BearFan2000

when I look at us going into the bye week 3-1 that is about where I figured we'd be. Only difference is I had our loss against the Steelers rather than the Packers. I don't want to get ahead but we face a depleted Seahawks and a success challenged lions team. Sometimes a wounded animal is dangerous so I don't think we should think since they are depleted that we can just walk in there and win. But we should win. I want to see a convincing win. If we just eek out a win I'll be less enthused. The lions should be a win and may put up a good fight but should be no match. I'd like to see us go into the bye week 3-1 and with some momentum.

Agree with what's being said about over analyzing and the commish's tendency to go overboard. I too think that they are trying to dictate how violent a violent game can be which is an unrealistic goal to do consistently or fairly across the board. Just like how you tackle a QB can draw you a foul or a fine the following week. If the official at the game thinks it was too violent he will throw the flag but a different official seeing the same play may think the hit/tackle is ok and let it go. They are trying to control what is difficult to control. Whey you are rushing the QB at full speed contact is hard to avoid whether he's got the ball or not. Players can't be as aggressive as they could be because they have to worry about whether their natural actions will draw a flag or a fine. There was another post earlier that the game is being pussified and I'd agree. We all like the big hits and they energize the crowds and when you reduce the game to glorified flag football it looses a lot. My point in making the post was the severity of the fine verses the severity of the incident. That aside the situation does play into it. Anderson knew what he was doing and it was after the play he lost his cool and shoved a guy. Where as Carter's hit was severe because his momentum lead him into Olsen and happened to hit him with his helmet. We complain about roughing the passer calls when the defensive player is in the air when the ball is thrown because he has no way of stopping and can only do so much to soften the blow. Same is true with that hit. The only argument could be that with Olsen on the sidelines he wouldn't need much of a hit but looking at the play he was hurrying over to help cover Olsen who had gotten behind his man. If he doesn't make that hit or defend Olsen likely would have scored on that play. While on the other hand Anderson's actions were not required, necessary or smart. That's the only way I can see why Anderson's fine was twice as much as Carter's fine.

Carter fined 5k for spearing Olsen which could have potentially knocked him out of the game Mark Anderson fined 10k for a push. doesn't seem fair to me, but politics as usual

Could be a big game for our front four as a whole. Wallace has little experience, and is a big drop from Hass and with the equally inexperienced guys at tackle. I look for them to all harass Matt and create havoc all game long. Alex Brown and Whale should have good games. if we get Pisa back this week then we're only short Urlacher as a starter... I know I say only but that's not to diminish Brian's impact but we would be back to Briggs, Pisa, and Hillenmeyer. Hilly has played decent filling in for Brian. He doesn't have to overachieve for this to work We've seen this defense play well even without Urlacher It's often the "lesser" injuries that hurt a team and Seattle is a banged up team. I look for this to be the game that Forte gets on track. I also think that the holes will be bigger and I think the passing game will continue to show improvment.

exactly we were playing that drive for the win. First goal is to get into field goal range, second goal run the clock and score with as little time as possible. You have at your disposal a clutch FG kicker in Gould. Once we accomplished our first goal by getting into FG range or on the cusp of it the second goal became primary, milk the clock and get as much as you can without risking the chance to take the game winning FG at the end of regulation. You risk less by running the ball to keep the clock running forcing them to use all their timeouts and and you get to call your time out for the kick with as little clock left as possible. While we could have thrown the ball and tried for the TD we could have also had 3 incompletions, a pick to give them new life, or a TD. To an extent that last drive is similar to having the ball in OT. You only need a FG to win so you're goal is to get into FG range once there you usually use a play or two to center the ball and then kick the game winner. If you get into FG range but elect to try to score a TD and ignore that you are in range for the game winner then you invite Murphy to join your team. The situation dictates how you play it. What we did is standard operating procedure for that situation and most teams would do the same. There is a time and a place to be aggressive, and that's not it.

Anyone that has had cracked or broken ribs knows pain that it comes with. I've had cracked ribs and getting out of bed in the morning to take the pain meds was a challenge, breathing is both difficult and painful, now put yourself on the football field trying to outrun that pass rush and throw the ball to the hot read quickly knowing that you'll still take a shot. It would be dumb to have him play like that. Ribs require rest and avoiding things that put stress on those fractures like say taking a sack getting hit repeatedly. I wouldn't be surprised if he misses the next two games just as McNabb will likely miss two games. I doubt he's out till their bye week in week 7 but will probably return to play either the Jags or the Cards.

Congrats, man, sound's like you've got a winner there. She have any single friends or sisters.. LOL JK Seriously though, wish you both the best!!!

Cloths-lining a guy is illegal and has been for some time. It's as bad as horse-collaring someone. the bodies momentum kicks their feet out from under them and you can land awkwardly. While they're at it they should send in film on the hit that Olsen took one the sideline catch. Forget the guys name but he lead into Olsen with the crown of his helmet. But the good news is that Brown is going to be fine. I got nervous seeing him helped off the field.

Absolutely those were key catches. I think for the most part it will be a group effort at WR. Though Knox really showed up today this kid is exciting to watch he is as fast if not a little faster than Hester and he is a natural WR. How cool would it be to see the 5th rounder we got from Denver develop into a stud WR for Cutler to throw to. With Hester's continued development you have two speed guys, you have Kellen Davis who is coming up big for us, Olsen is starting to come around, Bennett getting more comfortable. To me the offense took a big step forward today when they were in sync they looked sharp and Jay spread the ball around. For a young group of receivers these kind of things are huge and can pay dividends down the road. That's the biggest thing I'm looking for in the offense this year. There will be times and even stretches of time where this offense will cause us to loose our hair but in time when this thing gels they will be good. Which will take pressure off the defense and the passing game can take pressure off the run game. Look at it this way we are 1-1. I would not have been surprised to see us go 0-2 after last week we make a few more plays and we are 2-0. Green Bay barely beat us last week and got beat by cincy today they are 1-1 Had we come up with a few more plays they would be 0-2. The Vikings are 2-0 but beat two crappy teams, Browns and the Lions. To me that is a hollow 2-0. Next week we face the seachickens in tough place to play Green Bay gets a creampuff team in the Lambs Minny finally faces a team that can provide them some competition. It's possible our division standings after next week could be GB 2-1 Min 2-1 Chi 2-1 Det 0-3 The following week we get Detroit and could then improve to 2-2 and likely move into the second place as GB and Minny beat the crap out of each other (should be highly entertaining). leaving the winer in first place the looser taking our spot in second place. In this scenario I'm rooting for GB to knock Minny down as they have a cream puff the following week against the Lambs. GB would then go into the bye week. We play our cards right we could overtake the division by week 6. Now we have to take care of business and that starts next week in Seattle. Enjoy this win but they will need a solid performance to beat the seahawks in their house.

Never thought I'd see the day that I'd be thanking Benson. I do think the change of scenery has benefitted him. I don't think it was ever going to work out for him in Chicago

Gritty win today gents but gotta like that we didn't fold we kept fighting. Knox what more can you say that hasn't been said Thank you Denver. Great hands and speed. We need our WR's to step up. You can guarantee that Knox will generate more attention now which should help the other WR. Exciting things happen when he touches the ball with him and Hester on the field at the same time that's a lot of speed to account for. K Davis stepped up today as well we need solid targets for Jay in the red zone. Gregg Olsen had a bit better game making the huge catch late and covered Forte's fumble. Darn near came up with a big catch but got his bell rung. Good game for Jay after a rough outing last week. Once he and his WR's develop chemistry look out. It's nice to have a QB with good pocket presence and an ability to make plays on the run. Jay made good decision and tried to take was the defense gave him. Run Game.... what run game? This has been my biggest disappointment this season. The 3-4 is a tough defense to run against and both Pitt and GB are good at run defense. If we prove that we can move the ball through the air they will have to start respecting that. Getting Jay here helps some but till you show that you have WR's capable of holding their end of the bargain Defenses are going to continue to sell out to stop the run and force us to beat them through the air. I do think that as the season progresses the run game will turn around. But I am concerned about Forte. The Defense overall was up and down they did make key plays at critical times but also made some boneheaded plays like the one where the receiver was on his arse on the ground got up and ran for the first down because no one was near him to touch him down. Had Reed not missed those two FG's we'd have been down by 6 to start that last drive, now that would have changed the dynamics of that drive as our goal was clearly to milk the clock and get the FG but down 6 we would have been more aggressive. The defense will need to play better than they did to day but as I said they did some good things out there. Coaching has to get better period.

Amen Brother

A resilient win against the defending champs

Let's kick another FG now LOL

Bears WIN!!!!!!!!! :headbang :headbang

If the Bears pull this one out Reed might need body guards

I wonder if it has to do with his hammy it was sore in early workouts. Well, this is where we find out what the Bears are made of.

need to tackle better

Knox is da man!!! Nice drive spread the ball around and looked sharp.

Brown making some big plays And the FG misses We have got to take advantage of these opportunities

poor tackling is back

Anderson was held on that play. doesn't mean it's ok to retaliate but Pit's getting away with holding a lot

we need to use Forte's speed to the outside. We have gotten nothing at all up the gut. AP's big runs were to the outside.

Very true and I'll take it as well. I'd have been sick if we'd have ad to settle fore a FG. I admit I was worried when we gave up that long drive and did nothing on offense or defense till we got that pick. We very easily could have quickly found ourselves down 14-0. The thing that concerns me is we can't take nearly an entire first half to get our heads in the game. We need to get a better start out of the gate. We keep doing this we are going to be playing from behind a lot. That will wear a team out fast. It puts more pressure on a young group of wide receivers. We definitely miss Urlacher on Defense

Also nice to see JK adjust on that play to get open and make a good gain out of it. This kid could be something special. Jay needs a dependable target like that.