jason

Yes, we're talking about the same play. It's a known gap in the cover-2, but ultimately I think a safety has to be there. Expecting Urlacher to cover that far down field is a little much at times. But, you're right, if he had cover-corner instincts, he would have just turned his head and picked it off.

Sadly, I agree. Remember the Super Bowl? Give a top tier QB just a little time against this defense and he'll eat it up. Peppers is great, but he can't stop Peyton Manning from checking down 439 times a game to a small, slot WR for 6 yards. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think I am. Aside from the past two weeks, the defensive pressure has not been substantial enough to cause problems for an all-pro QB like Manning, Brady, Brees, or Rivers.

1. I don't think Taylor deserves a horn. Each and every time he got the handoff there was a defensive player blowing up the play. Each time. I thought one time he might fumble because the DT was in as soon as Taylor got the ball. 2. The secondary deserves a lesser grade because they A] played too far back the entire game (I know the purpose, but it was still too much), and B] At least ONE of the safeties in the Cover-2 has to be there to dislodge the ball when Celek makes that TD catch.

Voted...but you are up against stiff competition this week. 1) The Saints are already in the lead 2) The Bears play the Lions, hardly a game most want to watch

Agreed. I must say this was probably my favorite game of the year. Nearly every aspect of the team did well. The only things that weren't good or great were the offensive line (no surprise) and the coaching decision at the end of just hope and hold on with that garbage prevent when they were doing so well otherwise the entire game.

And that TD right there is why you ALWAYS step on the opponent's throat. The prevent is almost always destroyed in the NFL, and this game should be ugly right now...not 31-26.

Surprised by the lack of holding calls on the Eagles' OL on the drive leading into, and through, the 2:00 minute warning. There have been numerous times a Bear was being mugged, but it's like the officials decided to just choke on the flags and ride out the game. It's not over yet, and a hold is a hold if it impacts the play.

We saw what happened on the last screen. Wide open hole, Cutler in a heap. The others I agree with.

Very good summary. It's great to be happy with the lead, but there is still a lot of room for improvement. I'm hyped about how the DL is performing, however, and how Cutler is picking apart the Eagles defense.

Dude...you gotta be kidding me. What's he supposed to do, put two more OLinemen directly behind the Guards so they can step up and plug the hole when either Omiyale or Webb shits the bed? EDIT: I wrote the above while the Bears were on the post-INT drive, and there were problems there as well. But the Bears got lucky on a back-foot throw from Cutler that could have been a 99yd INT return. I know I held my breath.

Well, that sucked. And showed the major flaw in the cover-2 (when it can be exploited). If there is no pressure, eventually the NFL talent of a QB and WR will find a gap in the zone. Let's go Devin, get us one back!

TOUCHDOWN!! I can't imagine how dangerous this offense would be if the OL could do freaking anything consistently. One week they open a few holes and get Cutler murdered. The next week they protect the QB and create mortar for a brick wall in front of the RBs.

WHICH TEAM HAS THE BIG PLAY OFFENSE!?!?

WOW. Melton looks like an absolute BEAST!

GREAT cutback by Forte! From no hole to uh-oh in 1 second.

Look at it this way...If there's a lockout, maybe there will be scabs, and in that case the Bears' OL might improve.

Wow. The Bears got lucky on that last play. Celek got wide open in the middle of the field, and Chris Harris was nowhere in site. Thank goodness Vick doesn't have Peyton Manning's accuracy.

If Vick keeps hitting RBs and WRs in the flats and on check-down routes, the Bears D is in trouble.

Frank Omiyale was, is, and always will be a bum. He has no business being on an NFL roster, much less starting. And some of you guys are comfortable with him being a stop gap next year because he doesn't smell like shit some of the time. He's horrible.

Bears (7-3): Eagles, @ Lions, Patriots, @ Vikings, Jets, @ Packers I say the following happens based on remaining schedule: Packers 11-5 (lose 2/4 to Falcons, Pats, Giants, Bears) Falcons 12-4 (lose 2/3 to Packers, Bucs, Saints) Saints 11-5 (lose 2/3 to Ravens, Falcons, Bucs) Bucs 10-6 (lose 3/4 to Ravens, Falcons, Redskins, Saints) Eagles 12-4 (lose 1/2 to Bears, Giants) Giants 9-7 (lose 3/4 to Jags, Eagles, Packers, Redskins) That puts the Bears in the position of requiring 3 wins to make it into the playoffs. Eagles - 50/50 game Lions - win Pats - loss Vikings - win Jets - 50/50 game Packers - Deciding game I think the Bears' playoff chances ride on the last game of the season.

Maybe. But the Bears have not been impressive in so long that it's hard not to be pessimistic about the wins. I think they are a 7-3 team that is really a 4-6 or 5-5 team. The good luck and the smoke and mirrors will potentially get them into the playoffs. Once there, they'll get waxed and have a mid 20 draft pick to look forward to. It's the disappointment of knowing more could have been done, but wasn't. It's the dissatisfaction of hindsight, realizing that changes could have turned this team into a more dominating team, but shortcomings provided just enough for "slightly above mediocre." I'd rather swim than stay afloat. Right now, it looks like the Bears are swimming, but it's false because they can touch the bottom. I must add, however, that I'm always happier with a team I am disappointed with going 7-3 than a team I like going 3-7 (if that's even possible).

Everyone else has said what I would have, but I'd like to add that the Cardinals have glaring holes everywhere on the team. Maybe they'd take a poo-poo platter deal? That's what I call the fantasy football deal when you send something like the following: Shaun Hill - QB Chester Taylor - RB Michael Crabtree - WR FOR Peyton Manning - QB Maybe the Bears could package the poo-poo platter? Tommie Harris, one of the TEs, and Roberto Garza's rotting corpse for Fitz? I know it's unrealistic, but it might be worth a shot. Giving up a high draft pick, however, is out of the question.

Voted...good luck.

I pretty much agree with this entire post. The Bears won, and were never in danger, but it was never dominating. The thing that kills me is that this team can do so much more, but they haven't. All in all, however, this was the most complete game of the season.

Enjoy