Alaskan Grizzly

You’re probably right. I personally think the “writing on the wall” was when they drafted Burden and he pretty much did what DJ can do.

Technically (to his credit) Caleb said there was a “miscommunication”. He thought he was going to run underneath and DJ didn’t. We could ask what DJ thought he was supposed to do but at this point I guess it doesn’t matter. And no disrespect to either TO or Warner but neither of them was in the huddle. 🤷🏻‍♂️ Still, the same questions apply (especially with hindsight being 20/20). Why call a play where your key receiver has been injured and not playing well late in the game? And if Caleb had as much time in the backfield as he did, why not try another reciever? He had Odunze with single coverage -Curl had vacated the middle of the field to go right. And with Curl on that side of the field there were three defenders within close proximity.

I’ll borrow a quote from a social media post I saw earlier and I’ll paraphrase while doing so. ‘This is an observation. Had it occurred to anyone that Moore was injured in the game (after landing in his head a couple of times). And that evidently Odunze was wide open (inside seam) on that last play?’ (Now for “Skip’s take): To some of this I would agree. We know he was injured in this game - Went to the medical tent about halfway in the game, before landing on his head again later in the game. And we can’t say without certainty he wasn’t even injured to begin with. Many here speculated as much after the game against GB. If for nothing else we saw how exhausted he was after catching that game winning TD against them. Maybe his age alone is enough to move on from him, along with the fact Burden is essentially the same player in younger form. If Moore was so beat up and tuckered out, why design a play where he’s your primary receiver in a play so crucial, if that is in fact as Chase Daniel pointed out? If you can see the field and see he’s lagging behind his coverage why throw it in front of him where the defender was headed to help with Burden(?). As it turns out there were three defenders in that immediate area anyhow (can be seen from the back view Daniel provided). Sure they probably called the play in the huddle but everyone to a person said they didn’t appear to be on the same page . How could that be? And as others have mentioned here, why are we throwing so deep when shorter chunk passes would’ve and had worked? You still had a pretty capable Kmet on the field for short underneath plays. Heck if memory serves the RB was running a short route to the left that may have just as easily been converted.

So any reason Thuney couldn’t stay LT - if needed? I mean sure it was one game but he and McFadden did a pretty bang up job last night. Rarely did Caleb have to scramble and this was against one of the best defensive front out there.

Two horrible calls that last series. One to the throw attempt at Benedet and not throwing on the 3rd down near the goal line. They had everyone on the line and nothing but open endzone. Ugh.

Yeah my sister (who lives in Colorado) sent me the link in the story. What’s even weirder is he apparently did it while lining up the ball for the game winning FG. Agreed (regards to durability). It only takes one play to turn the tide. Just think about Brady’s pretty significant knee injury (partially torn ACL and MCL)in 2008 and he still managed to win 4 more Super Bowls after that.

As much as it pains me to think this, NE may have an unobstructed path to yet another SB. They are killing it on both sides of the game. What equally causes me angst is admitting Mongo was right about Maye. 😣

Whether it belongs here or not, sad to see Nix go out with a “broken ankle”. Weird that he was able walk off where TJ had to be carted off. Why I’m sus TJs isn’t a more severe injury . https://apnews.com/article/broncos-bo-nix-broken-ankle-nfl-playoffs-b61840b6221f3ece7efb33814b00c6b4

Ha! You think today’s weather in Chicago might be a factor in how well LA plays? Add in an extra 3-4 hour plane ride from Seattle.

Outsider looking in, I see this more as Bears management (mostly Kevin Warren) shrewdly trying to get what they want and what’s in the best interest in the team. In the little reading up I did, Pritzker sounds like he’s been negotiating with good faith (at least outwardly) which includes public support to either expand or build at Arlington. I also see the Mayor of Chicago might be more of a blockade than Pritzker. At any rate, if you consider how long ago Warren was hired and how long this has been going on, this is ultimately his sole purpose. It’s also worthy to note that there was specter of loss for when he was helping negotiate a new stadium for Minnesota. It was brought up that perhaps LA would be a better venue for the Vikings. Allegedly Warren was able to ‘negotiate the tensions of possible relocation’ during stalled legislative negotiations and instead was able to secure public-private funding on the Vikings improvement . https://www.espn.com/blog/minnesota-vikings/post/_/id/19466/vikings-new-stadium-owes-a-debt-to-dennis-green

And their #1 pick, Golden, didn’t score a TD all season until the playoffs. ‘He who laughs last, laughs longest.’

Was just pondering some interesting info on all the ‘lead men’ for the remaining teams in the playoffs. Besides the fact none of these teams have been to the Super Bowl in the last couple years, all the QBs are first round picks save Brock Purdy who in fact was Mr Irrelevant in 2022. Stafford and Williams are former 1st round overall picks who have taken very different paths to these playoffs. Darnold and Allen were both 1st round picks from the 2018 draft and have also taken very different paths to get here. The only ones who haven’t been to a playoff game before this season were Williams and Maye. Darnold and Williams both played at USC. And three of the QBs were from the same draft class in 2024 (Williams, Nix and Maye). Of those three this Nix’s second trip to the playoffs and Maye is a MVP candidate. I feel a change is in the air for the NFL.

This Houston D is something to behold. I hope Dennis Allen and the Chicago D are taking notes. Edit: Chicago one of only two home teams from this playoff bracket to advance. NE being the other.

Good point. I thought Edwards injury was worse because of the cart coming out. There have been players able to walk off the field with broken Fibulas before. I wonder if his wasn’t a complete break of both the Fibula and Tibia? Agree that it’s odd Trapilo was able to maneuver off the field mostly on his own. Maybe a higher level of pain tolerance and youth? 🤷🏻‍♂️. Agree with a guy his size, if it’s anything significant it’ll cost him some time . Here’s to it not being as bad.

If they move on I sure hope it’s not John Harbaugh. Or better yet, Matt Nagy .

Watch out guys (PHX especially) I’m belly flopping into the pool! Frick ya!!!!

Fire Allen immediately and replace him with Harris. Right now.

Null

Considering no other options I’ll reiterate that promoting Al Harris as DC would be the best option IMHO. On the one hand, despite me not being a fan, I agree (if only a little) to keep Allen as he was dealt a difficult hand in available players to him. The Bears last draft weighed heavily on the offense and almost everyone will agree this year will focus more on defense. I suspect the team will keep him for no other reason than his ‘reputation’ is what it is . On the second hand, I worry that Harris will leave for a coordinator job (possibly GB) and I fear we’ll end up regretting that.

I think you may be onto something. There is something to be said about durability esp in the NFL. And he has shown that given how much he’s making. And really how many times have we seen him standing open? I’d concede to the idea that if he had some high trade value and you could get some valuable commodity (player or pick) you’d almost have to take it in order to improve the defense.

Pretty incredible considering how late in the season he got used/started. I envision him as the Bears version of LaPorta(?). Id imagine Rome would’ve been #1 had he not been injured(?).

Unfortunately I think you’re right. Burden is nearly the identical player who is younger and cheaper.

Was just gonna say that. He’s lost a step big time. Williams made him look like he was standing still.

Think Moore is playing hurt. During that INT saw his leg buckle a little towards the end of the play and then they showed him do it again later in the game.

Wife was just asking this. They were able to go blow for blow with SF all game then play like this.