Special Teams Dominates, Offense Shines Late, Bears Win In OT

by WCG on Nov 25, 2007 7:20 PM CST in Game Recaps

The Bears have been apart of two of the most exciting games this season, the first sadly was Adrian Peterson's break out game. That game had 5 touchdowns over 60 yards and this game. Two return TDs for Devin Hester which included a juke of Chicken Poop and the other right over him. It also had some great catches for TD including Berrian's for the tie and Denver's Tony Scheffler who hauled down a catch among almost the entire Bears secondary.

Grossman had another efficient game with 193 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT. If Grossman can maintain this type of play, this offense can put some points on the board, unfortunately that comes with a big IF. Benson was off to another good start with a 5.6 average on 8 carries for 47 yards, but went down early and did not play again. He was later seen on the sidelines on crutches, more on that later. Peterson had 45 yards with a 2.6 average, but had some man size runs. One for a TD with with half of the Broncos D on him and a big first down run in OT.

The defense still has a way to go before they can claim to be anywhere like they used to be. Over 300 yards to Cutler and 98 the latest Schmoe Denver stuck back there.

Charles Tillman had an INT and a blocked punt.

Garrett Wolfe also got in the act with a 25 yard run.

The Bears move to 5-6 and are one game out of the playoff race, granted there are 7 teams with 5 wins, but Detroit has a brutal schedule remaining and they will fall and with Manning having his usual late season breakdown the Giants likely will as well.

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Comments

Did my comment get erased?

Anyway, I"m happy that we play almost every team in the playoff race.

Also, I believe that the Bear's block of Saurbraun's punt was the first time Saurboy's punt had ever been blocked.

by Chad on Nov 25, 2007 7:36 PM CST 0 recs

It was

the First Time Evah that the Sour Krotch kid was blocked.

Special teams ROCKED THE HOUSE tonight boys!

I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something. - Dick Butkus

by iowaBear on Nov 25, 2007 7:37 PM CST up 0 recs

they almost

blocked the first two or three punts if i remember correctly

by Jbasic89 on Nov 25, 2007 7:42 PM CST up 0 recs

Yep, indeed

the one where Hester muffed it was definitely almost blocked. In fact, someone in parachat mentioned that the ball probably was nicked and that might have been why Hester had trouble with it.

Weird how Chad mentioned this (about TS never being blocked) in the 'Chicken-poop' thread yesterday, and it happens today.

I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something. - Dick Butkus

by iowaBear on Nov 25, 2007 7:44 PM CST up 0 recs

Yup,

sorry about that. We had two recap posts going at the same time, so I took one down.

by WCG on Nov 25, 2007 9:12 PM CST up 0 recs

I watched

I watched the game and found myself cheering for Rex Grossman. Great win for the Bears. Gutty performance.

BTW, Cedric Benson is still utter garbage. Adrian Peterson has more toughness in his left nut than Benson has in his whole body. Peterson's 4 yard TD was amazing. When have you ever seen Benson run like that? Bears should cut his sorry but after 2007 and FIRE Jerry Angelo. Trading Thomas Jones, signing Adam Archuleta (who couldn't tackle a cold), and drafting Cedric Benson at #4 overall. If that doesn't get you fired, nothing will.

Colts site on SBNation: Stampede Blue

by BigBlueShoe on Nov 25, 2007 7:46 PM CST 0 recs

See Matt Millen

by Jbasic89 on Nov 25, 2007 7:49 PM CST up 0 recs

Fire Jerry Angelo?

Are you high? How about drafting Devin Hester, Tommie Harris, Nathan Vasher, Bernard Berrian, Charles Tillman, and Lance Briggs? Yeah, it sure is a shame we don't have Thomas Jones anymore - just think of what a game we might have this week if the 2.4 yards per carry he posted against Dallas had happened with him in a Bears uniform! We could be the ones with his 0 touchdowns this season!

There are a lot of problems with the Bears coaching and management, but Jerry Angelo ain't one of them.

--d

by itsugly on Nov 25, 2007 8:04 PM CST up 0 recs

Devin Hester?

Who's he? Never heard of him. Must be some no-namer on special teams.

I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something. - Dick Butkus

by iowaBear on Nov 25, 2007 8:21 PM CST up 0 recs

Hester was an unrafted free agent

we picked up out of Pungo University. He was on the practice squad until a rash of injuries at safety forced him into play. He likely won't last more than a year or two at this level.

by WCG on Nov 25, 2007 9:14 PM CST up 0 recs

We had to trade Jones

We promised that we would if he gave us 100% for one more year. I don't thing anybody wanted Jones to leave. That includes Angelo.

by Chad on Nov 25, 2007 8:15 PM CST up 0 recs

What?

No, you didn't "have" to trade him. He was under contact with the Bears. If anyone promised to trade him (hint, hint, Angelo) then that's yet another reason to FIRE him. That was a stupid promise.

Benson was a crappy draft pick and it was OBVIOUS from day one. Jones wanted out of Chicago because he couldn't stand Benson. So, it seemed to me that the decision was Benson or Jones. Angelo chose Benson not because he was better but because he was the #4 overall pick.

Again, another reason to FIRE Angelo.

Also, Lance Briggs is only under contract for this season, I believe, and he wants out of Chicago. Tommie Harris is always hurt. Aside from Berrian, there are no playmakers on offense. Greg Oslen stinks; drops way to many passes.

If Chicago had a semi-intelligent GM, you'd be a Super bowl contender again. Since the Bears don't, Lovie has to make due and you'll be lucky to make the playoffs.

Colts site on SBNation: Stampede Blue

by BigBlueShoe on Nov 26, 2007 6:55 AM CST up 0 recs

Wow.

You're clearly insane.

Briggs will likely re-sign; Olsen's dropped two passes in his career, both one after the other, last night. And, yeah, that Tommie Harris - what a useless pick he was. Good insight there.

--d

by itsugly on Nov 26, 2007 7:38 AM CST up 0 recs

Olsen Stinks?

He drops too many passes?

What the heck are you talking about?

Have watched any Bears' games?

visit the mindful mission.

by big_lowitzki on Nov 26, 2007 8:25 AM CST up 0 recs

Benson vs. Jones

And if you think that Thomas Jones is a great running back, I am not really sure what to tell you.

Did Angelo make the wrong decision on the RB situation? Perhaps... but it is not nearly as clear cut as you make it out to be.

We don't really know how good Benson is, being that he is running behind one of the worst offensive lines in football.

visit the mindful mission.

by big_lowitzki on Nov 26, 2007 8:27 AM CST up 0 recs

You really don't understand professional sports

When a guy formally asks for a trade, you trade him. Why? Because you don't want a malcontent half-assing it out on the field. So when he asked to be traded, we told him that if he gave us one good year of 100% (which he did) we would honor his request. That is how professional sports are run.

Then Briggs was ready to hold out for the season. So we made a deal. Don't hold out, play 100% and then we won't franchise tag you.

It's called being honorable. And none of that is the reason why the Bears have been bad this season.

And Greg Olsen doesn't stink. He's pretty good, actually.

by Chad on Nov 26, 2007 1:14 PM CST up 0 recs

Jones wanted out becuase he

couldn't stand Benson? This is a business son, you don't leave a team because you dont' like a guy. Jones wanted to be a starter plain and simple and he knew that Benson would be our guy sooner or later, so he asked out.

by WCG on Nov 26, 2007 1:36 PM CST up 0 recs

His reasons

were his reasons. Doesn't change the fact that when someone asks for a trade you trade him.

by Chad on Nov 26, 2007 2:38 PM CST up 0 recs

he also

wanted a new deal other than the one he signed. tough shit, you signed it.

by mike b on Nov 26, 2007 6:01 PM CST up 0 recs

Whole team still inconsistant

"I watched the game and found myself cheering for Rex Grossman."

And just think if his receivers would have hung on to the ball? Rex looked especially good at the end of the 4th quarter.
Watch next week he'll rip our hearts out and feed it to the cat!

by phastphil on Nov 25, 2007 9:51 PM CST up 0 recs

wolfe?

Garrett Wolfe also got in the act with a 25 yard run.

Did you watch the game?

The play was a garbage play at the end of the first half. It was a draw play that was designed to run out the half, with the very rare possibility of catching lightning in a bottle.

Outside of that one garbage time run, Wolfe looked pretty awful.

visit the mindful mission.

by big_lowitzki on Nov 25, 2007 8:10 PM CST 0 recs

Wolfe.

Hey, buddy, I just think it's swell any time they dress that young man in his football outfit and let him play with the big kids.

--d

by itsugly on Nov 25, 2007 8:15 PM CST up 0 recs

Wolfe had 3 rushes

and he looked like garbage? Pretty rough assessment.

by WCG on Nov 25, 2007 9:15 PM CST up 0 recs

re-read

i think he meant that Wolfe's big play came on a garbage time play.

by Chad on Nov 25, 2007 9:40 PM CST up 0 recs

Awful - Based on 3 plays?

I thought the Bears drafted him to be a third down and change pace back, but they've yet to throw him a screen pass or a swing pass out of the backfield.
"Awful" is pretty harsh considering they really haven't given Wolfe a real opportunity.

by phastphil on Nov 25, 2007 9:56 PM CST up 0 recs

a little strong...

Yea - awful was a bit strong.

You can't tell much on 3 carries (though I swear I remember more than 3!).

I just don't get the obsession some have around here with Wolfe. He isn't playing for a reason - he's not that good.

visit the mindful mission.

by big_lowitzki on Nov 26, 2007 8:29 AM CST up 0 recs

Blitz Pick-up

I bet Wolfe's not playing because the coaches don't have confidence in his pass protection skills.
I really would like to see him catch a few screens and swing passes before I declare him a bust. Turner need to use him for what I believe are his strengths.

by phastphil on Nov 26, 2007 9:02 AM CST up 0 recs

umm

i don't think garbage time really has any bearing on the validity of that statement. he said it happened. big deal. i have yet to see wolfe get the ball in the backfield without the defense standing right in front of him or a single screen to him actually be completed. i think its one of the worst picks they have made but i am not going to give benson the benefit of the doubt (playing time, shitty line, shitty overall offense) and deny it to others.

by mike b on Nov 25, 2007 11:52 PM CST up 0 recs

Dear Denver Broncos ...

you just lost to a team that couldn't even make it a game against the Lions. Twice. Congratulations,

Love,
iowaBear

I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something. - Dick Butkus

by iowaBear on Nov 25, 2007 8:23 PM CST 0 recs

Wherein I write more letters ...

Dear Moose,

Please do AT LEAST one of the following two:

(1) Stop dropping passes

(2) Instead of continually bitching to the media like a toddler, kindly STFU

Love,
iowaBear

I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something. - Dick Butkus

by iowaBear on Nov 25, 2007 9:09 PM CST up 0 recs

HA

Sauerbrun just won worst person in the NFL

by Jbasic89 on Nov 25, 2007 8:57 PM CST 0 recs

Sauer Krotch does suck

But Olbermeyer is awful - not even remotely entertaining

When they boo you, you know they mean you. George Halas

by allhailmark on Nov 25, 2007 9:21 PM CST up 0 recs

true

by Jbasic89 on Nov 25, 2007 9:37 PM CST up 0 recs

damn

pats got the lead back. i really hope AJ Feely can drive this Philly team the way he has today. it will be funny if the team new england loses to is a fuckin AJ Feely led team.

by lopey986 on Nov 25, 2007 10:09 PM CST 0 recs

you do realize

that if the Bears are to make the playoffs we really needed an Eagles loss?

by Chad on Nov 25, 2007 10:33 PM CST up 0 recs

but

AJ Feely man! AJ freakin Feely!

by lopey986 on Nov 25, 2007 10:50 PM CST up 0 recs

question

why is it whenever our quarterbacks are put in 2 minute drill situations in which ron turner has less input the usual they usually do better that if he was calling every play.

-lepoldjones

by leopoldjones on Nov 25, 2007 10:44 PM CST 0 recs

i think

hellen keller could answer that question

by Jbasic89 on Nov 25, 2007 11:02 PM CST up 0 recs

Unless the Bears run the table

and the offense explodes, I just can't see a scenario in which Turner keeps his job after this season.

by WCG on Nov 25, 2007 11:06 PM CST up 0 recs

not to mention

"Grossman had another efficient game with 193 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT. If Grossman can maintain this type of play,"

his 2 fumbles.

all it took for us to win in overtime at home against a .500ish team was two special teams td's and a miraculous catch in the endzone.

break out the checkbook and start printing those playoff tickets!

by mike b on Nov 25, 2007 11:55 PM CST 0 recs

DROPS

any official word on the drops this game, i bet its around 7 or so.

by lopey986 on Nov 26, 2007 12:41 AM CST up 0 recs

23 points

The offense scored 20 points in regulation, 23 points if you count the OT. That is not bad.

You can't blame Rex for the defense giving up 34 points.

visit the mindful mission.

by big_lowitzki on Nov 26, 2007 8:31 AM CST up 0 recs

i didn't

by mike b on Nov 26, 2007 9:54 AM CST up 0 recs

The Bears

are TWO games out of the playoff race. If they are tied with Detroit at the end of the season and still behind the Giants, then they don't go. They need to pick up two games against either team and fend off the others at 5 wins to make the playoffs.

by mikebdot on Nov 26, 2007 8:33 AM CST 0 recs

Looking at the playoffs.

Well, the chance to pick up a game against the Giants comes next week, which is awesome - I love that the rest of our schedule puts our destiny firmly in our own hands. It also couldn't come at a better time, as New York is imploding.

I can't help but think Detroit's looking at a losing record for the next five games. 3-2 is possible for them, but not likely, given who they're facing, and even that would leave them at 9-7. If we don't blow the rest of the games (which, if we're discussing the playoffs, we have to assume we won't), that means the only way we'll lose out to Detroit for a wildcard berth is if they manage to turn their sinking ship around by going 3-2, and if we lose one of our next five. If they go 2-3 or worse, even a Bears loss puts us ahead of them for the wildcard.

There are a lot of teams with our record, and we play half of them - the Vikings, the Redskins, and the Saints. If we win those games, I like our chances. Sad as it is for the NFC, if you look at the teams in the wildcard hunt and their schedules, it's mathematically possible for an 8-8 Bears squad to make the playoffs. I'm not particularly stoked about the idea of watching a .500 Bears team in the post-season, but it's actually a possibility.

--d

by itsugly on Nov 26, 2007 9:20 AM CST up 0 recs

No true

head to head only counts in a two way tie. There is a strong possibility that there will be a three or four way tie for the last wild card. then head to head doesn't matter.

As well, Detroit is not winning 10 games this season and I think it will take 10 wins.

by Chad on Nov 26, 2007 1:11 PM CST up 0 recs

Isn't the next tiebreaker

conference record?

I'm going to guess it's not good since we have three wins against the AFC.

Visit The Cub Reporter (mvn.com/mlb-cubs)

by thecubreporter on Nov 26, 2007 1:20 PM CST up 0 recs

This could be the case.

I am only saying that head to head goes out the window.

by Chad on Nov 26, 2007 2:37 PM CST up 0 recs

I am pretty sure

that if there were a three-way tie, say, with the Lions, Bears, Giants, that the Bears lose out because they would rather have wildcard teams from different divisions, so the first tie-breaker is "who would be the division winner between the Bears and Lions?"

http://sportsline.com/nfl/standings/playoffrace/tiebreakers-explanation

"Three or More Clubs
(Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of applicable two-club format.)
1. Apply division tie breaker to eliminate all but the highest ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to step 2. The original seeding within a division upon application of the division tie breaker remains the same for all subsequent applications of the procedure that are necessary to identify the two Wild-Card participants."

by mikebdot on Nov 26, 2007 2:39 PM CST up 0 recs