BearFan2000

Berrian coughs it up and the Falcons get a huge turnover. Go Birds

so far Tampa is doing their part they trail the Chargers 14 - 7 and the Chargers are in the red zone

I agree, we joke about the coaches excuse always being we just need to execute better but there is some truth to that. There's plenty of blame to go around both players and coaches. Like the defense I've harped on it all year and that is we don't seem to know how to tackle we try to arm tackle, hit the player to the ground, or just outright take a bad angle. These are basic things that should not be a problem at the pro level. If the scheme puts you out of position that's one thing but if you put yourself out of position by not executing the basics of football that's another. Drops by WR's where the ball hits you in the hands or is catchable should be caught, period. You are paid to run routes, get open and catch the ball.

point is it should have never come to that play.

We have the weather that is being called for in Chicago right now. Ice storm Thurs/Friday with a snow chaser on Saturday. Temps at or below zero with wind chills 10 - 20 degrees below. It is brutal out there. I've been without electricity for most of the day till about 11:45 am. Bundle up it's going to be insanely cold.

Honestly, this doesn't feel like a 10 win team even if they reach that mark. It's almost like losing a game where the final score was no indication of how badly you were dominated. I think a 10-6 record would sugar coat the train wreck that this season has felt like. Maybe that's just me but it I'd feel that record is a bit empty. It's frustrating to know though that the talent is there that this could be a team with a better record and having confidence about a playoff spot, but instead we have a team that has underachieved and coached by living brain donors who's only chance at the playoffs is to back in due to a collapse of the team they are trailing. Let's be honest here this is a poor to mediocre team who's record may make them appear more competent than they are. Don't get me wrong though if we do win out and Minn. collapses I'll cheer my heart out in the playoffs but I don't think they deserve to go. I think there are aspects of this team that are salvageable. Offense A solid OL would do wonders for the Offense both in the run game and the passing game. A couple solid WR's would do wonders as well for the run game, pass game, and Kyle. Overall, the offense has been a surprise this year, though I am getting a little unnerved by the frequency of recent turnovers. Defense Our secondary needs help, I'm not real sure where I'd start. Both Peanut and Vash have played below par this year. Brown has been healthy but isn't having the impact he normally has. I think Payne has potential. We need to address our secondary this offseason. D-Line and Backers Leave the LB's alone Briggs, Url, and Roach I'm ok with. D-Line I think the talent is there. Problem with the D is the schemes and coaching is a joke so it's hard to tell if the talent is lacking or if it's more a case of a coach who hasn't a clue how to effectively use that tallent. I'm inclined to believe the latter. Special Teams Well, they haven't been all that special this year. We've had one return for a TD this year and it wasn't Hester. I've about gotten to the point where I don't want to see Hester back there returning anything not even retrieving the kicking tee as he'd probably drop it 10 years backwards. I have no idea what this kid is thinking.... actually I hope he isn't thinking because I've yet to figure out what his logic is. Last two years he was lightning in a bottle... this year he's disaster waiting to happen. Part of the problem is that we draft this kid and he sets records for return TD's and he's so fast it looks like everyone else is going in slow motion. The temptation is to think let's invent ways to get the ball in his hands... let's make him a WR. This used to be a team built on Defense, Run game, and solid to exceptional special teams. The Bears reached the super bowl with a team that dominated you on defense, made just enough plays on offense that was set up with good field position by stellar special teams.

All they have to do is lose both remaining games, we win out and we're in. Taking notes Santa? I've been good this year.... honest. Go Birds

Officiating this year in general has sucked. I don't buy the conspiracy against the Bears You can watch any game and there are atrocious calls being made or missed that have huge impact on the game. I realize they are only human and are capable of mistakes but the sloppy officiating this year seems like it's been especially bad and most importantly has been inconsistent from game to game, week to week. As a player it's got to be even more frustrating to not know where that line is what will be call PI this this play, quarter, half, game, week, etc, may not be called PI the next play, quarter, half, game, week etc. I think it's a bigger issue that there seems to be no continuity or consistency to the way games are called. It's frustrating to watch a play where your D-Line gets held blatantly in the backfield and then your DB gets called for a questionable PI on the same play. Often it is a wash as it's bad both ways usually, but as fans of a particular team we tend to only notice when they miss a call or make a "bad" call that hurts our team. I know I can get sucked into that thinking when I watch a game.

I know it's cliche but stranger things have happened. Of the two scenarios I'd say the most likely is a Vikings loss and us winning out and taking the division. Just too many if's the other way around. I totally agree with Briggs comments after the game. Their backs are against the wall by their own doing but they have to do their part in winning out to have a chance. I like that he realizes that it's their own fault they are in this situation and had they played like they are capable of they'd have been in a much better spot but you can't change that all you can do keep fighting. The Packers game you'd think we should win. I thought we had a shot at winning at cheez land prior to that game also and we got owned by a team that a week later embarrassed themselves. The Packers are an enigma much like the Bears it all depends on which team shows up. After that we travel to Texas to take on a Texan team that is better than many give credit for the game is on turf so there shouldn't be the slipping problems we've seen at Soldier. Of the two remaining games this one worries me me the most.

Holy crap I was right LOL

I'm Jacked getting set to hopefully watch the game on www.channelsurfing.net It must be the right spot because they have the Thursday night Football logo and just showed the Bears players momentarily. 30 more min till go time. This should be a playoff-like atmosphere. BEAR DOWN!!!!

I agree, it's so refreshing to see a young kid get a chance and find success but remain humble and maintain a respect for the game, his teammates, and coaches. The kid is mature beyond his years. Hopefully he becomes a household name in Chicago. I LOL when I read Benson's comments "I'd have had 1,800 yards at this point, at least 1,500" Yeah right. The only thing bigger than his ego is his mouth. In 4 seasons he's racked up a massive 1,985 yards. Just a case of Jealousy

on NFL.com Forte Article

Saints struggle in this game on the road in freezing cold. But the final score is close. The Bears do what they do best. Start out with a lead and then go to sleep the rest of the day and hope it's enough. 27 - 24 Bears

Looks like I'll need tonight's game, it's only on direct TV and NFL Network. Here's my email address: mdrarick@yahoo.com Thank you so much. Bear Down!!!

Every game I hope the same thing for all 11 playing on defense. Yet, I'm frequently disappointed. Here in Chicago we think we can hit you to the ground or arm tackle. We also leave our feet early and make anyone look awesome. The whole team needs to get better and more disciplined at tackling. I'd start fining each and every player who misses a tackle.

this game is a perfect example of no killer instinct. We jump out to a 20-3 lead and go into hibernation at halftime and it takes us giving up the TD after several half hearted efforts before we start to try and get aggressive again on offense. It's not a light switch that you just turn on or off at will. When you pack it in on offense the way we did in the second half it's very difficult to find a rhythm again. Plus while you struggle it gives them confidence to keep fighting. We should have come out of the gate in the second half and stomped on them there there would be no chance of coming back. We did the same thing against the Lambs. We jump out to a lead and get complacent almost like we think they won't catch up. How many times does this strategy have to bite us before we learn. We got away with it in S. Louis, and today but. Because those teams just plain suck. In this game mercy will get you no where, when you have a team on the ropes finish them off.

I'm glad I checked the local listings the local CBS station is going to carry the game. TV schedule that EyeTV shows listed a different game. So I'll be good for this game but the one I will need will be the Monday night game vs the Packers. GO BEARS!!!

Are you still recording the games on DVD? If you are and could make a copy I'll pay you.

What is it with Chicago OC's? They fall in love with one play that never seems to work. In the chat room before the play I asked for the over under on the FB dive and sure enough we run it. It's one thing to give it to a guy who has SOME experience but we give it to a guy who is playing his first game here as a FB...... RON YOU ARE NOT CLEVER!!! YOU ARE AN IDIOT!!!

What a game. The second half that the Pukers had I thought the Panther's would choke. If it wasn't for Steve Smith the Packers win this game. That was a heck of a catch inside the 5. The throw was behind him, and he grabs it and maintains possession and gets it inside the 1. That defensive stand prior to that to hold GB to a FG was the difference. Not sure what GB was thinking with the play calling there. They had been killing the Panthers with the play action in the red zone then they run the same play back to back and get stuffed twice. It was an entertaining game and now the Packers playoff hopes are all but gone and you know who has the Jets in first place. Carolina did their part and put the Packers away now the Bears need to do their part and put the Queens away. Tonight is a golden opportunity to put ourselves in the driver seat for the division title. Can we do it? If we do it will be the biggest win of Kyle's career. The Metrodome is a tough place to play but if we can keep the crowd out of the game but getting out on top early with a fast start I think we have a good shot at 7-5.

Rex would have fumbled the ball.

Personally I almost think that he's trying to keep from getting injured in the return game and putting all his effort in to the WR position. It does seem like he is simply doing either one of three things, running straight into the crowd and getting tackled, trying to makes something happen when it's not there and hurting field position, or fair catching inside the 20. There have been numerous times where he'd catch it and head to toward the sideline and get tackled I'd be watching and thinking 3/4 of the field is vacant because everyone is converging on one guy... bounce it back to the open field and turn on the jets. To be fair though that's me watching on TV and looking at the play from a birds eye view and on the field that may not look like a good option. I think that three things are in play here. 1. The blocking isn't as good as it has been 2. Hester isn't giving everything to the return game as he was when he was not a WR. 3. The cat's out of the bag, unlike the Bears other teams do watch film and are doing a better job of containing him.

that doesn't suck? What a pathetic atrocious display of crap and ineptitude.

With Rex starting Bears 12 Packers 31 Offense provides a TD off of a short field after a turnover. The only other points the offense manages is a meaningless Field goal. Defense gets a safety. But the Packers take advantage of our inept offense and the D struggles to keep us in the game and eventually loosing the battle. The game is close for a while but then the flood gates open. With Kyle Bears 28 Packers 17 Orton still recovering from the ankle will require more focus on protection, quick passes, and the run game. Forte has another solid day on the ground. The offense being more balanced puts up 3 TD's 2 passing and one rushing TD. Hester gets his first TD return of the season appropriately at the same place that he got his first career return for a TD. The packers make a valiant effort after the Bears jump to a 21-3 lead but come up short.