adam

Depends on how you define better? Cutler has a higher ceiling and has some physical traits over McCown, but that doesn't always equate to success on the field. The system and the ability to adapt and work within the system, be coached, and correct tendencies and weaknesses are also critical. After seeing McCown over the past 3 games, and Cutler in 8, it just seems that McCown is a better fit for the system.

Well in that case, hell yeah, if we can get anything without any financial liability, that is the way to go.

Carolina just won and has the tie-breaker against us. That puts us essentially 2 games back with 7 to play. Is it possible? Sure, but we have to go 6-1 in our last 7 and they have to go 3-4. That goes for the Division or WC since we have lost all tie-breakers. I don't see them or Detroit losing more than 4, so unless we pull a 6-1 miracle, this game was the dagger. There were two things that happened during the game that you could almost predict before it happened. The Cutler Red zone INT and McCown driving the team down for a TD almost effortlessly. I just wish they would've spread the defense out and allowed McCown to try that 2nd 2pt conversion attempt. Cutting the field in half on the first try was a bad call, and the run into the heart of Detroit's defense on the 2nd attempt was brutal. How about some play action there?

For the money, I would rather let Cutler walk, re-sign McCown, and draft a QB high in the draft. We can then have some payroll flexibility to bring in some FA's.

Jay also got most, if not all the 1st team reps, and that entire 1st drive was more than likely scripted. What did he do the rest of the game? Led the team to 2x FG drives (and one of those we actually lost 5 yards), and threw an INT in the endzone that cost the team at least 3 pts. We lost by 2. It is clear that a McCown-like QB is just better suited for the Trestman system. McCown continues to come in under less than desirable conditions and has excelled. If McCown came in after half, we win by 10 easily. Cutler was clearly hurting and was completely ineffective after that first drive. I applaud him for his effort and grit but that can only get you so far. I would rather save the cap space, let Cutler walk, re-sign McCown, draft a QB early, and allow him to learn the system. When is a sample size large enough? McCown has now faced 3 different opponents, and had similar results.

Brutal loss, season is basically over, especially if we keep running Cutler out there. It is pretty clear that he will not be back. Injured or not McCown is more effective in this offense. Not really debatable anymore.

After last week, this is the biggest game of the season, at home, vs Division opponent, with 1st place in the Division on the line. We also can add a game on CAR for last WC spot if they lose in SF.

BTW the refs were brutal, there were at least 4 blatant Def holding and PI no-calls against GB. They had a handful of jersey on 2x Bennett targets, Jeffrey, and Marshall. Then there was the phantom hold on Bennett, which is the same amount of holding on every block. The Packers did not receive one penalty, amazing.

That's true. I am sure Trestman and Emery already have someone in mind to draft in the next year or two.

For the first time in a long time, I was caught off guard by some of the plays. The Bears were changing plays based on the defensive personnel and alignment, and it was working. Trestman is really building an efficient system and to me it seems like we can only get better. Just think if we added a true slot WR, wow. One word that comes to mind about this offense is dynamic. My only concern right now besides Safety and our Run Defense is our Special Teams. GB had a blocked punt and a successful onside kick. The blocked punt was followed by a 32yd TD run and the onside kick led to a FG. So GB had 10 pts from their ST play alone.

Mannion is a statue. You listed the exact reasons why he would not be a good pick, not mobile and no arm strength.

Yeah Wright was brutal, Conte didn't play bad, just not great. However, Wright was horrible in run support and just seemed out of place on every play.

Yeah, glad to see SMC finally show up. His hustle is finally paying off. Peppers looked a little rejuvenated, maybe he was injured and the bye week allowed him to heal? Rookie LBs - they played great Bostic and Greene were in on almost every play it seemed. The missed gaps were not on them. Anderson missed the one on Starks TD and Wright missed it 2 or 3 other times. DT's - Yeah any help we can get will make a huge difference as we still are getting gashed in the run game. For the first time in a long time I was not worried about our QB throwing a pick. He looked like he belonged there. Coaching staff is really putting together a great system, you can see it slowly taking form. There are still some kinks, but you can see the efficiency and improvement even with all the injuries. How about the O-Line? Another great game vs a 3-4 defense in GB.

Great game, finally! He has been so overdue it has been sickening. Now he needs to keep it up and string together some solid games because we need the Dline pressure.

You can't go to the well too often. GB blew up 2-3 attempted screens and were looking for it all night long. I think his targets are about where they should be. He is definitely thriving in this offense. If we were 6-2 and didn't lose that WAS game, he would have to be in the MVP conversation. Right now he is 4th in the league for total yards from scrimmage at 121.8 yards a game with 7 TDs. Only Charles (123.8), McCoy (122.8), and Bush (121.9) are ahead of him and he is only 2 yards per game from the top.

A division and conference game, so its big. Don't have much faith with so many second string players playing, but you never know.

I thought they made gap adjustments at the line as well, which could be why we are getting thrashed in the running game. It seems like the other team gets a huge gain or a loss, no real in between.

Also I don't know how easy it is to do from the OLB position. That has to be a harder position/perspective to make calls from and it may even make him be out of position on certain plays.

Groin and hamstring injuries are brutal. I had a lingering groin pull for almost 6 months and every time I would try to run it would lock right up.

Yeah, McCown can completely tank, but just looking at the same team vs WAS with 2 different QB's was surprising. Cutler was completely ineffective and then McCown comes in and looks like the starter. I won't hold judgement for the GB game because they have had our number for years regardless of QB, but McCown did start against them a couple of years ago and was decent. If he can limit the INTs, it will be up to the defense to stop somebody.

I have an odd feeling that we just saw the last game we will see Cutler in a Bears uniform. Cutler does not fit Trestman's style of QB even though Cutler has performed very good when playing with discipline. If McCown can come in and perform like that, without any reps, it is hard to believe that he will not improve over time with 1st Team reps. We will see, but I just have an odd feeling about it.

To me the Briggs loss is bigger than Cutler right now. Cutler was basically playing really solid within the system but wasn't doing anything that far over the top. McCown should be able to come in and perform reasonably well. If it wasn't for the decimated defense, we would've won in Washington. It wasn't like Cutler was tearing it up before the injury. We got the ball at the WAS 47 and ended up moving the ball 18 yards and kicked a 47 yard FG. On the next drive, we started at the WAS 10 and Forte scored a TD. Cutler barely had to do anything at that point with us scoring 10 pts. Then he threw a pick-6 and only a few plays later he is out of the game and we are down 17-10. Then McCown comes in and has the 7th best game of the year for QBR, and did that in less than 3 quarters of play. With that said, the defense is what is going to determine the season. If we can stop anyone, we can easily be 2-2 or 3-1 in the next 4. STL is a win, they are worse than us. GB is a loss, but DET at home is winnable as long as we have Peanut on Megatron. Baltimore lost to Pittsburgh, that says enough. I would be happy with 2-2.

I found this interesting: At this point I would almost rather have a 5-11 or 6-10 season where we are getting a decent draft pick vs almost the guaranteed 8-8 and 9-7 with no playoffs anyway. Looking at the NFC picture, SEA or SF will have one WC, so if we get the other we have to beat out either GB or DET. GB has injuries, but continues to win. DET has 10-11 game potential.

Bears 31 - Redskins 20 Redskins have only 3 INTs and 15 PDs on the season, so it should be a fairly clean game for Cutler, which normally results in a win for us. My only concern is in our ability to stop the run.

I would rather draft a QB instead of using a roster spot on Ponder.