🏈 Week 14 Official Game Thread 🏈 CHI@GB, Dec 7th, 325PM CST, FOX, CHI +6.5

[Alaskan Grizzly]

Not generally a fan of Cowherds but he does make some good observations here. 
 

https://youtube.com/shorts/gqbqWhqZ2YU?si=47VlMclpm_QklJPQ

[Stinger226]

Someone may have posted this, I didn't check but a good analysis of Caleb by Tim Jenkins.

 

[adam]

No QB is perfect. Every incompletion of Caleb's is scrutinized, yet his numbers are comparable to Daniel Jones, Josh Allen, Jordan Love, Justin Herbert, Bo Nix, and better than Jalen Hurts, Baker Mayfield, CJ Stroud, etc. 

If you didn't see the league leaders with him in 12th for Passing Yards, T-12th in Pass TDs, 5th in Sack%, and 8th in INT%, you would think he is a bottom 3rd QB. It is so weird. QBs make inaccurate passes, miss reads, take sacks, and throw INTs.

He absolutely has to be more accurate, especially in clean pockets, but we are talking about 2-3 passes a game. 

[Alaskan Grizzly]

3 hours ago, adam said:

If you didn't see the league leaders with him in 12th for Passing Yards, T-12th in Pass TDs, 5th in Sack%, and 8th in INT%, you would think he is a bottom 3rd QB. It is so weird. QBs make inaccurate passes, miss reads, take sacks, and throw INTs.

With the help of AI, the chart below reflects data pulled from multiple polls and raw performance metrics. What’s interesting is that, when viewed individually, some polls highlight specific strengths—like escapability and sack avoidance—where he ranks quite high. But when the focus shifts to accuracy and consistency, the ratings tend to drop. Still, if you average out around 10 different polls, the composite picture shows he’s roughly middle-of-the-pack as of now.  (By the way - not sure how he's 'tied at 62nd and fewest' with only 6 INTs). 

I think the upcoming Cleveland game will be a strong indicator of how real this team is and how effective Caleb is in his role. Cleveland is normally a “whew we get a break” game, but right now they’re working to get better—and they did beat Green Bay earlier this year, even if Flacco was under center at the time. With the Bears at home, this feels like the perfect opportunity to reset and gear up for a late-season push.

I’m hoping to see improvement from both Ben and Caleb. As for the defense… well, I’ve mostly lost hope there. At this point, I’m just wishing they can at least slow opponents down more often than not—even if it means sitting back in a prevent shell.

[Stinger226]

It's amazing to go from 68 sacks last year to maybe 25-30? Caleb has great awareness in the pocket, better OL and better play calling. This stat shows how much better we are from last year. 

[Alaskan Grizzly]

3 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

It's amazing to go from 68 sacks last year to maybe 25-30? Caleb has great awareness in the pocket, better OL and better play calling. This stat shows how much better we are from last year. 

Sure in that stat alone.  The part of the OL playing better should translate to allowing him more time to survey the field and read his progressions.  
 

Im guessing this offense is a very similar version of what Johnson deployed in Detroit.  And we all know besides Flacco and a slab of granite, Goff is one of the least mobile QBs and he still managed to keep his stats decent. 

[BearFan PHX]

No one is saying these stats are good enough, including Caleb and BJ. The question is, is he learning and growing, is he making reads and getting the ball out in rhythm. And i think more and more he is.

That's why if I KNEW Caleb would get no better than this, Id be unhappy with it, but given where i think he is headed, I still wouldn't take any other QB over him from the last 4 years of drafting. Maybe more than 4 years.

Caleb's trajectory is headed to elite territory, and I am here for it.

[Mongo3451]

1 hour ago, Alaskan Grizzly said:

Sure in that stat alone.  The part of the OL playing better should translate to allowing him more time to survey the field and read his progressions.  

Caleb has gone from running for his life and getting sacked, to scrambling and not getting sacked.  The completion percentage has not changed.  So far, the net is huge.  Sacks are down and third down conversions and big plays are up. (Wins too). He's trending good...

[Alaskan Grizzly]

17 minutes ago, Mongo3451 said:

The completion percentage has not changed

At the risk of being nit-picky:  62.5% in 2024 vs 57.8% 2025 - so far.  Yes the seasons not over yet. 
 

Sure the less sack rate is a big improvement if for nothing else to prolong his playing career but on that plane alone, Justin did a pretty remarkable job in eluding tacklers too.   What I do like is that Caleb makes a lot less mistakes when it comes to turnovers.  And man does he throw a fastball. But not always the best thing every time.  

[Alaskan Grizzly]

41 minutes ago, BearFan PHX said:

Caleb's trajectory is headed to elite territory, and I am here for it.

For the sake of Chicago Bear nation I hope you’re right.  

[Mongo3451]

14 minutes ago, Alaskan Grizzly said:

At the risk of being nit-picky:  62.5% in 2024 vs 57.8% 2025 - so far.  Yes the seasons not over yet. 
 

Sure the less sack rate is a big improvement if for nothing else to prolong his playing career but on that plane alone, Justin did a pretty remarkable job in eluding tacklers too.   What I do like is that Caleb makes a lot less mistakes when it comes to turnovers.  And man does he throw a fastball. But not always the best thing every time.  

I agree that he's flawed.  The one thing he does, is find a way to win, late.  Justin and Mitch did not have that.  Reducing sacks is worth the loss on completion percentage.  Points, yardage and wins are up.  Please allow him to get comfortable in a system.

[AZ54]

I’m not happy we lost but watching a couple film studies of Ozzy made me smile.  He was shaky early but you can see him gaining confidence as the game went on and in the second half he was rag dolling Parsons.  I do mean tossing him around.  Beyond that,  it was head on a swivel, picking up stunts, quick feet to redirect when he lost leverage.  He wasn’t perfect in the game for sure but I have no doubt we have a starting LT.  One more big test with Myles Garrett but he’ll be ready for Rd 2 against Green Bay. 

[AZ54]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Kswu-PAfj90

 

[BearFan PHX]

2 hours ago, AZ54 said:

I’m not happy we lost but watching a couple film studies of Ozzy made me smile.  He was shaky early but you can see him gaining confidence as the game went on and in the second half he was rag dolling Parsons.  I do mean tossing him around.  Beyond that,  it was head on a swivel, picking up stunts, quick feet to redirect when he lost leverage.  He wasn’t perfect in the game for sure but I have no doubt we have a starting LT.  One more big test with Myles Garrett but he’ll be ready for Rd 2 against Green Bay. 

yeah now that ive seen some coaches angle, Trapilo really grew - and he is doing an excellent job in reading the defense and making switches and double when he should.