With first pick in sight,

the Bears rush to victory.

Draft haul comes no more.

Chicago Bears 34, Detroit Lions 31

Why Do I Like the Chicago Bears This Week?

I always like the Chicago Bears…

…and we’re only guaranteed 16 of these ballgames a year. The next time the Bears will take the field is nine months away. Might as well enjoy seeing the colors out there.

Three Reasons to Sit Through This Game

• It won’t mean much to disappointed Bears fans but 8-8 will feel much better to this locker room than 7-9. They can endure this miserable campaign and know they were only a play or two away from being in the tournament ANYWAY.
  • And 4-2 in the NFC North will reaffirm the club’s belief that they are only a few moves away from being back atop the division in 2020. (Of course one of those moves needs to be at the most important position in professional sports.)
• There are four metrics one can look at to get a good sense of a quarterback’s play: FO’s DVOA (value per play), DYAR (total value), QB rating and total QBR. None are close to perfect but I believe if you take the average ranking of the four you can get a clearer picture. Here is where Mitch Trubisky ranks in all four:
  • DVOA: 26th
  • DYAR: 26th
  • QB Rating: 28th
  • Total QBR: 28th
  • Fan of old school stats? Mitch is 32nd in average yards per completion and 27th in touchdowns. There’s not a single, discernible stat one can look to for optimism regarding Trubisky’s performance this season.
  • Verdict: he’s been better than rookies and backups this year. Nobody else. So why is this a reason to watch? Maybe it’s his last start?
• Khalil Mack needs a sack and a half to get to double digits on the season. One has to believe he’ll be motivated to get there. And the Vikings offensive line will help. They are bad in protection.

Tweet of the Week

Two teams are tied for playing the easiest schedule of opposing offenses (average DVOA: -4.9%).

The team with the best defense (New England) and the team with the worst defense (Miami).

Hardest schedule of opposing offenses: Chicago.

— Aaron Schatz 🏈 (@FO_ASchatz) December 23, 2019

Read More …

So we reach the end

of another sad campaign.

Get thee to a pub!

Who shall bear the blame?

Trubisky? Nagy? The line?

It don’t matter now.

Where once sat Club Dub,

Now is an abandoned lot.

Will the lights return?