The They Lost Thread 2022

I was in vegas for a bachelor party this past weekend, so I haven't read the game thread so apologies if you all covered it there, I will read it in a bit. I went down to the sportsbook at 7am before I caught a nap before the game, and placed 4 bets.

Justin Fields- OVER 69.5 yards rushing (I actually said out loud at the kiosk "That's fucking free money right there") - I got pretty worried because they were not flashing his running stats through the game, and it felt like he barely ran the entire second half.
Total - OVER 48.5 - I had to sweat this one, but was thrilled when we got it tied in the 4th quarter at 48 total points, all they needed then was to kick a winning FG!
Bears - +3 - Gave me some extra skin though I was looking to win. I did at least push this since it wasn't 3.5 or 2.5 or something.
Bears Moneyline - I forget what it was exactly, but I figured what the hell.

Watching the game at the bar in the casino was a bit distracting and by the time I got down there, the game was half over but ultimately this game felt like more and more of the same of the past few weeks. A team that doesn't know how to finish.

An offensive line that is fucking offensive to football itself.

When Fields DID have time, there was nowhere for the ball to go.

Just a gut punch when we just needed a drive for a FG. That's it.

And now we may RG3 his fucking career, but I guess Ev called this shit when they invested all of zero into the offensive line. All those fans who said, "but his style of running is different!" - it still adds up to hits and it's still going to hurt, he will have to throw, even if his running is about as electric as it comes.

 

2023 NFL Mock Draft: QB picture as muddled as ever; Bucs target passer; Eagles land two offensive weapons

^ That's CBS prediction/mock this week, has the Bears at #2 and drafting Anderson. Skoronski they list as going 11, so if someone like the Colts wanted to guarantee Stroud they could move up, we get another pick, and Skoronski. They'd have to believe the Panthers want Stroud though, lots of unknowns.

 

If the Bears wind up #2 overall, they will get a lot more than one pick for moving down. These things never pan out as easily as us fans wish they would, but if that situation happens the Bears will have a chance at a massive haul.

 

1- Rest Fields this week. Just rest him.

2- It will cost the life of Trevor Semien, still rest him.

 

I'd have a better chance of hitting the lottery than anything positive by the Bears on draft day.

 

That was my point though. Would you rather have:
1. Will Anderson
2. Skoronski and extra picks

If they are #2 overall, I can't imagine someone won't want to move up to get a QB.

 

I had read they were optimistic he would play this week. But I agree, we should not risk it.

 

Thank you for your service, Trevor.

 

Please stop. It's bad enough that the last regime didn't give him anyone to block for him. It's bad enough that this regime didn't give him anyone to block for him. It's bad enough that you literally make him carry the offense all game every game. It's bad enough that you keep running him even when he's clearly hurt.

But now that he's got a legitimate injury you could make worse by playing him, in a year where clearly the team isn't built to win anything (and has been giving away assets mid-season)... Please stop. Don't let him on the field. You're not proving anything by putting him out there.

 

If they send him out there it would be completely negligent. Would also show they have no clue how to function the offense without it being completely on Fields back.

Honestly, those tweets i showed about the locker room post game gave me a new inkling of respect for Eberflus. For as much as there's things about him i really don't like, to have a 3-8 team thats on a 4 game loser acting like that after a game says a lot about culture. Any new found respect i have tho goes straight out the window if they send him out there sunday. Im not sure it would go down at all well with the players either, it would be a real "you're just a commodity" move on the part of the coaching staff.

 

Anderson or two 1sts. Or a 1st, two 2nds & two 3rds?

Personally i take Skoronski + picks, but im looking at it more from a roster building perspective cos i know less about the actual players. Dline and pat would know how much of a transformative talent Anderson is.

 

Playing him would be nonsense. However, I also guarantee Justin will say he wants to play. He's a competitor and tough, and apparently there was some college game where he played with bruised ribs or something? If the medical staff clears him, he will push to play.

But if he does play, all it means is there's a chance for more injury and he's going to be less electric no question.

I agree, also because of pat's take of a square peg in a round hole kind of thing but agree they both know more about which is better.

But you know what they're actually going to do, draft Jalen Carter. With all of pat's reservations it would make perfect sense.

 

Since draft position is directly tied to this team losing, figured this was relevant.

This sucks for two reasons:
1) this is a potential LT off the board for us
2) this makes LT that much thinner a position, and thus that much more in demand.

I was looking forward to picking this guy's tape apart.

Top draft prospect Fashanu will return to Penn St.

 

I'm done with Velus Jones (wasted pick). I'm done with Pettis. Done with ESB. And in his limited time Claypool has done nothing. Poles really has failed the WR position like no other. The entire position needs to be turned over for 2023.

On a positive Gordon and Brisker look like solid building blocks for the secondary and JJ actually came to play yesterday. We need still need a solid NB. Dare I say the secondary is the strongest unit on this pathetic defense.

 

Last game I thought Leatherwood looked good enough in limited snaps to warrant seeing more. This week I thought he looked bad enough to warrant being taken out back and put out of his misery. His feet move too slow and he lost every hand fight he got in. Just bad. The Bears couldn't handle stunts from the Eagles front. I know the Eagles DL is really good. But c'mon. They got home on nearly every stunt they did. Whitehair was trash. Sam Mustipher doesn't even deserve to be a backup at this point and I have no idea what the Bears see in Braxton Jones. Teven Jenkins is the one good thing the Bears have on the line so hopefully he is okay.

Announcing was on point yesterday. At one point the play by play guy said Montgomery is underrated and not really known as a guy that breaks tackles....despite that being exactly what he is known for. Then they cut to the sideline for injury updates and the only update was to say there is no update and we will let you know when we have one. Awesome.

Fields still can't get calls and I'm sick of, all around the league, flags being thrown and then picked up. If you saw something....it was probably a foul. And if you didn't see anything....why the fuck did you throw your flag? Idiots. NFL officiating is embarrassing.

I love Brisker. He is really good on the blitz....I know he missed a big one yesterday and he needs to learn from that. But that's something he will learn from. He hits hard...he tackles well. He tends to be in the right place and he's only going to get better.

Gordon needed a game that builds some confidence and he got it. I really hope this kid puts in a good offseason because the skillset is there for him. He just needs to work at his craft.

Despite Brown's statline that was probably one of Jaylon Johnson's best games this season. Had a couple big gains mainly thanks to Hurts dropping the ball into a perfect spot. But overall Johnson battled and played well....imagine if he plays like that next season and the Bears actually have a pass rush.

Velus Jones is a massive bust and waste of a draft pick. Imagine all the other guys we could have gotten with that pick. Disgusting.

Fields has got to work on a lot this offseason. Those short gimme throws out to the flat....and his deep passing game. For all the outstanding plays he has this year the simple plays don't come easy and that has to change.

Not much else to take away from this other than maintaining draft position.

 

I agree with blang on the secondary, Brisker, Gordon, Johnson and Jackson are decent enough and in the case of the rookies, they are getting better. In the Packers game Rodgers had all day and it took a LONG time for him to find anyone. That's what the secondary should do. The front 7 on the other hand....and I guess that's to be expected 3 of those 7 starters were replaced (I'm thinking Mack, Quinn and Roquan specifically).

I do think despite how bad this team is, they are going to win one more. I'm not sure if it's Vikings resting the final week or the Lions, or even the massively improbable win over the Bills next week. It wouldn't surprise me at all if they lose out, they "should". But there's a meaningless game here to win. They've had enough close games that just by virtue of any given sunday one is going to break.

And that's not the worst thing in the world. While I'd love a haul for the #2 pick, I've got this feeling people don't love any QB enough to give up a king's ransom, whether that's Stroud or the unlikely Levis. The meaningless win might at least give them something to build towards for next year.

6 sacks. 6. And I don't think you can blame those on Fields holding the ball too long, they all seemed to come in under a second, it was ridiculous. But hey the line gave him a pocket to throw from, once maybe? So that's something.

To be honest, at this point I'm not sure what the final three games are going to tell us we don't already know about this team. Just waiting it out until the draft and next season I guess.

 

Santos should've been off the team by this morning. Yeah he's been good in the past, but he's not good this season. 5 missed xp's is unacceptable, telling your ST coach you won't attempt a 48yarder is completely unacceptable. Motherfucker do you know what city you're in?! Wind is feckin par for the course. Maybe someone can correct this, but in all my years watching the Bears, all those windy games i've never seen a kicker say no like that. Get him off the team, i don't want a kicker search but there's no choice. 3 games left, its tryout time, get guys in.


Is it just me or does the writing look on the wall for Monty? He had another good game imo, 90+ total yards, 2 TD's but i look up the sheet after the game and there it is, 12carries? Sorry, what? Your 2 top WR's are out, Herbert is out, with the exception of Fields obviously, Monty is your best offensive player by a country mile and you give him 12carries??! Know how many 20carry games he has this season? ZERO! That would be underusage even with Herbert dressed, but these games he's been on IR? Crazy. If they bring Monty back next year i'll be staggered. More likely i'll just be pissed.


Gordon had his best game of the season by far. Thank F, cos its been embarrassing at times watching him out there. Now build off it kid.


I know its been said but some things can't go unrepeated. Velus Jones is one of those draft picks you look at and wonder how in the hell they got drafted. Anywhere. Its Juaquin Iglesias bad. He lasted like a week on punts. At my most shitfaced my hand eye co-ordination is of equal ability and in general he couldn't catch covid at a superspreader. He's as steady on his legs as Bambi on Ice, and tripstacy. And as for his route running abilities, i'll let you know when he runs one further than 2yards past the LOS. Post-horse Christopher Reeve is more danger to house one than this chuckle fuck. Astoundingly bad draft pick.


Personally i'm pretty shocked Fields isn't on IR yet. He took another beating yesterday. There's no questioning his toughness and desire to keep going back out there, massive respect, but at what point do the Bears get out while they're still ahead this season. Look he's done it for this year, he's made big progress, he's showed he can be the guy, its all there on film. This feels like a time where the smart move may be picking your stack of chips off the table and going home. And i hate saying that, cos there's 3 games left and every game is a chance to learn and gain more experience. But there are way bigger goals at play here. Look at Kyler Murray. Doesn't matter how it happens, point is you get a bad one now, say you blow a knee, you don't just kiss the entire offseason goodbye, your not back until into next season, potentially well into next season. Chaser Young hasnt played since Week 10 2021.

He has no WR's and his best and only half decent blocker could be done. Frankly i dont know how you sit a guy like that. It would go down like a fart in a phonebooth. I'm just saying.

 

Its looking unlikely the Vikes are gonna be able to sit guys in the final week, they will have far too much at stake now the #2 seed gets a bye too. Its between them and the 49ers with the Vikes a game ahead currently. Vikes next 2 is Giants & Peckers. Maybe they win both(Erin being shut down by then would help them), but then maybe the don't. At no point this season have the Vikes really convinced me. Meanwhile the 9ers have the WTFs and the Raiders. Could they drop one? I guess, but they should win both those games and they have a better divisional record at this point. Its def more likely the Vikes will have something on the line in their last game.

The Vikings game is the most likely win left for the Bears but its not easy to see it. Of course they could guarantee that draft spot right now if they shut down Fields. Blang seems to think coaching staff is in on the tank, if thats true shutting down Fields is the move.

Not that i have a lot to offer on college QBs, but i agree with this. Also, lets be honest, Bears luck into a massive trade down haul, how un-Bears does that sound?!

Well Fields Houdini'd his way out of 3 surefire sacks that i saw, it may even have been more. So the true number of sacks that junkpile OL deserves is at least 9(NINE). Also, the Eagles landed another 9QB hits during the game. So in terms of overall O-Line shittyness the number is around 18-20(in one fucking game!!!), in terms of the official number Fields took 15 sacks/hits. And thats before we even get into hits on designed runs and cheap shots from that human shitstain SUH.

I guess there's some context to my little "shut him down" speech.

 

Oh and that run by Fields.... a toe away from being legit contender for greatest QB TD run of all time. At this point what he's doing with his legs is borderline supernatural.