NightLink: Bears Playoff Bound!
by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Oct 7, 2009 5:00 PM CDT
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PrintWell, at least according to YahooSports Shutdown Corner Blog; The absurdly premature playoff picture: Week 4.
This is the first week our beloved Bears made their playoff bracket...
• The Bears were the one team to sneak into the NFC picture, dislodging Atlanta. Perhaps that's a little unfair, as Atlanta was off this week, but I like what the Bears are doing. If you toss out Week 1, where Jay Cutler threw something like 89 interceptions, they've got a nice résumé: three wins, no losses, a win over Pittsburgh and only five teams in the league that have scored more points than they have.
No worries, because after the Bears heal up during the bye week, they'll smack Atlanta around on Week 6 Sunday Night Football and solidify their spot on this meaningless early bracket!
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Underachieving
but only because we should have beaten the Packers
"I'm sorry Josh, I'm with Chicago now, you need to stop calling me" -JerBear50 as Jay Cutler
I was just thinking that!
The more I think about it, the more I realize that the Bears should be 4-0. Considering it was Cutlers first game as a Bear and playing with new WRs, I think this Bears team may be better than we realize. The next few weeks will tell a lot.
I agree that we should've beaten the Packers
but I didn’t expect a win over Pitt, so it’s a wash for me.
agreed
But we are doing quite well for no recievers. I should probably take that back saying now that Jay Cutler does make recievers better.
Formerly The_Fan
I think Hester has proved himself, so far
He looks like a number 1 receiver this year. Especially the way he played in Seattle.
but that was seattle
But he still is a good reciever
Formerly The_Fan
Meeting expectations
The Bears will go as far at the defense can take them. That’s the problem. The secondary is wretched. I shudder to think how we will fare defensively against Minnesota. Or Atlanta with all those offensive weapons.
Can the Bears make the playoffs? Yes, as a wildcard. But it will be an absolute dogfight given the number of good teams in the NFC.
"Cubs will win 79 to 83 games." BLou (7/21/09)
Meeting expectations (mostly)
See post on the 2009 Bears Predictions Thread
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"Newbie, if the next two words out of your mouth aren't 'See ya' then the third word will be 'Oh my god. My crotch. You've punched me in my crotch." - Dr. Percival Ulysses Cox
Nice.
Also, the rant by ifuwanna further down that thread about a WCG reunion is glorious.
Be nice. Flag comments that you think are offensive. Use the "reply" button. Drink plenty of water. Compliment others. Rec (wreck) comments and posts you like. Don't call people names. If you don't like someone's comment, attack the comment and not the commentor. Learn the difference in your/you're, then/than, to/too. Exercise. Relax. Stretch often. Find good in the world.
Just because it can be done on Madden NFL does not automatically make it a viable option in real life.
The Ifuwanna rant is hilarious.
I was pretty new here back then and didn’t get a lot of the jokes. After getting to know some of the people, it all starts to make sense.
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"Newbie, if the next two words out of your mouth aren't 'See ya' then the third word will be 'Oh my god. My crotch. You've punched me in my crotch." - Dr. Percival Ulysses Cox
by David Taylor on Oct 8, 2009 10:15 AM CDT up reply actions
Still don't see us dumping one
to the Browns, maybe the Cards of 49ers… no way they lose against the Falcons… they can’t.
"I'm sorry Josh, I'm with Chicago now, you need to stop calling me" -JerBear50 as Jay Cutler
by BearNecessities on Oct 7, 2009 8:37 PM CDT up reply actions
CARDS?
I don’t think teh Bears will have many problems with them. The niner’s on the other hand…
William F Moffat
Just stating
that we usually blow a gimmie game, and it’s only fair for ruining Matt Leinierts career… in our Miracle in the Desert game
"I'm sorry Josh, I'm with Chicago now, you need to stop calling me" -JerBear50 as Jay Cutler
by BearNecessities on Oct 7, 2009 9:08 PM CDT up reply actions
Even though I love the Bears, that was a tough game for me to watch because I live in Arizona.
That being said, I think the Cardinals/Bears game will be close.
The Cardinals have a good Defensive line that has shut down some good running backs, but there are some problems with the secondary. Beanie looks like a promising RB if he ever gets to carry the ball, and Warner is still as good as he was last year if the O-Line doesn’t break down like it did with the Packers on Monday.
I can see Forte having some problems with the Cards D-Line because like I said it has looked really good, but I think Cutler can throw for a couple Touchdowns to Knox or Hester.
There have also been some problems with the O-Lines on both teams so I can see both teams getting a couple sacks.
Diehard Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.
No band-wagoner fans allowed, pick a team and stick with em, throughout the good and the bad.
Probably not.
A lot of things have changed since I posted that. I didn’t imagine that the Brownies would be this bad. It’s still a trap game and if we take them too lightly or simply overlook ’em, we could drop that one.
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"Newbie, if the next two words out of your mouth aren't 'See ya' then the third word will be 'Oh my god. My crotch. You've punched me in my crotch." - Dr. Percival Ulysses Cox
by David Taylor on Oct 8, 2009 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions
Very happy, right on track.
They play the fudge packers again on my birthday at home. Can’t f’n wait!!!
Watch me pull a hat outta this rabbit.
by Bears fan 4-ever!!! on Oct 7, 2009 8:28 PM CDT reply actions
I know this will likely sound trite, but I'm going to say these things anyway.
Cutler is a big reason for the resurgence. I am confident in saying that if Jerry Angelo didn’t made the trade and if Orton was still the QB, the team would have probably been 1-3 at best right now, and considering the way Detroit manhandled the defense in the first half, 0-4 wouldn’t have been too much of a reach.
Also, it bears saying that Angelo acted out of character and paid the exorbitant price not only to get Cutler on his team, but to keep him away from several rivals. To get an idea of what I am talking about, imagine if Brett Favre and Cutler flip-flopped spots on the Bears and Vikings.
The Bears with Favre would have been dangerous just like they are now, albeit with more press around them. But first off, he might have stayed only a year or two at best, given his age and all of the offseason drama. Second, they would have run the very real risk of him wearing down last season just like he did with the Jets and putting a potential playoff run in jeopardy.
And third, and definitely most important, Cutler would have almost certainly turned the Vikings from a promising team with a quarterback away to one with a very real chance of becoming the Super Bowl era’s next great dynasty. Between Cutler, Adrian Peterson, and Percy Harvin, the offense would be fatal for opposing defenses for years to come. Pair that with a top run defense, and the thoughts are frightening.
But as it stands, the best is yet to come for Chicago.
eewww, Favre as a Bear... no sir
"I'm sorry Josh, I'm with Chicago now, you need to stop calling me" -JerBear50 as Jay Cutler
by BearNecessities on Oct 7, 2009 8:40 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, just wanted to reinforce it.
Trust me, there’s a good reason we never heard of Angelo thinking about adding Favre (and yes, this is before the whole Cutler-McDaniels feud broke out.)
Addendum
Cutler to the Vikings would have almost certainly cost them the No.1 pick used to draft Harvin.
I maintain all of my other previously stated opinions, however.
yeah but..
then the Vikings would have gotten the pick we used on Knox. So far Harvin and Knox have been virtually identical in performance.
But then again...
1) There’s no guarantee that they would have drafted Knox with that pick.
2) Harvin, for better or for worse, was picked because of BC’s job concerns. Considering his character issues, he could have slipped into the second round if the Vikings didn’t pick him.
3) It’s possible that the Bears might have picked up Knox earlier if thought that highly of him. Or, they might have picked him up later (after all, he was a No.5)
4) Even though Harvin and Knox have been identical in performance, they haven’t been asked to do the same things. Harvin had 25 to 30 plays designed for his talents alone; to say nothing of the fact that he’s been asked to play wide receiver, kick returner, Wildcat QB, and a halfback. So far, Knox has only been asked to play his one wideout position and wasn’t asked to do kick returning until later in the season.
5) Kyle Orton, quite obviously, was a more valuable trade chip than one or both of Sage Rosenfels and Tavaris Jackson. So the Vikings needed to either throw someone else into the deal or package more picks to complete the trade.
DEFENSE
It all boils down to the defense doing what they have to early to get these teams on their heels early. We need to quit playing catchupp at halftime and the third and fourth quarters. That won’t work forever.
William F Moffat
like...
against the Falcons
"I'm sorry Josh, I'm with Chicago now, you need to stop calling me" -JerBear50 as Jay Cutler
by BearNecessities on Oct 7, 2009 9:08 PM CDT up reply actions
+1...
The Falcons don’t have many questions on offense and they won’t miss FGs and run on 3rd and a mile to play it safe. The defensive philosophy has got to be more about attack and less about catch and release! BTW, great new avatar BearNec.
There are no stupid questions, but there are a LOT of inquisitive idiots.
thanks
thought it was fitting in light of the “rooting” for the Packers on MNF…. yuck…
"I'm sorry Josh, I'm with Chicago now, you need to stop calling me" -JerBear50 as Jay Cutler
by BearNecessities on Oct 7, 2009 9:27 PM CDT up reply actions
Well, the Bears aren't exactly helpless on D.
They have a talented front four and will have time to get some of their linebackers healthy. If nothing else, it’ll be great for the box.
Winner of the NFC North will have 12 wins
Well see if its us.
Phil: " Whose baby is that?
Alan: "Check his collar or something." - The Hangover
I'd agree with that sentiment.
But we will be the North Champs. The Vikes run will stop eventually, Favre is a short term fix a band aid if you will. You have to change a bandaid everyonce in awhile to stave off infection.
So what have we learned…. Brett Favre= dirty band aid infection
You can't believe everything you read on the internet, that's how World War One got started.
*This tagline is copyrighted by smudgers, inc. for the private use of the WCG audience. Any use of this tagline or any pictures, descriptions, or accounts without smudgers, inc. consent is prohibited.
by Ditkavsworld on Oct 7, 2009 10:38 PM CDT up reply actions
Look at this way....................
It was the Pack that were gonna win it all 2 months ago, next its been the Vikings are gonna win it and that sentiment will probably continue through this month and then the last 2 months thats when we will peak, when it matters, with all the home games down the stretch and the Lions to end the season. I agree I see us winning this division as well.
If that indeed happens, I am going to look no further than Nick Roach, cause if we win the division that will mean that he had a solid year of filling in for Urlacher (maybe move Brian to the strongside next year, just a thought) and that is exactly what we needed after all the terrible things that happened to us week 1.
Phil: " Whose baby is that?
Alan: "Check his collar or something." - The Hangover
I am admittedly a glass is half-empty kind of guy...
but people who said “’meeting expectations” are goofy to me. I said exceeding. The decline since 2005 was noticeable. I’m talking fundamentals, crisp tackling and smart plays. Sure Denver’s QB was good last year, but we are talking about the Bear’s offense which to be honest still ins’t that good (on paper I mean, I personally do not care about statistics, only points) and NO 54. Even though I am 100% behind Cutler after this past weekend and have been watching Briggs Bear Down since Tucson my early season expectations were a justifiably low 2-2.
As I look at the team now, I am pissed we are not 4 and O. It feels good to actually believe the team is that good. I hope the Bears stay hungry……………… and a picture of a grizzly bear eating a falcon miraculously appears.
I'm with you on this
prior to the season and not knowing the injuries that Seattle was going to have, I had them at 2-2 in the first 4 games. My only disappointment was I had them winning both Division games and losing to the World Champions and at a tough road venue in Seattle. I hate losing division games and I never did think the Packers were that good to begin with. I couldn’t undertand all the props they were getting during the off-season as one of the teams to beat. We played about as bad a game as possible and still should have beaten them.
I believe...
…that the Bears, thus far, have easily exceeded expectations. Remember, there was a ton of uncertainty leading up to the season-opener. We weren’t sure whether or not Marinelli could REALLY improve the D-Line. We were unsure how our young secondary would hold up in real games, especially at safety. What about the receivers? Many wondered about Hester as a WR1; noone knew about Bennet; and Johnny Knox was just a quick dude we hoped would one day contribute in some way. I’m not ready to say the Bears are playoff-bound. But because of the relative youth of this team and the unexpected experience our LBs are suddenly getting, I think the future looks bright for our beloved Bears!!!
Getcha Beernuts Ready!
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