The Bears and the Playoffs: One Game Left Edition
by Kev H on Dec 30, 2010 4:13 PM CST
in Notes
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PrintIt all comes down to this.
Many playoff berths have been clinched, but seeding has yet to be determined in what continues to be a wild 2010 season. Nine of the 12 total spots are named, but both conferences have some divisional titles that are still in play coming into week 17. It appears that making all week 17 games division matchups was smart, indeed.
The Bears have their divisional title, but against all odds, are still in play for the #1 seed in the NFC. They'll need some help to get there, but hey, stranger things have happened. You'll recall 2008 when everything fell into place for the Bears to get their wild card slot--except for the part where the Bears win.
Oh, and Sunday Night Football was flexed to be the NFC Worst West decider between the Rams and the Seahawks. What kind of crazy world are we in?!?
Let's take a look at the standings as of right now:
| AFC | NFC | ||
| 1 | Patriots | Falcons | |
| 2 | Steelers | Bears | |
| 3 | Chiefs | Eagles | |
| 4 | Colts | Rams | |
| 5 | Ravens | Saints | |
| 6 | Jets | Packers |
As you can see, we've got all the spots, but when you really get into it, here's what's going on.
AFC
The Patriots are the lock at #1.
The Steelers and Ravens can flip flop if the Ravens beat the Bengals and the Steelers lose to the Browns.
The Chiefs clinched their division.
The Colts are in with either a win, or a Jacksonville loss. Otherwise, if Indy loses and Jax wins, Jax will make it in.
The Jets will stay the sixth seed no matter what happens with regards to the Steelers and Ravens situation.
NFC
This is where things begin to be a little more tricky. The Falcons have the #1 spot, but the Bears can take it with the following conditions:
-Bears Win
-Saints Loss
-Falcons Loss
Not likely, but possible. The other possibility is that the Saints could get the #1 spot with a win and a Falcons loss, as they would hold a conference record tiebreaker against the Bears.
The Bears are otherwise assured the #2 seed, should they not get the magic confluence of events mentioned above.
The Eagles are locked into the #3 spot, as assured by the loss against Green Bay that the Giants took in Week 16.
The winner of Rams-Seahawks wins the #4 spot, so it will be either St. Louis at 8-8, or Seattle at 7-9.
The Saints currently sit in the #5 spot, and given that the Falcons are overwhelming favorites against the Panthers, will likely stay there, regardless of what they do.
And then there's the #6 spot. It's currently the Packers' spot to lose.. There are currently 3 teams with aspirations for that slot, the Packers, the Giants, and the Buccaneers.
#6 spot situations
For the Packers to make it:
-win vs. Bears
OR
-Giants loss AND Buccaneers loss
For the Giants to make it:
-win vs. Redskins
AND
-Packers loss
For the Buccaneers to make it:
-win vs. Saints
AND
-Packers loss
AND
-Giants loss
As you can see, the Buccaneers have the longest shot, as they have to count on two losses and a victory against one of the best teams in the conference. You can be assured that Giants fans will be watching the scoreboard very closely during their game with the Redskins. If the Bucs can win early on Sunday, there'll be an organization that is the world's biggest Bears and Redskins fans, if only for one day.
This is the kind of football you want to see. Meaningful games, late in season, a reason for people to get out and play. It's just too bad that they still have to technically play the Cardinals/49ers game...who wants to watch that?
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Urlacher is on the front page of ESPN
Check out the story! http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=chadiha_jeffri&page=hotread16/BrianUrlacher
by Patriotbball5460 on Dec 30, 2010 4:37 PM CST reply actions
Bad Link
"Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it." - Mark Twain
Whoops, sorry, didnt even see that
Thanks for the assist!
by Patriotbball5460 on Dec 30, 2010 4:55 PM CST up reply actions
And KC Joyner shits all over the Bears with a ridiculous article
The Luck of the 2010 Chicago Bears
To sum up:
INTs from QB mistakes: Four in 2009, six in 2010
INTs in one-on-one situations: Four in 2009, three in 2010
INTs from WR mistakes: Two in 2009, two in 2010
INTs resulting from a tipped pass: Three in 2009, nine in 2010
The first three categories are nearly equal in volume, but the last category leans heavily in favor of the 2010 Bears. It can be said that picking off tipped passes is a skill — but the truth is that the old adage about the football taking funny bounces applies here. Luck is a significant factor in where those tipped passes land, and since the 2010 Bears’ ball hawks are composed mostly of players who were on the team in 2009, it is quite likely that this was simply a case of the weight of circumstances (i.e., luck) being on their side this year.
So, according to Joyner (who in no way shape or form even considered reviewing the amount of tips passes the Bears D created in 2009 vs 2010), the Bears are merely lucky to make those interceptions, Nevermind that fact that they tipped the pass into the air at the LOS, which is a skill, that creates the opportunity for the INT.
You wanna writer about the Bears luck? Then talk about our good health, a couple of favorable referee calls, and timing to play teams starting back-up QBs.
Kc Joyner… you suck.
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
Hey
The defense still has to catch those tipped passes. A lot of defenses can’t claim having good hands, or the ability to time a pass from a QB. Less lucky and more skilly.
"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.
And what, pray tell,
is wrong with being a woman?
If I did what I love for a living, what would I do in my free time?
Writer at windycitygridiron.com {-/-} http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers
My wife is a woman.
Just saying.
If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.
I remain a pessimistically hopeful Bears fan.
So is my mother-in-law....
at least, that’s the claim. I’ll try and verify it with one of the flying monkeys she keeps as pets.
So
Guns dont kill people. Brian Urlacher kills people.
by Bear Lovin 21 on Jan 2, 2011 8:09 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Nothing, as long as they remember to put the seat back up.
"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 Dec 30, 2010 10:43 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Truth.
When the world slips you a Jeffrey, stroke a furry wall.
- Aldous Snow
by Ditkavsworld on Dec 30, 2010 11:14 PM CST up reply actions
My guess is put his foot on their throat and send them to the off-season.
by Swarley on Dec 30, 2010 8:16 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Been a very interesting season to say the least.
Here’s to hoping the finish will be just as exciting.
WILDCARD BITCHES!!! YEEEEHHHAAAAA!!!!!
Sorry to derail the comments from the get go :/
But, I really do hope that they play their starters and the starters play with full motivation and tenacity. It would be GREAT to knock the pack out of the playoffs, sweep the divison and still possibly get 1 seed?
by Patriotbball5460 on Dec 30, 2010 4:49 PM CST reply actions
You must have missed the thead discussing this topic
just below this one. :)
by Steven Schweickert on Dec 30, 2010 4:55 PM CST up reply actions
As Jim Mora said
U play to win the game.
Beat green bay is goal #1 and still should.
sweep the Divison
If were up 45-17 in the 4th re he starters and have others get playing time
Get ready for the Playoffs
U play to win the game.
, that was Herm Edwards, and Dilfer and Tim Hasselback are idiots, who cannot admit when they are wrong
All women are beautiful when the lights are off!
by touchdown bears on Dec 30, 2010 5:18 PM CST up reply actions
You and I have very different #1 goals....
Beat green bay is goal #1 and still should.
If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.
I remain a pessimistically hopeful Bears fan.
Then maybe in order to win the super bowl we
should rest our guys and not risk injuries….
If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.
I remain a pessimistically hopeful Bears fan.
Why not?
They’ve been beaten by the Bears once, and they recently lost to the Lions 7-3. They’ve only won 2 of their last 5 games, and one of those games was against the 49ers.
If I did what I love for a living, what would I do in my free time?
Writer at windycitygridiron.com {-/-} http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers
Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.
recently educated us to the fact that GB is really a better team than the Bears.
We have little chance of beating them Sunday other than the “on any given sunday chance”. We should start the first team and if we get a chance to eliminate this superior team we should do so.
. "Most football teams are temperamental. That's 90% temper and 10% mental."
--Doug Plank
They are a better put together team
and generally better run. They are not, however, some unstoppable force in the NFL.
If I did what I love for a living, what would I do in my free time?
Writer at windycitygridiron.com {-/-} http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers
Plus if they get the 6 seed
They’d have to go to Philly and win, then go to NO or ATL and win BEFORE they’d have to come to Soldier to seal the deal. “Let” them win and you’re not doing them any major favors.
If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.
I remain a pessimistically hopeful Bears fan.
letting them in the playoffs is doing them a pretty big favor,
Eliminate them now and stay on a roll.
. "Most football teams are temperamental. That's 90% temper and 10% mental."
--Doug Plank
Has anyone actually read the part of the threads about this subject that clearly point out...
THE PACKERS CAN STILL MAKE THE PLAYOFFS EVEN IF WE BEAT THEM!!!!!
Sorry for screaming (I blame it on Just Dave’s rant from yesterday). They have the best shot at getting the last playoff spot whether we beat them or not.
I'm going to enjoy the flexed game
It’s like a car accident; you can’t look away!
"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.
Looking forward to the Sunday Night game.
Should be a pretty good game with everything on the line. I’ve become a fan of Bradford’s and Amendola’s.
WILDCARD BITCHES!!! YEEEEHHHAAAAA!!!!!
I'm tired of defending the 2010 Bears, these guys earned it, period.
We have as much right to our #2 seed as any other team, I just dont see NFL teams making 12-4 records with luck and inertia as the only deciding factor. The Bears play in the same league as everyone else and we beat alot of good football teams, and oddly lost to a few bad ones but this notion that we are less fundementally sound than say the 2010 Packers is complete BS, we have weak spots as do EVERY team going in the 2010 playoffs, we earned our spot by by running the table in the NFC north, period.
White Sox fans need not apply.
by Bears-Cubs Bulls on Dec 30, 2010 10:54 PM CST reply actions
Joyner Is On The Right Track
But the offense has been super lucky as well this season.
I hate to piss all over the season but what it means in the long run hurts. We all know after the season is over, regardless of how bad the Bears get whacked in the first playoff game, that Smith and his gang will get new contracts. That’s the sad part, because of this not to be repeated lucky season, we get Smith and Martz and gang for 3-5 more years. And, you can beat your house on it, next season the Bears will be 5-11. Then 7-9, then 4-12. It just has to be.
The Packers will beat the Bears Sunday enough, then whack them in the first playoff game.
The Bears need a real coach and staff, not a group of clowns who are where they are by luck. The only person luckier than Smith was Desi Arnaz by marriage.
Green Bay will have to go to Philly, assuming they win Sunday.
Even if they beat Philly, they would then play Atlanta, not us.
And how can you claim that the offense has been lucky? It’s one thing to say they’ve gotten lucky with a couple wins, but what specifically about the offense has been lucky? Since the offense seems to be progressing, and we have a full load of draft picks for the offseason, what makes you think they would drop from 11 or 12 wins to 5-11?
"The time has come to get deeply into Football. It is the only thing we have left that ain't fixed." - HST
The Homer under the bridge.
. "Most football teams are temperamental. That's 90% temper and 10% mental."
--Doug Plank
I want the SeaHawks to win vs the Rams
Just so that there is a team with a losing record in the playoffs.
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