Bears Studs n Duds

[OldSchool101]

Stud
Karl Brooks
Romeo Doubs
Matthew Golden
Reed and Watson
Jordan Love

Duds

Packers Run blocking (yuck). This was our worst run blocking unit we’d put together across a season in years.

Defense allowing 28pts in 2nd Half.
I couldn’t count the number of guys roaming free and coverage break downs. Total meltdown across 3rd-4Qtrs

Matt Lafkeur taking his foot off the gas in a critical game has just dumbfounded me. I have defended him over and over, but it’s obvious he’s below average at situational level football and has a lack of adapting to his opponent or learning from similar mistakes.

Refs of that 2nd Grounding call. Had The pass not hit a lineman it would’ve literally skipped with a couple feet of Chris brooks. That’s not grounding or I’ve never seen any game where a receiver was within the area and it gets called. Very weak call imo.

Brandon Mcmightmiss missing a slew of critical Kicks. Even just an XPA likely pushes this to OT. I’m not sure what wrong, but he needs to be on a short leash or maybe roll with 2 kickers.

 

[DoURant]

Studs: Love, Doubs, EdgeCooper until he got injured

Duds: McManus, MLF and the 2nd half collapse, Rich Bisaccia needs to go

Honorable Mention: Matthew Golden and Lucas Van Ness

 

[OldSchool101]

What's the worst that can happen? The same thing happens next year, and then maybe they decide to make some changes. Of course, Gute already went all in with Parsons, so maybe that's bad timing. Heck, maybe next season we can finish 0-6.



Yeah, that's what I think. This team is SOFT. And I just don't see MLF as being the guy to turn that around.

I get playing safe with a cushion. Normally. Yet there are several times that you can’t play safe and every snap is critical. The 2025 Bears now have 7 4Q comebacks! I’m pretty sure that’s an NFL record? I heard an announcer saying Caleb tied Peyton Manning for most 4Qtr comebacks in a single season in NFL history (6) during the game. I realize Matt would discount that if asked, but only because he’s the cause of 2 of them imo.

So obviously MLF doesn’t know that or he just doesn’t believe it’s important. IMO he was fortunate Chicago didn’t sweep him. They score Week 14 in 100% positive Chicsgo goes for 2pts for the Win.

 

[Magooch]

What's the worst that can happen? The same thing happens next year, and then maybe they decide to make some changes. Of course, Gute already went all in with Parsons, so maybe that's bad timing. Heck, maybe next season we can finish 0-6.

Actually I think there are many (both in and out of the organization) for which the idea of "what's the worst that could happen" absolutely paralyzes them with fear. There are many who may very well believe deep down that we won't win it all with LaFleur but they're thinking to themselves "But...the next guy could be worse!"

In fact I would go so far as to say there are probably many folks, who if given the choice between:

A.) A coach who ALWAYS makes the playoffs but will NEVER win the Super Bowl
or B.) A coach who might miss the playoffs some years but also might win the Super Bowl

...many would choose "option A" without much hesitation.

 

[milani]

Really tired of special teams costing us each year. The kicker position has been so inconsistent since Crosby. Can't we just have okay special teams? Why is it seemingly always a disaster?

And 2 punt returns that hurt.

 

[milani]

Stud
Karl Brooks
Romeo Doubs
Matthew Golden
Reed and Watson
Jordan Love

Duds

Packers Run blocking (yuck). This was our worst run blocking unit we’d put together across a season in years.

Defense allowing 28pts in 2nd Half.
I couldn’t count the number of guys roaming free and coverage break downs. Total meltdown across 3rd-4Qtrs

Matt Lafkeur taking his foot off the gas in a critical game has just dumbfounded me. I have defended him over and over, but it’s obvious he’s below average at situational level football and has a lack of adapting to his opponent or learning from similar mistakes.

Refs of that 2nd Grounding call. Had The pass not hit a lineman it would’ve literally skipped with a couple feet of Chris brooks. That’s not grounding or I’ve never seen any game where a receiver was within the area and it gets called. Very weak call imo.

Brandon Mcmightmiss missing a slew of critical Kicks. Even just an XPA likely pushes this to OT. I’m not sure what wrong, but he needs to be on a short leash or maybe roll with 2 kickers.

I think his contract is for another year. Trade him to the Giants. They need a kicker.

 

[Old Guy]

What's the worst that can happen? The same thing happens next year, and then maybe they decide to make some changes. Of course, Gute already went all in with Parsons, so maybe that's bad timing. Heck, maybe next season we can finish 0-6.



Yeah, that's what I think. This team is SOFT. And I just don't see MLF as being the guy to turn that around.

Don’t forget about Gutey. He brought all those soft guys here and corners that can’t cover

 

[chemist]

Dud: Matt LaFleur

Like a tree or shrub this team needs pruning in order for it to grow stronger.
Hopefully upper management will get the pruning shears out and do what's necessary.

 

[smacker]

I saw one team that wanted it a lot more in the 4th quarter than the other team.

 

[adambr2]

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You did this, Matt.

I would tell you to remember how bad it hurt but you won’t learn from it or do anything differently next time anyway.

 

[JoePack]

Studs: 1st half of game
Stud/Dud: Love. mlf, team.
Total Dud: Policy if he can't see the problem and get it corrected
The definition of Insanity this whole season and play-off game.
1st 2 games looked really promising, then something changed.

 

[rmontro]

I saw one team that wanted it a lot more in the 4th quarter than the other team.

What bugs me is you could predict exactly what was going to happen. I knew the Bears would get that two point conversion, never doubted it for a second.

Why did the Packers supposedly emphasize creating takeaways during training camp, but the Bears leads the league in them while the Packers rank near the bottom? But consider this: We won the takeaway battle in this game, +2. But we still managed to lose the game in the ugliest manner possible.

 

[adambr2]

“Hey ChatGPT, draw me a sketch of a beta male.”

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[JoePack]

It was obvious but we just didn't want to see it again and BOOM, there it was just like before. I'm thinking we've lost a lot of respect in the league and that needs to change now.

 

[rmontro]

We gave up six points in the first three quarters, and 25 in the fourth. Something's not right there, gents.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Studs: Fans of the Green Bay Packers

Duds: The head coach of the Green Bay Packers

I like this post Okie. I was going to pick MLF as both the stud (1H) and dud (2H), but you did a better job.

How much longer do we have to put up with such mediocre playoff performance? I know we should be happy we've had a competitive team, and two SBs within 30 years. That's not chopped liver.

It's also not the point, because the team could have done so much more. Even with the extensive injuries, the Packers had the Bears on the ropes last night, and let them off, again.

It will be interesting to see what, if anything, is done with MLF. I'll say for now it's time for a change at HC, but that feels like a knee-jerk reaction after the loss.

A few deep breaths will......... not help today.

 

[rmontro]

It will be interesting to see what, if anything, is done with MLF. I'll say for now it's time for a change at HC, but that feels like a knee-jerk reaction after the loss.

If it turns out that MLF stays, I hope it's at least on the condition that Bisaccia goes.

 

[Heyjoe4]

It was obvious but we just didn't want to see it again and BOOM, there it was just like before. I'm thinking we've lost a lot of respect in the league and that needs to change now.

From one Joe to another, agreed. Ed Policy has a golden chance to put his stamp on the organization. He can return to a more common org structure where Gluten is head of FB operations and the HC reports to him.

If it is going to happen, it should happen fast. The Packers HC job would be a dream compared to TN, Indy, or even Baltimore.

Gluten has assembled a talented team. Now let him find the right HC. That may mean keeping MLF. The loss is still too raw to comment rationally (for me). But change does seem needed.

 

[adambr2]

I like this post Okie. I was going to pick MLF as both the stud (1H) and dud (2H), but you did a better job.

How much longer do we have to put up with such mediocre playoff performance? I know we should be happy we've had a competitive team, and two SBs within 30 years. That's not chopped liver.

It's also not the point, because the team could have done so much more. Even with the extensive injuries, the Packers had the Bears on the ropes last night, and let them off, again.

It will be interesting to see what, if anything, is done with MLF. I'll say for now it's time for a change at HC, but that feels like a knee-jerk reaction after the loss.

A few deep breaths will......... not help today.

I don’t think it’s a knee jerk reaction to replace Lafleur.

I think you almost have to do it at this point solely on the culture change, even if you think he’s a good coach.

You can’t have your team crumble under your leadership this many times at the first sign of adversity and get an extension. You just can’t.

It’s in their heads right now. We all know damn well what most of the actual players were thinking in the 4th quarter.

It was not “we’re still up 15, we are fine.”

It was “oh my god here we go again.”

 

[Heyjoe4]

Lafleur has to be fired…. Haven’t won a division title for years and can’t make second half adjustments it’s time to move on… they lost 5 frickin games in a row I’ll give some grace for the Vikings game because it didn’t matter. But it has to be on him some major changes needed. Depth is an issue and our corners blow. McManus can pack his bags too. But dang man it falls on lafleur and execution like Kevin Greene once said.. “It’s Time”

Right now I agree, they need a change at HC. It's come up before, but the 2H last night put it in ink. Just baffling that a team could play so well and then go into a locker room and vanish into the night.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I don’t think it’s a knee jerk reaction to replace Lafleur.

I think you almost have to do it at this point solely on the culture change, even if you think he’s a good coach.

You can’t have your team crumble under your leadership this many times at the first sign of adversity and get an extension. You just can’t.

It’s in their heads right now. We all know damn well what most of the actual players were thinking in the 4th quarter.

It was not “we’re still up 15, we are fine.”

It was “oh my god here we go again.”

Well said. This kind of loss has happened too many times. It is time for a change. Hafley may stay in GB after all.

 

[tynimiller]

S: Doubs, Love until last drive, Coop,
D: Valentine, Nixon, refs, MLF MUST GO

Please identify how Love wasn’t a stud on the last drive?

He dimed a deep ball left side to Reed and he dropped it.

Doubs dropped an in cut short route.

Watson tough but let the ball off his hands on the deep one sliced into him between three defenders which was an incredible throw.

Love had us multiple times eating CHUNKS and his guys dropped it.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Please identify how Love wasn’t a stud on the last drive?

He dimed a deep ball left side to Reed and he dropped it.

Doubs dropped an in cut short route.

Watson tough but let the ball off his hands on the deep one sliced into him between three defenders which was an incredible throw.

Love had us multiple times eating CHUNKS and his guys dropped it.

Love played a great game, again. On that last drive, the drop by Reed was at the worst possible time, and even Doubs dropped one I think. But Love threw a near-perfect ball. The drop by Watson was just a well-defended play. What made it more amazing is that the Bears knew he had to throw. There are some problems with the team and especially coaching. Love is lot the problem - not even close.

I think he had 4 TD passes and zero INTs. The bigger issue is maximizing his talent, and the talent of the team overall (without injuries).

Tom Silverstein of the JS actually wrote a good, balanced article this am on the need to make a change at HC.

 

[David Ciembronowicz]

Reading most of these Love apparently is the 2nd coming (of whom I am unsure) but everyone dotes on the guy. His 2nd half performance was bad, not even fair; 2 throw away penalties, a penalty for clock management (ran out of time - AFTER a timeout), another game where he shows little enthusiasm to get the team fired up, missed passes (short, out of bounds, etc) and despite his first half excellence when it counted he was not the guy. The OL was bad in the 2nd half, apparently none of the coaches mentioned during half time that the bears would change their D and come at GB in a different manner. Overall, the Offense was horrible in the 2nd half, the defense just as bad : Bears 16 plays in 2nd half and 25 pts according to ESPN- how do you let that happen? Bad DB's again, failure to cover receivers all over the field. If GB fires MLF they need to also fire the GM he is the guy who built this roster with players who failed to show up (OL, DB's, LB's) and is paying $100+Million to a handful of players, one who is injured that is elite, to a QB who fails to show up too often and has questionable leadership skill, an OT that failed dramatically this year and a couple of others who just dont get the job done. The same GM who now has no 1st round draft choices the next 2 years, limited resources to re-sign key players and a roster that is average at best across all groups.

 

[David Ciembronowicz]

Bears QB Williams was upset, angry and basically pushed himself and his team to victory- visible leadership. Rams victory, Stafford comment to Addams

Matthew Stafford to Davante Adams: ‘Let’s go snatch these guys' hearts’​

Wonder what Love said in similar manner ? Nada, he sat alone on the bench, failed to say anything to any teammate that was visible and when he got into the huddle, well everyone saw it.