🏈 Week 12 Official Game Thread 🏈 PIT @ CHI, Nov 23rd, 12PM CST, CBS, CHI -2.5

[Bears4Ever_34]

Whoever the trainer is in Chicago needs to not have a job anymore. Completely unacceptable to have so many players missing time with soft tissue injuries. 

If Gordon and Johnson can't play, I have no idea what Dennis Allen can do to salvage the defense in this game. They won't have enough bodies to be in Dime, and playing Dime against a team that runs a lot of 2 and 3 TE sets is usually not a good strategy anyways... I think they might have to borrow a page out of Brian Flores' playbook and start run blitzing on early downs with their DB's to account for the lack of quality LB'ers.

If the Bears are going to win this game, they might have to score 40+ again, like in CIN.

[Alaskan Grizzly]

1 hour ago, adam said:

Edmunds, Edwards, and Sewell are all out for Sunday. Another entire position group gone. This is gonna be ugly. It is not like the D-Line can pick up the slack or the secondary can cover up the LB weaknesses. TEs and RBs are going to have a field day against Hyppolite and Practice Squad LB. Not good.

Explains the signing of Reeves-Maybin earlier this week.  Probably see more of DeMarco Jackson (who already has seen the field a few times this year) and Ruben Hyppolite who I'm personally excited to see play.  I recall some of his college games. He's a solid player (at least while at Maryland).  

[Alaskan Grizzly]

3 hours ago, AZ54 said:

I don't think anyone is out there saying this Bears team is a finished product.  It's just year 1 of this coaching staff and turnaround.  I don't know any Bears fan that think we're a Superbowl contender.  Everyone I talk to is just happy that we now have a roster that no longer quits in close games and that our offense keeps getting better each week.    I'm still not accustomed to all the chunk plays we get each game but 3rd and 10-15 is no longer the death sentence it has been for many years.  

Well that is unless you think the team will be drafting 32nd overall next year.   😉

I get what you're saying, and you’re right. I agree this isn’t anywhere close to a finished product. The real test now is whether Johnson can coach well enough—and instill enough of that winning mindset—to carry the team through each game week after week, regardless of the score.

It reminds me of Dan Campbell’s early years in Detroit. Even though the team still looked and played like the “same old Lions,” you could sense them getting better because Campbell simply willed it into existence. The question is: does Johnson have that same kind of moxie?

I guess we’ll see. So far, it’s been relatively “easy” by comparison. (IMHO)

[adam]

1 hour ago, Alaskan Grizzly said:

Explains the signing of Reeves-Maybin earlier this week.  Probably see more of DeMarco Jackson (who already has seen the field a few times this year) and Ruben Hyppolite who I'm personally excited to see play.  I recall some of his college games. He's a solid player (at least while at Maryland).  

Jackson knows the defense, that was an underrated signing for the Bears. All we need Jackson and Hyppolite to do is not make any major mistakes. Sewell was below average anyway imo so his loss is not as big.

[AZ54]

4 hours ago, Alaskan Grizzly said:

Well that is unless you think the team will be drafting 32nd overall next year.   😉

I get what you're saying, and you’re right. I agree this isn’t anywhere close to a finished product. The real test now is whether Johnson can coach well enough—and instill enough of that winning mindset—to carry the team through each game week after week, regardless of the score.

It reminds me of Dan Campbell’s early years in Detroit. Even though the team still looked and played like the “same old Lions,” you could sense them getting better because Campbell simply willed it into existence. The question is: does Johnson have that same kind of moxie?

I guess we’ll see. So far, it’s been relatively “easy” by comparison. (IMHO)

If i said that it was in a trade back scenario, which I still think is a logical play for us.  

[jason]

I don’t care how this sounds.

i hope a Rodgers plays and the Bears injure him. Just like the Bears essentially retired Favre (Corey Wooten?), it would be poetic for Rodgers to get ended by the team he has traumatized and taunted so often.

[Mongo3451]

7 hours ago, jason said:

I don’t care how this sounds.

i hope a Rodgers plays and the Bears injure him. Just like the Bears essentially retired Favre (Corey Wooten?), it would be poetic for Rodgers to get ended by the team he has traumatized and taunted so often.

You are my spirit animal...😎. This was me to a buddy.

[Alaskan Grizzly]

10 hours ago, jason said:

I don’t care how this sounds.

i hope a Rodgers plays and the Bears injure him. Just like the Bears essentially retired Favre (Corey Wooten?), it would be poetic for Rodgers to get ended by the team he has traumatized and taunted so often.

At least demoralize him like the Texans did with Josh Allen a few nights ago. 

[Alaskan Grizzly]

14 hours ago, AZ54 said:

If i said that it was in a trade back scenario, which I still think is a logical play for us.  

Not you.  Someone else in playful (maybe hopeful) jest.  

[Alaskan Grizzly]

18 hours ago, adam said:

Jackson knows the defense, that was an underrated signing for the Bears.

I was curious about him.  Turns out he looks to be familiar with Allen as he was drafted while Allen was HC in New Orleans.  Unfortunately he was injured pretty much right off.  But if he comes out this weekend and plays the hero, I may owe Allen an apology…

[adam]

Damn, Bears' media site shows Tremaine Edmunds on IR, but no announcement from the team. 4+ games missed would suck, he was having a great year.

[adam]

11 hours ago, jason said:

I don’t care how this sounds.

i hope a Rodgers plays and the Bears injure him. Just like the Bears essentially retired Favre (Corey Wooten?), it would be poetic for Rodgers to get ended by the team he has traumatized and taunted so often.

My fear is if there is manipulation by the league, and they want him to have his Swan Song, he comes in and magically gets a naked bootleg TD to win the game and to do the discount double check one last time. Now that would suck balls. I just want him to go away, but I understand the sentiment. 

The way the league has called games against the Bears, these games never feel fair. 

[adam]

No Jaylon or Gordon. This is going to be an ugly game. If they can win without their starting LBs and CBs, that would be a miracle. 

[Stinger226]

We are a 7-3 team, call us a good bad team or a bad good team, it doesnt matter. The defense has not been good and the injuries have a lot to do with it. We are going to win because of offense and maybe a few TOs come in to play. People talk about the Steelers great pass rush but they have still given up a lot of points. The key to the game will be run baby run. A more consistent game by Caleb will go along way for us to win this game. This is going to be an end of the game win type of game. I will choose Caleb over whoever plays QB for them in the game. 

We have home field advantage that should contribute to less mistakes.

Even if Rodgers starts the game, he will not finish it. One big hit and he's gone. 

 

[Stinger226]

More of this

https://youtube.com/shorts/-CnBnUaYQyY?si=FHnKEmEF5tXW0yrQ

[ASHKUM BEAR]

 This game comes down to HC/OC Ben Johnson playing it simple. Run, run, throw.  He has two good TEs and a RB that can fight and another that can exploit.  Many FGs are what I see 

[Stinger226]

4 hours ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

 This game comes down to HC/OC Ben Johnson playing it simple. Run, run, throw.  He has two good TEs and a RB that can fight and another that can exploit.  Many FGs are what I see 

I agree, its all about offense. Tomlin is a good coach so this wont be easy but as much as our defense has been bad, Steelers aren't bringing a juggernaut to the game either. This is a winnable game and our positive progression of finding ways to win will be tested but being home will give us the edge.

[Stinger226]

No Aaron Rodgers today.

[Pixote]

Okay, I'm reluctant to ask this question because I assume the answer will make me feel very stupid or senile. Despite showing my ignorance, I am compelled to ask.

Every time I see Caleb walk onto the field after the game, there is always a heavy-set, bearded white guy who is accompanying him. This morning, they showed Caleb entering the stadium with the same guy attached to his hip, talking and laughing with him.

Who the hell is this guy? A member of the coaching staff? A personal bodyguard? I'm confused. Please enlighten me. Be kind 😉

 

[Stinger226]

3 minutes ago, Pixote said:

Okay, I'm reluctant to ask this question because I assume the answer will make me feel very stupid or senile. Despite showing my ignorance, I am compelled to ask.

Every time I see Caleb walk onto the field after the game, there is always a heavy-set, bearded white guy who is accompanying him. This morning, they showed Caleb entering the stadium with the same guy attached to his hip, talking and laughing with him.

Who the hell is this guy? A member of the coaching staff? A personal bodyguard? I'm confused. Please enlighten me. Be kind 😉

 

Has to be security, all famous people have them.

[Bears4Ever_34]

The way I see it: If the Bears lose today, they'll be facing an uphill battle to get in to the playoffs.

At 7-4, they could be staring down the barrel of being 7-6 real quick before they get to CLE. That would put them in a position to win out or go 3-1 against CLE, SF, GB, DET to finish the season, which does not seem feasible.

If they beat the Steelers, they could probably lose the next two and be in decent shape. Get to 9-5 after beating CLE (which should be a must win in every scenario, given the rest of the schedule), and then you maybe only have to win 1 of the next 3 to get in.