And to think I predicted that KC would snag a wild card spot this year. In my defense, it was a toss up between Cincinnati, Oakland, San Diego and KC, so...
To summarize the Bears so far today: Bears defense/Special Teams: 3 turnovers, 2 TDs, 1 blocked kick, 1 punt return to the 8 yard line Bears Offense: Given up Safety, 1 TD (after punt return to 8 yard line)
The Bears D is pure madness right now. Madness Update: This just in "Dear D26, stop being a fucking hater, Love Cutler and Marshall." Cutler to Marshall TD.
Update: "Dear D26, you're right, we can't seem to score if we don't get the ball on the opposing team's 20 yard line. Love, Cutler and Marshall." Don't get me wrong, I like Cutler, I like Marshall. I HATE their offensive line (see: safety). Both of their TDs came on absurdly short fields created by turnovers or long punt returns. Every other time they've had the ball, its been bad. I feel the need to reiterate my stance on the Bears, since I keep getting called a "hater." I like them. I think they're a playoff team, based on the strength of the defense. I think their offense (specifically their offensive line) is going to be the reason they can't win a Superbowl, which is a shame given how good their defense is. I don't care how good Cutler, Marshall, and Forte are, they can't do shit if their line continues to be about as effective as a swinging bar door at pass blocking. The other problem is that they'll do so good this year, they'll decide not to make any major changes over the off season, and they'll leave their offensive line in tact (hey, they were good enough to get them to the playoffs, right?). That has more to do with their coaching and how they're managed than anything on the field.
If you haven't been watching, the Denver Cincinnati game has been fantastic. AJ Green might be taking the Most Dominant Receiver title from Megatron. Champ Bailey is on him like a blanket, and it just doesn't matter. Also, D26 Update: 225 yards for Cutler and 100+ for Forte? Not shabby.
Not only do I remain completely accurate with my prediction thus far, but even in this thread we're seeing the "Bears Superbowl OMG!!" posts. I predict a week of sports radio talking about how the Bears should be Superbowl favorites out of the NFC, comparisons to the '85 Bears, and a few casual mentions of "oh, their offensive line isn't very good, BUT THAT DEFENSE OMG GREATEST EVER!" Now they have to face two really difficult teams in a row, and we'll see how that offensive line holds up against teams that can really rush the passer. Again, its not all "doom and gloom," it is "this is a good team that has beaten up on bad teams. Lets see how they do when they face good teams." They'll change my mind if they can come away from their next two games with wins.
Good thing the Seahawks have a franchise quarterback to compensate for an unreliable defense. Wait, what?
Wow, the refs just gift wrapped 2 TDs to the giants in like 2 minutes. A bullshit PI call for 41 yards then a ridiculous personal foul to give them 1st & goal. Then what looked like an obvious incomplete pass (rothlisburger held onto the ball until his arm went forward then it came out) was ruled a fumble returned for a TD AND there was a pretty blatant block in the back on the return. It's like the replacements are back.
Vikings are done. Ponder is utterly clueless right now and is regressing. There's no way they can compete with the complete absence of their passing game and the only reason they're in the game right now is because Peterson is running wild. Unless Ponder can make a dramatic turnaround I don't see them winning more than two more games the rest of the year.
I'm at work, and can't see anything except a fantasy football stat page, so pardon my ignorance. But is Oakland's defense actually taking the field when Doug Martin comes out on offense?
Did Mike Tomlin just make the worst play call of the season? Or the decade? A fake FG on 4th down, down by 3 inside the ten? Christ.
D26, its not that you're actually being a hater but, yeah their o-line is bad. We all know this already. Let's focus on the cool shit of your favorite team, because the defense is playing out of its mind and bash the teams that actually need a good bashing. Jets, Browns, Cowboys, Chiefs, etc. With your defense playing like that, who knows what can happen.
I don't mind reveling in it a bit. I cheered like crazy as the Bears destroyed the Titans today, and I really enjoy watching them beat up on bad teams. At the same time, I refuse to fall into the "OMG SUPERBOWLZ!" trap that a lot of Bears fans are falling into. I'd prefer to see them beat some good teams. The last really good team they faced was the Packers, who destroyed and humiliated the Bears in their only loss this season (a loss people seem to have completely forgotten). Today, I heard the Bears offense described as 'high octane,' by a commentator. Reading blogs and message boards, it looks like Bears fans are losing their mind in anointing them the title without them having played for it yet. Cutler threw three TD passes to Marshall, and on the stat sheets it looks like the Bears offense had this mind bendingly amazing day. What I saw was Jay Cutler getting sacked on a play with max protection. I saw them make good on their short field opportunities, but I only saw one or maybe two long, drawn out drives, where they ate some clock time. What are they going to do when they face a team that protects the ball better, or rushes the passer better? This team has not truly been tested. It is akin to saying "That guy is the greatest chess player alive!" because he beat a few kids that ride the short bus. There isn't a lot of fun in watching them blow out the teams they are SUPPOSED to be blowing out. If they do next week what they did this week, I will officially be a believer. I just don't think that will happen, though. In fact, my predictions for the Bears/Texans next week: Bears defense plays well, and limits Arian Foster to under 100 rushing yards. I predict at least 1 interception for the Bears, and at least one fumble recovery (I see Foster having the ball stripped at least once). I predict the Texans pass rush dismantles the Bears O-line, and Cutler will be running for his life. I predict Jay Cutler gets sacked a minimum of 4 times, and he is rushed or hit on more than 75% of his drop backs. I predict an extremely close defensive battle, but one that will ultimately be won by the Texans after Cutler either loses a fumble on a sack, or rushes a pass because he is afraid of getting killed and gets picked off, perhaps even multiple times (see: Packers game). Then I predict everyone will say "This loss is 100% Cutler's fault," and "that defense kept them in the game, but it is a shame the offense couldn't make it work." I really, really hope I am wrong, and the Bears come out and completely destroy the Texans. I hope they score enough defensive TDs to set the league record next week. I hope Cutler picks apart Houston's defense and never once gets his uniform dirty. I just don't think it will happen, though.
If I were Michael Vick, I'd be tempted to shit on my OLine Coach and OC's desks, right after I pissed in all the linemens' lockers.
Aaron Rodgers have a chip on his shoulder? No way! Fuck I have to say this..."I agree with 'Sack" Stuart Scott fucking kills me. He's not even fully black! He needs to stop. I had to follow him on Twitter for a week because I lost a bet. It was painful
I don't disagree with some of what D26 is saying, while a bit gloomy. And you seem to use the offense "only converting on a short field" as a bad thing. I look at the Bears doing exactly what they are supposed to do on offense and defense as a good thing, something that didn't happen in the past. I do however think you are completely and utterly full of shit if you think the Bears are going to lose to the Seahawks AND the Vikings. Especially Seattle playing in Chicago. Do I think the Bears are going to finish 15-1? No. But I will bet you my life's savings that they finish better than your projected 9-7.
I'd still bet on Chicago, but to play Devil's advocate, since October 1st, Russell Wilson has had a QB rating well north of 90, Marshawn Lynch has had three 100 yard games at over 5 ypc, and that defense is still pretty nasty.
Actually, I projected 9-6 with a question mark for that last game (potentially 9-7 or 10-6). I think the Seahawks have a good enough defense to pressure Cutler a lot and force some bad decisions out of him, and it doesn't matter how good their defense is, given enough short fields, the Seahawks offense will score. I don't think the Bears will be able to sustain enough drives to rest up their defense. I see a lot of 3-and-out series for the Bears offense, and their defense spending a LOT of time on the field, which will eventually wear them out. As for the Vikings, in Minnesota, I think the Vikings will win. They have an extremely loud stadium and the Bears offensive line tends to jump off sides as it is. I see a lot of stalled drives because of that, not to mention a strong defensive line that should dominate the Bears' line. I stand by my predictions, but again, I hope I am wrong. I just think that line is so bad, they won't be able to handle a team with ANY kind of good defensive line, and while I realize their defense is amazing and the best in the league, they'll likely be very tired by the end of the game if the offense gets nothing but 3-and-outs or they turn the ball over a lot, and a tired defense is susceptible to big plays and mistakes.