DABEARSDABOMB

I will say I am just not the type of guy that gets fired up over giving up 2 1st round picks. That said, so far so good. Helped that we filled a position of need with a major impact player who is just entering his prime years.

This was a really good team win and a great performance by the D. Offensively, they didn't put up a lot of points and they turned the ball over far more than I would have liked, but they also converted a good amount of 3rd downs and that says something, given how stingy the Vikings defense is. I'll consider this game a great barometer for the Bears and even for Mitch since Minny is one of the best defenses in the league. In terms of his two picks, the first one was just an awful read / decision. No doubt about that. The 2nd one has me totally confused as Robinson stopped and I don't know if it was a miscommunication, illegal contact (looked like the DB was all over Robinson) or a combination of the two. Was a really odd play though.

He made that great catch and now he's in concussion protocol. Hopefully he is okay and gets back quickly. If he's going to even have a chance at being good, he's got to be available/on the field. You can see the match-up nightmare he can pose (see successful 2 point conversion).

If we lose, it is purely a learning moment. I will not be surprised if we lose and it gives the team a better barometer for what it needs to clean up / improve to get to the next level. I haven't been this excited for the franchise since early in the Lovie Smith era.

Echo those sentiments.

The Minnesota game is going to be a real test. This will be by far the best defense Trubisky has faced all season. Its also one of the better offenses the Bears will face (especially now that Minnesota has Cook back in the backfield). I will state right now, no matter how good or BAD the game ends up being, I'm not going to overreact. This will be a good measure for the Bears as to where they stand...that said, the game to me has no measure on their LT future, albeit, I do think it is a good measuring stick to their current progress.

Fantastic win...special teams and rushing game are serious issues though, and they need to clean it up. Vikings game is going to be a big one.

I agree (in terms of his accuracy). I didn't think it was that bad in the "Bills" game (that was just a really odd game). He hit some huge throws in that 1st quarter and than I presume got extra "careful" given the big lead. That throw to Burton certainly was a WTF throw. Those will happen. The game before that was the "windy" game and we were taking some big shots down field, which aren't going to help the percentages given those conditions. I'd put that as an incomplete. Bottom line he knows he needs to clean-up his mechanics and footwork and some of that will happen more as things continue to slow down and some of it probably takes an off-season of progress. The biggest thing to me is mentally the dude seems to get it and is making a lot of progress. The other crazy thing is just how good the NFL QB's are these days. Mitch has a pretty high QB rating (from a historical perspective), yet its very pedestrian in this current NFL.

Some reports that Shaheen will make his return against the Vikings. Haven't seen the major media definitely report yet, but it seems like a reasonable assumption. They are still being very quiet on Robinson which makes me think it might only be Mack who makes his return this week.

Hopefully they are all 100% as well (and not still 75 or 80%). Great to have those guys back. Will be interesting to see if Shaheen is active on Sunday.

Detroit is jeckyl & hyde. They can be good and they can be bad. Who knows who shows up, but the fact that they got crushed a week ago is probably a bad thing and I'd suspect they come out and play a pretty good game against the Bears. I'm glad we are at home for this one cause that advantage might be the difference in the ballgame.

His ability to read defenses and his overall leadership qualities, give me a lot of reasons to be optimistic. I've said it before and I'll say it again, as he continues to get more comfortable iwth this offense (and as the players get more comfortable...especially after this next off-season), I think we'll see another big step forward. I fully expect these guys to continue working with each other in the off-season and I think Mitch will clean-up his footwork, etc (and I think those things will naturally clean-up as he gains comfort as well). The way I've seen him mature in throwing guys open and making reads, makes me very optimistic with his future. Plus he just seems to have this "moxy" to him.

I hope Nagy tells Cohen he needs to stop going backwards. Cohen is explosive, but we need to channel him better. Those negative plays can really hurt.

I believe Hester would have gotten destroyed being used like Patterson. Cordelle is a much bigger / physical guy who can take more of that pounding. I'd have loved Hester being used in more of the Tarik Cohen / Tyreke Hill roll. Hester's big problem was that he wasn't that crisp of a route-runner but you know he'd get all kinds of space in this offensive system.

I think they've decided he isn't part of their future and Wimms is and there just isn't enough of a difference between them, that you might as well invest in the younger players.

Even so, I saw him adjust quite a bit more and he was getting close. Much closer than you saw earlier in the season. My gut is he is pressing. Early in the season he was just really limited by his hand (from a pass rush perspective). He's still been a good player...if he can get those sacks, he becomes a great player cause the rest of his game is above average, imo.

They did a lot of things to shoot themselves in the foot. Was a really odd game...since you would think you'd be pretty pleased, having crushed a lousy team...but I saw more of the bad that cost the Bears earlier in the season rear its ugly head. Defensively Floyd had his best game of the season (despite no sacks...). Offensively, Mitch had that one bad pick, but hard to say much. Just an odd flow to the game, which can make it hard to play offensively. Mitch did an excellent job converting some 3rd downs early in the game which helped set the momentum. Penalties really hurt them...so many false starts, etc. That said, I thought outside of those penalties (and some if it was just ugly officiating) the defense played a very crisp game. And I'll take a blowout road win all day baby. I'm really hoping that Arob / Mack are close to 100% as we are going to need those guys for these next 3 (and the rest of the team). Bears are going to have to play a lot better against Detroit / Minny. The fact that Detroit gave up so many sacks is a bad thing, imo, as it means all of their guys will be hyper-focused to clean it up (plus if you look at the Lions season, they've typically responded well after a bad game).

It is going to be interesting to see how he can get back. Hopefully the Bears do their thing and remain competitive and/or ensure post-season play so Long can do his thing and get back and crush it!

I tried to look and couldn't find one myself. I've never had an authentic but have had pretty good wear and tear on the screen print versions (albeit I pretty much never wash my Bear jerseys...I throw it over what I'm wearing and pretty much roll) and than don't ever stick them in the dryer (only time I need to wash is when I spill wing sauce or something on my jersey). Dangerous...I went to the site and wanted to buy a Mack jersey....must resist temptation

I agree with this statement, however, after the Miami and New England game, I feel like they are better prepared to come out and keep coming. I also think if Mack is out, the defense kind of knows it has to "step up" and will bring its A game.

They absolutely have a legit defense. Probably Top 5 in the league if it was paired with a decent offense. They can make plays and the Bears could find themselves on the wrong side if they give up the big plays offensively and/or make too many mistakes offensively (i.e, turnover prone). I'm hoping they can get up early on Buffalo and put them away from start to finish...you don't want to start off the game by digging a big hole...gives the other team too much hope and puts you in a tough spot (i.e., Miami / Arizona games).

It is going to be a cluster at the end of the season in the North. My prediction is that Dolphins / Packers game from early in the year will be our undoing, but man, either way, its fun to have this vision to play in meaningful games. I also have a vision of super bowl contention in the future. Arrow is pointed up...lets hope it stays that way (and maybe the speed at which it points up just gets quicker :)). More importantly, I want this to be a sustained rebuild where we have a long window of contention. Because....we deserve it as Bear fans

Really cool and glad they backed it up with the win

By the way...it needs to be said, but Leno is a good left tackle. Not bad, not okay, but good, if not very good. He has been a great find by the front office and was a great early extension by Pace. Really the whole line has been good...hopefully Kush can come back in and fill the void lost from Kyle Long. The only thing I want them to keep improving is the run blocking, which hasn't been as good as it should be, but it has been trending upwards the past couple of weeks.

I have a feeling we'll see Robinson and Mack out again this week. Really sucks regarding Long. Was so glad he finally seemed to be "healthy" this year. I hope somehow this is one of those miraculous plays where everything sounds and looks horrid and than magically the diagnosis is much better.