Official Week 18 vs Bears Pregame Thread

[OldSchool101]

In retrospect, one the one side, the The Bears will be a better opponent than previous years almost by default. They’ve sold their financial soul to Win in 2025 or 2026. Even with a Rookie QB deal the Bears are now $40Mil behind The Packers in Cap ($20mil each season) The only question is how quickly can the Bears get their major changes working like a fine tuned machine. The unfortunate part for Chicago is I really don’t think the Packers or Lions are going away in 2025-2026. We have the financial flexibility and know how to retain our best players and fill in the gaps with a good GM. The Vikings are questionable mostly because of QB changes. They are likely still good enough to fight for a playoff spot until they display otherwise.

The Bears will have pressure to Win starting now but especially across 2025-27 seasons. I see their Window as starting now. The NFC North is not an ideal Division to be part of while being a benefactor of a Rookie QB deal. Especially while we pair with the AFC North. The worst team in that Division is likely an Aaron Rodgers led team with a D ranked #8 in scoring last season. Then you get tossed in the NFC East which is Top Heavy Weight with Eagles/Washington.

 

[rmontro]

One of my all-time favorite quotes is by Woody Hayes..... They were beating a team by like 40 points and they scored a touchdown and he went for the two point conversion.
After the game, he was asked why he went for two and without missing a beat he looked in the camera and said "because it's against the rules to go for three"!!!!!!!

That's a good quote. Not sure how sportsmanlike it was, probably depends on how much game time was left. Or maybe he was using it as an opportunity to practice their two point conversions.

 

[Thirteen Below]

Rolled my eyes at that. I get it, gotta go with the 'X team's fan su<k' when it is a rivalry because it gets the fan base all frothy, but if he really has an issue with that or surprised then he really isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer.

He just comes across as a whiny little diva. For years, we've been very widely considered to be the best fan base in the NFL, but because Caleb chipped his fingernail polish getting pushed out of the Lambeau Leap, he deicdes they suck.

I don't like this kid. Looking foward to him getting humbled next time he's in town.

 

[Thirteen Below]

1. Sean Mannion had specifically mentioned that he is bringing his experience of footwork training into the equation. I think Rodgers footwork was a key to bringing out his most successful seasons as a Pocket Passer. Once he mastered that he became dangerous in the Pocket. If Jordan focuses on this area I feel like it’s a catalyst to raise him to that next plateau.

When Kirk Cousins was talking about how much Mannion had helped him become a better quarterback, he specifically said that Mannion taught him more about footwork than any coach had ever taught him. And rember, this is a verteran starter talking about a career backup quarterback 3 years younger than he is - put it in that context and I would say that is very high praise.

3. Team talent. In retrospect, this is the best assembly of talent on Offense that Jordan has been surrounded by. From a mixture of OL upgrades to Weapons to raw experience, 2025 offers a clear advantage over 2023-2024. We are more experienced, have more raw talent upside and acquired far more speed across the board than anything Jordan had worked with.

This is a bold and perhaps brash statement, especially for me. I like to try to keep things in perspective.

But I would venture to say this may be one of the best Packer teams period going back a number of years.

 

[Calebs Revenge]

He just comes across as a whiny little diva. For years, we've been very widely considered to be the best fan base in the NFL, but because Caleb chipped his fingernail polish getting pushed out of the Lambeau Leap, he deicdes they suck.

I don't like this kid. Looking foward to him getting humbled next time he's in town.

Seriously.....I hope Caleb wins for the next 10 years in Lambo.
If that were to happen....you guys won't even get 1/10 of the wrath that Bears fans had to endure under Favre.....and then......Rogers just rolled around in it like Scrooge McDuck swimming in his money tower......
The discount double check and shouting at the fans. This is his house........
I literally have already started working on the discount doublecheck belt that I'm going to throw at him when they wheel his old tired broken a.z.z. out of Soldier Field in November......
My boys got talent and a coach to match now.....
Reading through old post is fun and I can find probably a dozen examples where people on your own board say MLF is just not as creative as Ben Johnson.

 

[OldSchool101]

But I would venture to say this may be one of the best Packer teams period going back a number of years.

Thirteen it’s true. I could honestly look up and down this Offensive and Defensive Roster and this is one of the top 5 Packer Rosters up and down the Roster across the last 25 years.

Now putting it all together takes a collective effort and applying it is an entirely different matter. As we all know Winning at a high level takes all the stars to align. Make no mistake we have the star power level to Win a Championship and I won’t say that but once every decade or so. Even the majority of Rodgers led teams couldn’t say that.

IMO just as much of our season rides on Love bringing the magic and the Coordinators putting players in positions to succeed.

1. We’ve got one of the best TE’s we’ve had in decades imo (Kraft). We also have an outside shot of a potent 1-2 punch at TE if Musgrave lives up to potential. This group has every chance to be the top duo in GB in the last 25 years +

2. We have one of the best RB’s in the NFL. If not for a Run block rated #22 in 2024 (which looks to be fixed) I think Jacobs is an easy 2000+ yard “All purpose” level player. Easily a Top 5 RB if we get this ship rolling. Backed by what I feel is a terrific Big Play complimentary RB in Marshawn.

3. This is the most “well rounded” and deep WR we’ve had since 2011 imo. Now we’re NOT top heavy and we’re currently without a WR1 (maybe) but we have at least 3 Wideouts that imo any of which could crack 1,000 yards from a talent perspective (not simultaneous, just ability and experience levels).

All this backed by a Defense that just came off a performance at Philly that finished like this after the first Special Teams Gaff leaving them in scoring position play #1

Punt
FG
Punt
Punt
Punt
Punt
TD
FG
FG

That’s after our Offense and Teams turned the Ball over to our opponent 4 TIMES! -4 Turnover ratio. Our D came to play the best team in the NFL at their house and our Teams and Offense choked starting Play #1

 

[Heyjoe4]

7-8 regular season games and 3 to 4 playoff games is plenty for Gute to gauge his GB future.

Yeah agreed. I think the question for Watson, Reed, and Doubs is what would extensions look like as far as contract and $$$ ? 3 or 4 playoff games should resolve that to everyone's satisfaction. These guys all have career years ahead of them if they go out and grab em. Watson needs to comeback in a big way from the ACL tear. in half a regular season. I think he will.