adam

I think it is both. We haven't seen the game crushing phantom call go against the Bears lately, and team overall has been improving, and even the playcalling, especially on defense is visible. Numbers are matching the eye test, which makes it feel real.

This week is huge with TB playing GB and MIN playing CIN. If so how TB and CIN can win, and the Bears win, they would be tied with GB at 6-7, and 1 game back with MIN with 3 to play. MINs last 3 games are DET, GB, DET. They would have to win 2 of 3 to make the playoffs. With GB at 6-8, they would have to win out like the Bears and would have CAR, MIN, then CHI left. So their Weeks 17 (MIN) and 18 (CHI) could both be playoff-like games. Win for playoff chance, lose and you are out.

I liked him at Illinois, always thought he was scrappy and would be pretty good if he had real weapons around him.

Some of those Defensive numbers are misleading. Teams are scoring a ton on them the last 3 weeks, 27, 36, and 29 the last 3 weeks. 4 TDs allowed to JAX, 4 TDs allowed to LAR, and 3 TDs allowed to DEN. They had 3 games earlier in the season where they shutout ARZ, and only allowed 3 to TEN and CIN. Those 3 games really make their overall season numbers look good. Those last 2 were September games, which is almost like a season ago at this point. They are still a top 10 defense, but not playing like a top 3 defense like they were earlier in the year.

They don't but they are a piece that is objective. He definitely still has to "just throw the damn ball" sometimes. I honestly think they told him to not throw unless he is absolutely sure it won't be picked, so he is hesitant to pull the trigger. All QBs do it, Fields just does it a lot more. So at this point would you rather have no INTs and a few missed open receivers, or more INTs but a few more completions? Obviously you would prefer both the good, but I just want to see more MoF timing throws because as I said before, if he is able to unlock that area of the field, with his escapability, he would almost be unstoppable. On the broken plays, if you watch the other games, a good amount of Allen's, Mahomes', etc yards are on broken plays. It seems like a lot of chunk plays in the NFL come from those types of plays. Also, I don't know if you watched GBvNYG, but Love either throws to a WIDE open receiver, or just lofts up moon shots that his guys come down with. Those balls are picked off by any competent Safety 90% of the time, but he has avoided the INTs on those, but that luck will run out. He still threw a terrible INT and fumbled which was ultimately the deciding factor in the game.

That NYG win was huge for the Bears (and MIN). Now GB is in the 7th seed as a 6-7 team, tied with 4 other teams, while the Bears are 5-8, one game back. What I have not seen anyone talk about yet is, if the Bears slide into the playoffs as the #7 seed, they would play the NFC South DIV Champ (TB, ATL, or NO). That is a winnable game and would be played in a dome or in TB. So if the Bears do run the table, they actually have a favorable playoff matchup in the WC round. The most hilarious part is whoever gets the #6 Seed would have to play in Dallas, ouch. So the better seed gets totally punished which is kind of funny. I really wonder if teams will consider that come Week 18.

That was awesome, and icing on the cake was a Pack loss which actually helps the Bears for the playoff push if they win out.

What a wild MNF. Giants and Titans win to get their 5th wins AND the Packers lose. So the Bears got help in the draft and for playoff push.

This is a pretty good way to slice it. Now we just need the volume and consistency to follow.

Other teams upcoming games: MIN is now 7-6 and holds the 6th seed, they play CIN (7-6) in CIN next weekend. Browning vs Dobbs. I think CIN wins this one, MIN to (7-7). GB is 6-6 and currently in the 7th seed, they play NYG (4-8) tonight, then on a shorter week play TB (6-7) at home next weekend. I am hoping for them to split (7-7). TB is 6-7, currently 1st in the Division, and plays GB (6-6) next weekend. I am picking them to win on a short week for GB (7-7). LAR is 6-7, and plays WAS (4-9), next weekend. I expect LAR to win (7-7). ATL is 6-7, and plays CAR (1-12), next weekend. I expect ATL to win (7-7), sends CAR to 1-13 for Tankathon. NO is 6-7, and plays NYG (4-8), next weekend. I expect NO to win (7-7). If GB beats NYG and loses to TB, 6 teams will be tied at 7-7 after next week, and the Bears could potentially be 6-8 (1 game back) with 3 to play, with head to head games against GB and ATL left.

Fields had a 65.3 QBR for this game, (6th in the NFL this week), and his full QBR is up to 48.3 (50 is average), so he is right there. One more good game and he will be over 50 again. His PFF grade was a 72.4, 4th best on the team for the Lions game. These are great reaffirming stats (objective) and grades (subjective) compared to the tape. He was solid as a passer and made a few epic scrambles that turned losses into gains. He only took one sack that was on him when he held the ball too long. Everything is trending in the right direction. Less turnovers, less sacks, getting the ball out quicker on more throws, completing some throws over the middle. He is checking all the boxes, now we need to see it again.

Oh yeah, you can interchange any vet that would come along in a trade. It could also be an additional first (in 2026). With a trade the Bears should get a similar deal to Moore's, so blue chip vet, top 10 2024 pick, 2024 2nd, and 2025 1st. That adds 2 blue chippers and a solid starter, then you still have the Bears 1st rounder which is the 3rd blue chipper. Then you sign one more in FA (Center maybe), and this team literally has no holes. That's when you can pick for luxury and true BPA.

No way, can you imagine if Fields said anything like that or was caught on camera whining to Josh Allen like that. Mahomes true colors coming out, a big baby and sore loser. That dude has gotten every call for the last 5 years, its about time some start going the other way. The funny thing was, it was the right call, Toney was totally offsides.

Fields has some special traits that no other QB has, which is his wildcard. So if he can just be average everywhere else, he is a top 10 QB. I would say he is top 15 right now, so unless Williams or Maye can be top 5, you upgrade at WR2, Edge2, Center, DT, and FS and run this back. I would love the Raiders to trade Crosby, #8 ,a 2034 2nd, and a 2025 first for #1 to take Williams. That would give the Bears the best Edge group in the NFL, you can shed salary with Jackson and Whitehair, then draft WR, Center, DT, and FS. Where would the holes be on the roster at that point? One of the best secondarys, arguably the best LB corps, with new DT and Crosby + Sweat, Dexter, and Walker, the DLine would be pretty damn good. On offense, Moore+Rookie WR+Kmet+Herbert+Foreman+Johnson+ OLine with new Center + Fields/Bagent? I don't see any holes or weaknesses. Also if you bring in 3 blue chippers (Crosby, 2x 1st rounders), you just improved compared to other teams who are lucky to get one of those upgrades. Can you imagine this same team with Crosby (or similar vet), 2x first rounders, and maybe a top 40 2nd rounder?

The Bears head to Cleveland to face Joe Flacco. The line is only +3, so Vegas considers this an even game. People are talking about the Browns defense, but I'm confused. They just allowed 27, 36, and 29 in the last 3 games. Before this last game where they scored 31, they hadn't broken 20 in the 3 previous games. So their offense doesn't look that good. In their last game, Lawrence threw 3 INTs and the Jags had 4 turnovers but Cleveland has 3 of their own. So it was a sloppy game. If the same Bears team shows up, I am going Bears 23-13 in a low scoring affair where the Bears score late to put it out of reach. On offense, they need to double Garrett and take him out of the game. I like the Bears offense over the Browns offense, Fields over Flacco, Moore over Cooper. On defense, I will call it a. push but the Bears defense playing lights out the last month (since Sweat trade). Santos has been super solid and Taylor has made a few nice returns. Browns have punting advantage and I don't even know who their punter is.

The odds say the Bears have a 93% chance to get the #1 pick. Next week with a loss, it basically becomes locked in.

Brisker had the most tackles in a game by a DB for the Bears since the 1960s.

3-1 in last 4 games, only loss was the Detroit meltdown. So 0-4, then 2-3, then 3-1, so there is tangible progress. Now 4 left, 3-1 or 4-0 would be expected projection.

Pats is too close to call and is dependent on how the non-common opponents finish. So just say CAR wins 2, that means their opponent loses 2, that will drop their SOS to .010 below NE. So NE's opponents would have to lose 3-4 more than the CAR opponents to drop their SOS under CARs (if CAR wins 2): NE PHI 10-3 NYJ 5-8 LVR 5-8 BUF 7-6 WAS 4-9 NYG 4-8 LAC 5-8 PIT 7-6 KC 8-5 DEN 7-6 41 games remaining CAR ATL 6-7 SEA 6-7 MIN 7-6 DET 9-4 HOU 7-6 CHI 5-8 TEN 4-8 TB 6-7 JAX 8-5 GB 6-6 42 games remaining

I would say this last game was a + for Fields. The numbers weren't mind boggling, but the offense scored 3 TDs and 3 FGs, so 6 scoring drives. No turnovers, and now the 3rd straight without an INT, which is the first time in his career that he has done that. He hit a few MoF throws, missed a few, but none were high risk. I don't remember a single INT worthy throw which is also notable for him. So 2 out of 3 for Fields with 4 to play. I would like to see 2 great games out of the last 4 and no stinkers. The other two can be ok, just don't be the reason the team loses. If he can do that, his last 9-10 games will look really solid and he is going to make it be a really tough decision for Poles.

If the Bears win out, it will be similar to what the Jaguars did last year. The Bears really only need a little help which may play out normally. They don't need any crazy upsets to make it. With 4 games left and a bunch of teams at 6-7, they would naturally go 2-2 and finish 8-9. Right now GB, MIN, and SEA have a slight edge, but 2 can make it. So the Bears need 2 of those teams to end up going 2-3. SEA can actually go 3-2 as long as they lose their next 2 conference games. MIN would have to go 3-2 against LVR, CIN, DET, GB, DET with at least one win against DET/MIN/DET. So if they finish 2-3, they are out (if Bears win out).

What a weird week, the top 4 QBs this week for QB Rating right now in the middle of the afternoon games: 1. Jake Browning - 122.7 QB Rating 2. Zach Wilson - 117.9 QB Rating 3. Drew Lock 116.5 QB Rating (only game in progress) 4. Bailey Zappe 115.2 QB Rating

The Bears defense in the last 3 games: 9 INTs and 8 sacks. Only 23 pts allowed in last 2 games (11.5 per game).

CAR needs to lose 2 of their last 4, or go no better than 2-2 in their last 4 games to secure the 1st pick for the Bears. They have won 1 out of 13, so the odds of winning even 1 game is extremely low. The Bears are going to win a few more, at least two, so they will more than likely end up around pick 12, plus or minus a few. Bears 5-12 (finish 0-4, #6 pick) - most likely based on current teams rankings Bears 6-11 (finish 1-3, #8 pick) - most likely based on similar projections Bears 7-10 (finish 2-2, #12/13 pick) - most likely based on recent win/loss Bears 8-9 (finish 3-1, #16/17 pick or #7 seed) - most likely Bears thing to do, finish as the best non-playoff team Bears 9-8 (finish 4-0, #6 or #7 seed) - most likely based on recent play

The Bears still need to win out to have a great chance at the playoffs. An LVR win would be huge against MIN. Week 16 NO vs LAR and Week 17 TB vs NO, then Week 18 NO vs ATL are 3 huge games in the conference. With a win next week, the Bears can gain a game against two teams, then in Week 16, it could be 4. If they can get to 8-8 in Week 17, they could be in a 4-way tie for the WC3 slot with one to play. Then Week 18 is CHI vs GB, MIN vs DET, ATL vs NO, LAR vs SF, and NO vs ATL. The NO vs ATL would decide the Division. Head to head and Conference record is going to be huge.