...Every now and then I get a little bit restless and I dream of something wild.
Here's how I OBJECTIVELY look at the second quarter of the Bears season, beginning Sunday night in Lambeau. Win 3. Win 3 of the next 4 and get to the bye week at 4-4. With home games against Minnesota and Detroit and a trip to the offensively-challenged Eagles, it's incredibly possible. This week's a different matter. Would I love to win Sunday night? Absolutely. Do I actually believe the Bears are going to go on the road in primetime, not turn the ball over and pull the upset over the resurgent Packers? Well....
YOU BET YOUR ASS I DO!
BEARS 20
PACKERS 19
Why do I like the Chicago Bears this week?
1. I always like the Chicago Bears.
2. The Packers know their offensive line can't hold up against the Bears pass rush so look for Favre to throw a relentless number of slant patterns to Driver and Jennings. The Pack make their money chewing up yardage on first and second downs. There's one way to stop to slant: you have to hit the receivers and hit them hard. Make them afraid to catch the ball over the middle. The middle, you say? Hit somebody 54. Knock somebody into the locker room.
3. The Packers have killed the Bears for years on the screen pass. They've been much less successful during the Lovie Smith era because of the increased speed of the front seven and Urlacher's ability to get sideline-to-sideline. Not with these running backs and not with a complete lack of a running game. This thing's going to be played vertically.
4. The Bears will run the ball and run the ball and run the ball and that means one thing: less interceptions. If the quarterback position doesn't turn the ball over, the Bears will have a chance to win this late.
5. I think this week we're going to see the first real impact of Devin Hester on opposing coaches. Mason Crosby is a rookie kicker who'll be under a great deal of pressure all week not to put the ball in 23's hands. I think he's going to make mistakes and if the Bears are starting drives consistently from their 40 - they're going to score points.
6. 19-17 Packers on a shocking Favre to Jennings touchdown with over a minute to go. Crosby kicks the ball out of bounds. Griese hits Olsen for 22 yards, then Rash Davis for 18. Robbie Gould splits the uprights from 37 yards and the Bears turn their season around.
Nobody won the contest a few weeks back so here's another shot. Gimme a score and a breakdown. You nail it and the Wednesday column is yours next week.
#2 Rancid said . . .Pack 24
Bears 17Da Bears commit the same mistakes and Lovie Smith will sound like a broken record. Hester will muff. Berrian will drop a pass. Benson will fumble and Garrett Wolfe replaces him for a half, which leads the running game nowhere. Griese throws well but lets another pick go. The calls for Grossman will begin Monday morning.
I hate to say it, but Da Bears aren't winning this one. I would like nothing better than to be proven wrong but this team doesn't have that fire in their belly. They got out hustled by the Lions.
October 5, 2007
#3 Rancid said . . .For this to work, we need to get Babich to lay off the Urlacher blitzes for one game and play it a little closer to how Rivera did (even though I like our new D game plans better). Otherwise it's going to be like the Dallas game where 54 had 2 sacks but they threw the slant all game. We are going to need 54 in coverage on that. I believe our front 4 can create plenty of pressure on Favre. If Favre is under pressure and the slant isn't there, then we will get some picks and some sacks, and then we can win this game.
October 5, 2007
#4 Rancid said . . .Completely biased and illogical prediction:
Griese will be who we thought he was. He throws 2 TDs, 2 INT. Gould goes 3 for 3 on field goals. Benson rushes for over a 100 yds., but no TD. One TD to Olsen, one to BB. The defense sacks Favre 3 times, gets a pick, and blocks another kick.
Bears 24
Pack 20October 5, 2007
#5 Phil from SATX said . . .I suck at math: That should have been:
Bears 23
Pack 20October 5, 2007
#6 JB said . . .This should be an EASY game to gameplan for Babich, because what he has is the Cowboys without a running game and with not quite as good receivers and tight end. Which is why I still don't know how he plays it - do you assume Brett is just a smidgen less escapable than Romo? If you do, then that blitz pressure which came so close to working against Romo may indeed lead to the 10 sacks the Bears should have had against the Cowboys - which would have led to a different outcome in that game (and maybe led to Rex still being at the reins).
Or do you play it like Rancid and assume the front can get pressure? If they can't, Bears lose. So I guess that's tweakable during the game.
Still, this is an easier task than the Cowboys (although somewhat mitigated by fewer bodies on defense).
Bears win 24-17 - two TDs, one passing to Olsen, one Ced running, one Hester return and one Robbie Gould field goal (so Al Michaels can say "good as Gould" which we know he wants to do again).
October 5, 2007
#7 Rancid said . . .Favre reverts back to '05 Brett and commits 3 turnovers, one fumble forced by Mark Anderson, one silly ball in the air INT to Daniel Manning, and one nice pick by 54.
The offense doesn't have far to go all day and gets it in the endzone twice, to B-Twice and Adrian Peterson, along with a solid day from Robbie Gould who adds 4 field goals.
Player of the game is Desmond Clark with 8 catches for a buck 10. Packers score a late TD to make it interesting but the offense runs the clock out to seal a 26-20 W.
October 5, 2007
#8 Northside Superfan said . . .Phil - I agree that my plan is "tweakable". That's what is great about it. If the front 4 are not getting pressure and Favre is hitting longer passes instead of slants, then we have to adapt and bring him some LB prassure. I think that is worst case though, because GB has 2 good TEs (Franks has played better and Lee has been surprising) as well as receivers who can run slant patterns well. If we get caught Blitz happy, we'll pay for it. There are too many quick dump options for Favre this year. This game will be a whole lot easier if Mark Anderson knocks Favre out of the game on his first snap. I'm pulling for that to happen. Especially after all the atrocities that Midway has witnessed the last few days.
October 5, 2007
#9 Al in WI said . . .Bears 30
Packers 10Yes, that may not be that logical given how the Bears have looked lately, but I have a feeling they are going to suprise some people with an easy victory Sunday night. Partially because like Jeff, I always like the Bears and believe in them, but for some substantive reasons as well.
As a bunch of people have already mentioned, the defensive gameplan should be pretty simple here. We are a good match for the pack's offense--they've got no running game, so we can just focus on containing the #1 Bear killer of the past 20 years. Our D-Line should definitely be able to continue their awesome play and generate some pressure. Remember--as great as Brett is, he does turn it over a lot.
Also, the run defense is soft, we are going to run a lot and you know Benson realizes he is under the microscope. I predict he has a big game and if he doesn't, it is definitely time to start...well...I'm not gonna go there yet. He'll have a big game.
As for Griese, I just refuse to believe he is as bad as he was against Detroit. I don't expect any fireworks, but I think he'll have a good, solid game here. He should be a little more settled in with the offense and his receivers.
And last but certainly not least, we have our not-so-secret weapon, the incomparable Devin Hester. Even if he doesnt touch a single kickoff he'll get a few punts, and I think we'll see him get some touches on offense, which will be very exciting. I'm really, really hoping to see him on a reverse or an end-around. Yeah, the packers will be looking for it, but who cares? They're looking for him to break punts and kickoffs too, and he can still do it.
Go Bears. The playoff march starts Sunday night.
October 5, 2007
#10 Pissed Off said . . .My gut actually tells me the Bears are going to pull off the upset. I watched the Packer-Viking game on NFL replay, and Minnesota, who I think sucks, had every chance to win that game. The Packers are vastly overrated, and vulnerable for that matter.
I see this game a lot like the Bears wins of GB in 99, and 2000 when we shocked them. The Bears will make some early big plays and take a lead. I think this will come from Hester popping a kick, and a defensive turnover either setting the offense up close or actually scoring. The packers will close the gap late, and the Bears will in it late. Rex Grossman, off the bench most likely because Griese is hurt, throws the game winning TD.
Bears 21
Packers 17October 5, 2007
#11 big rob said . . .I love this blog, well not everyone here cuz some people are dicks to me, but I love the blog nonetheless. I realize this is the blog of hopes and dreams (even though many try to tear those dreams down, you know who you are) but sometimes it needs to be the blog of objectivity. If for example this was a national sampling of NFL gurus, less than 1/3 of people would actually pick the Bears this week. But because this is da bears blog, it will be mostly Bears victories predicted here, fine.
I'm not going to offer up my prediction for the game cuz I'm sure someone will come here and tell me why I'm wrong, (not that I care) but I will say that it is getting increasingly harder to pick the Bears not only to win but as to how they will do it, like whats being asked here by Jeff. I have been coming to this blog consistently day in and day out for about a year now. Last year after the Dolphins loss, our first one, I was so distraught, which is what led me here. But then we came back and won some games. Things clicked most of the year last year for this team and I was confident we would beat Indy and win the SB. I tip my cap to a better team and said lets move on to next year.
Well next year is here and leading up to the season I thought the Bears could go to and win the SB this year, why wouldnt I? Nothing in the offseason led me to beleive otherwise, nothing changed other than the TJ trade but I thought Ced would fill that role easy and be even better than TJ. Well that along with several other things have since gone bad and we are 1-3 having just lost to a horrible Lions team. If I was a betting man there is no question I would put the money on GB this week, there is virtually nothing to sway me the other direction. GB is good this year, I wont be predicting a MN victory next week but GB is good this year and we are no longer elite. I seriously didnt pick against the Bears once last year and I was being objective. Now, still being objective, I think this team has a long road ahead unless they fix some stuff. C'mon Bears, I want that feeling back that no one can beat us!
October 5, 2007
#12 Da Coach said . . .Thoughts from big rob;
1. As the NS Superfan states, I also refuse to believe that Griese is that bad. I still do believe that Rex could have taken us the whole year but thats a moot pt now.
2. We all seem to forget how damn giddy we were in the off season with predictions of another SB appearence and win. Let's not forget that this Sunday. This is a team of winners who only lost 3 games all of last season. look for this to be the game they get tired of losing.
3. Also like Al in WI stated, the Packers really arent that good. They are getting all this hype cause Brett "I sold my soul to the devil thats why everyone around me dies" Farve" broke a couple records. The guy has been playing forever so of course thats gonna happen. Get over it.
4. This Bears offense is WAY overdue for a breakout game. Look for this Sunday night to be the game that jumpstarts our season.
Fearless prediction for Football in America on Sunday night:
Bears 31
Packers 10Griese throws for 2TD and 275yds
Ced has 1TD
Hester amazes us as usual for a TD
Gould kicks a long one after a tunrover to end the first half.GO BEARS!!
October 5, 2007
#13 Da Coach said . . .Bears 16
Pack 13A tight defensive game that goes into the 4th quarter with Gould nailing the late FG to put in the books. The pack have no running game to speak of but they do have a pretty solid defense and I think our offense will struggle at time this week and make it a low scoring affair.
October 5, 2007
#14 Midway Monster said . . .Bears 16
Pack 13A tight defensive game that goes into the 4th quarter with Gould nailing the late FG to put in the books. The pack have no running game to speak of but they do have a pretty solid defense and I think our offense will struggle at time this week and make it a low scoring affair.
October 5, 2007
#15 jeff said . . .Call that a dream- HA. Here is my contest entry:
Bears lose the toss. Pack receives and downs the ball on the 20. Next play Urlacher blitzes and knocks Favre's head off. No- I mean really knocks his head off. His head rolls to the 10 yard line. (It's later put in the hall of fame as is on a stick). Oh yeah, Urlacher recovers the lose ball and scores. Final score Bears 7, Pack 0.
Is that detailed enough Jeff?
-- Midway --
PS - Saw Favre today. He was kicking over a little kids cool aid stand. We gotta stop this guy.
October 5, 2007
#16 StartOlsen said . . .midway, you already have a column. but if you didn't...
October 5, 2007
#17 Midway Monster said . . .wow, nice to see all the optimism today! Not much bullshit about the o-line, greise or Ced being a bust...
SO CONTINUE TO CAN THAT SHIT.
Lets talk about how good our team is, since we ARE bias and we DO love our fucking team!!
Props to everyone mentioning Mark Anderson, the fucking human sack machine.
Mark Anderson,Daniel Manning, Devin Hester all in one draft...
HOME.
RUN.Bears 567
Favres 3Fuck the Pack. Today I am willing to trade my responsible, professional, role model adult life for the opportunity to have a fist fight with any random Packer fan. Too bad I live in Alaska, where everyone is a fan of the last team to win the SuperBowl.
Im out.
October 5, 2007
#18 Midway Monster said . . .Jeff, Column Schmollom, I am talking Favre's head on a stick here.
-- Midway --
October 5, 2007
#19 Bill said . . .StartOlsen: Love your post. I am with ya and willing to fight right along side. F the political correctness stuff, lets 'dismount and fight em on foot"!
-- Midway --
PS - Saw Farve at the local hospital today. He was in the maternity ward spanking babies and making them cry. We gotta stop this guy!
October 5, 2007
#20 Midway Monster said . . .I'd rather see Urlacher in coverage than blitzing. While I love seeing him get sacks, he's too valuable to be potentially taken out of plays by a "spy" assigned to pick him up if he blitzes. We're used to see him chases down swing passes from behind - but if he blitzes and is blocked, we've played into GB's hands.
I can't pick against the Bears even though I don't have a good feel for this game. But IF they win it will be by mistake free football, ball control, pressure on Favre, and Hester (via return yardage or influencing them to kick shorter.
Based on that, I can see the Bears winning 24-20.
October 5, 2007
#21 JB said . . .Bill - You just don't get it do you (Austin Powers quote to his son). Urlacher blitzing is a side note... I was talking head on a stick. Dude- head on a stick!
-- Midway --
October 5, 2007
#22 DTB said . . .Do you mean Dr. Evil?
October 5, 2007
#23 Pissed Off said . . .Has anyone realized that the 4 teams we have played have a combined record of 10-6? Its crazy, compared to Pack's 5-11. The best thing about the NFL is that divisional teams play on a level playing ground. I cant wait until they hit the back end of their schedule, 6 of 10 on the road to finish out. It's gonna be a beautiful thing to watch Detroit and GB level off and the Bears surge to the playoffs, while playing at a high level. But it all starts here. Continue the Lambeau domination.
Bears 23
Pack 17Dont care who scores the points, but if I have to listen to Madden and Michaels gush about Brett, I'll shit all over myself. Twice
October 5, 2007
#24 jeff said . . .Good point DTB, I almost forgot the whole Madden/Favre element to this game, dont know how. This could set up to be a "favrefest" for Madden if we cant control the clock with our running game. C'mon Bears if nothing else keep Favre off the field so Madden isn't talking about him all night.
October 5, 2007
#25 Phil from SATX said . . .sunday night i'm staying home with own coors light. putting on springsteen's nebraska album to soothe my soul. and muting the television.
October 5, 2007
#26 jeff said . . .Great point DTB, and one of the teams included in those numbers is a good team masquerading as a crappy one (kind of like the Bears, actually) in San Diego at 1-3.
This is along the lines of what I want to hear out of Madden's mouth come Sunday night:
"Ya know, I am one of Brett Favre's biggest fans, but you just can't make that throw. He's trying too hard to make something happen out there."
The Bears are one of 3 teams that are significantly better than their record - Chargers and Saints being the other two. I have no desire to try to unearth what is happening to those teams (like is it a schedule thing for them too?) but I think DTB's point it spot on - not to mention that the Bears are an anomaly unto themselves because of their bizarre QB situation. Hopefully BG is able to make it substantially more un-bizarre starting this week. (great English huh?)
Must say I am enjoying today's posts much more than the last few days. I apologize to all for my part in some depressing to and fro. I don't intend to do that again.
BEAR FANS UNITE!
(StartO, pretty cool that you're in Alaska - did you know PO'd lives in North Dakota? lots of far flung Bear fans around here)
October 5, 2007
#27 Max said . . .we're working on a plan to have a party for every body on here in chicago for a game. will take planning for most of you, but we're working on it.
October 5, 2007
#28 DTB said . . .Bears 27 Packers 24
-Griese 20-34 210 yds 2 TD 2 INT
-Benson: 20 rush 90 yds 1 TD 1 FumL
-AP: 6 rush 25 yds 4 catches 50 yds
-BB: 6 catches 95 yds
-Clark gets a TD
-Gould kicks the game winner.
- Bears D gets 4 sacks, 1 FumR, 2 INT
-Hester runs one back. . . of course
-Madden actually gets down on his knees for Favre at half time. . . and you can fill in the blank.Oh and Rashied makes a catch naturally
October 5, 2007
#29 Pissed Off said . . .Max you have accounted for 31 points here. But if any team can actually turn 31 points into 27, its the Bears.
October 5, 2007
#30 Phil from SATX said . . .Lets not forget the farthest flung of all, Max in Hawaii.
Would love to get together in Chicago for a "dabearsblog" member convention/meeting/drunkfest of sorts or whatever it might be but it would take some serious planning on my part and of course the $ issue at this point because of the distance. Kids are expensive not to mention we just bought another house so we'll be moving in November.
October 5, 2007
#31 Rancid said . . .Jeff, I have always dreamed of having riches galore to the extent that I could easily extend my largesse to all around me, to where it could be as simple as saying "hey fellow DaBearsBloggers, my good friends solid and true, money literally means nothing to me, how about if I spring for everybody to join up in Chicago for a Bears game, think nothing of it, this 10 large to me is like you spending $10, maybe we'll even swing down on my private jet to pick you up, San Antonio, you say?"
Now my use of the word "dream" should have already tipped you off to the fact that that ain't me. BUT... might there by others around here that answer by that name? I'm putting my money on StartO, possibly Bill.
Who's loaded out there and likes to spend money on their friends? Think of the fun we'd have! (Come on, it never hurts to ask)
October 5, 2007
#32 Bill said . . .I live in upstate NY and the only time I went to Chicago for a game was last year (Bills game). I couldn't afford to fly so I took the train (13 hrs) In short, I'd be lucky to pay for me so sadly I'm not that secret millionaire poster who could afford to pay for everyone. I bet Mike is filthy rich. Pessimistic negative people are usually loaded aren't they?
October 5, 2007
#33 Bill said . . .Well, I guess by my age I was presumed less economically challenged than the young'uns on the board. However, I have two in college (1 private, one out of state) and a third that is out but I'm still paying loans.
Of course, we could always set up a Yahoo chat site during a game and have a virtual party.
October 5, 2007
#34 Jokey said . . .I guess by my age I'm presumed a bit less finacially challeged than the young'uns here. But I have two kids in college (one in a private school and one out of state). Plus a third who is out but I'm still paying loans.
We could always set up a Yahoo chat and have a virtual party (though they may censor comments and we'd lose some of the flavor.)
October 5, 2007
#35 Midway Monster said . . .Bears 23
Fudgepackers 16October 5, 2007
#36 JL said . . .Just saw Favre cutting break lines on cars with Bears bumper stickers. Better double pump your breaks prior to driving tonight. Man, this guy is out of control. We need to stop him!
-- Midway --
October 5, 2007
#37 Viva said . . .Just watched highlights of Tampa Bay punishing Carolina with the run last week. Why? Even after Cadillac went down after 6 carries (41 yds), the Bucs stuck with their game plan and merely plugged in Pittman and Graham to the tune of 189 total yds on the ground, punishing the Carolina D. What's the point?
RUN THE BALL CHICAGO BEARS! I sound like a broken record but we must punish, pound, bruise GB with Benson, Wolfe, anyone who's healthy and is ready to drop a couple of stiff arms. KEEP POUNDING THE BALL.
Let's go down memory lane...One of my favorite drives from last season was a pivotal one in the NFC Championship game against the Saints in the 2nd quarter. We started at our own 31, drove 69 yards, ate up 4 mins of clock and scored a TD....the plays? 8 straight running plays for Thomas Jones...8 straight running plays down the field for one RB! The Saints knew what was coming, prepared for what was coming...and still got pounded. Brees threw for an insane 354 yards that game including 2 TDs, but it didn't matter since our QB didn't throw an interception (and managed only 180+ yds). We won by running for almost 200 yds total in the snow. THAT IS CHICAGO BEARS FOOTBALL.
This week, Favre and the Pack will get their chances and capitalize with a couple of scores. But it won't matter. The BEARS get back to CHICAGO FOOTBALL and drive the Packers perfect season through the ground and deep into the sewage that is Wisconsin.
BEARS - 20
PACK - 14October 6, 2007
#38 Shady McBeers Fan said . . .Pack 30
Bears 13Favre grinds down Bears D in the 1st half, which will open up for some huge gains in the second half.
Lovie and his staff are once again outcoached.
Bears O turns the ball over, and has one ... maybe two sustained drives that are created by the obligatory Favre pick, Hester return, or pass-interference call.
The Pack wants us in a shoot-out becasue we're out of ammo, and they can't run.
I'm taking the Pack -3.5.
October 6, 2007
#39 Max said . . .DTB comment #28 was hilarious. And Rancid, you hit the nail on the head with Mike. Chances are he's got some serious money, Lake Forest is one of the wealthiest areas in the Chicagoland area. Fearless prediction:
Chicago 23
Green Bay 21
Packers last second field goal is BLOCKED by the paw of none other than Israel Idonije.
Bears win.
By the way, I saw Favre in his Wrangler brand jean shorts today. He was running around with Donald Driver hurling water balloons at the elderly. What an ass.
October 6, 2007
#40 Jimbo said . . .Shady, awesome prediction.
Wow, that is 31 I am an idiot. But Bears win, thats my main point here.
Midway, . . . i dont even know what to say. Your comments are awesome. I totally saw Favre stealing from a blind man's collection bucket today. We gotta stop thig guy.
And im totally down for a BearsBlog party providing its in late December. Otherwise, there is no chance im making it. . . but it should happen at somepoint regardless. As long as Natty is there, me and my brother will be there in spirit.
Step up and Bear Down.
October 6, 2007
#41 Midway Monster said . . .Bears 17
Pack 10Bears play D like they've got nothing to lose. Griese and the boys string a couple of drives together, and Gould hits a field goal along the way. Only fans watching when the gun sounds are Bears fans, Packers fans, and gamblers. This one's gonna be slow.
Bears back on the right track at 2-3, and the panic button is left unpushed for at least another week.
Go Bears.
October 6, 2007
#42 AfroCelt said . . .Yes, Favre has had a typical week of stealing from the poor and injuring innocent women & children. All of this should stir the hearts of Bear fans to a new level-- all motivation to win. So, when you're at the pub Sunday eve, be sure to tell them how Midway ratted out "bastard Favre" and proclaim "we gotta stop this guy" to the bub next to you.
-- Midway --
PS - Saw Favre salting bandaids at the local childrens hospital this morning - we gotta stop this guy!
October 6, 2007
#43 It'sAlwaysSunnyonDaBearsBlog said . . .Let it go on record that this post is completely clear of Packers interlopers @ 8:35 Sunday morning. They will come on, but something tells me only if the Pack do win...
October 7, 2007
Bears 24
FudgePackers 20October 7, 2007
Here at DaBearsBlog, you are free to kill us or the Bears as you so wish. You are not free, however, to be an asshole. So if you spew racism or ill-meaning foul language (cursing about football is just fine) or anything of that ilk, your comments ain't gonna last long, jerk.