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I can't speak for everyone else, nor how you know what all of their opinions are but.. your opinion is different from Ashkum's and mine. I agree with Ashkum that, depending how this season plays out, we are 50/50 on making a big trade to get a pass rusher. My preferred target, Myles Garrett, totally changes the Defensive front. Maxx Crosby is the second target and will cost less. I prefer giving up players if possible and less value in draft picks but the cost will be high. Players of some sort have to be involved because we're up against the cap limit and that is the biggest stumbling block. It also means the other teams have to value our players in some way. Moving away from signing a fully guaranteed 1st Rd deal improves cap space. IMO there is nothing wrong with this roster building model IF you are confident in the missing piece to your roster. The Rams did it, won a Superbowl, then hit the downside but with good coaching and good QB play managed to ride through the valley while they restocked the roster.

Yeah. If DET loses to DAL, they have the Rams the following week. They'd be 7-7 by then. Hard to see them coming back from that. On the flipside, if DAL does beat DET, the Chargers are the only team standing in the way of DAL winning out barring some crazy upset by WAS, NYG, or MIN, who'll be in tank/vacation mode. Bears would either have to get to 12 wins, or they have to beat SF and maybe DET in the final two weeks, hope SF loses at least one more, so the Bears win the tiebreaker at 11-6 to keep them out.

Much like the last game, our opponents are getting healthier just as the Bears are getting more beaten up. I'm really surprised Devonta Smith is playing after not practicing at all this week with injuries and being sick. As much as the media wants to rag on the Bears for how many backup/journeyman QB's they've faced, the Bears have always been the more injured team just about every week of the season so far. As for the game, the deciding factor is probably going to be whether the Bears can stop Philly on the ground. I worry about Hurts' legs just as much as Barkley's. If they let them gash them up for large chunks all game, this one could get ugly. If they can hold them in check, I don't anticipate Hurts being able to throw the ball all over the field against our secondary with Johnson and Gordon back. Have to keep them out of the redzone, because that's where they are the most dangerous. On offense, the Bears have to get back to running the ball efficiently. That hasn't been the case since the Bengals game, really. This is the same defense that held Jared Goff below 40% completion % a couple weeks ago. With Caleb's accuracy issues, I worry how ugly the passing game could look if they aren't able to run the ball. He has to be able to hit all his open receivers today. Has to.

Next week is a big week for the NFC Playoff picture. CHI-GB = winner takes the reins of the NFC North, loser may fall out of playoff slot. DET-DAL = winner probably jumps into the 7th seed, loser probably out of playoff contention.

Weather and refs. Unfortunately, I think those two factors will have the biggest impact on the game, low 30s with real feel in the 20s, 20-mph winds with gusts in the 30s. Game start is at 3pm, so it will get colder as the game goes on. The Bears need to establish the run and stop the run. Whoever does that wins. Bears need a clean game from Caleb, no turnovers, take what the defense is giving you.

Anytime we project what might happen, that is always just our opinion. Im not sure why some people make like my opinion is different from everyone else. We are pass the trade deadline so obviously that wont happen this year. When teams trade for players it is usually for draft picks. To fit a big contract in our cap space we will have to get rid of more than one asset. Crosby's cap hit would be 27.5 mil in a trade next year. To add him we would have to trade (likely candidates ) DJ Moore which would cost of 38 mil in dead money this year, Edmunds or Kmet are reasonable choices but would have to be both (6 mil) in dead cap that wouldnt get us close to the cost of Crosby. Sometime the numbers just dont work out. None of the free agents available next year have over 4 sacks at this point in time and they will be seeking big money. Henrickson is the biggest FA edge and he will want over 30 mil, everyone else is old and may be an option but you will have to pay at least 10 mil plus . Mack-Bosa-Floyd . This is possible but still have to try to fit in effective cap of -12.5 mil. We are going to have to redo contracts to just fit the rookie money and resign some players (CJ G-Johnson , Dushon Wright) in our cap. As much as I agree we will need more pass rush help, we are destined to have to draft one and hope players like Dayo , Booker, and Shemar Trurner can provide that help. Like Mongo said maybe trading a Kmet or Edmunds and our pick to move up 10 spots to grab one is our only option. Teams that are rebuilding usually want draft picks.

No one knows what the Bears will do. The draft build route wont net that high level pass rush threat for a couple years. I would only make this type of trade this offseason if the Bears are a playoff team. The player would have to be a Maxx Crosby level pass rusher, some one that would lift the D to that elite level. Two 1sts picking 22 or after for two years will never bring a player of Crosbys stature for 2026 and 2027 season . The cap hit will hurt having a player like that compared to 2 late round rookies but its SB or bust. Attached is a draft with an edge/de that might be available.

Lane Johnson is out and two OL are going to play with nagging injuries, Jurgens and Dickerson. I would say if we play physical we could see a disruption in their OLs health. None of this will be easy but I have this strange feeling, we are going to win this game. It just could be indigestion from eating to much today but Im going with a win instead.

At the moment, here's what I'm thinking if the Bears don't end up winning the division: I'm assuming SEA and SF are forgone conclusions to be 2 of the 3 wildcard teams based on their relatively weak schedules to finish the season. We will revisit this in the coming weeks. Scenario 1- DAL wins out ---> DET and CHI are eliminated unless they win 12 Scenario 2- DAL beats DET, but doesn't win out ---> 11 becomes the magic number Scenario 3- DAL loses to DET ---> Week 18 Bears vs Lions decides the final spot unless the Bears implode down the stretch

I think DAL will be favored in 4 of the 5 games left on their schedule. 3-2 is certainly possible, but they just beat PHI and KC in back to back weeks. They're playing really good football right now at the right moment, which scares me. They might run the table. Even going 4-1 will force the Bears into needing at least 11 wins to get in. I feel confident getting to 10, but 11 feels daunting. Caleb is going to have to play much better than he has the last couple weeks to get there.

At 6-5-1, if they go 4-1 the rest of the way, that's 10-6-1. The Bears go 3-3, they are 11-6. DAL also plays the Chargers, so 3-2 seems more realistic, finishing at 9-7-1.

Water seeks it's own level and so will the Bears. I'm thankful that we're all hopeful.

Bears are screwed now if they don't win the division. Pretty much worst case scenario for these Thanksgiving games. DAL beating KC means they're almost certainly getting one of the wildcard spots with their schedule. Their only loseable game left is DET next week, so that result hurts the Bears either way. The Packers winning also hurts, because Detroit's schedule is easier. They're not losing 8 games, and who knows whether the Bears win the tie-breaker vs them anyways.

Jackson was the unsung hero during the last game with the most tackles (15). He led both teams in that category with Obengingimiba (sp?) as a close second at 14. With Sweats 2 sacks in the last game and ‘old-man’ Byard playing at an all-pro clip, having some help in the defensive backfield will be good. Im still a fan of Sewell and looking forward to see how Hyppolite figures into the equation when the time comes.

GB also had their big DT carted off (Wyatt). I read that of the 4 NFLN teams, GB has the most challenging schedule remaining for this season. With two games coming up with GB and 1 with DET, we are in charge of our own destiny. Gut-check time.

GB wins, St. Brown hurt, who was clearly a huge part of their game plan. Neither team looked particularly good. I feel much better facing either of them with Jaylon and Kyler. I was kind of surprised by how bad the defenses were. 7 TDs allowed between the 2 teams, 9 scoring drives. GB had 3 sacks (on Goff), DET had 0. No turnovers. Bears still in first, but a loss tomorrow would drop them to 2nd and GB would be 0.5 ahead. DET now has 2 extra losses.

Edmunds on IR, and they ruled out Edwards, Sewell, and Hyppolite.

I’ll assume that’s starting LBs?

Looks like all LBs and Stevenson are out, but Jaylon and Kyler are back.

Weather looks like it will be cold and windy. Hopefully this game doesn't come down to FGs.

I never saw Benedet as the answer. He is a prototypical guard/center. I'm very happy Ozzy has shown he can do it and if only for a game.

😉 I'm questioning, just haven't posted the question. LOL I want to see Ozzy get another opportunity. If he repeats his performance of last week, he might be our future at LT.

...quietly nobody is questioning what we'll be doing at LT. How odd.

Dennis Allen really simplified things against Pitt with just 4 blitzes all game. I expect more of the same against Philly although if Jaylon and Kyler are back it gives him more options in coverage/blitz packages.

No team controls its destiny more than the Bears do right now. Of all the teams in and around them in the NFC playoff picture, they have the most games against those teams (5), GB and DET have 3, SEA and SF have 2. The Bears just have to have the same record as DET or GB the rest of the way to make the playoffs, just beat one of those teams to the finish. If they have the same record as both of those teams the remainder of the season, they win the Division, and DET misses the playoffs.