Thoughts From NFL Week 11: Chicago Bears and beyond

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Nov 22, 2011 10:00 AM CST in Notes

What an incredible way for the NFL start it's week 11 off with Tim Tebow leading his Denver Broncos to a last minute win against the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football. Tebowmania... catch it. Since I still don't have the NFL Network (Damn you Time Warner Cable) I'm forced to listen to the talking heads on the various outlets that described the win as gutty, a fluke, inspirational, setting football back 40 years, great for the NFL, and bad for the Bronco franchise. Chicago fans will see for themselves in a few weeks when the Caleb Hanie led Bears travel out West. And speaking of out West, that leads me to my first thought...

1) The Raiders are the only division leader with a negative point differential. They've been outscored on the season by 19 points, and as a matter of fact, every team in that division has given up more points than they've scored.

2) And one more Tebow thought... What were the Jets thinking with their defensive game plan? Why blitz him and give him an excuse to run? Don't you want him putting the ball in the air as much as possible? The old coaching saying goes; When you throw the ball 3 things can happen and 2 of them are bad.

3) Is DeSean Jackson trying to become the biggest D-Bag in the NFL?

4) The Buccaneers LeGarrette Blount had one of the best runs of the year, but I was equally as impressed with the block from Bucs RG Davin Joseph blasting Green Bay's Tramon Williams off Blount.

5) I think it's safe to say I whiffed on my NFC West prediction, the Rams are bad and the 49ers could lock that division up with with their next win.

6) If the AFC Wildcard wasn't so muddled up, I'd say the Titans should start rookie QB Jake Locker the rest of the way regardless of Matt Hasselbeck's injury, but with them being one of gour 5-5 teams in the Conference, it's still anyone's ball game.

7) The Ravens offense is much more effective when they get Ray Rice his touches.

8) Even though Jay Cutler injured himself chasing down the Chargers Antoine Cason after his interception, it was refreshing to see a QB do that rather than throw his hands up in disgust and gripe to a referee. All NFL QB's should play as tough as #cuttydoesit.

9) I think it's safe to say Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano is off the hot seat, even though I think the Miami ownership would like a high profile celebrity coach. Could Mike Shanahan have the hottest seat in the NFL?

10) Is Rob Gronkowski the best tight end in the NFL?

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Comments

Interesting thoughts and pretty much agreed with all of them but about #8.....

NotJayCutler NotJayCutler
The doctor said I may be out for 6 to 8 weeks. Which gives Cutty more time for the 6 to 9.

by frenchbears113 on Nov 22, 2011 11:42 AM CST reply actions

#cuttydoin'it doin'it well

by dicksingletary on Nov 22, 2011 2:27 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Once Desean Jackson grows up he will be the real deal

Until then he will continue showboating, goalline nonsense, and blowing off team meetings. My question is does Andy Reed enable this type of behavior? Seems like that team always has a guy like this going back to TO during their SB run a while back.

White Sox fans need not apply.

by Bears-Cubs Bulls on Nov 22, 2011 12:39 PM CST reply actions

Isn't Desean Jackson already the biggest D-bag in the NFL?

by northernsails on Nov 22, 2011 1:59 PM CST reply actions

He's def top 10

When Mike Ditka calculates pi it's decimal representation ends.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Nov 22, 2011 2:01 PM CST up reply actions

I mean...Guys like Ndamukong Suh (barf!) and Cla Matthews (retch!!) at least back it up

What the hell has Jackson done other than be a runtified TO?

by northernsails on Nov 22, 2011 2:04 PM CST up reply actions

He had that one punt return

solidifying his status as the greatest returner to ever play the game per Eagles fans

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by ThorCo on Nov 22, 2011 2:08 PM CST up reply actions

They can continue to live in their delusions for all I care

for Devin Hester is truly REEEEEEdiculous!

by northernsails on Nov 22, 2011 2:21 PM CST up reply actions

They can think that Jackson is better than Hester

But I think the rest of the league’s fans know that Hester is the Best returner there was, The best there is and the best there ever will be. Hester has changed the return game and the history books every week he returns one. And he still has years to go.

by jheun on Nov 22, 2011 7:39 PM CST up reply actions

I'll agree with the first two parts...

But I seriously doubt that there will never be a better return man than Devin Hester. Once teams actually start paying attention to the third phase, I think you’ll see some good returners start cropping up.

by Doshi on Nov 23, 2011 8:48 AM CST up reply actions

Generally being a doushe to the fans AND his team

You’d think after the first couple missed meetings the guy would buy either an iPhone or a decent alarm clock.

Cacti are prickly.

by crackedcactus on Nov 22, 2011 2:28 PM CST reply actions

He has both.

Problem is, they’re holding out until he gets his contract extension.

by oripunk3485 on Nov 22, 2011 2:48 PM CST up reply actions

To me Jackson is the most Overrrated player in the NFL

He is a deep threat, thats it. A good defense shuts him down because he will not go over the middle, like the other Great WR.

Its a either a big play or 60 or 2 catches for 4 yards

Guns dont kill people. Brian Urlacher kills people.

by Bear Lovin 21 on Nov 22, 2011 2:55 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

My fantasy team would agree with this.

Someone once called Mr. T, Mr. Coffee...his body was found in a dumpster shortly after.

by Ditkavsworld on Nov 22, 2011 3:16 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

1) With the exception of the 49ers, there’s not a single playoff-worthy team in both West divisions. The Raiders are the best on the AFC-W, but they hit a lot of bumps on the road.

2) The key to beating Tebow is playing spy on him.

3) Yep. Catching up with Suh.

4) I wonder if the New Orleans Saints tackling virus finally incubated after being transmitted in the season opener.

5) Rams are probably the let down of the year, which might help them in the long run.

6) Agree

7) I don’t understand how they put so much trust on the unibrow.

8) He knew very well that a TD could mean a turn-around in the game and jeopardize the Wildcard run. It’s unfortunate to see him injured, but at least forcing the Chargers to waste a few seconds to put points on the board would decrease
the chances of that happening. How can someone still argue if he’s tough or not after that last game is beyond me.

10) After seeing him plow through two guys for a TD, not many doubts about that.

by lmfsilva on Nov 22, 2011 2:55 PM CST reply actions

And yet...Urlacher himself was willing to take the pick 6 if it meant Cutler staying healthy...

by northernsails on Nov 22, 2011 3:04 PM CST up reply actions

Benefit of hindsight

Cutler had a couple of seconds to make a decision, and at the time, trying to push him out of bounds was the most sensible one. I mean, after surviving over 9000 sacks this season, what’s the worse that could happen, jam his fingers somewhere and miss the rest of the season? But yeah, I’d much rather have lost this game than Cutler.

by lmfsilva on Nov 22, 2011 3:37 PM CST up reply actions

Can anyone say...

Neckbeard? Guess who’s available? And NO I am not advocating the move, just pointing out the irony!

FORTE: PAY THE MAN!

by LostInSTL on Nov 22, 2011 3:19 PM CST reply actions

We're talking about this in the new thread

We would all, or almost all, Love to see him back in Blue and Orange. But I guess it’s unlikely he’ll fall through the waivers to us.

by northernsails on Nov 22, 2011 3:23 PM CST up reply actions

No NOT many people would want him back. This is a COMPLETELY different system here than the one he's been in for years out in Denver.

At least Carson Palmer has worked with Hue Jackson before, thus allowing him to quickly pick up the Raiders offense. Orton would not be anywhere near as good, at least system knowledge-wise, than Hanie.

by frenchbears113 on Nov 22, 2011 3:26 PM CST up reply actions

...remember that he doesn't have to start right away.

In fact, in the unlikely event that he’s available, he won’t be the starter. He’d be backing Hanie up, leaving him some time to figure out at least part of the playbook. And lets not forget what happened the last time the Bears got a backup specifically because he was “familiar with the system.” We wound up with a steaming helping of Todd Effing Collins.

by northernsails on Nov 22, 2011 3:38 PM CST up reply actions

I was under the impression that Todd Collins hadn’t played in the Martz system before.

When I assume, I'm not "making an ass out of u and me"... I'm actually putting u between me and an ass.

by Spongie on Nov 22, 2011 5:32 PM CST up reply actions

I'm not sure I could be convinced

that Todd Collins had ever played football before.

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by Steven Schweickert on Nov 22, 2011 6:54 PM CST up reply actions

I would give Bulger a try, why not, he played for Martz and did it pretty well. I don’t think Orton falls through all the way to the Bears.

by transylvanian bear on Nov 22, 2011 5:36 PM CST reply actions

Orton will end up a Redskin

If not there then somewhere like Indy or KC.

by jheun on Nov 22, 2011 7:44 PM CST up reply actions

Indy will not be picking up Orton.

And the Redskins management basically have to tank the season to fix that mess.

KC might be interested, but I doubt at the monies KO would be making for them. I get the feeling they’re bumping up against the salary cap right now (with no evidence to support this, however).

by Doshi on Nov 23, 2011 8:55 AM CST up reply actions