Remember yesterday's 48-41 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Write the date down on the steno pad you keep next to the land line for emergencies. Circle the square on the kitten calendar your wife picked up at the flea market December 30th of last year in an act of desperation.
Yesterday wasn’t just a strange football game. It was a shift in the identity of a football franchise. Build on the strength of a defense? No more. Running off the bus? Stop it. What I am about to write will be shunned by many as hyperbole and ignored by others who are hesitant to accept reality.
The Bears have a real life quarterback. Take down the "Help Wanted" sign. Kyle Orton is completing 62.2 percent of his passes. Kyle Orton has thrown for 1,669 yards. Kyle Orton has thrown 10 touchdown passes and only 4 interceptions (if Marty Booker didn't take three quarters to wake up, it'd be 12). Kyle Orton is delivering one of the - if not THE - greatest quarterbacking season in the history of the Chicago Bears. For the first time since Sid Luckman, the Bears' identity is taking the snaps. And the scary part? He's getting better every week.
So I say it. The days of the "we can't overcome a deficit" Chicago Bears are over. The days of "boo-hoo why can't we find a quarterback" are done. If I were Jerry Angelo, it'd look a little something like this: 5 years, 30-something million.
#2 wherestommie? said . . .Sign him now.
October 20, 2008
#3 Viva said . . .this defense is so scary.
our line needs to get some damn pressure.
how about some love for the line protecting KO yesterday? wow.
Corey Graham maybe taking over Vasher's starting job?
Interesting to see how the Chris Williams situation pans out.
KO definitely had some close calls yesterday, but how can you not be ecstatic about his play? go bears.
October 20, 2008
#4 St. Clair could protect you from a tornado said . . .Agree. Orton should be rewarded for his performance.
Also, we can look at the drops Booker made yesterday, and the drops that have plagued this team all year (Rash, GO, Des - they've all made them), and then you can truly understand how brilliantly Orton is performing. Nevermind the fumbles that cost us a W in Carolina.
He has more poise then I was willimg to give him credit for. Ron Turner did right by opening up his playbook and trusting him.
Signing a deal today would be premature. You must think "what if", before you commit long term. (I don't even want to speculate on the what if's for fear of jiinxing this turnaround, but they do exist) He is under contract until the end of the 09 season. I would hold off until the end of this season before having a sit down. And Jerry will. Nobody rewards their own like this club.
October 20, 2008
#5 Anytime said . . .Silent MVP of the Bears so far. Peppers, Abraham, Allen, Freeney..........bring it.
October 20, 2008
#6 jeff said . . .i was really hoping to be first. kept checking back for the new post all morning. better luck next time.
October 20, 2008
#7 Joseph said . . .sorry. woke up late. not sure if the gallons of bud light played a role.
October 20, 2008
#8 BRIANsong said . . .It still baffles me why Kevin Jones saw ZERO playing time yesterday.
Where was the screen pass?
Whatever...we won that's all that matters!
It just feels like a chimp comes out with the game plan sometimes.
And I know we were depleted at DB yesterday but why they let Trumaine McBride play at all just baffles me. He SUCKS! He is a midget and can't tackle for SHIT! He may know the play book and that's why they play him but c'mon! I don't see why they have a boner over this guy.
Thank god Bowman stepped up. Bowman has good size and speed! He flat out scares me.
October 20, 2008
#9 wherestommie? said . . .Really, Joseph? Complaining about the offense? Not today.
Defense was awful but they have two weeks to prepare for Detroit. 5-3 headed into the second half of the season.
October 20, 2008
#10 Joseph said . . .i'm pretty sure its safe to say that there is no boner for mcbride
bowman, on the other hand...
October 20, 2008
#11 JAB said . . .I know but it is the little things that really get to me. I just think they are throwing Forte into the fire to soon! I would abuse Kevin Jones like a rented mule since he most likely won't be back next year.
October 20, 2008
#12 Albert In Tucson said . . .You have to stick with the hot hand and Forte is it. The guy has a nose for the end zone and is a threat out of the backfield. I keep him in as much as possible. As for the O-line, I agree that they have far exceeded expectations. However, I would like to see Chris Williams (if he's healthy) worked in at LT and possibly look at moving the Dozer know as St. Clair moved to LG to replace the undersized Beekman. St. Clair has been better than I thought he would be at LT but he also gave up two sacks yesterday one of which caused a fumble.
October 20, 2008
#13 Albert In Tucson said . . .Da Bears now would seem to be defined as "Kyle Style". Let's hope Chris Williams is the real deal at left tackle and can help to the "KEEP KYLE UPRIGHT" committee.
Anytime timetable for his debut as well as the return of Peanut, Vasher and Brandon Lloyd?October 20, 2008
#14 Albert In Tucson said . . .Sorry, Jab. While I am happy to worship at the Kyle Orton altar, I lay that sack/fumble at Kyle's feet. He had room to step up in the pocket and the clock in his head should have told him it was TIME to step up. Unusual since he has been so good at stepping up and/or rolling away from pressure so far.
October 20, 2008
#15 Albert In Tucson said . . .Sorry, Jab. While I am happy to worship at the Kyle Orton altar, I lay that sack/fumble at Kyle's feet. He had room to step up in the pocket and the clock in his head should have told him it was TIME to step up. Unusual since he has been so good at stepping up and/or rolling away from pressure so far.
October 20, 2008
#16 Green Lantern said . . .Sorry, Jab. While I am happy to worship at the Kyle Orton altar, I lay that sack/fumble at Kyle's feet. He had room to step up in the pocket and the clock in his head should have told him it was TIME to step up. Unusual since he has been so good at stepping up and/or rolling away from pressure so far.
October 20, 2008
#17 jeff said . . .(if Marty Booker didn't take three quarters to wake up, it'd be 12).
also....if dez clark didn't have the closing speed of the 2007 mets inside the 20 yesterday, it would be 13. orton doesn't get credit for that one.
weird game (understatement) but i'm not as worried as everyone else...when you play a team that does one thing so well on offense (vikings running) you're supposed to be able to focus on that to try to bottle up peterson and let them throw...well that plan goes out the window when you've got three scrubs playing in the secondary. still should have performed better but i'm not too concerned....a bye, then the lions at home....get everybody healthy for that titans game.
that f-ing atlanta game....they'd be right in shape to get a bye, now i'm not sure how they'll get there considering they are two games behind the bucs/panthers/falcons (bc of head to head losses).
October 20, 2008
#18 mikebdot said . . .kyle has two things to work on still:
1. stepping up in the pocket, sometimes running.
2. he's a little too frivolous throwing the short screen over the middle.
October 20, 2008
#19 Green Lantern said . . .You know what's fucked up about this game? We left points on the field! Again! That's how good this offense is playing, with the exception of drives with under 10 minutes to play. Once we can actually close teams out by running the football we're going to fucking crush everyone. Hopefully Chris Williams is the missing piece to that puzzle...hopefully...
October 20, 2008
#20 Brad said . . .also....the bears lead the NFL in points scored....2nd place is the packers.
Nov 16 at GB, Dec 22 (MNF) at Soldier Field....cannot wait.
October 20, 2008
#21 AfroCelt said . . .Our OL can't run block. Forte is doing work, without much help. Hopefully, getting Chris Williams on the field and move St. Clair to LG will do the trick. We also need to figure out the return game again. Teams aren't going to be as dumb as the Vikes.
October 20, 2008
#22 BearDown1982 said . . .@20
Williams has been a pass block specialist, so dont expect too much.
wohoo we won!
October 20, 2008
#23 JP said . . .Orton has looked spectacular. I love how he distributes the ball all over the place. (which he should do with this offense...no real stars, so keep the defense guessing) I also must say that our O-line did a nice job yesterday....I can only remember Orton getting sacked once or maybe twice. Well done.
Naturally, our defense has looked absolutely terrible. I know, I know, they have a bunch of injuries at DB...I bet even with Vash and Peanut in there, the Vikes still would have had their way with us based on our lack of a pass rush almost the entire game. Although, it was nice to see Tommie getting some good rush. I hope he keeps that up.
Anyone have any idea where Brian Urlacher has been all season? I can't remember the last time he made an impact play.
October 20, 2008
#24 response to #21 said . . .If you watched the Bears game and then the Colts game you may have thought the players wearing the #18 jerseys were switched in some secret warehouse in Gary, IN.
But alas, it wasn't a dream. That was OUR QB on Lakeshore Drive. Unbelievable!
October 20, 2008
#25 JAB said . . .Williams might be a pass rush specialist but moving a bigger and stronger St. Clair would most likely open more holes in the interior lines of defenses. The Guard and center positions are the more important roles in running the ball. This is all speculation on my part and St. Clair could lay an egg on the interior but since this is his more natural position I don't see how he could fail.
October 20, 2008
#26 Question for the wilds of Alaska said . . .JP, good call on the Orton/Manning comparison. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying Orton is Manning, but I am saying that Orton looks good and Manning looks like he still is suffering from that injury or was sick or something yesterday. I'm used to seeing Manning all fired up even when losing. He looked sickly and tired yesterday and was lacking enthusiasm that he usually shows.
October 20, 2008
#27 zmac said . . .I suspect more than a few teams and scouts circled Bowman's name in their notes. Do you know if he is an inteligent kid? I don't want to get too carried away but if so we just MIGHT have found a real winner and a future (or now ) starter.
October 20, 2008
#28 mikebdot said . . .I agree Kyle is proving to be a good choice and good QB, except why sign him to $30+ million? There is a very good chance you could get him for 3-5 years for MUCH cheaper than that. You really want to wrap up a QB for 5 years and $30M+ after 7 games??? This is a decision that could burn you. I think 3 years, $9-12M would be a smart move. I think KO would be more than pleased with $3M per year.
How about Payne and Bowman?
October 20, 2008
#29 DelMar said . . .Green Lantern: That tie-breaker issue could bite us in the ass if we end up 10-6 and don't win the division. All three of those teams could end up 10-6. Though, I never start worrying too much about the playoffs until 10 games into the season...of course, growing up that was typically the point at which we could be eliminated from contention...
In any event, if we win the division, I don't give a shit where we end up in the seeding. Especially if we continue to get solid QB play. Our D can always get hot and cause shit-tons of turnovers. We were "cold" last season in that regard. They almost cause a fumble at least 2 or 3 times a game. In the playoffs, in cold(er) weather, those "almost"s turn into "did"s.
October 20, 2008
#30 DelMar said . . .Please stop it. We all heard this same story from Grossman a few years back after he was named the NFL player of the week. Listen, until this guy can continue this streak for longer than 1 season, we do not need to be calling him the "Answer".
October 20, 2008
#31 mikebdot said . . .Please stop it. We all heard this same story from Grossman a few years back after he was named the NFL player of the week. Listen, until this guy can continue this streak for longer than 1 season, we do not need to be calling him the "Answer".
October 20, 2008
#32 BRIANsong said . . .delmar: Actually, I believe it was player of the MONTH! If the defense continues to play this poorly and we somehow make it to the playoffs (assuming consistently good QB play), I don't see how Orton wouldn't be a candidate for MVP. No shit.
October 20, 2008
#33 Prefontaine said . . .This isn't 7 games from Orton. This is an unprepared rookie who showed he can win games. This is a guy who took a bad football team last season and seemed to inspire them in December.
And this doesn't even remotely compare to Grossman, in my opinion. Rex was big plays deep down the field. He certainly didn't have the touch or the poise. He certainly never operated at the line of scrimmage like Orton. Just listen to the players.
By the way, Grossman had peaked in Week 5 of 2006. Week 6 was Arizona and he never really recovered.
I'm with jeff. This kid does everything well.
October 20, 2008
#34 zmac said . . .I agree that KO is playing great....but I really need to see more. I'm still not sold. He has put together a great run so far, but lets suspend building the altar until he puts together a full season.
Is Rex still on the sidelines? I haven't seen the pouting Rex Face in a few weeks.
October 20, 2008
#35 PANKSTER IN NORTH CAROLINA said . . .#32: no this is 7 games from Orton. Not an unprepared rookie. He was an unprepared rookie his ROOKIE year when he started.
October 20, 2008
#36 mikebdot said . . .You know yesterday with 10 minutes to go and a 17 point lead I thought of ways to choke the SHIT out of BABICH PATCH!!!PULL THE FUCKING COVER 2 OUT OF THE PLAYBOOK NOW YOU HAVE 2 FUCKING WEEKS TO BURN IT!!!!Bear Fans I'm Stoked over yesterday's win and glad we are going into the bye week the fucking problem is we need to get full strength and be the underdogs through the second have riding that orton express!!!!!
BEAR DOWN 2 WEEKS WORTH CHI-TOWN BEAR THE FUCK DOWN!!!!!!!!!!October 20, 2008
#37 jdawg said . . .zmac: Brian is saying at least Orton has a history, unlike Grossman in '06 whose history consisted of multiple injuries and a dashed playoff hope. Shit, maybe with playoff experience against Carolina and Orton in '06 we go 19 and fucking 0. Just sayin'. The point is, Orton won football games prior to '08. Grossman did not prior to '06.
October 20, 2008
#38 PANKSTER said . . .haven't been posting a lot recently, not that it matters. After the Atlanta game I felt like a partner in a doomed marriage. At least after yesterday I've got my interest, if not my hope, restored.
KO is a football player the way D. Manning isn't. He gets it. Will he make a mistake? Yes. Will he learn from it? Yes. He is now wearing man pants.
I don't know what to say about the D. It all starts up front and it hasn't been starting. I've heard a lot of chatter about stunts. Will it help? Don't know.
Finally, nice Willy Wonka reference Jeff.
October 20, 2008
#39 Crown said . . .FIRE BABICH PATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 20, 2008
#40 Portugal Bear said . . .Thoughts:
1) Nice to hear Tommie Harris's name after he made a play for the first time this year.
2) But, another game of not hearing Urlacher's name.
3) Corey Graham can tackle and cover.
4) We have a QB. Orton wasn't an unprepared rookie, he was a rookie limited by his offensive coordinator's conservative play calling. The kid has got moxie.
5) Where did Marty Booker's speed burst come from? I know he blew by an older D. Sharper, but that was impressive especially for an old receiver.
6) The offensive line did there thing against a defensive front that all the experts were claiming was one of the best.
7) Good to see Dez get involved in the offense.
October 20, 2008
#41 JP said . . .Wow! We finally have a QB for real!! Congrats Orton & Oline!
* Our D makes any QB looks like a Tom Brady clone...
Fire Babich!!October 20, 2008
#42 Decatur Staleys # 7 said . . .I think the thing that I enjoyed watching the most about KO was his ability to read the defense. I rarely saw that from RG. He didn't look like the GREATEST QB in the league but he looked like a SMART QB. A knowledge of the game goes a long way in covering up shortcomings in raw talent.
October 21, 2008
#43 zmac said . . .The Bears' run of misfortune in the secondary continued in Sunday's win as rookie defensive back Zackary Bowman, whose interception sealed the win over Minnesota, suffered a biceps injury that will require surgery and could end his season after just one game.
Bowman, who also scored his first NFL points by recovering a muffed punt in the end zone, will undergo surgery before the Bears' Nov. 2 game against the Detroit Lions. The rookie put on an impromptu demonstration of toughness by going back in the game after a head injury to cornerback Corey Graham and making the Bears' fourth interception of the game
October 21, 2008
#44 Sleeper692 said . . .#36: Ya not so sure about that. Rex won games before 06 just as much as Orton did before 08. Either way it doesnt really matter.
October 21, 2008
#45 Game Managers Win Championships said . . .I think you're right, the Bears finally found a quarterback worth his salt.
When Grossman came along, I thought he was gonna be the answer but his up and down play and seemingly inescapable screw ups cost game after game.
Now Orton comes along, plays consistently very well and probably better than expected, without the screw ups of Griese and Grossman and we all collectively hold our breath. Now we hesitate to celebrate, waiting for the sad ball handling, the plethora of interception, the poor decisions of his predecessors.
Like Aaron Rogers lives in the shadow of Brent Farve, KO lives in the shadow of Grossman. Its sad that, as Bears fans, we are all waiting for the dream to be shattered.
I don't think that will be the case this time. Orton has proved his mettle. Just like in 1985, I for one am going to relish in this season.
October 21, 2008
Some dude named Anderson in Cleveland says we should wait a year before dancing in the streets...but it does look pretty good, doesn't it?
October 22, 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.