So I'm off with a Cuban on a quest for trouble that will ultimately lead us to the sordid streets of New Orleans, Louisiana. Two things: (1) I still need tickets for the December 11th Thursday night game against the Saints and (2) I followed a lot of football today.
Verdict: They're Good: I have said all along that I wouldn't wager a nickel on any one team making the playoffs. That's done. I'll take the New York Giants. In case you don't know, they went into Pittsburgh today and beat what I thought was the best team in the AFC while benching Plaxico Burress for most of the day. Tom Coughlin has taken a team and organization that spent a decade driven by star power and brought them back to the grittiness of the Parcells era.
Text Message of the Day: From Reverend Dave: "So Good to see moose drop open td catches for someone else". Note on the Panthers: they're the second best team in the NFC.
As fate would have it... the Lions and Bengals don't meet this season. So you've got to find me a game on either of their schedules they can win. The Bengals lost to Houston by 29 points today.
Brett Favre Rant Alert: I watched every second of this game and let me say this: Favre wasn't just bad...HE WAS AWFUL. He threw the patented Favre bomb - a pass ten yards beyond any offensive player into the shocked hands of a safety - TWICE! And announcer Dan Dierdorf still spent the fourth quarter complimenting his toughness and willingness to block. The Jets aren't any good and I'm willing to argue that the right now the #1 problem is #4.
Still Harping On This Alert: I wish my team had the most talented roster in the league (San Diego...according to everyone). Then we could be two games under .500 too. Seriously, this defense is pitiful.
Unofficial halfway point. Here are my predictions.
AFC
1. Pittsburgh
2. Tennessee
3. New England
4. Denver
5. Indianapolis
6. Buffalo
Wildcard Round: New England over Buffalo, Indianapolis over Denver
Division Round: Pittsburgh over Indianapolis, New England over Tennessee
AFC Championship Game: Pittsburgh over New England
(none of that strikes me as correct)
NFC
1. New York Giants
2. Carolina Panthers
3. Chicago Bears
4. Arizona Cardinals
5. Green Bay Packers
6. Washington Redskins
Wildcard Round: Chicago over Washington, Green Bay over Arizona
Division Round: Chicago over Carolina, New York Giants over Green Bay
NFC Championship Game: New York Giants lose to the Chicago Bears.
(dead on)
SUPER BOWL
And I leave you with that...
#2 Al In WI said . . .FIRST - I like the NFC, but the AFC is all wrong. There is no way NE gets to the Championship game. I like Buffalo to upset someone.
Bear Down - Today did suck without the Navy and Orange. Hope we got healthy this week and are ready to work again.
October 27, 2008
#3 The Knight of Ownage said . . .I know they lost but I loved the fire that Singletary brought to the field today as a head coach. He called people out when they screwed up and held guys accountable. He coached old school. His sending Davis to the locker room was classic. Do yourself a favor and watch his postgame press conference. That is EXACTLY what I want from my Head Coach. There was no aw-shucks Mr Rogers BS in there. What I wouldn't give....
October 27, 2008
#4 Willie from Chicago said . . .I LOVE it Jeff.
The predictions are DEAD ON!
Da Bears remaining schedule:
DET
TEN
@GB
@STL
@MIN
JAC
NO
GB
@HOURight now we're 4-3. A sweep of the division and we're in. I reckon we can afford to go 10-6. Gotta learn to finish. 4th is a real problem. If KO stays hot, and we inc. K. Jones a bit more into the run, (KJ is more of a pure runner. MF is like the Sweetness, all-round) we'll be good.
It's way too early for this:
2009 Offseason
1. Bears part ways with Rex.
2. Maybe even Tommie for a good draft pick.
3. 1st rd. - OL/LB
2nd rd.- OL/LB/DL
3rd rd.-OL/LB/DL
4th rd.-QB (I would love it if we got Chase Daniel in the 4th. With Mizzou struggling against good teams, I don't think they'll win a bowl. Chase might play bad and could end up being the Colt Brennan story of '09 -- a beast in the preseason.)I see Adrian Peterson (of the Bears) retiring/leaving in the near future. Garrett Wolfe seems to be eclipsing him on ST. I say for the next 5 yrs. or so, we stabilize at QB and RB.
QB
1. Kyle Orton
2. Caleb Hanie
3. Chase DanielRB
1. Matt Forte
2. Kevin Jones
3. Garrett WolfePlease, share your thoughts on this scenario.
October 27, 2008
#5 The Knight of Ownage said . . .Jeff, at stubhub.com there are alot of tickets still available, however they arent cheap. But stubhub is your best bet.
http://www.stubhub.com/chicago-bears-tickets/bears-vs-saints-12-11-2008-554249/
Watch out for the Miami Dolphins this year guys, they can shake up the AFC east playoff race.
Its a good thing the Bears have this week and next week off so the defense can rest up for the Titans on November 9th. Its gonna be an old school beat down vs the Lions.
These are the teams that i think will make the playoffs in both conferences.AFC
1.Tennessee
2. Pittsburgh
3. Buffalo
4. San Diego
5. Indy
6.Dolphins (if im right, I will be known as a genious froever, if im wrong, well then im wrong.)NFC
1. Giants
2. Da Bears
3. Arizona
4. Carolina
5.Washington
6. green BaySuper Bowl:
Bears : 35
Titans: 24October 27, 2008
#6 jeff said . . .P.S.
Re: 2008 Detroit Lions
It sure means a whole lot to go 4-0 in the preason, right?
Dont ya wish you could trade some of those wins for ones that count?
He-He, Ha-Ha, Sucks-to-be-a-Lions-fan :)The Knight of Ownage
October 27, 2008
#7 Willie from Chicago said . . .Al...awesome. i wish they'd let me embed videos. he sounds like ditka but more profound.
god it's good.October 27, 2008
#8 Willie from Chicago said . . .I say the Bears will go 7-2 in their remaining 9 games. That would ut them 11-5 and most likely, at the top of the division.
October 27, 2008
#9 Prefontaine said . . .I say the Bears finish 7-2 in their remaining 9 games, that will put them at 11-5 and most likely, at the top of the division.
October 27, 2008
#10 wherestommie? said . . .Knight - I'm not sure we want to head down the Chase Daniel path. Haven't we already experimented with the undersized not especially mobile QB (See Rex) Interesting article in ESPN the Mag talking about Patton his backup being the more prototypical NFL QB. I like Chase Daniel as a "College " QB but see him in the Danny Wuerfel, Gino Toretta mold and not the direction I want JA to go. I do agree with the OL/DL in the early rounds.
Has anyone seen anything lately on how C. WIlliams is progressing??
October 27, 2008
#11 Luke said . . .i will cry if we face the panthers in the playoffs.
October 27, 2008
#12 jeff said . . .damn jeff you stole my super bowl prediction. i think the score will be a little closer but that was my prediction at the start of the season
October 27, 2008
#13 Z said . . .jeff hasn't left yet....but his brother has secured him a saints ticket....
i'm chicago bound, baby.October 27, 2008
#14 Decatur Staleys # 7 said . . .Jeff your playoff scenario made my day a little brighter. Not a lot of teams lost today that I was hoping for. Our battle is for the Division Championship anyway.
Mark Bradley 5 cathces, 42 yards and a TD. Pretty close to the same day as Tony Gonzalez. Hmmm. If this kid turns out to be legit and we just didn't get him in games, that is some BS.
Don't overlook the depleted Lions. Crush them again. Payback for last year is not complete.
October 27, 2008
#15 Decatur Staleys # 7 said . . .Al,I agree eith you.
After seeing Mike press conference being named Head Coach I was in awe.After today's press meeting.I love the no B.S apporach an telling his team & coaches that they better get on board.
Man what nutz to sit down a terrible QB an a prima donna TE,an call out his coaches to step there game up....classic stuff
October 27, 2008
#16 Z said . . .http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80bf9709
Here the excerpt from Mike post game press game
October 27, 2008
#17 Singletary for President said . . .Thanks Decatur. Badass Singletary letting everybody know. U think those players will practice and subsequently play harder and with better execution. Let's see. They definitely have no illusions about whether there will be consequences if they don't.
October 27, 2008
#18 Yeah Boy said . . .He would knock some heads
October 27, 2008
#19 Viva said . . .Buffalo is a typical Dick Jauron over-achieving team that can't keep up its pace in the second half
Pittsburgh has offensive line issues and can't win the AFC with issues with that important unit
Denver does not have the discipline of champion, not to mention any kind of discipline. Maybe they win their division by default but I'm not ready to count out the Chargers yet
New England's not going anywhere with Matt Cassel at the helm
Tennessee is solid but Kerry Collins is their quarterback
In the AFC, that leaves Peyton and the Colts -- if they can get healthy, I say Peyton finds a way to get it doneIn the NFC, there's only a bunch of good teams, no great teams, and you might as well put names in a hat and pull one out. Anything can happen.
October 27, 2008
#20 Pankster in carolina said . . .I WANT SAMURAI!
October 27, 2008
#21 Peanut FTW said . . .Well gents the Carolina Panthers found another way to piss me off after watching another team who is a lot better than them come back off a 17-3 run thank god these tickets where free or I would be Pissed worse!Anyway looking forward to the da bears this week and the remainder of the season with being consistant and staying somewhat healthy and finishing! I highly bust babich patch's balls week after week but now is time patch to man up and blitz the corners if we are playing cover 2 not cover 2 prevent so with that said BEAR THE HELL DOWN FOR THE REMAINDER CHICAGO AND by the way Jeff great predictions I want some Carolina pay back!!!!
October 27, 2008
#22 NittyGritty34 said . . .Few disparities with my predictions at this point:
AFC
1. Pittsburgh
2. Tennessee
3. Buffalo
4. Denver
5. Indianapolis
6. NY Jets
(I don't think the pats aging D can keep every game low enough scoring for Cassel to keep em in it. And I have learned to never count Favre out, even if you say it's luck.)
NFC
1. Carolina
2. Washington D.C.
3. Chicago
4. Arizona
5. Dallas
6. Tampa Bay
(This leaves out Green Bay as I really think only one team from our division goes, just too many wins in the NFC East and South; and the Giants.)I am really not impressed with NYG. I watched 3 games this year of thiers, week 1 vs Redskins, I woulda said they may go 8-8 at that point; Monday night vs Cleveland, no more than 9-7, and now they beat Pitt who had a horrible, horrible game. so although I do think they are a good team just I think they will struggle in the 2nd half and I think Dallas will turn it around once Romo is back. So I believe that the Giants end up 11-5 and just missing the playoffs.
October 27, 2008
#23 KJ is DA MAN! said . . .Can we do a Lovie for Mike trade? Lovie gets back with Martz, Mike gets back with the Monsters. I want it so badly, I can't stand it.
October 27, 2008
#24 Bearman on the Sangamon said . . .Hey, what do you guys think...I was thinking about how poor Jason McKie has been this year and how the NFL has moved beyond the fullback position in many ways...what about putting Kevin Jones in on a two RB set?
October 27, 2008
#25 Peanut FTW said . . .AFC:
1. Denver
2. Blitzburgh
3. Tennessee
4. Pats
5. Buffalo
6. San DiegoNFC:
1. New York Giants
2. Carolina
3. Dallas
4. Washington
5. Chicago (10-6)
6. Green BaySuper Bowl:
Buffalo Bills: 34
Carolina Panthers: 17(Talk about pulling something out of my ass)
October 27, 2008
#26 animal said . . .Well Chicago is looking pretty good ATM. They have to do 3 things.
1.) Remember how to play dominate defense. They have the talent, they have the experience; scheme and coaching are iffy. They can do it though I have faith.
2.) Move the line. This team is going to have to start establishing the run. Teams will start mixing in a lot of drop coverage against them; even when Chicago caught Minnesota in cover 2, it couldn't produce chunks of yards on the ground; that has to change. I am ready to shift St. Clair over and let in Williams to see if we can run behind them. Anything, just RUN THE BALL.
3.) Beat Green Bay... twice. Green Bay will most likely be standing there at the end; so take this Division away from them ... and hold it front of their face ... and point... and laugh.If they can do that I think we will be set for a return to the big dance. With Orton's effiency we have been able to produce a legitimate downfield vertical threat offense without nearly the risk factor we had in 06. I would like to see some creativity on both sides, exotic blitz packages and extra offensive lineman that I see implemented for teams like Philly, Denver, and SD make me a little jealous. I don't need to see a bunch of Wildcat crap just unbalance the line a little or something. The playaction, pump fake will not work forever if we continue to struggle running the football.
GO BEARS!!
October 27, 2008
#27 animal said . . .A Chicago Bears QB is completing 62% of his passes.
A CHICAGO BEARS QB IS COMPLETING 62% OF HIS PASSES!!
October 27, 2008
#28 Peanut FTW said . . .Im loving the love for Iron Mike.
When we watched that press conference, we were all totally behind him right?
I swore never to stoop to having a second-fav team, but I now profess my (short-term conditional) love for the 49ers.We need Mike as our coach. The fire! The asskicking! Man I would love to see it. Someone who would get in Peanut or Urlacher's face and SCREAM.
October 27, 2008
#29 jdawg said . . .Yah animal I couldn't agree more. Here, I have an idea, fire Babitch ; demote Lovie to Def coord, hire Samurai Mike for head coach. Oh, and while were at it whoever is next in lineage to inherit the team will hopefully be male, I wanna see Chicago Bear cheerleaders. Bring back the honeybears.
October 27, 2008
#30 said . . .The love for Singletary is understandable, but give him some time to see how things work out.
What I want to see from our D is either more stunts on the line or move the fucking safeties up. In the Minny game we were giving up way too many 7-9 yard pass plays on first down.
October 27, 2008
#31 Albert In Tucson said . . .I'm Samurai Mike I stop em cold, part of the defense big and bold.
October 27, 2008
#32 animal said . . .Whoa, folks, please! I HATE looking at the schedule and saying"Win, Win, loss...blah blah blah". The NFL is a week to week proposition due to injuries. What if KO goes down? Staying healthy is something the Bears have been TERRIBLE at of late, witness the secondary and, to a lesser extent, the wideouts.
Look no further that Detroit who, BTW, gave the Redsklins all that could handle IN Washington. I was hoping they would get "off the schneid" before playing the Bears. It would be nice to treat them like roadkill again and put'em down by 20 or so at the half to remind them they still stink. In other news...I am a little concerned that I haven't read word one lately about when/if we will see a Chris Williams debut at LT. Maybe Ron Rivera is a better DQ than Dave Babich, but I don't think any San Diego fans are throwing bouquets Ron's way these days. I know we all enjoyed Moose's dropped TD pass Sunday. Too bad Steve Smith (and the Cardinals Ole' defense) pulled his bacon out of the fire. Yeah, that was quite a display by Brett Favre Sunday. 2 passes just tossed up for grabs and a 3rd run back 90+ yards for a TD. Still miss him, Packer Fans? Sammurai Mike Singletary, tell us how you REALLY feel about Vernon Davis? Davis tried to apologize after the game to which Singletary replied something along the lines of: " You don't want to be around me right now". Remember Jeff, just don't do anything down in "N'AWLINS" that gets you featured on COPS.
October 27, 2008
#33 Brian in Chapel Hill said . . .you are RIGHT ON about not looking past Detroit. This team cannot look past anyone. They have enough trouble focusing long enough to play the 4th quarter of some games.
October 27, 2008
#34 Bearman on the Sangamon said . . .in response to knight of ownage, i would rather see us take a WR in the 1st/2nd round. our linebackers are in their prime right now (besides urlacher). we have a rising star in marcus harrison (I see him taking dusty's starting job in a year or two). maybe a defensive end as brown and ogunleye are getting a tad on the old side. maybe a center in the 3rd/4th round to prepare to take over for kreutz when he retires? OG is probably of more importance as garza is in his 13th year or something.
but yea, playmaking WR. need someone solid for KO to throw to.
October 27, 2008
#35 Phil from SATX said . . .I just watched the post-game interview with Mike Singletary in San Fransisco. He echoes the coaching style of Mike Ditka, wholly and without question.
If you watched the "America's Game: 1985 Bears" on NFLN, you will remember Singeltary saying of Ditka's appointment as Head Coach, "And Ditka said, 'Men, we're going to seperate the men from the boys, we're going to find out who really wants to play this game and who does not. I've already looked at the film. All of you aren't going to be here. I wish I could say 'welcome everybody.' But I want you to know this: we're gonna work, we're gonna run, we're gonna fight, and if you walk with me, if you believe in me, then in three years we'll go to the dance.' And I thought to myself right then, that's the guy we need. That's the guy we're looking for."
Singletary is blatantly immitating Ditka in San Fransisco. It's kind of fun. Singletary might have the onions to make something out of that franchise. I'm kind of rooting for San Fransisco now, as is much of Chicago, I think.
49ers Super Bowl Champs 2011. Save the date.
October 28, 2008
#36 Phil from SATX said . . .Let's not delve into sacrilege, now - no rooting for other teams to win the SB besides the Bears, Iron Mike or not.
The next head coach for the Chicago Bears will be the emotional opposite of Lovie - of that I guarantee. You can have the Lake Placid effect as a coach if you're as good as Tony Dungy. Lovie has not shown he has anywhere near the coaching game of Tony Dungy.
No, the next coach will be in the Jon Gruden, Mike Singletary, Jeff Fisher, Bill Cowher-mode of coaches. Think about it - we've had Tabula Rasa Lovie, Robotic Jauron, Too Dumb for Words Wanny back to back since the great days of Da Coach. We're due for another dose of fire.
One of those fiery coaches mentioned happens to be out of work currently. Just sayin.
October 28, 2008
#37 jdawg said . . .Speaking of secondary rooting, I also have the Kansas City Chiefs on my list in support of our wasted-by-design second round pick of Mark Bradley. As I have said previously, I'm hoping he shows the coaches they were mistaken with him. And speaking of highly drafted WRs they don't want to play, what's to become of Earl Bennett? Has he too immediately worked his way down the greased slide that dumps into the cavernous Lovie/RT doghouse? Where good young receivers go to die? (no, not talking about you here Moose) Does he really suck that bad, or do the coaches just THINK he sucks that bad?
Where for art thou Earl?
October 28, 2008
#38 big rob said . . .Dungy was considered a choker until he won the big one, and now the Colts are what, 2-5?
I'm not a Lovie apologist but I don't think you have to be a fist-pumper on the sideline to be successful. Remember, Coughlin had to dial it down before the Giant's responded.
We're in first place and I'm ready to see what kind of defensive adjustments are made. Unfortunately it will be hard to tell against the Lions. But if they start passing for 7-9 yards on first and second down and we don't move our safeties and corners up I'm going to be pissed.
October 28, 2008
#39 Z said . . .here is a good video od Da Site about the offense.
http://www.chicagobears.com/multimedia/multimediapopup.asp?mm_file_id=1249&play_clip=Y&rn=1
Maybe Ron Turner isn's a complete idiot after all, maybe it took Kyle stepping up his game to make this offense work.
October 28, 2008
#40 pankster said . . .Good vids. I love the sounds of the game when they are mic'd up and you can hear the trash talking and emotion of the players right after the plays. The hell with the not funny, not informative announcers, put the game on cable and let the microphones flow.
October 28, 2008
#41 mikebdot said . . .RIVERA NOW DEFENSE COORDINATER IN SAN DIEGO!!
October 28, 2008
#42 big rob said . . .Z: No f'in shit! To hell with announcers. The only good announcers in all of sports are hockey announcers. They know when to shut the fuck up about things other than what is going on. Well, I take that back, radio announcers are usually good because they don't have any time to kill during the actual game as they are describing what is going on, rather than telling a story about Eli and Peyton's dad or some other feel good story with michelle tafuckinfoya.
October 28, 2008
#43 46 D said . . .michelle tafuckinfoya = I fell out of my chair laughing!!!!!
October 28, 2008
#44 mikebdot said . . .I hate hearing all this praise for Singletary. It was a pathetic way to cover up for a pathetic performance. All you Bears fans want Singletary? You want to lose too Seattle by 30 points too?
He'll never be a successful permenant coach!
October 29, 2008
big rob: when are people going to learn that in order to get back at the FCC you just need to change your name...like Chad Ochocinco...Howard fuckin' Stern would have been perfect but he had to go and get all uppity. Not that I actually listened to him, I just like saying "uppity"...only about white people though. You only make that mistake once.
October 30, 2008
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.