We can spend the whole week celebrating, as we should. Not only are the Bears playing their first playoff football in what feels like forever, but they're doing it as a 12 win team, and the undisputed winners of the NFC North - winning all but the opening game of the season, when the team was clearly just getting started. That said, while we're celebrating, it's time to look at this coming weekend. All of this celebrating is gonna feel pretty shitty if we can't win the first playoff game. Personally, I wanted the Bears to let Minnesota walk into the endzone three times to end the game, yesterday. Up by 14, handful of minutes left, having outplayed Minnesota to an absolutely embarrassing point, inducing boos from their own crowd and watching their guaranteed money quarterback screaming at WR's... it was glorious. I reveled in every sub-200-yards-allowed second of it. It was also done. Why not relive it next week? Let them complete a pass, don't tackle anyone, let them walk into the endzone... and, after a meaningless win, repeat that embarrassment we handed them this coming weekend. I know, I know - that's just not how it works, and we all have flashbacks of the last time a division opponent was in this situation with us, but... this was different. Minnesota was done. It would've been really, really nice to see them this weekend, too. Instead, we get the Eagles. This is a team that got hot last year and won the Super Bowl. This is a team that's gotten hot in recent weeks, and has looked really, really good. Foles runs that system the way guys like Brady runs Belichick's - taking what the defense gives, completing passes and letting guys do the work. Darren Sproles might be ageless. That defense can still play. Honestly, I think this was the worst possible matchup out of the prospective wild card teams. What are you looking at, this coming week, as a key to this matchup? How do you think this team stacks up? Are they ready for their first playoff action - and not as the underdogs, but as the 3-seed taking on the streaking defending Super Bowl champs? Cannot wait for Sunday afternoon. Bear Down, ladies and gentlemen.
Follow up: the injury report this week is going to be absolutely paramount. If Eddie Jackson isn't healthy and at full speed, we're in a lot of trouble. He's paramount, at that FS spot. Allen Robinson? Absolutely necessary. Meanwhile, Aaron Lynch was out this past weekend, and Robertson-Harris went down at the end of the game. Could've sworn I saw McManis slow to get up on the very last play... This team needs to be healthy. The Eagles offense is going to need all hands on deck, to stop them.
I too, thought we were destined to play Minny, but the improbable happened. Minnesota choked, the defense stepped up, and Clete Blakemans' crews' jackassery couldn't help them. And waking up this morning, its their overpaid quarterback being talked about 'not getting the job done.' Kirk Cousins. The 84 million guaranteed man. Dude couldn't move the ball without Prince doing something stupid or Clete calling penalties that didn't happen. First question? Fletcher Cox versus Long/Witzmann and/or Daniels, depending on where Jim Schwartz feels like lining him up. If he disrupts, it doesn't matter who plays quarterback, Philly makes it a game. Brandon Graham is the ideal, talented '2' of the '1 -2' Eagles D front 4 punch. Cox will make Graham's day easy if he's dominating interior. And Schwartz is smart enough to figure out Bobby Massie sucks in pass protection. 1b, less important, but my inner, vindictive meatball fan wants to see it. Kyle Fuller vs. Alshon Jeffery. I want to see a hard hit or three. 1c is depending on whom Philly plays slot WR (Tate or Aghalor) versus Sherrick McManis. McManis is about to get a real test. Another solid game from him means Callahan is gone come March. A mismatch means Philly, even with a bum QB situation as it stands--has the ability to move the football. 1d is Akeim Hicks and Khalil Mack versus the Jasons; Kelce and Peters. Both Kelce and Peters are banged up, but they're damn fine at they're respective positions. I'm a football purist, so talent versus talent in the trenches interests me. This should be 1b. 1e is Roquan/safety versus Zach Ertz. Second question about stacking up. Well, Philly's QB situation is up in the air. Foles is in line as the starter, but NBCSN Philly reporting Doug Pederson awaiting test results for Foles' ribs injury. Carson Wentz is injured and expected to be out for the playoffs/year. We could see Nate Sudfeld starting QB. Third question: I don't think that matters. Philly win it all last year. Great for them. That doesn't mean shit now. That being said, this game is no walk in the park, even if Sudfeld is the starter. Foles has but a beating on this team before (albeit when the bears were bad), and Philly has the weapons and deserves to be where they are. Unlike Notre Dame. Yeah, I went there. Unrelated note--thank you Clemson for reminding everybody the POS university in South Bend are frauds and had no business with their cupcake schedule being where they were.
Also something to keep an eye on: Vic Fangio. We're up to 8 coaching vacancies right now. Cincinnati finally fired Marvin Lewis, Adam Gase just got canned too. Denver, NYJ, Arizona, Tampa Bay, Cleveland, and the Packers all have openings.
All great stuff, and I agree on most of it. Only thing I don't think we'll see is Sudfeld. Word is that Foles' injury is just bruised ribs, and that he'll be fine for the coming week. Obviously, it's too early to know for sure, but if he's even capable of throwing a football on Sunday, I'm sure he will. I hadn't thought about Jeffery coming back... That'll be interesting, for sure. Oh, man. Let's not go there, yet. Let's hope that he isn't, either.
No. I'm very happy with how the game played out. A wise man once said "you play to win the game". Damn right. That's what Nagy did. Was fun seeing a rival go down like that. We take care of business on our side. We don't worry about who we play next. We're entering the playoffs playing better than any team in the NFL. Better than the Eagles. Better than the Chiefs. We've won 4 in a row, 9 of 10. Our defense has only gotten stronger as the season progressed. We finished #1 in PPG allowed and #1 by a mile in defensive DVOA. We've allowed only 42 points in the last 4 games and that included matchups against the Rams and Erin. The run game has only gotten stronger as the season progressed. Trubs has shown he can play well in tough environments. I'm feeling as confident as I ever have about our chances with the way we closed out the season. This team has given me zero reason to doubt them against anyone. Our o-line dominated the Vikings d-line yesterday. The Eagles d-line is arguably better with Fletcher Cox. He's really the only guy on that entire team who scares me. But we made Aaron Donald a non-factor. We can do the same with Cox. The Eagles LBs and secondary are beat up and their backups are no good. I hate Malcolm Jenkins. Always have but it crystallized with his actions during the beatdown we took from them last season. If Trubs has time he will pick them apart. Of course I want EJax back but we can win the game either way. I want A-Rob back too. But give Javon Wims some snaps. The guy can ball. His clutch 3rd and long catch where he positioned himself in front of the CB was great. None of our current WRs including A-Rob are good at that. Wims can be a huge factor for us in the playoffs. He just needs a chance. We're going to crush the Eagles. It won't be close. With all due respect to the Eagles and their fans. I don't care what kind of run they are on now or what they did last year. Foles is a statue. A good tough QB but he doesn't know what's coming. Alshon is a vagina as we know. For all the crying and faking of injuries that he did in his last couple years here, and as classless as this may seem, I want him limping off the field with tears running down his face. Yeah he can win a jump ball. But there won't be many jump balls since Foles won't have time enough to wind up. I expect a couple of strip sacks to go with several other crushing hits. Playoffs! Let's go!
I hate ND. Everyone saw that blowout coming a mile away. They get destroyed in every major bowl they've played in the last 20 years. And yet ND always gets the favorable treatment. Would have been a much better game with Georgia or even (hate to say it) Ohio State.
Yeah, sorry to be the wet blanket. Dolphins and Broncos have already requested HC interviews with Vic per Adam Schefter, and the bears if memory serves me correctly (correct me if I'm wrong, guys/gals)--cannot block down a promotion for coaches. They can block a lateral transfer. I get why ND was selected, they were undefeated and they're Notre Dame. Even with that in mind, I contend UCF--even when their QB went down was the better choice. They haven't lost a game since December of 2016. ND had way too many cupcake teams on their schedule. Pitt, Navy, Vanderbildt, Ball State, and teams like Virginia Tech, Florida State, and USC all regressed to bad/cupcake level teams. Syracuse, Stanford, and Michigan were their 3 'signature wins.' All at home. And while I think that's more than enough to disqualify them even though they're undefeated--what conference did they win again? I understand why Georgia and OSU weren't selected......but bad choice. Wish UCF's QB didn't suffer that disgusting injury, because they deserved to be in IMO.
I love every sentence of this paragraph so much I quoted it twice. The Bears opened as the biggest favorite of Wild Card weekend at -5.5 (I am a bit surprised the Chargers aren't favored even if they are traveling). I would have rather seen the Vikings, because they were so clearly outclassed, but there was no way for that to happen without the Vikings getting some momentum. The Eagles aren't as good as they were last year, no matter they are "getting hot" because the Bears are pretty damn hot heading into the playoffs. Sure, they beat the Rams, after we did, outside of that, they beat up on Washington twice? Lost to Dallas, got smoked by NO? My fear is it's another test for this young Offense and rookie HC. There's going to be some cute shit. There's a good chance of a missed FG or XP. One thing I'm not worried about? Foles is not racking up points against this defense. No how no way, they are playing lights out. And it's a great point on the Eagles weakness on the backend despite a good pass rush. The oline has been solid even against tough competition (and LONG is back in a big way) but the real factor here could be Trubs escapability. If he can buy time with his legs on top of the protection may be the key to the game. I can't wait, it needs to be Sunday NOW. I will entertain myself reading about the Vikes/Packers collapse and watching memes of Cousins.
I really don't think Gase was the problem for the Dolphins, that seems like a poor decision on their part. I don't know how you fire a coach and they are instantly one of the top candidates - though I just heard on NFL Network Elway said Gase was NOT a candidate. You're right they can't block a promotion, but isn't there some rules about when he can interview? After all, they are in the playoffs now so that's the top priority. Frankly, I don't think Fangio will be a great HC. Some guys are great coordinators, and some are great HCs. I'm hoping that Fangio realizes his role, and where he's at in getting a ring. And do you think either of these situations are better for him? I get it's a step up to be a HC, but the sky is the limit for this Defense. He won't be stepping into any situation that's better.
I get the Eagle love from the national media. Defending champs get to the dance despite a rocky season. Now look out they are the hottest team with the experience to go all the way. One thing though. Last season the Eagles were the number 1 seed. Home field throughout. Not this year. Their safety says they didn’t back in, they kicked the door down. He’s wrong. We kicked the door down for them. And. Ow we get to send them home winning instead of by losing.
As for Fangio I don’t think he interviews well for HC gigs. He’s never been mentioned as a finalist for any job. He has two things going against him. His age and his defensive background. But there are a lot of gigs open I guess we shall see.
Yea Georgia who got smoked by Texas would have been much better ... Bama & Clemson are hands down the 2 best teams in college football now and for the foreseeable future . ND ran the table and deserved to be in , Bucknuts got beat by Purdue so bye bye now ... It doesn't matter if it 4 or 8 or 16 teams Bama & Clemson will be there at the end whether we like it or not.
