Pixote

Logic would say that TBB beats Oakland. However, reason would also say that the Bucs have been playing very poorly as of late. They have lost their last 3 games. Their defense has not played well. They lost their running game when they lost Graham for the season. In the meantime everyone says how great Houston is playing. However, the same team that everyone says TBB will kill just beat Houston last week 27 to 16. So is Houston & TBB as good as many are giving credit? I feel they are both good teams but both have shown to ber very vulnerable & capable of choking.

If we lose this game because of our inability to stop Andre Johnson it will not be because of Mike Brown's absence, it will because our CBs fail to cover or because they are asked to cover for too long do to no pass rush. Mike Brown's play has slipped considerably so I am not even sure he will be missed as much as usual in the run defense. I like Mike Brown and he is one of my favorite players but in reality he is not the player he was in the past.

Tillman & Graham need to be sharp and we need pressure on the QB. Mike Brown has never been a top cover Safety. His strength has been against the run. We have replacements who can stop the run. I use to think his leadership on the field was vital. After last week when it appears none of our Team Captains & Veterans stepped up in the first half and kicked some ass, I am not so sure he will be missed in that area either. I do not think M Brown's absence from the line-up changes the Texan's game plan at all.

The official site for the Bears has an article stating Mike Brown is now on the IR. Mike Brown Goes to IR, Worrell Takes His Roster Spot

The inability of the Bears defense to get off the field in 3rd and long situations bothers me more than anything else. I use to complain that our offense was our defenses worse problem, leaving them on the field too much with poor time of possession. This year, our 3rd down defense has been so pourous that I feel they themselves are their worse enemy. If we are to win this game it will be because we shut them down on 3rd and long. IMHO

Geeat to have you join us! We look forward to you input. I know we will have lots to talk about and discuss. Welcome aboard!

I would say that I am of the philosophy that you build a team from the trenches as a starting point. The Vikings Offensive line is far superior to ours. IMO The Vikings Defensive line is far superior to ours. IMO However, when you get beyond the lines, where are they better? I think Forte behind that line would be adding a lot of yardage to his already impressive total as a Rookie. He does not have the fumbling problem AP has. He is better blocking and picking up blitzes than AP. He is a better pass receiver out of the backfield than AP. He has shown to be more durable than AP. I will take Forte over AP, he is a much better all around player. WRs? I can not say I am impressed with the WRs on either team. As far as I am concerned both teams have below average talent at the position and no depth. TEs? I will take ours over the Vikings. QBs? It is a wash. I would take Orton & Hanie over Gus and Jackson, but that is MHO. Both have question marks at the position that may need to be addressed in the off season. Then we turn to Defense. Our LBs are far superior to the Vikings LBs. Our DBs are far superior as a unit to the Vikings unit. Special teams? We have one of the best in the league, if not the best. The Vikings STs suck. So, IMO, the Bears in total retrospective are a superior team personnel wise. Now coaching, that is a different story and one I will not get into in this post.

I still think St Clair is out of position and would be an excellent LG. I think Williams at LT, St Clair at LG, Kruentz backed up by Beekman. That leaves ROT & ROG. Bruening is an interesting option. However, I would like to see us draft an OG & OT to develop or start on the right side. Otherwise, get some experienced veterans on the FA market. With a solid OL we are 2 WRs away from having a good offense, assuming Orton is the answer at QB. (I still like Hanie )

I agree, but it is more than just Orton. I am more concerned over our defense. If they do not stop their rookie RB and keep their passing game to a minimum (we will never control it completely, they have some darn good WRs) then we are out of luck. Fortunately, they have a limited pass rush so Orton should have some time to throw and they have a QB who likes to throw picks so maybe we get an interception or two. Special teams will play a huge part in this game. Field position will be critical, as always.

Nope, no game on Thursday, Saturday, or Monday. That is the way it usually is the last week of the season. They have all teams play on Sunday so all teams have the same amount of preperation time if they are going to the playoffs.

Even though the SDC vs DEN game is being played on SNF, it is being used as the MNF tiebreaker. Treat it as such, please. I do not want to have to and edit the picksheet after every upload to reflect the game being SNF instead of MNF. It is the last game of the week/reg season and is to be considered the tiebreaker game for total points. Thanks!

I have heard speculation that their HC would never treat this game any differently than the norm. I have also heard key players might be held out, such as Jacobs. What have you guys heard? If they play this game with normal personnel on the field I have no doubt MIN loses. If they pull every player who has as much as a hangnail to prevent further injury, MIN wins.

Watching NFL Total Access this AM Terrell Davis states in a very positive manner that the Bears will lose this Sunday and our season will end. Guess we should just rest our starters and mail this one in.

The final picksheet for the season is ready for use with Week 17 Games. There are no games on Thursday, Saturday, or Monday. All games are on Sunday with the SNF game between San Diego & Denver being used as the tie-breaker game. Picksheets need to be sent in prior to 11 AM Central on Sunday. Try not to wait until the last minute as you never know when you may have an interruption of your electric/ISP service. Good luck with your games this week. Bears Win! MIN Loses to NYG! Bears March to SB XLIII http://www.talkbears.com/Contests/index.htm

LOL, no, if I referred to him with his pants off, then we will start talking kinky..... (I have never met Jason before and if I ever do I would hope he is fully clothed)

I have to believe Detroit will clean house. If they do I would like to see RM brought in as DC, he was Lovies 1st choice when he was hired as our HC but at that time he was refused permission to interview him. There is no guarantee Singletary remains in SF as HC. If not, heck, I would love to see him on the Bears sidelines but I do not think Lovie would hire him. If Ried decides to take a sabatical from coaching, and J Johnson is on the open market, he would be my first choice as DC but again, I doubt Lovie would go for him as he is not a cover 2 guy. There are going to be a lot of experienced talent available for coaching staffs this offseason, I just wonder if Lovie will change any of his coordinators or stay pat. As has been said already, Lovie will be our HC for at least 1 if not 2 more years. The question comes down to coordinators.

I was looking for you on TV. Everytime they showed someone without a shirt on I was trying to figure out if it was you. One time they showed some guys who lifted up their shirts and showed they were painted and probably gave up as it was too cold. In that group there was a guy holding up a sign for Hester with an arrow pointing towards the right. You mentioned a sign of that sort and I was wondering if it was you?

I agree, Manning has brought some excitement back into our Kickoff returns. I wonder how he would fair doing Punt returns? Hester did look a bit better last night. I think if Hester would break one for a TD he would be ok afterwords. I truly believe it is more psychological with him than anything else. Maynard & Gould are solid and usually come up big for the team.

I hear what you are saying and agree to an extent. However I want to see Hanie get enough reps in preseason to give him the chance to earn the position as starter. If Orton beats him out, fine, but give the kid a shot. Same goes for our thinking on WRs. Would we have been better off with Haas and Rideau as starting WRs? Both were impressive in camp. Could they be any worse than what we have been fielding? As far as I am concerned, Lloyd, Bennett (needs another yr to show up), and Hester are the only WRs that I would be concerned with and then give Rideau and Haas a shot. Draft a WR in the top of the draft and bring in a FA. And least we forget, draft another OT and an OG in the top half of the draft or go FA and further solidify the OL.

It has been said on this forum before and I will repeat it again, I blame our team veterans, especially it's captains, for not providing the leadership on the field to help prevent this type of lack of energy. I want to see our team captains firing everyone up. I do not give a crap about leading by example and good locker room leadership. I want to see our captains going ballistic and firing up those around them on the field and on the sidelines. There is no excuse for the lack of intensity I saw in the first half of last nights game.

I have been extemely disappointed in the play of Orton since returning from his injury. I was willing to give him a pass the first 2 weeks he returned but he is healthy enough where he has no excuse for the play he has shown. I am confident that Rex will leave and try to get onto the roster of a team that will give him a chance as a starter. Kyle has another year on his contract and as I believe Connorbear said, as a number 2, ok, as a number 1, no. I want to see them give C Hanie a shot at the starting position next spring. We also need to bring in a journeyman QB to backup and hold the clipboard or draft another QB prospect to try and develop. I know Hanie was just a rookie. I know he was an undrafted FA at that. However, I was super impressed with his poise, mobility, mechanics, decision making, etc... in the short time he had in preseason. I would be thrilled to see him get a chance to start in preseason next year with the #1s and see how he does.

Great job!! One more week to go!

Terrible first half. I have to agree with the commentators for a change. No sense of urgency on the Bears part.

Pathetic game effort so far. BAD!

Best wishes to you and all those serving our country in the Armed Forces. I pray you all return home safely in the near future.