Thoughts From NFL Week 11: Chicago Bears and Beyond

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Nov 22, 2010 3:00 PM CST in Notes

With no Bears on Sunday I was able to flip between games and just enjoy some football. No severe rooting interest, although I would have liked to see the Packers lose, but with the way the Vikings have been playing I expected that outcome. Losing to Chicago in week 10 was their last gasp at respectability. The Minnesota players have had enough of head coach Brad Childress, their play reflected that, and it looks like Christmas came early for many fans of the purple and gold with the firing of Coach Chilly.

In more exciting news, those stupendous Chicago Bears fans/expert prognosticators/sausage aficionados/beer connoisseurs, the one and only Superfans will be on Windy City Gridiron tomorrow around lunch time answering your questions again. Can you feel the Bears Buzz building?

1) Is there any point in playing Brett Favre the rest of the year?

2) I think it may be in the best interests of the Titans to part ways with Vince Young. The 27 year old Young is in his 5th year in Tennessee, yet he hasn't learned how to be a professional yet.

3) I know the Browns lost, but I think they may have found a gem in rookie QB Colt McCoy. I wonder how many teams are second guessing themselves after passing on him multiple times in the 2010 Draft.

4) Nice flop by Ben Roethlisberger (this ain't the NBA) or was that Glass Joe... Kudos for not retaliating, but to drop like Alan getting popped by Mike Tyson in the Hangover was a bit much.

5) OK... The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are legit. Good young coach, good young QB, a solid running game, and a good defense. Why not the Bucs?

6) The Saints are hitting their stride, and still no Reggie Bush. How much will he help them once he returns?

7) And how about the NFC South? The 7-3 Bucs and Saints are both behind the 8-2 Falcons.

8) If the Jets keep winning and Mark Sanchez has another late comeback or two up his sleeve, he has a shot at NFL MVP. He looks the part, and he's doing his thing in New York City.

9) I was really surprised with that last Peyton Manning interception. I just assumed the Colts had the Patriots right where they wanted them.

10) Michael Vick continues his stellar comeback season. How will the Bears ever hope to contain him?

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Saints

You are forgetting Pierre Thomas. I truly believe their offense will be super bowl caliber again with return of Pierre Thomas.

by Man G on Nov 22, 2010 3:19 PM CST reply actions

I like Thomas

but Ivory has been solid, and Bush just opens up so much for them offensively and returning punts

If you go in the bathroom, turn off the lights, and say "Da Coach" 5 times while facing the mirror... Ditka will appear and slap the wussy right out of you.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Nov 22, 2010 3:23 PM CST up reply actions

The Giants I think gave us the blueprint for slowing down Vick.

We have to bring pressure from his left and force him right. He just does not look comfortable throwing to his right and with the way our Linebackers fly to the ball I will take that all day. Of course saying it and doing it are two different things lol, but it will be a good game. Doesn’t it seem like we play the Eagles every year?

by Chitownproduct on Nov 22, 2010 3:32 PM CST reply actions

Maybe so

but since the Bears do not have a front four that matches the Giants, I am not sure it matters. The Bears will have to find their own blueprint.

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Nov 23, 2010 7:41 AM CST up reply actions

I am not worried about...

Michael Vick. He’ll get his, but the Bears can keep him under control. The guy that worries me is McCoy. If he gets rolling on a few misdirection plays or counters, the Bears may be chasing him all day. Let’s hope the offense can score TDs and not FGs this week. The Eagles are too explosive on offense to play the classic Lovieball and win 13-10.

I too wondered why so many teams took a pass on McCoy. Then again, he’s got a good O-line and they aren’t asking him to win games by himself quite yet.

With apologies to Robert Rence, the Vikings implosion is damn fun to watch!

Not surprised by the VY self-destruction, kinda surprised by the TB Bucs…are they for real? Might they be the best team not to make the playoffs this year?

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO FIRE LOVIE (IT'S BACK BABY!)!!!

"There's a fine line between stupid, and clever!"

by LostInSTL on Nov 22, 2010 3:40 PM CST reply actions

LaGarrett Blount looks real good for the Bucs

and I’m surprised at how Freeman is playing.

If you go in the bathroom, turn off the lights, and say "Da Coach" 5 times while facing the mirror... Ditka will appear and slap the wussy right out of you.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Nov 22, 2010 3:56 PM CST up reply actions

I had a feeling...

Than Blount would do well in the NFL. He’s a real tough runner. Freeman is doing great but Mike Williams has been a monster as a rookie and has helped my Fantasy team a lot (almost 700 yrds receiving and 6 td’s).

by I Have Bearsititis on Nov 22, 2010 4:18 PM CST up reply actions

I liked Blount coming out of college.

Don’t think that punch was as bad as everybody made it out to be and I think TB has some talent. McCoy in Cle. and Bradford in Stl. are the two rookies that have impressed me the most.

WILDCARD BITCHES!!! YEEEEHHHAAAAA!!!!!

by Acreman20 on Nov 22, 2010 5:04 PM CST up reply actions

TB made the Forty Whiners look really bad

Certainly popped the Troy Smith balloon. Also, Singletary is proving he is not ready for prime time.

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Nov 23, 2010 7:42 AM CST up reply actions

They've been playing over their heads

but their defense is definitely beatable, particularly the run defense. I don’t know how San Fran got waxed like that. They could be serious in a year or two though. Too bad none of their fans bother to go to the games. The home games have been blacked out all season.

"The time has come to get deeply into Football. It is the only thing we have left that ain't fixed." - HST

by JerBear50 on Nov 23, 2010 2:11 AM CST up reply actions

I think I felt the Bears Buzz finally!

… Wait, my bad, that’s just the thunder.

by Steven Schweickert on Nov 22, 2010 3:42 PM CST reply actions

Vince Young placed on season-ending IR...

On a semi-related note, I wonder if Jeff Fischer’s job is safe in Tennessee? He is signed through 2011…

I’m not infering anything, but I really like Fischer as a football coach. Just sayin’.

by Dane Noble on Nov 22, 2010 4:14 PM CST reply actions

I would love if he was our coach.

But I think Tenessee is giving him the Steeler treatment. The owner and the whole organazation just have too much respect for him. He won’t leave for a while unless he wants to.

by Chitownproduct on Nov 22, 2010 4:40 PM CST up reply actions

I thought the same thing about Shanny in Denver.

Oops.

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

by awfullyquiet on Nov 22, 2010 4:42 PM CST up reply actions

lol ya

But he sort of made some bad decisions with firing the D Coordinator when the Owner didn’t want him to etc etc.

by Chitownproduct on Nov 22, 2010 4:43 PM CST up reply actions

I'd like to see Fischer

Replace Angelo in the front office. I think he has what it takes to be a GM and he may be to the point where moving to a new team just isn’t in the cards.

by TheotherDane on Nov 22, 2010 10:13 PM CST up reply actions

A player said Young and Fisher's egos were too big to exist in the same locker room.

Harbaugh sounds like a better fit.

by Wally&Mac on Nov 23, 2010 3:13 AM CST up reply actions

One analyst pointed out that if Jeff Fisher gets axed, he’ll get a job offer within 3 minutes. Essentially, the Titans need him more than he needs them.

"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 Nov 23, 2010 4:19 PM CST up reply actions

Nice if it was with us..

"We were freaking robbed!! Our defense totally dominated all day! What? we gave up nearly 500 yards on defense? Yeah but we stopped them on the 1 yrd line! Our D is awesome!!"

- Entire kool aid drinkin' Pride of Detroit site-

by tfrabotta on Nov 23, 2010 4:44 PM CST up reply actions

The NFC has a lot of good teams

Hopefully the Bears can destroy the Eagles and earn some respect.

by DaHamsta on Nov 22, 2010 4:31 PM CST reply actions

Sanchez the MVP?

It has more to do with opposing teams handing the game over to the Jets. Grant it he has to make the throws, but yesterday’s game he shouldn’t even had the chance to make the comeback.

I was at that cold December game where the Bears defense (’05) shut down Vick and the Falcons. Hopefully, history repeats itself!

"He's a great candidate," Ryan said. "If I hadn't made him drop in coverage so often on running backs, he might be the all-time sack leader. They call it zone blitzing nowadays. We called it, 'Richard, pick him up.'" - Buddy Ryan on Richard Dent's HOF chances.

by propheteer on Nov 22, 2010 4:41 PM CST reply actions

Sick of Sanchez

An Average QB can look that good with all those weapons around him.

Good WR tandem

Great O-line
good running game

and a QB’s greatest strength,A Great D

(Sing song)...Everybody Hates Rondo...

by T.Moore on Nov 22, 2010 6:14 PM CST up reply actions

+1

by Wally&Mac on Nov 23, 2010 3:16 AM CST up reply actions

Sanchez is good enough to win with that team

Defense, running game. They don’t need him to be Superman, just make a few plays here and there.

by Dick Butka on Nov 22, 2010 9:45 PM CST up reply actions

It would be funny if any other QB than Vick gets it.

How do you argue with 11 TDs …. zero interceptions …. and the highest QB rating in the league (115). Not to mention being the best scrambler in the league by a country mile. Rivers, Ryan Fitzpatrick even …. but Sanchez? Please ….

by Wally&Mac on Nov 23, 2010 3:16 AM CST up reply actions

It's all in the perception of his play through the media and in the fact he's in New York.

The hype machine that is ESPN is all over his 3 game winning drives in a row. He’s a young, well spoken, humble, good looking kid, playing on the big NY stage.

He keeps playing well, and the Jets keep winning, and he’ll be in the discussion.

If you go in the bathroom, turn off the lights, and say "Da Coach" 5 times while facing the mirror... Ditka will appear and slap the wussy right out of you.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Nov 23, 2010 8:28 AM CST up reply actions

+95

As he should be in the discussion. Sanchez makes plays when he needs to and doesn’t makes the big mistakes, that costs games. He’s kinda like Tom Brady and Matt Ryan, IMHO.

by rdent4hof on Nov 23, 2010 10:52 AM CST up reply actions

I don't think he belongs in the discussion

but that’s why we debate, right?

by propheteer on Nov 23, 2010 7:02 PM CST up reply actions

This bothers me though, and Lost touched on it earlier..

I think the only way we get in this year is winning the division. It’s funny but the NFC East has like 5 out of the next 6 games all in the division. With Dallas coming on that stretch is going to be rough for the Eagles and Giants, but 3 teams in the NFC South 7-3 or better? You could make an argument that it’s almost guranteed at least 1 NFC South team gets a Wildcard and maybe an NFC East Team IF we lose the tiebreaker to Philly. That’s why next week is crucial, if we can get a tiebreaker with Philly ( assuming they don’t win the division) and end up with the same record we will get that wildcard spot. The Giants already beat us so it would go to them if we end up tied. Man, this season has been a monster so far, can’t wait to see how it develops.

by Chitownproduct on Nov 22, 2010 4:49 PM CST reply actions

No question.

We have to win the division. We have a brutal schedule. The Bucs are hot. The Eagles will have the tie-breaker on us if they beat us, Giants already have. The last game in Lambeau is the very definition of a must-win …

by Wally&Mac on Nov 23, 2010 3:17 AM CST up reply actions

The race is between seven teams right now.

Saints, Falcons, Bucs, Bears, Pack, Giants, Eags, fighting for five spots.

Technically, while the Vikes aren’t eliminated, they need three of those teams to go at most 2 – 4 through the stretch while winning out. That’s a bit past the realm of possibility, even for me.

The NFC South is padded due to four games against the NFC West this year, so I expect to see at least one WC come from there, if not two. By beating the Giants, I think the Eags will take the East, and it remains to see how the Giants do over the next few weeks without Nicks. That leaves the NFC North. The Bears have been putting it together as of late, but the Pack have been a defensive powerhouse recently as well. I’d take the Bears over the Pack, but that’s due to an irrational hatred of the Packers.

Best of luck taking the crown, gonna miss it. We’ll take it back next year.

The Minnesota Vikings: Where we're so desperate to win a Super Bowl, we'll even sign washed-up Packers.

by Robert Rence on Nov 23, 2010 10:33 AM CST up reply actions

Please excuse the rant.

it looks like Christmas came early for many fans of the purple and gold

Let me stop you right there. I don’t care what anybody says; that is yellow. The Vikings, Packers, NBA Lakers, and several other teams try and pass it off as gold, but it isn’t. The closest thing I’d call it is goldenrod.

Dick Butkus: Best MLB ever!

by chi-town82 on Nov 22, 2010 5:53 PM CST reply actions 3 recs

AGREED.

yellow.

by mike b on Nov 22, 2010 6:10 PM CST up reply actions

Touche'

WILDCARD BITCHES!!! YEEEEHHHAAAAA!!!!!

by Acreman20 on Nov 22, 2010 6:19 PM CST up reply actions

Definitely Yellow

Enjoy greenification

by DaHamsta on Nov 22, 2010 6:47 PM CST up reply actions

Looks more like yellow to me too

but the Minnesota Vikings official colors are purple and gold

If you go in the bathroom, turn off the lights, and say "Da Coach" 5 times while facing the mirror... Ditka will appear and slap the wussy right out of you.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Nov 22, 2010 6:52 PM CST up reply actions

Hmmm

1 – None

2 – I agree but what I found interesting is that bud adams (titans owner) is not ready to give up on vince young so it will be interesting to see what happens there.

3 – Wonering more if the panthers are kicking themselves for not taking mccoy

4 – I am still trying to figure out why seymour hit him

5 – Still not entirely convinced on the bucs because their wins are 2 against car, 9ers, stl, cincy, ari. And some of them were close ones

6 – saints might be feeling good that the focus is not on them repeating but how great the eagles and packers are. Think the saints like flying under the radar

8 – Not buying the jets either. I mean if the Bears are getting ripped on beating bad teams I wonder why the jets get a pass (though I am seeing some on that network starting to buy in to the Bears which worries me)

9 – I was stunned when I saw that. Looked like he channeled his inner Cutler or grossman or what ever

10 – Nervous myself. Hope they win. But vick looks dangerous

Boo all you want but you know what….Deep down you know I am right!

- Mike Martz on how the feels about the fans

by CloudyFuture on Nov 22, 2010 7:17 PM CST reply actions

agreed about the Jets

They didn’t win those games as much as the other teams gave them away. Sanchez is overrated and so is Edwards. But that D is good, not like last year but still good, their O-Line may be the best in the league, a decent running game and a Super Bowl MVP at wide receiver. Once all these free agents leave Sanchez will be back to ordinary. But as much as I despise him, he has made some good plays. And I just died a little inside after having said that

by frenchbears113 on Nov 22, 2010 10:28 PM CST up reply actions

Did the Bears win their games or did the other teams give them away?

If you go in the bathroom, turn off the lights, and say "Da Coach" 5 times while facing the mirror... Ditka will appear and slap the wussy right out of you.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Nov 23, 2010 8:29 AM CST up reply actions

well my argument is that Jets have beaten bad teams and.....

while the Cleveland D is respectable the tackling on that Holmes touchdown was beyond horrendous and as a rugby player I threw up in my mouth. Things have gone our way but mostly due to penalties, 3rd string QB’s and odd rules. They’ve lucked out against horrific defenses. Akili Smith would look like an all pro against the Texans D. They did beat the Pats but at the time they had not yet found their identity and now that the Pats are once again looking legit… the Jets will see a different team when they go to Foxborough. But we don’t need to worry about them for a few weeks.

by frenchbears113 on Nov 24, 2010 7:47 AM CST up reply actions