Official NFL Thread

[SoxAce]

Madden is right. That was all Greise on that play. The play was going to Mckie, but Griese saw Clark when McKie was basically covered (hate to bring up Rex again, but he wouldn't have seen him) and he made the play.

 

And Griese just confirmed it in his press conference. The real kudos goes out to Griese.

[DBAHO]

Wow, I don't think anyone saw that coming midway thru the 3rd.

 

This could get the Bears right back on track now.

[whitesoxfan101]

Two forced fumbles was nice, but he was repeatedly beaten in the first half.

 

So was every single player on the defense, they had 340 yards at halftime. But without those 2 strips, the competitive phase of this game would have been completed by halftime.

[Chisoxfn]

f*** yes. This game was baby steps forward. The offense wasn't great, but the play calling was so much better. They stuck to the run, Griese made some solid passes and they got the TE's more involved. It wasn't great, but it was enough and it got the offense definitely headed in the right direction (hopefully they can build on that offensive performance next week against the Vikings).

 

The defense played its best game, despite a horrid first half. Tillman and Briggs seemed to get there speed back and Urlacher made a brief appearance in the game during the second half. It still isn't up to par, but again, it was a massive improvement over the past couple weeks.

 

Lets build on this next week as we will have another must win game. If this team can win next week its back to .500 with a tough game in Philly (a team that will likely have its back to the wall as well). But it all starts next Sunday against the Vikings.

 

Come on Bears...build on this game and lets keep improving and hopefully put together a winning streak (1 game at a time though)!!!!

[Chisoxfn]

So was every single player on the defense, they had 340 yards at halftime. But without those 2 strips, the competitive phase of this game would have been completed by halftime.

A quick slant on a CB with a high ankle sprain, I expected him to get beat, but he was still a big enough of a vet to make a couple huge plays and as the game got going he seemed to get going much much better and ended up having a pretty strong game for a guy on one ankle.

 

Briggs also started slow and than looked like he found his gear and got into a groove. Hopefully Vasher can make his way back this Sunday and the team can gradually continue to get healthier.

[Chisoxfn]

Great win. There is a good chance the Bears can win 2 of their next 3 and be at .500 going into the bye.

One game at a time though. The Bears won there first must win game of the season and they'll have another one against the Vikings on Sunday.

[GoodAsGould]

I think thats the key in the 2nd half, we need to use both our TE's.. especially Olsen needs to be on field as much as possible. Not 2 mention keep pounding the ball with Benson, its important even if not getting yards that teams respect our ground game.

[dasox24]

I love how Olsen was much more involved in this game. He can be such a huge weapon for our offense.

[Chisoxfn]

I think thats the key in the 2nd half, we need to use both our TE's.. especially Olsen needs to be on field as much as possible. Not 2 mention keep pounding the ball with Benson, its important even if not getting yards that teams respect our ground game.

I just hope the physical play (it was the first time they've been consistently physical all game; maybe the Chiefs game as well) can be a sign of things to come. With the additional running it set the tempo and may just get the line in a place where it will start opening up some more holes and getting there blcoks out into the second zone which could open the possibility of bigger runs.

 

Benson didn't have a good game. I wouldn't call it awful. He had a couple good runs, but more bad runs than good runs. He was running too straight up and tenatively but at the same time the guy is getting hit almost every time at the LOS thanks to poor blocking. However, sticking to the run was HUGE and I think it will pay off in the coming weeks as we see this rushing attack wake up.

 

I also noticed Benson starting running a bit more downfield late in the game, which may be a signing of him picking up confidence. Last season (down the stretch and in the playoffs) Benson was always running downfield and just doing awesome. We know he can do it, its a matter of him doing it this year and I really think this game will be a turning point and hopefully next week they can build on it and make more strides offensively as well as defensively and get to .500.

[Chisoxfn]

I love how Olsen was much more involved in this game. He can be such a huge weapon for our offense.

I still don't know if he's using his speed to his full advantage but he's really improving with his blocks (which was a major weakness coming in) and his hands are just awesome for a TE. The guy has not only big play potential, but move the chain 3rd down potential as well (ie just getting into an open spot a few yards down and making the nice catch).

 

Him and Clark are definitely one of the more talented TE duo's in the league and I'm greedy cause I want to see more and more of those two on the same field. I also love how the Bears are getting Bradley onto the field more (its going to pay off). He had a nice crossing pattern and was wide open on a play that Griese missed (he didn't see Bradley and eventually took a sack).

[knightni]

The Bears need to get Peterson more touches.

 

He has a better YPC than Benson.

Edited October 8, 2007 by knightni

[Jenksismyhero]

My thoughts on the game:

 

1) incredibly lucky to get the W. I can't believe Lovie is 4-0 at GB

 

2) I feel bad for Benson. I don't think it's fair that he's getting some of the blame for not living up to the hype and failing to at least equal Jones from last year. It's pretty obvious that the o-line is terrible. The guy managed like 70 yards on 28ish carries - all while being hit at or before the line of scrimmage. If you would just look at the stats you'd think it was horrible, but really he did a great job at least getting some positive yards.

 

3) Ron Turner can suck my taint. Seriously this is the Jon Schoop offense. How many times are you going to run it up the middle for 2 yards? I'm all for establishing the run, but if you don't establish the run in 3 quarters I think it's safe to say you are never going to establish it. So the running game showed up for one series at the end of the game - this was not set up by anything. Hell, I think the biggest gain was 6 yards. If we continue to play like this (and call plays like this) we'll be the same as 2003 with Orton. 1st down run for a yard, 2nd down run for 2 yards, 3rd down incomplete or 4 yard pass, 4th down punt.

 

3a) Why are we not giving the ball to Hester? We have one of the most exciting weapons in all of football and we can't get a reverse or handoff or something to him a couple times a game? It's getting ridiculous. So he has a fumbling problem, tho cares if he scores a touchdown or two each week. I guess he finally realized having a big, fast, athletic TE would help the offense, maybe next week he'll finally get smart and give Hester the ball.

 

4) Green Bay played not to lose instead of to win. That's the only reason they lost. Just like Turner, their off coordinator decided to stick with a run even though the Bears had adjusted and started stopping it. Favre picked apart the defense for the majority of the game and for some reason they start running the ball when they needed to get some first downs. Similarly, that last 1:30 might have been the worst clock management I've seen in a while. Amazing considering Favre is 104 years old and has been in that position a ton before.

 

5) Tillman is a stud.

 

6) Griese still sucks. I don't care that he won (luck). I'm confident Grossman could have made the 2 decent throws he made that entire game. WTF was with that interception? Why are people not riding his ass for such a stupid throw. I thought he was supposed to be making good decisions? I think the TD/Int ratio so far is 3/5. And did anyone else catch the stat that NBC threw up about the worst interception per pass ratio? Griese is like 3rd worst with a pick every 24 throws.

 

7) I hate Madden and Michaels more each time I see them. Same with the entire NBC crew. They might have picked two of the worst ex-players in Bettis and Barber and although I like Olbermein he adds nothing to the telecast; the entire show just seems horrible - none of the guys have any sort of connection. There is no chemistry at all.

[RockRaines]

They should be running a fake reversed to Hester EVERY time he is in the game. OSU used to run variations of that play 10-12 times a game when Ted Ginn was there. It forces the defense to stay home and opens up running lanes in the middle. They ran it once this game and gave it to Hester.

 

Secondly, this O-line needs a gut check. Their run blocking is horrendous.

 

Olsen needs to be in the game 50-70 percent of the time. He simply is a human mismatch, please exploit it. Wolfe needs to see more time in the game as well, especially in the shotgun.

[BigSqwert]

Who would have that that my Raiders would be alone in 1st place in the AFC West after week 5?

[CWSGuy406]

2) I feel bad for Benson. I don't think it's fair that he's getting some of the blame for not living up to the hype and failing to at least equal Jones from last year. It's pretty obvious that the o-line is terrible. The guy managed like 70 yards on 28ish carries - all while being hit at or before the line of scrimmage. If you would just look at the stats you'd think it was horrible, but really he did a great job at least getting some positive yards.

 

I'm glad I'm not the only one who's still in this camp. I'm not sure whether Benson can live up to the hype or not, but the blame he's getting this year is quite ridiculous considering the offensive coordinator who's calling the plays and the offensive line ahead of him. Turner calls run plays that are so freaking obvious -- I-formation, tight end motions to the right or left and stays off the LOS. Watch the safeties on those plays -- they just creep in and Benson is having to make plays with nine in the box. As you said, he was getting touched at or behind the LOS on 90% of the plays.

 

This doesn't exclude Benson from all blame, but he hasn't had a whole lot to work with this year.

[whitesoxfan99]

6) Griese still sucks. I don't care that he won (luck). I'm confident Grossman could have made the 2 decent throws he made that entire game. WTF was with that interception? Why are people not riding his ass for such a stupid throw. I thought he was supposed to be making good decisions? I think the TD/Int ratio so far is 3/5. And did anyone else catch the stat that NBC threw up about the worst interception per pass ratio? Griese is like 3rd worst with a pick every 24 throws.

 

TD/INT ratio for Griese is 4/4. TD/INT ratio for Grossman is 1/6. QB ratings are 77.8 for Griese and 45.2 for Grossman. The Bears have scored 5 TDs on O during Griese's starts and 2 on O during Grossman's starts. I'm not a Griese fan but he has been an upgrade so far.

[BigSqwert]

7) I hate Madden and Michaels more each time I see them. Same with the entire NBC crew. They might have picked two of the worst ex-players in Bettis and Barber and although I like Olbermein he adds nothing to the telecast; the entire show just seems horrible - none of the guys have any sort of connection. There is no chemistry at all.

My thoughts exactly.

[WilliamTell]

Who would have that that my Raiders would be alone in 1st place in the AFC West after week 5?

 

probably Al Davis as warped as his mind is.

[BigSqwert]

probably Al Davis as warped as his mind is.

Don't get me started on Al Davis. Can't stand the guy.

[DBAHO]

So wite, you excited that the Bills are actually going to be on MNF, and do you give them much of a chance tonight?

[witesoxfan]

So wite, you excited that the Bills are actually going to be on MNF, and do you give them much of a chance tonight?

 

I give them a chance to cover the spread.

 

Also very excited to see Edwards and Lynch play, as I haven't really see them play at all this year. That's the future in the backfield.

[Brian]

Grade 3 concussion for Trent Green. Do Dolphin fans regret not drafting Quinn yet?

[SoxAce]

So wite, you excited that the Bills are actually going to be on MNF, and do you give them much of a chance tonight?

 

Well so far in the first half the Bills are holding their own (in fact looks like they could pull an upset). Trent Edwards is the first QB to start in the 07 draft (3rd rounder) and damn he looks good (Wite wrtie a letter to the Bills to trade him to the Bears ) He definitely looks like a future stud QB but I won't get too ahead cause it is one game (in fact, only 2 quarters) Romo is looking awful right now (3 INTs so far , even though one of them was not his fault and the other was just a flukey-type play.) but Jebus he isn't the Tony Romo we saw at Soldier Field. The Bills have some talent on their roster, I'm surprised.

 

EDIT: Holy s*** INT #4 He is just mentally out of it after that last pick. And you gotta love what Buffalo is doing with Edwards. Not trying to do too much just manage the game. His completion per attempt average right now is looking real good.

Edited October 9, 2007 by SoxAce

[WilliamTell]

4 picks for Romo.

[T R U]

Grade 3 concussion for Trent Green. Do Dolphin fans regret not drafting Quinn yet?

 

No, John Beck looked good in the preseason and I like what Ted Ginn can bring to this team.. Beck needs to just sit and develop/learn this season and well see him next year most likely..

 

Cleo Lemon isn't a terrible option and we aint going nowhere this season anyways