adam

What is funny is how the recent losing streak has soured everyone's taste about the Bears. It should be expected, but if we don't lose that OT game to SEA where they scored a TD with 24 secs left and then again in OT, we would be 10-5 and heading into Week 17 looking for our 11th win with the Division and 5th seed still intact. I believe 11 wins was where most people had us at the start of the season, it just didn't play out like most expected.

The best part is seeing his eye peeking out.

and with Christian Ponder at QB. This week will be tough again for them without Harvin in the lineup. Ponder averages 180 y/g and Harvin was accounting for 75 yards of that. Minnesota's defense has stepped up lately, but GB and HOU have different offenses. The playoffs may actually work out in our favor if we get in. A GB win gives them a Bye and the #2 seed, that means we would get in as the #6 seed and play at SF. They lost Manningham (2nd leading WR) for the season and Justin Smith has been hurt for several weeks. After a win in SF, we would play in ATL, which I think is beatable team. We seem to be a better good weather team as we always come out flat in the rain. A miracle if it happens, we would then play GB or SEA/WAS in the NFC Championship.

For Peppers, he leads all NFC Defensive Ends in sacks with 11.5. Briggs' solo tackles are way down this year, and the others have a lot more sacks due to the 3-4. If any of them bow out, he will more than likely get in.

I think we will win as well. Look at it this way, if MIN can beat HOU and GB, back to back, they deserve to be in the playoffs.

I would say Melton was the biggest surprise, but Jennings was leading the league in INTs and was 3rd in Passes Defended. He also has one of the best QB Ratings against. Sherman would've been one of the two starters, but his PED issue took him out of the running.

I was hoping for one or the other, but both resulting in a win. Either we destroy Detroit, and Cutler finally puts together a monster game, or we win a low scoring horrible looking game where we win because Detroit is Detroit.

I agree, we are a completely boom or bust team totally reliant on a scoring defense. Without it, we lose.

All starting, wow! Offense: Brandon Marshall, WR Defense: Henry Melton, DT Julius Peppers, DE Charles Tillman, CB Tim Jennings, CB http://www.nfl.com/probowl/story/0ap100000...rosters-afc-nfc Briggs the only snub, and with them going with more 3-4 OLB's, I can see him being left out.

Manning is not that bad. Would probably be starting if he was back with the Bears.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teameff Bears are currently 6th overall, mainly due to the dominating #1 Defense and #4 Special Teams. Current Overall Rating 1. SEA* 2. DEN* 3. NE* 4. SF* 5. GB* 6. CHI 7. ATL* 8. BAL* 9. NYG 10. HOU* * - Clinched Playoff spot 8 out of the top 10 are playoff teams, WAS is 11th, CIN is 13th, MIN is 16th, and IND is 28th. I was surprised to see the Bears that high, but the Defensive scoring has been silly this year. Also surprised to see IND that low.

You are correct, I don't know where I got AFC from. We have basically the same schedule as Detroit besides for those last 2 games. We play the same home and away teams. GB and MIN are the exact opposite. GB and MIN gets PHI, WAS, CLE, and PIT at home, and have to go to DAL, NYG, BAL, and CIN. GB will more than likely get ATL and SF as well. So they will have a brutal schedule.

ok, technically not a record.

Detroit has scored 18, 10, and 20 in their last 3, and scored only 7 against us last time. Also, the Lions have no passing TD's in their last 2. That is amazing considering Stafford threw for 443 yards last week.

2013 Schedule HOME GB, MIN, DET, DAL, NYG, BAL, CIN, NO AWAY GB, MIN, DET, PHI, WAS, CLE, PIT, STL To me this seems like an incredibly tough schedule. The NFC East and AFC North are both tough divisions top to bottom.

In a way, Detroit is playing for a lot. They are currently drafting 5th. With a loss they can pick anywhere between 3rd and 5th, but with a win, they could drop all the way to 9th due to their Strength of Schedule. That is a huge drop off in terms of talent. Not that you play to lose, but you may see a different team out there. Also, I don't know if there are any other records in sight for Megatron.

Here we go, our only route to the playoffs is through Detroit with GB beating MIN. Since we can only draft in 2 spots, the draft position is irrelevant. They have also moved the GB/MIN game to a 3:25 pm start time with the flex scheduling. With the SF loss, GB is now the #2 seed; so in order to get a Bye, they need to win against MIN with SF playing ARZ.

Yeah, I was surprised to see a Bears back moving the pile and not going down on first contact.

Looks like GB beating Minny and us winning is our only option now.

Yep, I hope SF wins tonight. That will make things interesting for next week.

I updated the first post. We are now the best non-playoff team selecting 20th due to Strength of Schedule. We can now to no better than 19 (if we lose and Giants win).

It is going to be an interesting Week 17 nonetheless. Green Bay can essentially pick their opponent if the Bears win. If GB beats MIN, they play the Bears, if they lose to MIN, they play MIN again the next week. Another crazy scenario would be if Seattle loses tonight and to STL next week while both the Bears and Vikings win next week. The Bears AND Vikings could both get in where the Bears would play GB and MIN would get the East Winner. The best scenario for the Bears would be a win against DET, AND 2 losses by SEA and a loss by MIN next week. We would become the 5th seed and play the East winner.

I agree.

Typical Bears fashion, 3 runs at 1st and Goal, then a blocked kick for a TD. Nice job Bears.

Considering what he did against Megatron, I would say he would be in the running. Peanut also has a bunch of tackles, and passes defended. Tillman has 74+ tackles, 3 INT, 3 TD, 10 FFUM, and 13 Passed Defended Watt has 77 tackles, 20.5 sacks, 15 Passes Defended, 4 FFUM Smith has 58 tackles, 19.5 sacks, 3 FFUM, 1 INT The fact that 2 players will have 20 sacks sort of reduces the feat for me. Watt will get it due to the hype.