adam

With how the Bears have played at home vs on the road, it just feels like guaranteeing the most home games is the most ideal route. Their last 4 losses have been on the road and their only home loss was what ended up as the Week 1 fluke against MIN.

If the Bears played that game at home, they probably win by a TD.

Yeah, the final drive was kind of hectic. From 2:15 to 0:40 secs, there were no CHI timeouts used. They used 51 seconds to gain 16 yards, then 39 seconds to gain another 18 yards. They also had to waste one on 3rd Down after an incompletion, which may have allowed them to get the 4th Down call right, but then it required another timeout after that play. It sucks because they got one play from 1st and goal at the 2 instead of 2 or 3. The odds of scoring from the 2 (like a 2-pt conversion is like 50%), so even a 2nd play, and they probably score.

and they are technically the easiest matchup as every other one is either SF, SEA, or LAR.

It will be interesting to see what Dan Campbell actually does. Will he rest any key starters in what is a meaningless game for DET, who have lost 3 straight, and 4 out of 5? With a chance at the playoffs still on the line, they lost to MIN 23-10 and looked like they didn't care. My hope is DET doesn't risk Week 18 injuries for their core players and the Bears can handily win and put the game out of reach by halftime, then rest their own starters with the game in hand. Bears 30-10. Bears get locked into the #2 Seed with a home playoff game against GB the following weekend. GB would be in MIN having to travel back home, then to CHI for WC Weekend.

Here are the projected paths: #2 Seed - at least 2 home games, one vs GB, and the DIV round vs PHI or Week 18 loser of SEA/SF. Possibly a 3rd home game for NFCC vs LAR (LAR beats #1 Seed). #3 Seed - at least 1 home game, on road in PHI for DIV round or at home vs LAR in DIV Round (if GB beat PHI). The #1 Seeds make the SB 50% of the time, so there is a high chance that one of the two #1 seeds will make the SB. However, in the last 5 years, only one #1 Seed has won it (KC). If you take KC out of the equation, non-KC teams are 6-7 in the playoffs as #1 Seeds with only 2 SB visits (both losses).

Needs 82 scrimmage yards to hit 1K. He has 769 Rushing Yards, and 149 Receiving Yards. He has hit 82+ yards 4 times this season, all within the last 11 games. Crazy production from RB2 7th Rounder.

Caleb is 8th in Passing Yards, T-7th in Passing TDs, T-4th in INTs with a 90.3 QB Rating. Ultimately no need to keep track of his progress, he has arrived. This will be his worst season under Johnson statistically from here on out.

Now has 48 receptions for 622 yards and 5 TDs on the season. That is the most for a Bears TE since Kmet's 719 in 2023 (on 73 receptions). In the Super Bowl era, Dikta, Dewveal, Bennett, and Kmet are the only TEs in Bears history to have 650+ receiving yards in a season. Desmond Clark had 626. Loveland is having the 2nd best season in Bears history for a rookie TE, only to Dikta's 1,076 yards and 12 TDs in 1961 (in 14 games which is insane). Loveland also has a +43.2 REC EPA, 3rd to only McBride and Kittle. McBride has 161 targets, Loveland has 69.

So is it better to play GB in CHI on short rest (with GB coming off a bye) or SEA/SF with equal rest?

Next will be interesting to see what Ben Johnson does. He does not seem like the type of coach that will rest people and concede anything, especially against DET. A win in Week 18, the Bears would be locked into the #2 Seed with a game against GB. A loss is basically a game against the loser of SEA@SF. So instead of GB coming back to CHI, you get either SF or SEA. SF is 7-2 on the road, SEA is 7-1 (would be 7-2 with loss to SF) while GB is 4-3-1 on the road. So do you rest players all but guaranteeing a game against SEA or SF, or do you play everyone and go into a game with no rest while your opponent got a week off resting their players in Week 18 (GB resting players against MIN because they can't change their seeding)?

Out of the entire game, I thought Johnson handled the timeouts pretty well, but I thought he was too worried about leaving too much time on the clock at the end, leaving very little room for error. Having to spike the ball wasted a play when you had over 2 mins and 3 timeouts to start with. A learning point for him, but tough to watch it play out.

Yeah, it was bad. Burden got facemasked coming across the middle, no call. Jarrett has his face mask pushed up, no call, then the next play Dexter does the same thing (both penalties), but that one was called.

It was the difference in the game. It would've been tied and Santos would've been kicking the GW FG from 29 yards out.

Yeah both him and Monangai did that, cut back inside right towards defender.

Not that is matters, but Caleb threw for 330, now 270 from 4K and only 109 to break Kramer's team record.

SF had the officials advantage all game, that was the difference. One play away.

Damn what a game.

Walk off TD, can't tie now.

Play before Dexter's hands to the face call, Jarrett had the OLine do it to him but not called. Ffs these rest man.

Damn would've like to have seen some more runs there. The 3rd down play 4 routes all in the end zone, nothing open.

If you listen to the broadcast, apparently SF is up by 30.

Zone coverage and no holding calls, SF may score 60.

Defense needs to take away McCaffrey make them beat you with someone else.

Great opening drive to start the 2nd half.