Comments on: PFT Preseason Power Rankings No. 11: Chicago Bears

By: ihaterogergoodell

ihaterogergoodell — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 16:55:18 +0000

smstonerock says: Jul 19, 2012 4:19 PM

“….Those series of events changed the ENTIRE dynamic of that game. If those fumbles don’t happen, Lions dominate.”

Are you new to football, dude? The whole POINT is a couple of plays change a whole game. The Lions didn’t dominate. That’s like me saying if Daniel Manning didn’t blow that deep cover, Reggie Wayne never would have scored that TD. And if Rex Grossman didn’t throw that pick six, the Bears would have won the Superbowl.

Get it? Two plays can change everything. The Lions were just as close to dominating that game as they were to winning the Superbowl last year.

By: tahoenflfan

tahoenflfan — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 00:24:52 +0000

Bears O-line is ranked the 29th best in the NFL.
Cutler got sacked on 3-4-5 step drops way more than you know. Yet Chicago chose to stand pat at that position. Now they have a new O-line coach with some new plays and formations, yet everyone seems to think this is going to make the O-line 29 times better than last year?? Crazy.

By: plymouth11

plymouth11 — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 03:34:47 +0000

I am a Vikings fan so I see all the NFC North teams. I think Bears re every bit as good as Packers and could have been just as dangerous as Giants were at end of last season if Cutler were healthy. They might even have beaten Packers the year before if Cutler were healthy in that game. Now with Forte in camp, Mike Tice at O-Coordinator, Brandon Marshall and the potential of Alshon Jeffery – this offense could rival Green Bay’s, and their D is better up front than GB. I think they are legit. I hear you Detroit fans cluckin’ but you gotta step up, starting with your coach. Detroit was 4-0 with some pretty amazing comeback wins, then went 6-6 the rest of the way. A lot to prove if you ask me. Vikes are going to be bringing it too, trying to stick it to all three of you. Lets put on the pads and go!

By: millerhour

millerhour — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 03:21:37 +0000

metropolitan1961stadium says:Jul 19, 2012 2:00 PM

There are already too many teams with the moniker: Bears

Baylor Bears in Waco, Texas
California Bears in Berkeley
University of Northern Colorado Bears
Missouri State University Bears
University of Maine Bears
Brown University Bears in Providence, R. I.
Morgan State Bears in Baltimore
University of Central Arkansas Bears

It is too confusing to allow a team to play in the National Football League with the nickname Bears. This football team was born as the “Chicago Staleys” and will always be the STALEYS!

Effective immediately, the NFL Chicago franchise will revert to its original name, the Chicago Staleys.

Sincerely yours,

The NFL Commissioner

———————————————————-

Are you referring to the DECATUR Staleys?

And all of the Lions fans seem to neglect the fact that the Bears for the most part shut down the Lions on offense that first game except for two extremely long touchdown plays, a run by Best and a pass to Johnson. 88 and 73 yards respectively. Both amazing plays by Lions players, both horrific meltdowns on two plays from Chicago. Yes the Lions won, and yes those plays were part of the game, but it’s not like they were having their way with them all night and just owned them.

By: blackheld

blackheld — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 20:35:20 +0000

Everyone agrees the Packers are very, very good. And, they ARE very, very good.

But they are not gods.

In the rush to rave about Matt Flynn’s great game against the Lions, in which he threw for 480 and 6 TDs, no one noticed that Matt Stafford grilled the Packers for…wait for it…520 and 5 TDs.

Yup, the Packer secondary was nicked up. But the Lions were starting a practice squad safety, a special teams guy (Wendling) at the other safety, and receiver Rashied Davis, at cornerback.

Folks, the Packers defense is horrid. Really horrid. And worse, the so-called “improvements” they’ve made in it mostly consist of Tramon Williams coming back healthy, and an under-performing DL (Mike Neal) who’s expected to replace a guy he hasn’t been able to beat out for the last two years.

Even worse than that, Aaron Rogers’ security blanket, Matt Flynn, has departed for the swamps of Seattle, and his new backup is…Graham Harrell. Graham Harrell has never taken a snap in the NFL, and was not, err…prolific, during his stay in Canadian football. Caleb Hanie flashbacks abound, at this point.

Green Bay still has no reliable running game, and they don’t sack the opposing QB much, either…with apologies to to Clay Matthews, who led the team with 5.5 sacks.

Packer fans are talking a return to the Super Bowl, and I suppose it’s possible. But I’m reminded that sometimes the lights at the end of the tunnel signal a train wreck, too.

By: rickrock6661982

rickrock6661982 — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 20:29:17 +0000

I have to agree…how in the world is this team ranked ahead of Detroit?

By: wludford

wludford — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 20:20:03 +0000

I expect the Bears to finish 2nd in the NFC North and make the playoffs as a wild card. But they could win it.

On the other hand, I have doubts about what kind of impact Marshall and Tice will have on the offense, the durability of Cutler- particularly with a weak O line, and the age of defense beginning to haunt them- especially against high-quality teams. If my doubts are realized, look for a repeat of last year.

In the NFC North, it is going to be a tough season- it won’t be nearly as easy as last year for the Packers, and there will be a lot of close games. I think Detroit will be a disappointment this year, and the Vikings will be much better than anyone expects.

By: smstonerock

smstonerock — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 20:19:00 +0000

Does anybody actually remember what happened in that second Lions/Bears game? First drive: Stafford slicing through bears defense hitting multiple receivers, making it look easy, only to have Burleson fumble the ball after about a 20 yd pickup around the bears 40/35. Bears come down and score. Second Lions drive…same thing, Stafford doing his thing making it look easy. Then Julius Peppers (yes he’s a monster) blindside hits Calvin making him fumble. Bears again score with a short field to work with. Those fumbles cause a 28 point swing because I guarantee you would’ve gotten into the endzone, he was in the zone. Those series of events changed the ENTIRE dynamic of that game. If those fumbles don’t happen, Lions dominate.

By: cali49er707

cali49er707 — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 20:15:00 +0000

Ohhh how far detroit cryin’s fans have come now, they come in running their lips & flexing their muscles!! Its a amazing what one MNF game in over a decade & coming in 2nd in their division can do for some and they say WERE BACK- WERE SO AWESOME- WERE SUPERBOWL BOUND, LMAO!!! they are only back to being respectable & THATS IT!! All i have to say to detroit cryin’s fans is 0 &16 is what you always be remembered for!!!

dont come yapping back this way cryin’s fans until you actually make out of a wildcard game with a “W”!!

By: hyzers

hyzers — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 20:06:19 +0000

Didn’t the Bears get TEBOWED last year?

By: spartyfi

spartyfi — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 20:01:57 +0000

By the way: the Lions and Bears were both at full strength in their first game last year, the game the Lions won!

So, if both teams stay healthy I will have to go with the Lions…that’s the only reason I’m going with the Lions, that and I’m a bit of a homer. But these teams are pretty evenly matched. The problem for Bears fans and what they hate about the Lions is we’re just starting our run of being a good team while their team is just ending theirs. Cycles…the NFL usually goes in cycles (except the Lions of the past 50 years never got that memo).

By: justintuckrule

justintuckrule — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 19:44:37 +0000

Every year there is one team that looks great on paper and then disappoints big time. Last year it was the Eagles. This year, it’s primed to be the Bears. No matter how shiny your playmakers are, it means nothing if your O-Line is garbage. Last year, the line was so bad that Cutler was sacked on steps 4 and 5. All of this talk about Martz getting Cutler sacked is hogwash. It wouldn’t have mattered if Brian Schottenheimer and his Mark Sanchez, quick slant offense was in Chicago. If this O-Line don’t block, the Bears will go 7-9.

By: erikkramer1gamewonder

erikkramer1gamewonder — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 19:43:51 +0000

“last but certainly not least your Lions got a beatdown by the Bears last year 37-13 in November.”

I love how Bears fans always have a selective memory and forget that the Lions won the first meeting 24-13 (dominating the second half) when Cutler and Forte were healthy.

I agree the Bears overall have a better roster (barely), but sweeping the Lions is far from a guarantee. Bears fans expected the same thing in 2011, and how did that turn out?

By: muskyhunter2542

muskyhunter2542 — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:57:36 +0000

Im not sure how some see The Bears, and Lions in the same league as The Packers… The Packers were 15-1 last year with the worst defense in NFL history. And now they are head and shoulders better then they were last year with the draft picks, and players now healthy (T. Williams). Aaron Rodgers had the best ever QB percentage (122.5). AND The Packers either led the league in dropped passes or were top 3. Imagine how good they will be with a better defense and less dropped passes.
Packers 13-3
Lions 11-5
Bears 11-5 /10-6 somewhere in there
Vikings 2-14

By: 49erstim

49erstim — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:50:44 +0000

With a healthy Cutler and Forte with the addition of Marshall this could be a dangerous team. That defense may be a bit aged, but they’ll be able to protect leads.

By: skittlesareyum

skittlesareyum — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:46:11 +0000

FinFan68 says:
Jul 19, 2012 2:10 PM
The Bears are a strong team. Marshall will add a lot as long as he feels respected and figures out how to catch the 3rd down and red-zone balls. The o-line is still suspect and the defense is aging a bit so the window is closing. The Bears, Lions and Packers will be fighting for the division title. The teams are very close and a break here or there could easily decide the division. 11-5 for all three teams is not unreasonable after looking at their schedules. They could wind up splitting all the head-to-head games. If any of them lose to the Vikings this year it will be a tough climb. This division will make for some entertaining football this year.

Agreed. I’d like to think my Packers are leaps and bounds ahead of the Bears/Lions, but that isn’t true. Plus, the Bears always play the Packers tough no matter how good or bad each team is.

I can’t wait for football to start! The NFC North is fun again!

By: briggsisbrokeagain

briggsisbrokeagain — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:31:44 +0000

Old defense huh? Briggs, Peppers, Urlacher and Tillman all voted to the pro bowl last season. Best defense in the division!

By: larryboodry

larryboodry — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:29:10 +0000

Only a big schwartz Lions fan would predict a 6-10 finish for the Bears…10-6 (or even 11-5) is much more likely, with their only loss in the division coming at Green Bay.

By: We'reFineThere

We'reFineThere — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:17:45 +0000

I’m not excited about the Eagles winning the offseason, but you can bet the management is. Last thing Joe Banner could do before he leaves was bring us our 8th consecutive offseason championship. Manage the cap, purge the 30 year olds, and stay above average. At least it’s not complete Groundhog Day without McNabb.

By: bombacim

bombacim — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:16:12 +0000

Swartz – Let’s evaluate this a little better. The lions have a worse offenseive line. Their defensive line has completly been over rated the last few years. Other than Calvin Johnson your offense is without any other playmakers. Half of your team will be suspended for landing in jail this offseason. You still have the worse secondary in football and last but certainly not least your Lions got a beatdown by the Bears last year 37-13 in November.

By: FinFan68

FinFan68 — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:10:45 +0000

The Bears are a strong team. Marshall will add a lot as long as he feels respected and figures out how to catch the 3rd down and red-zone balls. The o-line is still suspect and the defense is aging a bit so the window is closing. The Bears, Lions and Packers will be fighting for the division title. The teams are very close and a break here or there could easily decide the division. 11-5 for all three teams is not unreasonable after looking at their schedules. They could wind up splitting all the head-to-head games. If any of them lose to the Vikings this year it will be a tough climb. This division will make for some entertaining football this year.

By: spartyfi

spartyfi — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:07:00 +0000

seriously, Eagles. I want to complain about the Bears being above the Lions but I see that as a toss up if I take off my homer blinders (which I rarely do)…however, I really do think the Eagles over either of those teams is absolutely RIDICULOUS!

By: Lonely Libertarian

Lonely Libertarian — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:03:32 +0000

not sure I see the Eagles as better than the Bears…

By: skywalker720

skywalker720 — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:00:35 +0000

LOL@ an Eagles fan being excited about “winning” the off-season.

How’d that work out for you last year?

By: metropolitan1961stadium

metropolitan1961stadium — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:00:22 +0000

There are already too many teams with the moniker: Bears

It is too confusing to allow a team to play in the National Football League with the nickname Bears. This football team was born as the “Chicago Staleys” and will always be the STALEYS!

Effective immediately, the NFL Chicago franchise will revert to its original name, the Chicago Staleys.

Sincerely yours,

The NFL Commissioner

By: myschwartzisbiggerthenyours

myschwartzisbiggerthenyours — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 17:57:08 +0000

How in the hell can you have the Bears ranked higher then the Lions? Aging defense, worst OLine in the NFL, a star RB that can’t stay healthy, a dbag QB, and a WR that will probably be in jail by the end of 2012 season for beating another women. Bears will be lucky to win 6 games this year.

By: ike1973

ike1973 — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 17:55:16 +0000

I agree that signing Campbell was a key offseason move. Let’s face it, Cutler got hurt and didn’t finish the season the last two years. Chances are he won’t finish this one either.

By: We'reFineThere

We'reFineThere — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 17:49:56 +0000

Eagles, Top 10. We won!