just became a must win.

I don't see how the Bears, as good as the defense might be, are going to stop either the Saints or Packers. On the good side, that was about as bad of a job of tackling that I have seen out of a defense by the the Saints last night. The Bears should be able to move the ball on them. Also, the Bears running game is better than either of those teams.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

If they lose the first, and win the next 15, I'd be ok. So I won't call it a must-win.

The Packers looked unstoppable in the first quarter but the Saints looked like the better team after that. I'm not ready to start thinking the Packers are running away with the division unless the Bears go for 12 wins.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

The Saints did not look like the better team at any point in that game. There defense looked horrible. On the rare occurance they were in a position to make a tackle they led with their shoulder and the Packer player bounced off.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

The Saints defense gave up two touchdowns in the final 3 quarters. I know you can always play the "what if" game but if the Saints converted on that 4th and 1 or the final play of the game we are likely looking at a completely different game.

The Packers gave up nearly 400 yards passing to a team they knew was passing most of the time because they were down.

They get credit for the first quarter too but the Packers made a few big plays at the right time, or in the case of the final play, the Saints had a terrible playcall or we are looking at the game differently. I certainly didn't see anything that makes me think that if the Bears start 0-1 the division is over.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

The one thing the Bears do better than both clubs is play defense for a single reason. They don't blitz every freaking down like these teams were doing last night that was letting both top QBs determine their hot reads and get the ball out.

I still think the Bears go 1-2 at best in the first 3 and yes, Sunday is their best chance to win but I don't think the level of play between the team is that great that they can't win.

Don't forget the great Randall Cobb. That kickoff return doesn't happen against the Bears.

Still, those were considered top defenses last year and both of them got shredded.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Neither team scared me. They let me know the Bears offense can move the ball on them. Considering the Bears defense is better I now expect the Bears to be at least 2-1 after these first 3 games.

_________________

I don't think so, gd. If after week 4, the Bears are 2-2, thats not too bad with the schedule they have to start. If they are 3-1, thats really damn good. If they happen to go 4-0, thats almost unbelievable.

_________________

You best be hoping that this guy didn't hold out for a new contract.

_________________
That's my purse! I don't know you!

I have a feeling the Pack defense will not be as good this year either. I really thought they always played better with Jenkins. Still Pickett had a nice game yesterday.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

One thing noticeable about Packer routes is they rarely come back for the ball. Nothing is a hook in, etc.

Everything is an out, or up route.

I just don't want to hear about the Bears taking away the underneath stuff, when the Packers dont even want it!

_________________
"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

That's a really interesting point given that so much of the Bears' passing game has historically revolved around "come back" routes.

The other problem is that a lot of Bears completions seemingly occur when the receiver is static or close to it.

_________________

I think the Packers having better receivers may have something to do with it.

_________________

After the offensive shootout between the Saints & Packers in Green Bay last night in quite an NFL opener, a lot of the other games Sunday will pale in comparison. Here's a number to ponder as you tune in to watch the Falcons/Bears' game. ZERO. The last two times the Bears & Falcons have played in 2008 & 2009, both in Atlanta, the Bears' defense recorded ZERO sacks vs. Atlanta QB Matt Ryan. Let's see if the Bear defense puts pressure and gets to #2 in white & red Sunday. If they can, I think the Bears get a late Robbie Gould FG at the end to win a 20-17 cliffhanger.

The defenses didn't look great but those are top 5 offenses lead by top 5 QBs. The Bears have neither, nor the secondary to keep up with them. 0-3 is a likely Bears start

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

You're looking at this the wrong way. Packers are going to win the NFC north. It was good that they won yesterday cuz the Saints are a challenge to the Bears for the Wild card spots.

"Must win" is too strong for a Game 1, but this game is pretty close to being one.

I see this game is as a tie-breaker that the Bears are going to need by season end. They are not going to be competitive with the Packers in record. The Pack is better than the Bears, and nearly everybody else too, and has depth everywhere.

The best thing for the Bears is that the Packers go 15-1, the Bears taking the win. Two wins is impossible. The Bears need the Packers to distribute as many losses as possible around the division and conference. Runaway division winners all over the Conference would be perfect this year.

Don't let last night's Packer-Saints game get you down. When the Bears play each of them it won't be that kind of shoot-out. These teams against the Bears will be low to mid 20s contests. The Bears can beat them both in a grinding mess of a game, which the Bears are pretty good at creating. And when they do it, you will be able to tell the less knowledgable Bears fan by his saying that it was "luck".

One last thing. That Saints defense was miserable. Every time Collinsworth started talking about great passes completed against "perfect coverage", I saw a pass completed against a CB with his back turned to the play. We'd be roasting the Bears defensive backfield after a performance like that.

_________________
The Cubs, I mean Sox, won, I mean lost--Tommy Williams.

Beardown just blew my mind...

So winning one of these first two games is important because one of these teams will win their division and the other will be competition for the wild card. Thinking about it that way, next week is more critical because you can send the Saints to 0-2....forget it, let's just win them all.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Keep Brees down 1-2 touchdowns for an entire game and see what any NFL defense can hold him and that offense to.

_________________
That's my purse! I don't know you!

Colston is not out for 4 weeks. Bears miss their top defensive lineman and wide reciever. The plan is coming together.

If no one noticed you can beat Roman in coverage.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Horseshoe #1

_________________
That's my purse! I don't know you!

hey, speaking of this sunday's big game that the score can't say by name when they're giving away tickets for it (why is that? someone shine the SHARKsignal for me) --- is anyone going to the game?

i'll be down there... i've just got a grandstand ticket in the 400s (over the last couple'a years i've been spoiled with a bunch of endzone seats) but i'm thinking with all of the inevitable 9/11 crap going on pubtrans is going to be slower and supersecure so i'm gonna get down to the area early and make sure i get in with time to spare.

the last game i went to was the seahawks playoff game, and i tell you what.... i got to soldier field at my usual time (~45-60 mins b4 opening kick) figuring it'd take the usual ~15 mins to move through the giant lines for security patdowns and i'd have time to grab a heineken and sit down for kickoff... i had done that ~4 times earlier in the season.

nope. instead, something was fucked up where there seemed to be less people doing patdowns and the lines barely moved a'tall, and to add insult to injury since women have to get patted down by other women, they were able to constantly walk right past all of us guys and get into the stadium in under 5 mins.... yeeeeargh.

so yeah i'mma be downtown and plenty festive! who else is going!?

_________________

I will be in my normal place in 433. We are bringing my sister who is fashionably late for everything. I warned her repeatedly that Sunday will be a cluster getting in and she needs to be on time (we are tailgating at Waldron and she is meeting us). Also NO PURSES (she normally carries one the size of a suitcase).

And, I received an email from the Bears essentially telling us to be in our seats by 11:50.

_________________
"I honestly don't see a good bet on the board here."

cant wait for the game! happy 9/11 everyone!

_________________
the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

Sad, but I did think of this post after the Bears won today.

Th Bears should be able to win the battle on the lines against the Saints. It's always tough to win on the road. Is bigfan going to be there to represent the 4th Phase?

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

That is especially sad considering I was being facetious. I didn't think the Bears would be this good but I did think they would win today. I don't expect them to win the next two.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul