LAR @ CHI, Divisional Round, SUN, JAN 18th Game Thread - CHI +3.5, O/U 51.5

[BearFan PHX]

At this point, with all my goals reached for the season, entering into a playoff game in which we are strongly underdogs, I am putting the analytical part of my brain to the side in regards to these games now. We are underdogs and we are scrappers, and there only 3 games to win. Why not us?

Right now, I'm just rooting as a fan. I dont care about the odds. I want to see Sweat and Booker come alive. I dont care about what anyone has done previously in the season - it's time to show up.

BEAR freakin DOWN Lets go.

[Stinger226]

If our OL plays well, we win the game. That means we run the ball well and Caleb had time to go down field where a weak Rams DBs live. 33-27

[adam]

Puka accounts for 28% of the target share but 34% of the Passing 1st Downs. He averages 107 yds per game and had 111 against CAR. The Bears can't play soft coverage against him. 

LAR is traveling on Saturday, getting into Chicago around dinner time, so they will be in town approximately 24 hours before kickoff. I know they are trying to not make the weather a big deal, but there is no way it won't be a factor.

I am so much more relaxed for this game, the Bears are playing with the house's money. They can win this as easy as they can lose this one. Hopefully they play loose. The Rams are the ones expected to win, Super Bowl contenders, MVP, the pressure is on them, in a hostile environment, with bad weather. 

[adam]

It's wild if Darnold can't play due to an injury he suffered on Thursday, then a beat up SF team beats Drew Lock, the Bears pull off the upset and SF comes to Chicago for a rematch in the NFCC in frigid weather conditions? That would truly be fairytale-level scripting by the NFL.

[AZ54]

You ain't ready.    40 years ago on a Sun morning my friend called me and said he had an extra ticket for the Bears vs. Rams playoff game.  To this day I don't know why that ticket became available last minute but I'm pretty sure it's because it was very cold.  I was cold the entire game but there were still two dudes behind us with no shirt on. 

Last May we visited the city and north shore lakefront.  I have a photo of my entire family with my wife in full length winter jacket, hood up, while Chicagoans walked around us in shorts and a t-shirt.    

Then there's the football aspect because everything is different with a football when it's that cold.  That can play against us too so we'll see but there is no doubt our player are more prepared for it.  

 

[Mongo3451]

Good stuff AZ54.  Prayers continue for your wife.  On the temp related note, it's true.  Extreme cold and heat have an adverse effect.  Miami has an advantage in the heat and they capitalize on it.  The visitors sit in the sun while they sit in the shade. (Stadium built that way). I remember going to Cabo and Puerto Rico and taking the entire vacation to get acclimated to the heat.  My buddy came up from Missouri over Thanksgiving and was freezing while I was in shorts and t shirt and we're both the same size.  

Games like this don't affect the hitters as much as it does the hittees.  After that adrenaline kicks in to help.  All told, I'm guessing 10% advantage...

[AZ54]

6 minutes ago, Mongo3451 said:

Good stuff AZ54.  Prayers continue for your wife.  On the temp related note, it's true.  Extreme cold and heat have an adverse effect.  Miami has an advantage in the heat and they capitalize on it.  The visitors sit in the sun while they sit in the shade. (Stadium built that way). I remember going to Cabo and Puerto Rico and taking the entire vacation to get acclimated to the heat.  My buddy came up from Missouri over Thanksgiving and was freezing while I was in shorts and t shirt and we're both the same size.  

Games like this don't affect the hitters as much as it does the hittees.  After that adrenaline kicks in to help.  All told, I'm guessing 10% advantage...

Thanks for the prayers, she's doing great these days.  

[Alaskan Grizzly]

Was just pondering some interesting info on all the ‘lead men’ for the remaining teams in the playoffs.  

Besides the fact none of these teams have been to the Super Bowl in the last couple years, all the QBs are first round picks save Brock Purdy who in fact was Mr Irrelevant in 2022.  Stafford and Williams are former 1st round overall picks who have taken very different paths to these playoffs.   Darnold and Allen were both 1st round picks from the 2018 draft and have also taken very different paths to get here.  The only ones who haven’t been to a playoff game before this season were Williams and Maye. Darnold and Williams both played at USC.  And three of the QBs were from the same draft class in 2024 (Williams, Nix and Maye).  Of those three this Nix’s second trip to the playoffs and Maye is a MVP candidate.

I feel a change is in the air for the NFL.   

[BearFan PHX]

Apparently the Bears have been practicing with Thuney at LT and McFadden at LG.

Is this how were gonna go? Or maybe this is in case Benedet gets injured?

[ASHKUM BEAR]

1 hour ago, BearFan PHX said:

Apparently the Bears have been practicing with Thuney at LT and McFadden at LG.

Is this how were gonna go? Or maybe this is in case Benedet gets injured?

Interesting. I think they are preparing just in case, but maybe they go Thuney LT if they win after or cant stop Verse. 

[ASHKUM BEAR]

Man, LT Ozzy Trapilo was a freaking diamond.  Sucks his chances of playing again is like a coin flip.  I pray it isn't as bad and he can return to form.  

With that said, do they draft another. Develop Theo and Kiran more. Resign Braxton... move Thuney until they have a solution. I am glad we have options, but losing a LT prospect that thrived sucks.

[ASHKUM BEAR]

Bo Nix breaks his ankle 2nd to last play, hes done.  Probably the Broncos too Stidholm is the back up. 

 

[Mongo3451]

21 minutes ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

Man, LT Ozzy Trapilo was a freaking diamond.  Sucks his chances of playing again is like a coin flip.  I pray it isn't as bad and he can return to form.  

With that said, do they draft another. Develop Theo and Kiran more. Resign Braxton... move Thuney until they have a solution. I am glad we have options, but losing a LT prospect that thrived sucks.

Why do you say coin flip? They repair patellar tendons all the time.

[ASHKUM BEAR]

15 minutes ago, Mongo3451 said:

Why do you say coin flip? They repair patellar tendons all the time.

Reports/speculation say guys his size are hard recoveries if at all.  Since its a rupture, we might luck out. Until they come out with an update, we will be on the edge of our seats. 

The updates I get on X while in Costa Rica seem fake, so maybe im reading bad info.

Here is some good news, KC rookie LT Josh Simmons had a similiar injury Oct 2024 and was the starting LT game 1.

 

 

[CrackerDog]

So much for having a home game next week if we get there.  The 49ers are getting kicked in the balls tonight.  

[Mongo3451]

10 minutes ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

Reports/speculation say guys his size are hard recoveries if at all.  Since its a rupture, we might luck out. Until they come out with an update, we will be on the edge of our seats. 

The updates I get on X while in Costa Rica seem fake, so maybe im reading bad info.

Here is some good news, KC rookie LT Josh Simmons had a similiar injury Oct 2024 and was the starting LT game 1.

 

 

👍🏽🙏

[Pixote]

1 hour ago, CrackerDog said:

So much for having a home game next week if we get there.  The 49ers are getting kicked in the balls tonight.  

No kidding, they brutalized the 49ers.

So today I was pulling for Buffalo and SFO to win, and both lost.

As long as the Bears win and advance to the conference final, I'm celebrating!

What an amazing year!

[Stinger226]

12 hours ago, AZ54 said:

Thanks for the prayers, she's doing great these days.  

Glad the health of your wife is all good news.

I can't bet against the bears especially this year but to many national people are picking the bears. That always bothers me. A couple of national media that I like picking the bears, Brandt and Rollins.