Week 6 Official Game Thread - CHI @ WAS, MNF, Oct 13, 8:15PM CDT, ABC, CHI +4.5

[adam]

McLaurin and Noah Brown out, so outside of Deebo and Ertz, this is going to be a run heavy attack.

Looks like Johnson announced Benedet will be starting at LT. 
 

 

[Alaskan Grizzly]

What are the odds Caleb follows the same pattern?  

[adam]

Deebo questionable too, clearly not 100%. The Bears have to take advantage. 

 

[Stinger226]

I expect a better effort in the run game but if we hold them under 125, I would be happy. Its going to be about how many points we score, a better defense will just be a bonus. 

[Mongo3451]

2 hours ago, Alaskan Grizzly said:

What are the odds Caleb follows the same pattern?  

That would be awesome but doubt it.  Schedule too tough.  Also, don't think it ever happened...

[Stinger226]

I think we have a good group of coaches and will address some problems we have and make it better. Not sure we can become a demon defense against the run but at least get us to a level of average. It appears that we will have everyone back but Grady Jarrett. Not referring to the players on season ending injuries.

Adjustments and health should give us a boost. We have a new LT. BJ has a better effort from everyone and Jones didnt get better. Blame in the injury it doesnt matter it wasnt good enough. Beno now gets his shot. I dont think they think he will be a world beater but at least have the chance to grow and be better every week. He had some bad moments against Crosby but also some good ones and that's what they are banking on with Theo. 

As last year's Washington game was the blow up moment for that team, I think the block FG will be that moment for this year's team. I think all of the games are going to come down to the last five minutes of a game this year and we now have confidence and a QB that excels in that moment.  It should get us a winning season.

[Alaskan Grizzly]

17 hours ago, Mongo3451 said:

That would be awesome but doubt it.  Schedule too tough.  Also, don't think it ever happened...

It appears I was duped by the internet.  And bad editorial preview on my part. However, their records aren’t all that different at this point of their careers.  And I’d like nothing more than Williams to go 8-0 over the next 8 games . 🤞

[DABEARSDABOMB]

I don’t think the Bears have the horses to win this. Run defense doesn’t match up and even with no McClaurin - between Daniel’s, Debo, and the running backs I can’t see our defense holding them to under 28. 
 

Offensively we have seen progress- hopefully they can keep building and start to show progress on ground game and we see Caleb play his most complete game yet - but if they fall behind with the Commanders pass rush - this game can get ugly early. 
 

Let’s go Bears - step up here and play some great football!!! Would love to see Montez show up and let MNF jump start his season and the pass rush with Booker hopefully back. 
 

I see DJ having a big game and curious to see what tricks/wrinkles Ben has up his sleeve following the bye week. Hopefully we see Caleb continue to grow from the pocket and see his footwork and timing continue to improve. Let’s also clean up those penalties! 

[Bears4Ever_34]

Bears eventually have to win these games they aren't supposed to win to get to the place we all want them to be. Unless the defense completely rolls over, like they did against DET, Caleb needs to rise to the challenge and win this game. Getting to 3-2 with the Saints next on the schedule would be huge for the confidence in this team. If they get smacked around by the Commanders, all that culture change talk after the win against the Raiders will mean absolutely nothing. Nothing changes until they win one of these big games, against an actual team.

[BearFan PHX]

6 minutes ago, Bears4Ever_34 said:

Bears eventually have to win these games they aren't supposed to win to get to the place we all want them to be. Unless the defense completely rolls over, like they did against DET, Caleb needs to rise to the challenge and win this game. Getting to 3-2 with the Saints next on the schedule would be huge for the confidence in this team. If they get smacked around by the Commanders, all that culture change talk after the win against the Raiders will mean absolutely nothing. Nothing changes until they win one of these big games, against an actual team.

So true. I dunno how realistic it is with our defensive line this year, but yes this is one of the next important goals.

First comes flashes - we've seen that. The rest of this year is to gain consistency - make first downs, win time of possession.

Then, if we can get a proper pass rush and can stop the run up front, our window to compete opens.

Soon we should be able to beat the bottom 20 teams consistently - then we have to learn what it takes to beat those really good teams.

So yeah, I totally agree with you. That's whats in front of us.

[Pixote]

I feel we still don't know what the 2025 Bears are capable of. We knew from the get-go that it would take time for the team to settle into D Allen's defensive system. Same for the offense with BJ's complex offense. However, none of us expected (or at least I didn't) that injuries would derail our growth for the start of the season. The loss of our two top CBs for the season was a huge blow.

How much better will the defense be with Booker, Gordon, and Edwards back on the field? (& Garrett soon, fingers crossed.)

Will Wright remain healthy? Will our new LT at least help improve the overall OL play?

Will the changes we made over the break improve our running game?

Will Caleb continue to progress going forward without too many stutter-steps?

I'm hoping we learn some of these answers from the game tonight.

 

[Mongo3451]

49 minutes ago, Pixote said:

Will our new LT at least help improve the overall OL play?

I don't he'll provide better individual play.  What I do think is that he'll be a better help player.  Both in helping and receiving help.  Braxton made too many mentally lazy technique mistakes.  In a nutshell, continuity is more important than talent...

[Pixote]

Just read that Booker and Homer will both miss the game. I'm really disappointed that it is taking so long for Booker to recover.

[DABEARSDABOMB]

8 minutes ago, Pixote said:

Just read that Booker and Homer will both miss the game. I'm really disappointed that it is taking so long for Booker to recover.

Santos is out too - Moody will be the kicker. Sounds like Booker is close but maybe just not enough practice time to be ready to go. 

[adam]

Bears up 13-0, rushing game is looking solid. Benedet and Co look great.

Defense already forced 2 more turnovers. 10 turnovers forced in last 10 quarters. 

One team is averaging 5.1 YPC from their RBs, the other is averaging 2.8 with a fumble lost. This is the perfect recipe for winning.

[Alaskan Grizzly]

Said it once and will say it again…Wright is a liability at corner.  
 

And I’m a fan of Swift.  I suspect he’ll have a good game tonight.  

[adam]

Refs taking over the game, very frustrating. 8 pt swing in WAS favor so far.  Should be 17-3, now WAS with the ball down by 6, just 13-7. 

Non-fans of WAS and CHI are even saying the fix is in for WAS lol. 

[Mongo3451]

13 minutes ago, adam said:

Refs taking over the game, very frustrating. 8 pt swing in WAS favor so far.  Should be 17-3, now WAS with the ball down by 6, just 13-7. 

Non-fans of WAS and CHI are even saying the fix is in for WAS lol. 

Three very shitty calls against the defense so far.

[adam]

10 minutes ago, Mongo3451 said:

Three very shitty calls against the defense so far.

and now a no-call on helmet to helmet on Caleb, wtf. How is that not called, you could hear it on the broadcast. Refs doing whatever they can to keep this game close. Has to be frustrating for the Bears. 

[adam]

The Bears lead the turnover battle 2-0, have more time of possession, more passing yards, more rushing yards, and are only up by 6 at half.  This is how you know the officials are impacting the game. 

[Bears4Ever_34]

The officiating has been predictably one sided again against the Bears, but the offense is really shitting the bed tonight not capitalizing off of takeaways and great field position. The defense has done enough to give the team a chance. If they lose, it'll be on the offense. Caleb has been horrible all night, missing so many easy short throws. The run game has surprisingly been effective. They need to keep at it until it stops working.

[adam]

3 minutes ago, Bears4Ever_34 said:

The officiating has been predictably one sided again against the Bears, but the offense is really shitting the bed tonight not capitalizing off of takeaways and great field position. The defense has done enough to give the team a chance. If they lose, it'll be on the offense. Caleb has been horrible all night, missing so many easy short throws. The run game has surprisingly been effective. They need to keep at it until it stops working.

Loveland OPI kills one drive. Both Odunze and Moore had DPI against them not called. Dude never turned his head and didn't allow Odunze back to the ball. That is called every time. On Moore, the DB is tackling Moore before the ball touches his hands, another easy call. Those all killed drives. 

[ASHKUM BEAR]

6 minutes ago, adam said:

Loveland OPI kills one drive. Both Odunze and Moore had DPI against them not called. Dude never turned his head and didn't allow Odunze back to the ball. That is called every time. On Moore, the DB is tackling Moore before the ball touches his hands, another easy call. Those all killed drives. 

They sure didnt want to throw the intentional grounding there.

[BearFan PHX]

57 minutes ago, Alaskan Grizzly said:

Said it once and will say it again…Wright is a liability at corner.  
 

And I’m a fan of Swift.  I suspect he’ll have a good game tonight.  

It looks like we shifted from a power scheme to more of an outside gap scheme, which lets Benedet and Wright get out on the edge, and Swift has been much more successful doing that. Cool.

[Bears4Ever_34]

Offense can't go into the toilet this half. Time for Caleb to step up and flip that switch.