as well as Parker and Bettis did. And that's gonna be all they need.

Maybe if the game was in Atlanta, I'd say they were the favorite.

However, this game is going to be at Soldier Field.

And I can guarantee you that the Bears defense is going to be prepared for this game after the poor showing at Pittsburgh.

[Japher]

I'm taking the Bears. Not only is it at Soldier Field, but it's at 8:30pm and should be very cold. Definite home field advatage to the Bears.

[Sava]

Originally posted by -Jrabbit
I remain amazed at the vast body of ppl who think Rex Grossman (2-4 lifetime with a 70.9 rating) can instantly turn the offense around. It's illogical.

I don't see anyone here claiming that.

And BTW, Orton's rating is 10 points less than Grossman's. You think Grossman would do worse than Orton if he were healthy?

A healthy Rex Grossman gives the Bears a better chance to win. Period.

Maybe you need to tune in to better sources of Bears information. Because if you think Kyle Orton is a better QB than Rex (or Jeff Blake for that matter ), then you are seriously mistaken.

Does putting in Rex make the Bears offense as good as the Colts or the Bengals? No. And nobody is saying that.

But Rex is better than Orton. There is no doubt about this. At least not to people who are informed. The Bears coaching staff doesn't have any illusions about this. Why do you think they left a roster spot open for Rex instead of putting him on IR when he got injured?

Rex is a better skilled QB than Kyle. Rex, despite playing less games, is more experienced. He knows the offense better. He has been in the system longer. He has practiced with the first unit more. He's been through more training camps.

Before Rex got injured, he was the #1 QB for the Bears. Kyle has managed the offense decent enough to lose few games, BUT THAT IS NOT AN EXCUSE NOT TO IMPROVE THE QUARTERBACK SITUATION!!

And I don't understand this argument about Rex not having played a lot of games. He is a young QB. How is he supposed to establish himself as an NFL QB if he doesn't play games?

Hopefully your arguments for continuing to play Kyle Unitas instead of Grossman will start to make more sense. Because right now, they don't make any sense at all.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Jaguar
at the Redskins game. Cardinals have had 3 possessions and 3 turnovers, Redskins have had 2 possessions and 2 turnovers.

alls well that ends well, ugly or not. At least the Skins didnt toss it away in the last quarter - they had a couple of opportunities to do so.

[Jaguar]

Originally posted by Sava


Maybe if the game was in Atlanta, I'd say they were the favorite.

However, this game is going to be at Soldier Field.

And I can guarantee you that the Bears defense is going to be prepared for this game after the poor showing at Pittsburgh.

Agreed. It looks like a tossup, and in a tossup, pick the home team. I'm not wild about picking the Bears this week, but that's probably who I'd pick if I had to call that game.

[Jonny]

Originally posted by Jaguar

Agreed. It looks like a tossup, and in a tossup, pick the home team. I'm not wild about picking the Bears this week, but that's probably who I'd pick if I had to call that game.

QFT.


I wish we got to see the Bears on TV more often down here, but (for example) yesterday we didn't get any FOX game becasue of the horrendous Titans/Texans. I have never watched such a game in my life... where both teams have 0 talent, where both teams keep trying to give it away. It seemed like everyone on both teams should have been released.

When we do get an NFC game, it's more often than not either the Falcons (for whom I could care less) or Dallas.

[Sava]

Originally posted by Jaguar

Agreed. It looks like a tossup, and in a tossup, pick the home team. I'm not wild about picking the Bears this week, but that's probably who I'd pick if I had to call that game.

I don't see why you wouldn't pick the Bears at home against Atlanta... the Bears have already beaten the two best teams in that division (including the Bucs IN TAMPA).

Yeah, Chicago is coming off of the Pittsburgh loss, but you need to put that in the proper context.

Both starting safeties for Chicago were out (which significantly affects the rushing defense and special teams assignments due to the depth chart shuffling), Pittsburgh was really motivated after their losing streak, and the field conditions made line play very difficult for the defenses.

Don't forget, Thomas Jones still ran for over 5 yards a carry on Sunday. Pittsburgh's run defense actually gave up more yards per rush than the Bears did.

But for some reason, Chicago's offensive coordinator, Ron Turner, felt the need to call twice as many pass plays as run plays. Now why on God's green Earth would you try to beat Pittsburgh passing when you have the leagues WORST QUARTERBACK and your running back is clearly having success, is beyond me.

Hopefully the Bears offense will get back to doing what they do best against Atlanta... RUNNING THE BALL!!!

[MOBIUS]

Just watching the Sly movie 'Lock up' and the guy who scored a touchdown in the American Football game did the Ickey Shuffle!

The nostalgia...

[OzzyKP]

Originally posted by -Jrabbit
Tonights GB-Det game is one of the worst in Sunday night football memory.

The officials letting Sherman talk them out of a safety against GB by claiming Gado was passing outside the pocket and therefore couldn't be guilty of grounding -- is one of the most buzarre rulings in history. Especially since they also called holding on the play, but decided it must not have happened in the end zone, so again -- no safety. Despite the fact the play started inside the one yd line. Replay showed a very obvious hold 3 yds deep in the end zone.

"They" (the league? the ref? -wish I knew...) SO want the Pack to win this game. It's patently obvious, to the point of being offensive.

My guess? The ref has Green Bay and gave the points.

Ahhhh!!!!

My neighbor taped the game for me, I just watched it. What garbage!!!

Of course the stupidity with the safety never would have happened if the Lions were such ****ing retards that they didn't take make that kick. What the hell were they thinking?!!

Game is tied 13-13, with the ball on the 1 yard line, 2nd down. Try to ram it right up the middle twice, and don't get anything out of it. So instead of realizing how crappy they did the last two plays, and instead of realizing that the game is TIED. They decide to go for it on 4th down and once again try to ram it up the middle and once again get nothing! What kind of ****ing idiots have the ball on the ONE in a tied game and just walk away with NOTHING!?!

And the stupid fricken safety call! And Shaun Rogers! Ahhh!!!!! And all the dropped passes right in our first round draft pick's hands!! Ahhhh!!!! Scrap them all. Fire the whole damn team. This is a train wreck.