Take the North and Never Give It Back!

[adam]

That is still funny to me, but there is a path in the next two weeks.

This week, assuming DET beats WSH, CHI beats NYG and GB loses to PHI.

That would slide DET into 1st in the DIV, tied with the Bears but holding the H2H tiebreaker.

Regardless of the outcome of any other games, the Bears would also be locked into the 6th Seed either between SF and LAR or LAR and GB, depending on the winner of the LAR @ SF game.

Now here is where it gets spicy. Week 11, if the Bears can beat the Vikings and go to 7-3, DET is playing in PHI, which PHI should be favored. Just say DET loses, they fall to 6-4, GB should beat NYG and move to 6-3-1. That would put the Bears in 1st at 7-3, GB in 2nd, and DET in 3rd. The odds of this happening are actually quite high, considering all outcomes.

[BearFan PHX]

We are currently sniffing the playoffs - that puts everything in our own hands.

I don't think this team is ready for any kind of run, mostly because of the lack of pass pressure. And i think that will become more evident when we play some of the better teams coming up on the schedule.

But if this season was for Caleb and Johnson, then I think next season playoff expectations are fair. We have to get the defense right this coming offseason.

I'm enjoying this developmental year, and Im seeing the markers i felt I needed to see for this year to be a success. I want to see us upset one of those good teams too, if possible. I expect Caleb to keep growing and be a better QB in week 17 than he is now, which is miles better than week 1 was.

But next year - it's go time, and I expect us to start winning a bunch of games. I will be less patient with Caleb and everyone, and start to expect results. That's gonna be fun.

[Pixote]

3 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

But next year - it's go time, and I expect us to start winning a bunch of games. I will be less patient with Caleb and everyone, and start to expect results. That's gonna be fun.

It would be great if we could reach a point where posts on this forum celebrating accomplishments far outnumber those pointing out failures or offering excuses for poor performance. If BJ can do that in his first year as Bears' HC, it would be amazing.

[BearFan PHX]

3 hours ago, Pixote said:

It would be great if we could reach a point where posts on this forum celebrating accomplishments far outnumber those pointing out failures or offering excuses for poor performance. If BJ can do that in his first year as Bears' HC, it would be amazing.

of course we all want a dominant team, a top 3 QB. I dont think that putting Caleb's growth into context is excuse making exactly. It is what it is - it takes time, and we are progressing every week? That's just reasonable and the way it happens in the NFL. No one hits the ground running that isnt later exposed to have been incomplete as a player. It youre building a complete veteran top QB, there is a process, and you gotta go through it. Good news is that he seems to be making his way through the steps.

But yes, next year it is what it is, and patience will be much shorter. I cant wait for that either.

[adam]

12 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

We are currently sniffing the playoffs - that puts everything in our own hands.

I don't think this team is ready for any kind of run, mostly because of the lack of pass pressure. And i think that will become more evident when we play some of the better teams coming up on the schedule.

But if this season was for Caleb and Johnson, then I think next season playoff expectations are fair. We have to get the defense right this coming offseason.

I'm enjoying this developmental year, and Im seeing the markers i felt I needed to see for this year to be a success. I want to see us upset one of those good teams too, if possible. I expect Caleb to keep growing and be a better QB in week 17 than he is now, which is miles better than week 1 was.

But next year - it's go time, and I expect us to start winning a bunch of games. I will be less patient with Caleb and everyone, and start to expect results. That's gonna be fun.

Another way to look at it though, both Johnson and Allen have done this before as coordinators, so most of the in-game stuff is the same. Johnson has a few more responsibilities as a HC, but those are only related to challenges and timeouts, which he can get assistance from the booth on.

As for players, most of the vets have playoff experience. For key contributors, most do like Swift, Thuney, Dalman, Jackson, Smythe, Jarrett, Sweat, Billings, Edmunds, CJGJ, Wright and Byard. 

We are now at the halfway point of the season. From most new offenses, this is when they start to become more consistent. So I think we should expect more efficient and consistent offensive output for the rest of the season. 

 

Ultimately, if the Bears can go 2-0 in the next two weeks, and both DET and GB go 1-1, the Bears control their own destiny, which is not something I expected.  That would put them at 7-3 heading into the game against PIT, which is very winnable at home. Also, based on odds, that is the most likely outcome over the next two weeks. So it is not like we are reaching.