NFC North Predictions

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Still sounds like a lot of equivocation, as weeds put it - "Love wasn't 100% - There were a lot of untimely injuries, We almost beat Philly, The 1-5 record was an anomaly", and on and on.

It's just too much. It's the language some use to excuse a loss. There are no excuses, no moral victories. The only direction to take in football and life is forward.
Imo you’re sore and defensive over a couple of what? 2 or 3 point losses to good teams? If you can’t discuss football when someone brings up a topic or break down reasoning for losses (or wins) none of us should be here. Maybe just don’t say anything before scolding other posters. It isn’t really necessary imo.
We’re in here to talk football not take cheap shots

Btw. In every loss Matt discusses them. I’d love a reporter to say “you’re just making excuses” merely because he’s answering an accusation or question. So yes, it’s 110% a choice of respect (or lack thereof) thing to allow people to discuss football.
 
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gopkrs

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There were I think two games last year (one against minnesota) where we got spanked almost all game long. Yes, we might have won in the end, but they were not fun to watch nor did they instill confidence. We need to be able to keep up offensively this year imho. btw I was watching a Commanders game yesterday. They are really going to be tough.
 
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There were I think two games last year (one against minnesota) where we got spanked almost all game long. Yes, we might have won in the end, but they were not fun to watch nor did they instill confidence. We need to be able to keep up offensively this year imho. btw I was watching a Commanders game yesterday. They are really going to be tough.
There you go. I’m not afraid to call a spade a spade if we trailed pretty good.
I expected more passing plays, but I understood why were run first also. That run mix works better against teams who don’t have a top front 7

Or run more against teams who don’t have a great passing attack. Detroit and Minnesota are great Passing teams. Probably need to match that intensity. You rush for 4.5 per carry while they pass for 8.5 per pass at a 70% reception clip.
 
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For as much as we all talked about our WR depth, we really didn’t have any singular player just standout last season. Nobody separated truly themselves. Good performances but a little short in cumulative production.

Jayden Reed eclipsed 850 which was close. Kraft was in that 700+ which is pretty stout at TE. If we’re going to match intensity with those Pass heavy teams, we need that + 1 more player in that 800+ Receiving range imo. Either that or the guy at Top needs 1100+ area.

Jefferson is in that 1,500-+ area
Addison matches Reed 800+

Amon Ra St Brown was 1250+
Jameson Williams had 1000+

Josh Jacobs per carry isn’t going to match the difference. Need to balance the Pass a little better. I think the Offense is slightly more talented up and down the Roster. Malik or Bo are likely packing their bags. So we’ve recognized the inferior O IMO. Golden is a stud
 
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gopkrs

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There you go. I’m not afraid to call a spade a spade if we trailed pretty good.
I expected more passing plays, but I understood why were run first also. That run mix works better against teams who don’t have a top front 7

Or run more against teams who don’t have a great passing attack. Detroit and Minnesota are great Passing teams. Probably need to match that intensity. You rush for 4.5 per carry while they pass for 8.5 per pass at a 70% reception clip.
I don't often think it is a simple we needed to run more or whatever. For me the flow of the game and who we are playing dictates run or pass. I'm hoping this next year we can do both effectively. And so a lot depends on having a good game plan against a particular opponent. With an ability to change course fairly quickly (there's the rub) if it's not working.
 

Heyjoe4

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What?!??
Vikings 2025 Opponents (wins bolded):
Home:
Bears Packers, Lions, Eagles, Commanders, Ravens, Bengals, Falcons.
Away:
Bears, Packers, Lions, Cowboys, Giants, Steelers, Browns, Seahawks, Chargers.

Even if Minny goes 3-3 in the division (which may be a stretch) I think they'll finish 9-8 at best.
Hard to say with a new QB. If he connects quickly with Jefferson and Addison, well that's formidable. He's in a good situation, although I don't know anything about the queen's OL. It would be a big mistake to look past them.
 

Calebs Revenge

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I've been seeing some NFL predictions for the upcoming season start to pop up. Everyone seems to agree the Lions will win the division and the Vikings will finish last. As for the Packers and the Bears, two of them had the Bears second and the Packers third. And two had the Packers second and the Bears third.

So people seem to think the Bears are now on the Packers level basically. Not sure if that's because they think the Bears are improved, or if they're just not that impressed with the Packers.
It's absolutely believable that the Bears are on the Packers level and of course everyone knows that of course I think we're more on da Lions level......maybe a little under.....but we're definitely better than the Packers going into this season.

Not just talking absolute trash either (imho).....we have arguably the best young coach in football who has dominated y'all's head coach,
The Packers 1-5 against the division last year......
And.......it took a miracle blocked field goal for us to not sweep y'all for the first time in decades so yeah the Bears are absolutely on the Packers level and we'll see if we can pass up the Lions since they've lost Ben Johnson and we don't know what their offense is gonna look like without him......
Regardless, I cannot wait for the season to start!!!!!!!!!
LETS GET IT ON!!!!!!!!!!
 

Pkrjones

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Hard to say with a new QB. If he connects quickly with Jefferson and Addison, well that's formidable. He's in a good situation, although I don't know anything about the queen's OL. It would be a big mistake to look past them.
 

Calebs Revenge

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If J.J.is the real deal....and your guy gets better....AND our guy gets better.....
The next 5-8 years are going to be AMAZING!!!!
Unfortunately, the chances of that happening are like next to nothing.....that all four of us will have a great quarterback.....
So I guess Caleb is going to have to take that mantle and just hold onto it for the next 20 years hahahhahahahahhahaha!!!!!!
 

milani

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Vikings 2025 Opponents (wins bolded):
Home:
Bears Packers, Lions, Eagles, Commanders, Ravens, Bengals, Falcons.
Away:
Bears, Packers, Lions, Cowboys, Giants, Steelers, Browns, Seahawks, Chargers.

Even if Minny goes 3-3 in the division (which may be a stretch) I think they'll finish 9-8 at best.
Could be where all 3 teams wind up give or take a game. Lions still have a powerful offense and if healthy on defense should win 12 or 13. 2nd place likely goes to the team with the better D.
 
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In Chicago, Caleb had a moderately good year. He’s a very scrappy QB. He runs well when the play breaks down. 487 yards at 6 per. In itself that’s remarkable. However that desire to do too much with his legs can be traced back to a whopping 68 Sacks for a -466 yards. That’s detrimental level to long term health and success. It’s a beating as we call it.

The biggest concern I have with Caleb is his range, his protection and his decision making in allowing the play to develop. 46 yards long and 6.3 yard Average range across 17 games is low. Love and Hurts finished at 8.0 yards per toss. Chicago does not have a deep ball threat and I’d argue Defenses will continue to bring more pressure, at least that’s what I’d do.

Accuracy? While 62.5% Catch average is normal range, it’s on the lower end of normal if your depth to target is lower. You'd expect Caleb accuracy would be higher than average, not lower. So you look to that accuracy and Caleb posted a moderately high 21.1% “off target %. Which is just the opposite of what you’d expect.
Love on the EXACT same pocket time 2.4 sec is 18.2% or more normal. Hurts on 2.7sec to throw was 13.8% “off target”, which is more normal to good imo.

Also. Caleb’s Bats, Throwaways and Spikes were moderate to leaning High (39) 17 games
Hurts (34) 15 games
Love (20) 14 games
Love actually was very efficient in plays that were broken.

Caleb’s Receivers are normal in catching (20 drops, 17 games)
Hurts (6 drops, 15 games)
Love (30 drops, 14 games)

This isn’t all to say Caleb is all bad or anything like that. After all it’s 1 season. These are signs to me he needs much better protection and moderately better decision making and accuracy. Both Love and Hurts First full season floated a more normal 17.5% to 13.8% Bad throws.
 
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so the Bears did what you naturally thought they would do. They went out and signed Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson so they got a slight upgrade at 1 OG + the definitive upgrade at the other. Chicago threw $75M in Top 4 FA contracts, leaving them on cap fumes and likely borrowing from 2026 monies.
I loved the story behind the Trapilo Signing to get them a shot at OT. You older guys might recall his late Father, Steve Trapilo who played for the Saints also at OL. His son followed in his footsteps by playing for Boston College also. He’s got plenty length at 6’7”+

Loveland and Luther Burden III were the obvious moves to upgrade the 2024 lackluster Passing attack mentioned above and to get that leaky OL righted. However they lost Keenan Allen, so that’s a heavy offset. Also you’re relying on raw Rookie production, at least for 1-2 seasons.

I think Chicago 100% improved. Although its young improvement like we had 1-2 seasons ago. I’m just not sold they are better than the Lions Vikings Packers in real time. The Packers also improved and MN will likely regress. So while we get exited about our own teams, we always have to remember our Division is evolving also. GB isn’t the same team from 2024. Our Roster projection is a tick better than our Wildcard finish. IMO we’re a legit Divisional contender.
 
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Past the OL and TE/WR rooms, the Bears didn’t resign DE, Demarcus Walker. Who’s similar to Slaton but at DE. He was a veteran presence with above average impact (16 QB hits per season 2022-2024. Instead they replaced him with Shemar Turner in the middle of Day2.
Now Shemar should be a good player eventually. Right now today he’s likely more of a rotational player. He uses more physical approach, but is said to need to incorporate Pass Rush Skills which are lacking. He’s a solid Rookie, but in no way shape or form is he an upgrade. Similar to GB Chicago went NEEDS based. While in a win now that’s smart, I don’t think it’s smart for 2025 to rely on a Rookie WR to replace Keenan or a Rookie DE to replace Walker.
Chicago got a nice upgrade at OG (Thuney)and TE. Similar to Packers at OG and WR. Chicago took a slight step backwards at DL imo.
 
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Beyond that Chicago cleaned out their TE room and sent packing Gerald Everett, Tommy Sweeney and Mercedes Lewis. The obvious upgrade being Loveland at #10 overall. They did sign Dolphins Durham Smythe. He’s Chicago’s best attempt at replacing that Mercedes Role on cheap $$. An old school Blocking TE

In summary Chicago probably got better overall in the + to - category balance sheet. Should be better at iOL and Loveland will be a nice chess piece. Beyond that they replaced our own Jack Sanborn with LB, Hypoolite II. He’s compact and very fast. However.. his number 1 weakness is he gets completely washed out by bigger OL who make it to him in second level. GB just happened to go bigger and heavier in upgrading Run offense. Not a good counter measure vs GB.

Chicago had a nice draft. Unfortunately they had lots of holes also. I’d have them maybe a sliver above GB in total offseason upgrades. However they also spent much more than GB. Like Double our Guaranteed across FA, Draft.
 
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MN will suffer because imo, they just didn’t have enough Draft equity to respond to last minute needs. They smartly plugged Donovan at OL. He was supposed to come out last Draft I picked him. he’s kinda the OG version of Morgan, very safe, high floor player Much of their OL relies on Darrisaw returning from a MAJOR injury. BOTH an MCL + ACL surgery mid season 2024. Donovan is too short 6’3.5 to play LT consistently. Even though some will argue because he played there at a high level at OSU to replace Simmons. That likely won’t work at the pro level. He’s a Stud OG though and he can play LT in emergency duty for sure. The taller faster DE in Pros will eat him alive imo. In college LT rely on quickness disparity. In NFL many guys will match that quickness plus add length.

I have my personal over/under on Wins Loss totals off 2024 finishes as follows. Obviously it’s guess but on paper and factoring experience level, personnel moves, coaching changes, injury situation etc..

Detroit -2.5
Minnesota -3.5
GB +1.0
Chicago +3.5

GB is built like a 12 Win team in a strong Division. Any fan, including you Caleb! ;) Trying to say The Packers are somehow are not good and using a historical anomoly to prove it are not being honest with themselves.

I suspect our D will finish in that Top 5-10 once again. Plenty good enough to slow opponents and give an upgraded Offense a better opportunity to finish on the Winning side of 29-31
 
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Calebs Revenge

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In Chicago, Caleb had a moderately good year. He’s a very scrappy QB. He runs well when the play breaks down. 487 yards at 6 per. In itself that’s remarkable. However that desire to do too much with his legs can be traced back to a whopping 68 Sacks for a -466 yards. That’s detrimental level to long term health and success. It’s a beating as we call it.

The biggest concern I have with Caleb is his range, his protection and his decision making in allowing the play to develop. 46 yards long and 6.3 yard Average range across 17 games is low. Love and Hurts finished at 8.0 yards per toss. Chicago does not have a deep ball threat and I’d argue Defenses will continue to bring more pressure, at least that’s what I’d do.

Accuracy? While 62.5% Catch average is normal range, it’s on the lower end of normal if your depth to target is lower. You'd expect Caleb accuracy would be higher than average, not lower. So you look to that accuracy and Caleb posted a moderately high 21.1% “off target %. Which is just the opposite of what you’d expect.
Love on the EXACT same pocket time 2.4 sec is 18.2% or more normal. Hurts on 2.7sec to throw was 13.8% “off target”, which is more normal to good imo.

Also. Caleb’s Bats, Throwaways and Spikes were moderate to leaning High (39) 17 games
Hurts (34) 15 games
Love (20) 14 games
Love actually was very efficient in plays that were broken.

Caleb’s Receivers are normal in catching (20 drops, 17 games)
Hurts (6 drops, 15 games)
Love (30 drops, 14 games)

This isn’t all to say Caleb is all bad or anything like that. After all it’s 1 season. These are signs to me he needs much better protection and moderately better decision making and accuracy. Both Love and Hurts First full season floated a more normal 17.5% to 13.8% Bad throws.
No deep ball threat????????
DJ can ball.
Luther can ball.
I. Scott is a guy with 4.3 wheels.

I know this is gonna shock you, but Eberflus and our offensive coordinator musical chairs group never saw fit to use him (Scott) properly as a "run down the field and take the top off the defense", kind of guy....if only on a small percentage of plays......but he can do it.

I just don't think you all are prepared to see what Ben Johnson does with the talent Ryan poles our Gen manager has assembled.
The only offensive coach that I think we've ever had was the guy from the CFL Mark Trestman, who just could not control a group of NFL millionaire adults....... and he lost control of the locker room.
I'm 44 and for the first time in my life, we have a generational quarterback and an offensive minded genius head coach again. I don't think anybody is ready for what the Bears are about to be because we're gonna go against 100 years of our tradition and it's not your father's Bears anymore.
I could be wrong, but it's Ben Johnson coaching Da Team now not the mentally challenged group before.
We can call timeouts now and I wish it wasn't true, but that's how low the bar is.......calling freaking timeouts in very important game situation..... because you know Coach Eberflus had issues with that concept!!!!!!!!!!

And this is the real sad but maybe good part Virginia Hallis, who has now passed on. God, rest her soul and bless her family. She was from a different time and a very, very, very different generation. She is no longer the controlling voice of the team and I believe it's going to be a new era of Bears football..... y'all enjoy now...ya hear?!?!?!,!!!!!!!
 
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No deep ball threat????????
DJ can ball.
Luther can ball.
I. Scott is a guy with 4.3 wheels.

I know this is gonna shock you, but Eberflus and our offensive coordinator musical chairs group never saw fit to use him (Scott) properly as a "run down the field and take the top off the defense", kind of guy....if only on a small percentage of plays......but he can do it.

I just don't think you all are prepared to see what Ben Johnson does with the talent Ryan poles our Gen manager has assembled.
The only offensive coach that I think we've ever had was the guy from the CFL Mark Trestman, who just could not control a group of NFL millionaire adults....... and he lost control of the locker room.
I'm 44 and for the first time in my life, we have a generational quarterback and an offensive minded genius head coach again. I don't think anybody is ready for what the Bears are about to be because we're gonna go against 100 years of our tradition and it's not your father's Bears anymore.
I could be wrong, but it's Ben Johnson coaching Da Team now not the mentally challenged group before.
We can call timeouts now and I wish it wasn't true, but that's how low the bar is.......calling freaking timeouts in very important game situation..... because you know Coach Eberflus had issues with that concept!!!!!!!!!!

And this is the real sad but maybe good part Virginia Hallis, who has now passed on. God, rest her soul and bless her family. She was from a different time and a very, very, very different generation. She is no longer the controlling voice of the team and I believe it's going to be a new era of Bears football..... y'all enjoy now...ya hear?!?!?!,!!!!!!!
Caleb Williams ranked #28 in QBR. That’s an important metric. Here the guys at the top. What do they have in common? They are all Winners imo.

1. Lamar Jackson
2. Josh Allen
3. Joe Burrow
4. Jayden Daniels
5. Jordan Love
6. Jared Goff
7. Brock Purdy
8. Pat Mahomes
9. Kyler Murray
10. Jalen Hurts.

QBR factors in Passer rating and Strength of Defense played.
These are the big boys. Call them the Pro version of the SEC leaders.

60% of those won their Division
70% Won 11+ games
90% of them had Winning records.
1 missed and that was Kyler with a
8-9 record.

90% finished with a top 11 Offense
70% finished with a Top 8 Offense

So maybe Caleb is the Best to ever play. Until we see it? Williams has to at minimum prove he belongs. I’ll give him a Pass, he was a Rookie trying to find his way last year. He’s got plenty of weapons this season and plenty of $$ invested. His Window is now. In a couple of years he’ll be looking to get paid or replaced either one. I’m sorry but 28th in QBR is not good. Mostly hype. About lost to Malik Willis and our backup crew on Offense in Week 18, go look.
 
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Calebs Revenge

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Caleb Williams ranked #28 in QBR. That’s an important metric. Here the guys at the top. What do they have in common? They are all Winners imo.

1. Lamar Jackson
2. Josh Allen
3. Joe Burrow
4. Jayden Daniels
5. Jordan Love
6. Jared Goff
7. Brock Purdy
8. Pat Mahomes
9. Kyler Murray
10. Jalen Hurts.

QBR factors in Passer rating and Strength of Defense played.
These are the big boys. Call them the Pro version of the SEC leaders.

60% of those won their Division
70% Won 11+ games
90% of them had Winning records.
1 missed and that was Kyler with a
8-9 record.

90% finished with a top 11 Offense
70% finished with a Top 8 Offense

So maybe Caleb is the Best to ever play. Until we see it? Williams has to at minimum prove he belongs. I’ll give him a Pass, he was a Rookie trying to find his way last year. He’s got plenty of weapons this season and plenty of $$ invested. His Window is now. In a couple of years he’ll be looking to get paid or replaced either one. I’m sorry but 28th in QBR is not good. Mostly hype. About lost to Malik Willis and our backup crew on Offense in Week 18, go look.
to be 100% completely honest..... I couldn't care less what any of Caleb's numbers were last season!!!!
Why you keep bringing up old stuff? Hahahahhahahaha
J/K
There was a 40 yard dot to DJ in the Carolina game. He hit swift on a ridiculous rollout......He dropped it in between two players 30 yards down field l. There are another dozen examples of plays that just make you go wow.
Trust me, my quarterback has never made me say wow
My guy has the talent.
The line was horrible.
The play calling was horrible.
I mean come on...our coach couldn't even call time out to save a game on Thanksgiving day when the entire nation is watching!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've almost never been as embarrassed as I was at that moment of my organization!!!
But they knew that and Virginia God Rest Her Soul.....passed away and it's a new era of Bears football now......
They backed up the Brinks truck for Coach Johnson.......so I don't care about any of Caleb's numbers LAST YEAR.
Ben Johnson is running the offense now I have complete faith in that so, like I said you can you throw out any number you want from last year again....that's last year.
I know what I've seen the last three years from Ben Johnson's offense in Detroit and I know what pieces we have on our team and I think Ben Johnson is going to make the best of both .
That is all....
 

Calebs Revenge

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And I'm really looking forward to the pick em league again this year!!!!!
Come see if you can beat a stupid Bears fan hahhahahahahhha
I dare ya!!!!!!!!
 

Calebs Revenge

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And you know I love you old-school!!!!
I'm celebrating tonight because my new job is going awesome and........
me and the wife got a SWEET deal on an 85 inch TV!!!!
I mean this thing is ridiculous. It's as big as my wall and I'm just foaming at the mouth to watch the first Bears-Packers game on this bad boy at my house!!!!!
No more getting kicked out of bars for this guy .Hahhahahahahahahahahaha
it's unreal and it was the sale of the freaking century so I'm just super stoked right now!!!!!
Life is great and I hope.....life for all you boys is great too..... except in the upcoming season ha ha ha ha!!!
CHEERS BOYS!!!!!
Here's to the 2025 2026 NFC North champs whoever they may be!!!!!!!!
 

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