adam

Yeah, Fields is not playing. Good move IMO.

Biggs is reporting that more than likely Siemian will start.

Gipson had one monster game, against GB, with 2 sacks, 2 TFL, 3 QB Hits. In the other 9 games, he has been basically a low end rotational guy: 0 sacks, 1 TFL, 5 QB Hits

Without Mack and Quinn, Gipson does not look near as good. He is definitely not a starter, but more of a rotational guy. Robinson still has room to grow. I agree that I think they draft one and sign one via FA. We need some balance between vets and young guys as they build this roster out.

OK fair enough, I just thought it was odd if you were going to waive him immediately anyway. Take a WR or CB instead that might stick to the roster.

Then why even have him as part of the trade then?

AJ Klein that came over in the Roquan trade is starting for the Bills today, and looks pretty good. Surprised we waived him.

Sucks for both, hopefully it doesn't impact them for this game, though Gordon's seemed worse.

I think they will shut him down until after the bye. That would give him a month between games. That also gives them time to work on game plan changes during the bye for the final few games. The defense has actually played better. Penalties, some BS ones, have not helped their cause.

I could actually see the Bears doing something like what the Texans did with Osweiler. They basically took on his contract for Denver for a draft pick. So I could see the Bears both doing something like that AND getting multiple picks. The Colts have to be in play for a QB, they tried Rivers then Ryan and it didn't work. With the familiarity of Flus, I think they could be a possible partner. I could also see them doing something like SF did for Lance, 3 firsts and a future 3rd to go from 12 to 3. Atlanta could also be in play with a pick in the 10-12 range. Teams that need a QB are HOU, CAR, WSH, IND, NYJ, NO, DET, and ATL. Other teams may need one soon (LVR, TB, LAR). Getting in front of CAR would be awesome, because that would allow basically any other team on this list to get their QB (if they trade with the Bears).

Very true, I didn't think about that. We can always add some other picks in to make it work.

Not from their offense. White hasn't played in real game since last November when he threw 4 INTs and completed 54% of his passes for 5.7 Y/A. Flacco is probably their best QB. If Siemian starts, he would still be the best starting QB on the field. The problem is going to be the Jets defense.

Totally random timing. He was on IR since October. I guess they wanted to see if it would heal without surgery. Sucks that we barely got to see any of him between his thumb and toe injuries. I don't think the Bears can count on him to be the starting Center next year, so I would expect them to either draft or sign a FA. Otherwise, they will end up in the same spot as this year.

I don't know if DET would do that, but it would be awesome. It might be different if we were #2 and they were #7 and #14, but moving from 6 to 3 would only be worth Pick 31.

If you can't trade down, I think you have to go with BPA, which would be Anderson correct? Top non-QB in the draft.

This is what the remaining schedule looks like for the teams in range of the Bears. Based on current records, the Bears would have to win 2-3 more games to get out of the top 9. 1. HOU 1-8-1 @MIA CLE @DAL KC @TEN JAX @IND (1-15-1 to 3-13-1) 2. CAR 3-8 DEN BYE @SEA PIT DET @TB @NO (3-14 to 5-12) 3. CHI 3-8 @NYJ GB BYE PHI BUF @DET MIN (3-14) 4. LVR 3-7 @SEA LAC @LAR NE @PIT SF KC (3-14 to 5-12) 5. DEN 3-7 @CAR @BAL KC ARI @LAR @KC LAC (3-14 to 5-12) 6. LAR 3-7 @KC SEA LV @GB DEN @LAC @SEA (3-14 to 5-12) 7. CLE 3-7 TB @HOU @CIN BAL NO @WSH @PIT (3-14 to 5-12) - If Watson starts playing, they will drop out of the top 10. 8. PIT 3-7 @IND @ATL BAL @CAR LV @BAL CLE (3-14 to 5-12) 9. JAX 3-7 BAL @DET @TEN DAL @NYJ @HOU TEN (3-14 to 4-13) If the season plays out as expected, the top 5 picks will look like this: 1. HOU 2. CHI 3. CAR 4. JAX 5. LVR If the Bears get to #2, some team looking for a QB will want to get in front of CAR who will be taking one. This could get really interesting.

Fields is no longer in the DVOA cellar. After Sunday's game, he passed Mayfield and moved into sole possession of #31 in DVOA at -32.2%. Fields had -28.4% last year but started so bad that he was working from a huge hole. I know this may not mean anything to anyone, but guys like Josh Allen made significant progress and it showed in their DVOA. Josh Allen went from -35.9% to -11.8% to +25.9% in his first 3 years. So there is precedence. Right now Fields has actually regressed from last year as a passer. On a side note, Kmet is the #4 TE in the NFL in DVOA at 22.2%. Dissly, Goedert, and Kelce are the top 3.

With Fields injury up in the air, the Bears may have to start Siemian against a top 5 defense in the Jets. The Jets could put a QB off the street and score 20 against the Bears. I doubt the Bears muster more than a FG if Siemian starts, and probably no more than 17 if Fields does. The line is -4.5 right now but that will shoot up if Fields doesn't play. A good bet for Jets + the under. I am saying 30-3 if Siemian starts, 27-17 if Fields starts.

and because he didn't start until he was 26, he probably won't even crack the top 5 in passing yards or even pass Brett Favre for that matter. I think that is what he is playing for now.

Injury was always going to be the biggest thing with Fields as a runner. Do you think Poles is sold on Fields as a passer and franchise QB? I think how they treat this injury will give us a hint.

If anything the Special Teams has really let the team down this year. KO Return against in the ATL game, missed XP in DET, blocked punt for a TD against MIA, all would be the deciding points in a win or loss. Earlier in the year you had the Velus muffs for a few more games.

Shoulder dislocation: Seriously what are the Bears doing here? A dislocation takes 3-12 weeks to heal depending on the severity and the chance of reinjury is considerably higher if not fully healed. At least sit him thru the bye and see how it is coming out of the bye. Flus is obviously being coy, there is no way he plays this week.

Could be, silly to show your hand when you are not in it to win it. I could understand them watering down the playbook a little to not tip teams off with tape for next season. However, I think it comes in with the wrinkles. Almost every play has multiple variants where their duties and routes change based on the defense, the protection, the audible, etc. Some of the RPO stuff has like 6 different things they may have to do on any given play. Also, the language is different. If he is on the outside and they call an audible, he has to hear Greek and translate it to German before running it in American.

Learning a new offense does take time. I will give him until after the bye. At that point it will be 5 games and 6 weeks to get the offense down.

Speaking of other coaches, what is up with Brandon Staley? I thought this guy was the 2nd Coming of Buddy Ryan. Since taking over the Chargers last season, they are 14-13 and have allowed the most points in the AFC over that period. The vaunted LAC defensive mastermind is allowing 25.8 pts a game. I know they have some injuries, but you would think a coach with that type of pedigree and those players would be playing better.