Bears Studs n Duds

[Fooksmania]

I just gotta say I am not the biggest Love fan however his WR's are just not great. Watson doesn't seem to have good hands or a fully functional brain, and as pointed out there were numerous drops. I will say I was impressed with Golden. What a play on that TD run! He seemed to be the only one with a pulse in the 2nd half. For GB to come out in the 2nd half with no offensive effort was incredibly unacceptable. Someone should be fired for that obvious ineptness alone. Does nobody on that team have a heart or desire to win? That to me is a reflection of leadership.

 

[4Ever4Favre]

I just gotta say I am not the biggest Love fan however his WR's are just not great. Watson doesn't seem to have good hands or a fully functional brain, and as pointed out there were numerous drops. I will say I was impressed with Golden. What a play on that TD run! He seemed to be the only one with a pulse in the 2nd half. For GB to come out in the 2nd half with no offensive effort was incredibly unacceptable. Someone should be fired for that obvious ineptness alone. Does nobody on that team have a heart or desire to win? That to me is a reflection of leadership.

What? I mean…….what?

 

[BrokenArrow]

It certainly is. But it is the foot that kicks the ball which has the most impact.

The holder marks the spot on the ground where he will place the ball. The kicker is expecting the ball to be there. If it's not, he has a split second to try to adjust. On the extra point Whelan put it down about 2 inches further to the right than he spotted. That said, anyone who thinks McManus was the primary reason we lost needs their heads examine. I think surely you can agree with that.

 

[BrokenArrow]

Eleventh and final Play - 3rd and 15 from the 29
Snap was ****, no one was moving in the endzone for Love...they had 8 in the Endzone vs our 5.

The snap hit him in the hands. You blame Watson when the defender got his hand on the ball a few plays earlier, but when Love gets both hands on the ball you blame the center. Ok. And instead of throwing up a high jump ball and giving those receivers a chance to make a play, he threw a duck directly to the defense. What more could you ask on such a crucial play? I can't believe you actually think Love made the right decision on that play.

 

[tynimiller]

The snap hit him in the hands. You blame Watson when the defender got his hand on the ball a few plays earlier, but when Love gets both hands on the ball you blame the center. Ok. And instead of throwing up a high jump ball and giving those receivers a chance to make a play, he threw a duck directly to the defense. What more could you ask on such a crucial play? I can't believe you actually think Love made the right decision on that play.

I will concede I worded that not correctly, snap/exchange was ****. I'll go back and watch and double check if I feel the snap was on point or not. The last play was broken beyond belief, and he had nothing, yes I'd have preferred an air mail ball minimum but it was clear he stepped up thinking pressure finally was getting home behind (which he was not entirely right IMO).

I ain't ignoring anything, and I'm not disregarding the failings the last play - unlike you that seem to throw the whole opinion of that drive on one play, because the entire rest of the drive Love cooked.

 

[rmontro]

One observation from watching the game on TV: It didn't appear there was a very large group of Packer fans there, certainly nowhere near the amount of Bear fans that showed up for the Lambeau game.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

One observation from watching the game on TV: It didn't appear there was a very large group of Packer fans there, certainly nowhere near the amount of Bear fans that showed up for the Lambeau game.

That might have something to do with Bear fans not giving up (selling) their tickets. I was at the Bears game at Lambeau and to be honest, there were fewer Bear fans there than when the Viking or Lions fans invade Lambeau.

 

[AKCheese]

Looking for a half full glass I think Golden clearly flashed the potential we obviously drafted him for. When we get healthy we will be right in the thick of things which imo is all a fan can reasonably ask for. I would not trade our QB for any in the division… period. This was a gut wrenching loss, right up there with 4th and 26 and the Seattle collapse. I believe Green Bay SHOULD be favored to win the division although imo an arguement could be made for Detroit because they (too) were decimated by injuries and will benefit from the “last place” schedule next year. Chicago could get better and have a worse record given the MULTITUDE of last minute wins, some of which were flukey… and they will be facing a “first place schedule” (vs the last place schedule this year. I can see GB giving LaFluer a 3 year extension and maybe bringing in some additional OC talent. I HATE losing to the F’ing Bear… but the Bears still SUCK and I firmly believe our future is brighter than theirs.

 

[rmontro]

I believe Green Bay SHOULD be favored to win the division

I wouldn't favor Green Bay to win anything after seeing what I saw Saturday. I guess there's an argument to be made that they'll do better when Parsons and Kraft comes back, but without a coaching change at minimum, I don't expect that much.

 

[tynimiller]

I wouldn't favor Green Bay to win anything after seeing what I saw Saturday. I guess there's an argument to be made that they'll do better when Parsons and Kraft comes back, but without a coaching change at minimum, I don't expect that much.

I think anyone seeing how Chicago has had to win their games (which is equal parts impressive and also one would think concerning too)...Detroit's continued lack of consistency...Minnesota's roster issues and GB's consistency (albeit not the level most like of course) and adding in healing players I wouldn't be shocked at all if GB opens up 2026 favored. I do think if they are it will be only by the slimmest of margins. I need to study the roster structure and contracts of the Bears to see if they are in good shape or not but regardless I see them as a perrenial threat that likely will with BJ be a 7-9 win team every year worst case....similar to how I think MLF always will have the Packers worst case.

 

[ExpatPacker]

Looking for a half full glass I think Golden clearly flashed the potential we obviously drafted him for. When we get healthy we will be right in the thick of things which imo is all a fan can reasonably ask for. I would not trade our QB for any in the division… period. This was a gut wrenching loss, right up there with 4th and 26 and the Seattle collapse. I believe Green Bay SHOULD be favored to win the division although imo an arguement could be made for Detroit because they (too) were decimated by injuries and will benefit from the “last place” schedule next year. Chicago could get better and have a worse record given the MULTITUDE of last minute wins, some of which were flukey… and they will be facing a “first place schedule” (vs the last place schedule this year. I can see GB giving LaFluer a 3 year extension and maybe bringing in some additional OC talent. I HATE losing to the F’ing Bear… but the Bears still SUCK and I firmly believe our future is brighter than theirs.

Chicago has a coach and they have a QB--two things they didn't have before. Say what you will about Caleb, but he is clutch and under Ben Johnson the Bears have a lot of confidence in themselves. If Caleb continues to improve the Bears could be a playoff team for years to come.
Detroit and GB were both wracked by injuries but they also both choked away critical games. Part of that can be blamed on injuries, but part falls in the coaches. I don't think the Packers will fall off next year but I also think the Bears are the new kids on the block.

 

[adambr2]

I wouldn't favor Green Bay to win anything after seeing what I saw Saturday. I guess there's an argument to be made that they'll do better when Parsons and Kraft comes back, but without a coaching change at minimum, I don't expect that much.

We have the worst coach in the North. I don’t know if that is even debatable.

 

[ExpatPacker]

I think anyone seeing how Chicago has had to win their games (which is equal parts impressive and also one would think concerning too)...Detroit's continued lack of consistency...Minnesota's roster issues and GB's consistency (albeit not the level most like of course) and adding in healing players I wouldn't be shocked at all if GB opens up 2026 favored. I do think if they are it will be only by the slimmest of margins. I need to study the roster structure and contracts of the Bears to see if they are in good shape or not but regardless I see them as a perrenial threat that likely will with BJ be a 7-9 win team every year worst case....similar to how I think MLF always will have the Packers worst case.

The problem with the Packers lies, however, in continuously underperforming in critical games. After a while that begins to stick, and IMO it has stuck to the Packers. I could see the Packers favored, but until they prove they can win the big ones, I will remain skeptical. The one time under Lafleur they did was back when they torched Dallas in the playoffs and took a powerhouse SF team that probably should have won the SB down to the wire. AFter that it's been very disappointing.

 

[tynimiller]

The problem with the Packers lies, however, in continuously underperforming in critical games. After a while that begins to stick, and IMO it has stuck to the Packers. I could see the Packers favored, but until they prove they can win the big ones, I will remain skeptical. The one time under Lafleur they did was back when they torched Dallas in the playoffs and took a powerhouse SF team that probably should have won the SB down to the wire. AFter that it's been very disappointing.

Of course, I see the Bears and Packers in similar but opposite lenses truly.

The Bears cannot possibly continue to win in the fashion they are IMO....but who knows, maybe they continue being that middling team that is elite in the end of games.
The Packers cannot possibly continue to lose in the fashion they are IMO...but who knows, maybe they continue being often times that elite team early and middling to bad in the end of games.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I think anyone seeing how Chicago has had to win their games (which is equal parts impressive and also one would think concerning too)...Detroit's continued lack of consistency...Minnesota's roster issues and GB's consistency (albeit not the level most like of course) and adding in healing players I wouldn't be shocked at all if GB opens up 2026 favored. I do think if they are it will be only by the slimmest of margins. I need to study the roster structure and contracts of the Bears to see if they are in good shape or not but regardless I see them as a perrenial threat that likely will with BJ be a 7-9 win team every year worst case....similar to how I think MLF always will have the Packers worst case.

One thing a lot of Packer fans need to keep in mind for 2026 is that this is a young team that should get better. More importantly, the Packers for the most part are in decent cap shape and have a totally manageable pending free agent list. When I say "manageable", even if they let all 9 unrestricted Free Agents walk, they could manage. On the other side of that, besides Willis, they could figure out a way to sign and afford the Free Agents that they don't want to let walk.

 

[rmontro]

The one time under Lafleur they did was back when they torched Dallas in the playoffs and took a powerhouse SF team that probably should have won the SB down to the wire. AFter that it's been very disappointing.

That was Love's first season as a starter. We should have gotten better, but instead we've regressed. I was very concerned after they finished the season 0-3 last year, but this year was even worse with 0-5 and numerous failures to finish games.

 

[tynimiller]

One thing a lot of Packer fans need to keep in mind for 2026 is that this is a young team that should get better. More importantly, the Packers for the most part are in decent cap shape and have a totally manageable pending free agent list. When I say "manageable", even if they let all 9 unrestricted Free Agents walk, they could manage. On the other side of that, besides Willis, they could figure out a way to sign and afford the Free Agents that they don't want to let walk.

Nah with Willis you find suitors that don't want him to go to anyone else. Franchise him and trade....there easy peasy right? LOL

(FTR I'm 99.8% joking....but that .2% is having a blast with the idea)

 

[Magooch]

I would expect a "regression" record-wise out of Chicago. It reminds me a lot of the 14-3 Vikings - obviously an excellent record but the underlying metrics were less-than-stellar and largely unsustainable. I don't think they will fall off as hard as the Vikings did but overall I would expect that ironically they may very well field a slightly improved team overall but will likely post a worse W-L record.

They are projected to be pretty hard against the cap next year as it stands, and I believe won't have any safeties under contract at all beyond this season? Some big names will likely be candidates for cut/trade/restructure too. Top of the list is DJ Moore, he has nearly a 30m hit. They will almost certainly have to think about moving him. Tremaine Edmunds and Deandre Swift are both potential cut candidates (savings of ~8 and 15m and dead cap of ~1.5 and 2.5m respectively). Kmet is a restructure/cut candidate, Thuney needs a restructure (22m hit), Dayo Odeyingbo is a non factor with a 20.5m hit (cut to clear space for following year? idk).

It's certainly not a crisis or anything, but I guess my feeling is given how TERRIBLE their defense was for most of this year they will probably have to make some hard decisions particularly regarding some of these guys on offense. Not a ton that they HAVE to move on from, but might have to seriously consider clearing up some space from offensive players to have more flexiblity to try and improve the defense

 

[ExpatPacker]

Of course, I see the Bears and Packers in similar but opposite lenses truly.

The Bears cannot possibly continue to win in the fashion they are IMO....but who knows, maybe they continue being that middling team that is elite in the end of games.
The Packers cannot possibly continue to lose in the fashion they are IMO...but who knows, maybe they continue being often times that elite team early and middling to bad in the end of games.

I agree mostly with the former, although once a team actually wins in the clutch over and over again, it breeds a huge amount of confidence going forward. The latter I will remain skeptical of until the Packers prove it.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Nah with Willis you find suitors that don't want him to go to anyone else. Franchise him and trade....there easy peasy right? LOL

(FTR I'm 99.8% joking....but that .2% is having a blast with the idea)

Better yet, Trade Love, Franchise tag Willis and trade him too. With those 4 first round picks, the Packers could start Clayton Tune in 2026, go 0-17 and start a major rebuild that should have them back to the Super Bowl by 2030!

 

[OldSchool101]

I hear ya. ST has been a mess for years. But it shouldn't have to come to FGs because MLF couldn't make the adjustments in the second half to counter what the Bears' D was doing. I am very weary of watching MLF's teams wilt like this repeatedly. A change is needed cuz this is about as far as we are gonna go with Matt as our HC. After the last game in Chicago I thought I've seen every way a team can find a way to lose.

I think the FA additions this year should both be in the trenches.
1 good OL and 1 good, proven DT. None of this projection stuff, I’m talking veterans that have 2-3 years left that have proven experience but maybe not in their peak prime either where they won’t cost us $20m annual

 

[tynimiller]

Better yet, Trade Love, Franchise tag Willis and trade him too. With those 4 first round picks, the Packers could start Clayton Tune in 2026, go 0-17 and start a major rebuild that should have them back to the Super Bowl by 2030!

I'm 99.99% sure that isn't in the realm of reason or possible BUT.....that .01% of me is having a ball with the idea!

 

[tynimiller]

I agree mostly with the former, although once a team actually wins in the clutch over and over again, it breeds a huge amount of confidence going forward. The latter I will remain skeptical of until the Packers prove it.

Confidence yes, but if you study stats of teams having to win like that it simply isn't sustainable. Good thing is for Chicago at most they just need to keep it up for three more games.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I'm 99.99% sure that isn't in the realm of reason or possible BUT.....that .01% of me is having a ball with the idea!

I don't know, I think Tune is still available to sign!

 

[shockerx]

Just saw a stat for wildcard weekend. LOVE had the highest quarterback rating...out of 10 QBs ...one game left tonight.