Thoughts From NFL Week 5: Chicago Bears and Beyond

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Oct 11, 2010 3:00 PM CDT in Notes

LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 10: Just for the record... This is hair like a girl. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The fifth NFL weekend is in the books, and I still haven't seen "The Team" yet. The AFC does look to have a handful of teams that are better than anything in the NFC, but parity is the buzz word around water coolers these days.

Tonight's match up between the Vikings and the Jets could go a long way in determining exactly what each of these teams are. Then again, it could leave us with even more questions. If the Jets win, will that be because they are that good, or because Minnesota is struggling? Will Randy Moss be the X-Factor the Vikes need to be all they should be, or will he criticize the graying locks of his quarterback?

1) Moss does have a scraggly looking beard, but that Tom Brady Haircut is Terrible. Yes, Terrible with a capital ‘T'.

2) Are the Saints missing their running game or suffering a Super Bowl hangover?

3) And staying with that game... Did the Cardinals really put up 30 without a rushing or receiving TD?

4) The last of the unbeatens fell Sunday, with the unlikely Chiefs finally losing. Even though they lost, I'm leaning towards them being for real. If they can get some better QB play (and Matt Cassell is capable in that offense) I think they'll be in the playoff hunt all season...

5) ... especially with the way the Chargers are finding ways to lose games. Did you see Philip Rivers crying when he was blocked on the strip and score from the Raiders?

6) Whose seat is hotter? Mike Singletary's, John Fox's, or Wade Phillips'?

7) Mike Martz and the Bears can stick with the run game. Honestly, I was surprised they let Todd Collins throw as many as they did. He was Terrible.

8) The Packers sure were beat up by the Redskins. With concussion awareness as prevalent as it is, I wouldn't be surprised to see Aaron Rodgers miss at least one game.

9) Big win for the Giants, they kept the momentum up after whipping the Bears, and took it to the Texans Sunday.

10) How about them... Lions!

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can we go 6-2? while thethe pack 5-3? and vikings go 4-4?

That sounds good.

"Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence. In other words, it is war minus the shooting." - George Orwell

by RoyRockNRoll on Oct 11, 2010 3:09 PM CDT reply actions

I'm hoping for 7-1!

We need to continue to take things 1 game at a time but, the Bears should take down the Seahawks since we will be at home and should get Cutler back. Having the Skins at home should also help even though they are potentially a pretty tough team to beat. Then a bye week and on to the neutral site against the Bills spells a must win. Potentially 7-1 anyone??

by Stellarpete22 on Oct 11, 2010 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions

Doable...

But I think the Skins are going to be tough…I would love to see 7-1, but 6-2 seems a little more realistic…I hope Cutler and Company prove me wrong!

Unreasonable people make life difficult...

by WisBearsFan34 on Oct 11, 2010 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions

6-2 is more realistic

I say depending on how well we play against Seattle this weekend will determine between 6-2 and 7-1.

by Stellarpete22 on Oct 11, 2010 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Easy...

6) Who’s seat is hotter? Mike Singletary’s, John Fox’s, or Wade Phillips?

I think it would be the cheerleader pictured above.

I really wouldn’t call Fox or Phillips hot, but I guess Samurai still works out quite a bit :-)

Unreasonable people make life difficult...

by WisBearsFan34 on Oct 11, 2010 3:19 PM CDT reply actions

Nice!

One time while a young lad, someone made fun of the Ditka name. One time.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Oct 11, 2010 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions

Agreed.

From listening to the stations in Carolina, Fox is and has been done. It’s only a matter of time.

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by David Taylor on Oct 11, 2010 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions

I think Fox is just keeping Cowher's office warm 'til 2011!

Unreasonable people make life difficult...

by WisBearsFan34 on Oct 11, 2010 3:35 PM CDT up reply actions

I doubt Carolina will pay Cowher.

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by David Taylor on Oct 11, 2010 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Stranger things have happened

If you would have told me two years ago that in two years we’d have Jay Cutler, Julius Peppers and Chester Taylor on the roster…I would have thought you were smoking crack…but two years later here we are.

Unreasonable people make life difficult...

by WisBearsFan34 on Oct 11, 2010 3:51 PM CDT up reply actions

The Panthers have been actively dumping off their payroll, though.

"44 years of football history and nothing to show for it. I wish I wasn’t banned at the Norseman.." - tfrabotta
"Fellas, what are they, unblockable? Is that the '85 Bears over there?" - Tom Coughlin, Giants '06 training camp
~~~ Check my profile for links for SB20 and America's Game: '85 Bears ~~~

by Spongie on Oct 11, 2010 3:53 PM CDT up reply actions

and it's not like fox is a bad coach.

maybe it’s a sign of wisdom of carolina’s FO saying? we know you’re a good coach. here’s some money and stay with us while we prepare for the lock out?

Five foot three seems to thrive on his misery...

by awfullyquiet on Oct 11, 2010 5:20 PM CDT up reply actions

Does the fumble return by Levi Brown count as a rush?

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team(s), throughout the good and the bad. And don't switch to whichever team wins the Super Bowl each year.

by JoeCB1991 on Oct 11, 2010 3:20 PM CDT reply actions

nope!

One time while a young lad, someone made fun of the Ditka name. One time.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Oct 11, 2010 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions

6) Who’s seat is hotter? Mike Singletary’s, John Fox’s, or Wade Phillips?

I think everybody knows John Fox is gone at the end of this year. Carolina is in full blown rebuild mode, and they’ll probably want a new guy at the helm.

Can I go with “none of the above”? Lovie Smith.

by Doshi on Oct 11, 2010 3:28 PM CDT reply actions

Fox is in his last year

But I think they let him play out the season… I think Philips gets the boot.

One time while a young lad, someone made fun of the Ditka name. One time.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Oct 11, 2010 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions

Yep!

"More cowbell" - Bruce Dickinson; "More bell cow" - Lovie Smith

by Pete Dixon on Oct 11, 2010 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Ditto...

Bazinga!

by I Have Bearsititis on Oct 11, 2010 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions

I tweeted that the Chiefs defense and running game is for real, but Matt Cassel not so much.

they need better QB play from that position if they want to win that division.

by Dominique Blanton on Oct 11, 2010 3:44 PM CDT reply actions

I think Cassell and Weis will click eventually

One time while a young lad, someone made fun of the Ditka name. One time.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Oct 11, 2010 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions

I have said it before and it bears (no pun intended) repeating...

Phillip Rivers is the biggest spoiled brat of the NFL. It is amazing to me that analysts and announcers continue to support his tantrums as determination and passion. Yet Jay is Pouty Mc Poorsport. What is the obsession with making Phillip Rivers seem like a super elite QB. He is far from it. Bazinga!

by I Have Bearsititis on Oct 11, 2010 4:04 PM CDT reply actions

He looked like such a whine-@$$

yelling and pointing when he was getting blocked

One time while a young lad, someone made fun of the Ditka name. One time.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Oct 11, 2010 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Thank you!

by garyfencikrapping on Oct 11, 2010 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Gotta take issue with this one

“Even though [The Chiefs] lost, I’m leaning towards then being for real. If they can get some better QB play (and Matt Cassell is capable in that offense) I think they’ll be in the playoff hunt all season…”

No, no they aren’t. Romeo just has some sort of hex on Peyton Manning; he lost 10 – 6 to them while coach of the 4 – 12 2008 Browns so playing Indy close is not an indication of them being legit. Matt Cassel sucks and that’s going to become more apparent as the season goes on – we’ll see more halves like the first half against Cleveland and those two halves against San Diego than we will anything resembling good quarterback play out of that guy.

Which is unfortunate because the Chiefs fans deserve better and Philip Rivers is indeed the @$$clown he makes himself out to be.

As for question 6, did Eric Mangini already get fired and I missed it?

Is Ralph Friedgen fired yet?
Is Jerry Angelo fired yet?

by ES46NE10 on Oct 11, 2010 4:17 PM CDT reply actions

oh...

So it’s a magic hex… Got it!

I don’t see the Browns springing him.

One time while a young lad, someone made fun of the Ditka name. One time.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Oct 11, 2010 4:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Anyone else enjoying all of the parity this year?

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team(s), throughout the good and the bad. And don't switch to whichever team wins the Super Bowl each year.

by JoeCB1991 on Oct 11, 2010 4:19 PM CDT reply actions

I am so many teams are doing well

Tampa Bay??

Mike Williams looks like the steal of the draft so far

by Bear Lovin 21 on Oct 11, 2010 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions

They look legit too

One time while a young lad, someone made fun of the Ditka name. One time.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Oct 11, 2010 7:22 PM CDT up reply actions

There are no elite teams this year.

The parity the league seems to pine after is out in full force this year, to an almost ridiculous degree. I think there could be 10-12 teams in that “no-mans” land between 7-9 and 9-7. There are only two really really awful teams (Buffalo & Carolina) and both of them have been in some of their games even. I could see a 4-12 number 1 overall pick this year, which seems like a lot of wins compared to the last 3 years where it’s been 1, 0, and 1 win for the worst team.

"I feel like the pieces are in place. But we have to execute...It's about execution. You have to execute. You have to have a scheme that facilitates the strengths of your players. If it doesn't, then it's a bad scheme. It's that simple. So we feel real good about the parts in place on offense."

"We feel very good about this football team. We felt very good about our football teams in the past and it's no different. You've got to go out there and you've got to do it."
-Jerry Angelo, Aug. 2, 2010

by Sam Householder on Oct 12, 2010 7:39 AM CDT reply actions