Bears In Race For NFC North

by Adam T on Nov 19, 2008 6:59 AM CST Comment 17 comments

The Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings are tied atop the NFC North and start a small 6 game schedule. Lets take a look at each team's remaining schedule.

Chicago Bears

@ St. Louis
@ Minnesota
vs. Jacksonville
vs. New Orleans
vs. Green Bay
@ Houston

Green Bay Packers

@ New Orleans
vs. Carolina
vs. Houston
@ Jacksonville
@ Chicago
vs. Detroit

Minnesota Vikings

@ Jacksonville
vs. Chicago
@ Detroit
@ Arizona
vs. Atlanta
vs. New York Giants

We are at a small disadvantage to start the race having our next two games on the road, however we do have the easiest schedule for the next two games. We also have an advantage having 3 tough games at home. GB and Minny both have Detroit, but I think Detroit will get one of those. I think Minnesota might have the hardest record left and ending against the Giants is brutal unless they are coasting at that point. The Bears D will get tested even if they can go back to stopping the run.

What is your take on the remaining schedules?

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Maybe

I agree that the giants will probably have the playoffs locked by the final game. But last year they where locked for the playoffs and went out and tried to beat the Patriots which set up there super bowl run. Why would they fix something that isn’t broken? Also the Colts and the Bucs took some time of to rest there players and they ended up losing in the first round of the playoffs.

by chase17 on Nov 19, 2008 7:23 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Minnesota is different

The Giants might still play the entire game this time, but I doubt it. Last year they were kind of stumbling in to the the playoffs and a chance to beat the 15-0 Pats was something that could provide huge motivation. They gained alot of confidence by almost beating the Patriots. There won’t be any confidence to gain against a Minnesota team that won’t make the playoffs.

by Subotai on Nov 19, 2008 7:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

My Guess

I think Chicago will win 3 of the remaining 6 games (I’m assuming they’ll fix the run D, but still be weak against the pass). They’ll beat St. Louis, Jacksonville and Minn. With they way they are playing pass D, I don’t see them being able to stop Brees, Rogers, or Andre Johnson.

Minnesota will lose to Detroit and they will end up beating the Giants as they sit all of their players in the last game. They probably win the Atlanta game at home. They might take the Arizona game as well since their running game might be able to keep Warner off the field.

Green Bay will probably win all of the remaining games except for the Jacksonville game and the Carolina game. I think Jacksonville will pull one out at home, and in the cold, I think the better running game wins in the Carolina game.

by Subotai on Nov 19, 2008 7:27 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Does it matter?

Granted, once you get in the playoffs anything can happen, but I don’t think we have a chance. We are struggling and if we do get into the playoffs due to the mediocratiy in our division, we are just getting set up for heartbreak. I almost rather not make it for draft picks, when I know we don’t have much of a chance with this team/coaching staff.

by GoCubbies34 on Nov 19, 2008 8:42 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

At this point,

who cares? This is not a playoff team so I don’t really give a shit if they make it because they are in a shitty division. I bet you the winner of this division will be 9-7 or 8-8.

by McRipper on Nov 19, 2008 8:43 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I do.

I"m not for the lose because we have no shot or want the better draft pick kind of guy. I want in the playoffs regardless if we back in or get in with a bad record.

Being Who You Thought We Were Since 2005!

by Adam T on Nov 19, 2008 12:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

To each it's own

by McRipper on Nov 20, 2008 9:43 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If we played to our potential...

We should win out with that schedule… if we were playing to the talent level on the team…

Obviously, we are not.

We have better players in head to head match-ups than every single remaining opponent.

We also have a team that is not playing hard, or even remotely to its potential.

We need Mike Singletary to coach this bunch, and kick them in the butts.

by sabbath999 on Nov 19, 2008 9:09 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

singletary?

so he’s a good coach cause he yells? looking for a bit more.

by mike b on Nov 19, 2008 1:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He's not a good coach because he yells...

He’s a good coach because San Fran is now playing hard and fighting, unlike what they were doing under their previous coach… I have watched the niners pre-and-post Mike, and they are playing MUCH better and harder under him.

He has consistantly high marks at every level of coaching he has been at, and so far he has turned a lackluster bunch of players into a team that is fighting to win and to earn respect… and he is dealing with the bad apples on his team.

Are they there yet? No, because he inherited a real mess… but they are a LOT better under him than they were under Nolan… they are playing harder, hitting on D, cutting down on the turnovers and (at least those who will be around next year) are buying into what he is selling.

We have the talent, we just don’t have the HUNGER right now… and we don’t have a defensive coordinator who has sense enough to pour a warm smelly liquid out of his boot, or a coach with the guts to admit the mistake he made and fire him.

The players are not buying what Lovie is selling, and are playing below their talent level in a big way.

If not Singletary, than somebody who will ignite em or bench em.

by sabbath999 on Nov 19, 2008 4:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Figuring out these next six weeks

is why losing last Sunday hurt so bad. Had we won, we would be a game up with the division tiebreakers in hand.

--Torch

by torch on Nov 19, 2008 9:11 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

We Have the Easiest Looking Schedule

But when you think about how our defense has been playing your realize only 4 of the 6 look like real winnable games. If the run defense gets back on track that is because if its like last week none of those games are winnable. If we could stop the run, most, if not all but NO are winnable.

Fire Ron Turner!!!
Fire Angelo!!

by GallopingGhost on Nov 19, 2008 10:31 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

we need sexy rexy back ortons boring as fuck

His stats are as good as Fields -- that's the sad thing

by Jbasic89 on Nov 19, 2008 1:29 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

That has to be one of the most brilliant posts I've read.

I'M A MAN! I'M 22!

by ChiFan13 on Nov 20, 2008 11:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Winning %ages

Chicago Bears – Opponents’ Winning %age: 24-36 = .400

@ St. Louis: 2-8
@ Minnesota: 5-5
vs. Jacksonville: 4-6
vs. New Orleans: 5-5
vs. Green Bay: 5-5
@ Houston: 3-7

Green Bay Packers – Opponents’ Winning %age: 25-35 = .417

@ New Orleans: 5-5
vs. Carolina: 8-2
vs. Houston: 3-7
@ Jacksonville: 4-6
@ Chicago: 5-5
vs. Detroit: 0-10

Minnesota Vikings – Opponents’ Winning %age: 31-29 = .517

@ Jacksonville: 4-6
vs. Chicago: 5-5
@ Detroit: 0-10
@ Arizona: 7-3
vs. Atlanta: 6-4
vs. New York Giants: 9-1

After looking at this, the Packers & Vikings benefit on the winning %age side because of the Detroit games. I would compare, at this point, St. Louis with Detroit. So it comes down to 5 games with those 3 as a wash for each team.

Chicago Bears – Opponents’ Winning %age of other 5: 22-28 = .440

Green Bay Packers – Opponents’ Winning %age of other 5: 25-25= .500

Minnesota Vikings – Opponents’ Winning %age of other 5: 31-19 = .620

So I look at this and obviously Minnesota has a harder road with only 1 with the Bears left and no more with the Packers left, plus the tough opponents remaining.

The Packers also only have one left with the Bears and their next 2 are probably their toughest of the final 6.

Therefore, the Bears control their own destiny as is commonly stated. They have 1 each left with the Packers and Vikings. they get 3 home games in a row with 2 against a warm and indoor team in our Chicago weather. So I will go on record as saying it will come down to the Monday night game against Green Bay. That will decide the season. I am ruling out Minnesota, even if they beat us in 2 weeks. Their last 3 games are a tough stretch.

by Bear_Down on Nov 19, 2008 2:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs