""THEY ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE""..o

[denverYooper]

Here's what gets me: there is a lot of mediocre football being played all around this year. No team is standing out as kicking ass and taking names, at least not in the NFC. The Packers had a chance to really be that team right now but they blew it all over their stomachs and have dragged themselves down into the morass of mediocrity.

It has been a crazy week all around, though. Atlanta stole one today. New Orleans barely got out of Carolina. At this point, I'm happy our team sits at 3-1.

[mmmdk]

After today's game, I'm questioning whether I've overrated the Packers even more

Anybody else thinking this

Actually what I'm thinking is that I wish the Bears would have played more like this last week.

There pass rush is far more consistent and disruptive

They also have a running game

Plus, how can one figure an egg can be laid on a serious rivalry....well.......guess we laid one

The Bears have a running game?

LOL, no they don't but Martz is very good at involving RBs in passing game. Mostly screens but I've seen Forte line up at receiver too.

[cheesner]

I am not worried. yet. The Packers have been starting slowly now for a couple of seasons. Last season that looked pathetic at this point. I am cautiously optimistic that we will be playing better by the break.

As far as the bares go, I am surprised at how well they are playing. I really doubt that they can keep it up. I have never been a fan of Martz. His offense only worked once and that was with 3 or 4 HOFers at key offensive positions. I think he is very poor strategist or play caller. Watching the Giants get after Cutler right now, this is what I expect ultimately from Cutler, panicked and poor decisions/passes. Martz has a big ego IMHO and he and Cutler are bound to butt heads.

[Bretsky]

After today's game, I'm questioning whether I've overrated the Packers even more

Anybody else thinking this

Actually what I'm thinking is that I wish the Bears would have played more like this last week.

There pass rush is far more consistent and disruptive

They also have a running game

Plus, how can one figure an egg can be laid on a serious rivalry....well.......guess we laid one

The Bears have a running game?

Actually I was referring to their opponent tonight ....the Giants

[mmmdk]

After today's game, I'm questioning whether I've overrated the Packers even more

Anybody else thinking this

Actually what I'm thinking is that I wish the Bears would have played more like this last week.

There pass rush is far more consistent and disruptive

They also have a running game

Plus, how can one figure an egg can be laid on a serious rivalry....well.......guess we laid one

The Bears have a running game?

Actually I was referring to their opponent tonight ....the Giants

No, it was Bears

[woodbuck27]

3 QUESTIONS:

1. Are the Bears Better than we thought they were ?
2. Are the Packers not as good as we thought they were ?
3. Have the Bears narrowed the talent cap from last year ?

Response:

1.

The Bears are certainly doing well so far @ 3 and zero, and hanging in tough in spite of the improved play of 'the Giants' thus far in this Sunday Night matchup with da Bears. With one tick remaining on the clock in the 3rd quarter it's still a game, inspite of the Giants TEN sacks on Jay Cutler. Yikes ! If 'the Bears' can somehow pull this one out they're the only undefeated team in the NFC. If they lose this one. At 3 and 1 that's still impressive, given the crazy results we're seeing in the first quarter of this season, where any team seems to be able to step it up and defeat 'the favourite'.

The Colts dropped one today to the hapless (sure ) Jags.

The Washington Redskins and Donovan McNabb ' tommyhawk'd ' the Eagles ' and Michael Vick was possibly seriously hurt. Vick gets an MRI tomorrow and the good news for Eagle fans was that XRays turned out negative.

The Pittsburg Steelers dropped their first game to the Ravens.

The Rams defeated 'the Seahawks' today at home and are 2 and 2; generating some impressive 'O' and playing very well on 'D'.

The Packers almost dropped their second straight (and at Lambeau Field) to 'the Detroit kittens'.

The Titans walk all over the Giants on the road and can't hold against 'the Bronco's' at home today.

Cleveland held up well Vs the Bengals at home.

All over the league we see nothing much more to date 'than a dance', as possibly only one team, 'the Chiefs' will be undefeated going to week Five (5).

WOW! A huge turnover there by the Bears at their own goal line, as Giant RB Bradshaw was on his way in for six and got stripped by Bears, Bowmann at the last second. The Bears are very alive in this game, and it should be lights out for them as the Giants beat up on Cutler and Todd Collins is in for him now.

Well the Giants running game and all that 'D is going to stand up for them and the Bears will lose and go to 3-1. That's OK. The Bears gotta love it at 3 and 1 in this wild quarter of the season.

2.

The Packers are also sittin prettty at 3-1. In the NFL at this point that's good. Any team in the NFL would look at 3 and 1, as a decent ticket as things have run so far. It's hard on any given week to be really positive of the outcome of the majority of matchups.

Are we seeing parity?

I believe we're seeing most teams just trying to get a feel for their play on both sides of the ball and on ST's, as well. The best teams are looking to achieve balance, as it's more of how well you play winning, than 'just' winning.

The Green Bay Packers have a decent team, but they need to find a running game to take the heat off of Aaron Rodgers or he gets killed. All teams must, as a first priority protect their QB. Again we're seeing our teams OL struggle, especially at the tackle position. The days of Chad Clifton and Marc Tauscher are coming to a close. They've been great but it's almost a closing act for these fine Packers. We cannot sustain a valid push against the best teams if we are suspect on the OL and our running game remains as it seems to me it will, without do attention.

MM and his coaching staff have time, as it will be four to six more weeks before the dust settles throughout the NFL and the best teams find thta consistency in terms of balance. The Vikings will improve over their very slow start and I look to see that team be a factor. Their not going to toss in 'the glove' just yet. Especially with Favre at QB. The best teams must have a heads up support from their GM's and then there's 'the no small matter' of dealing with adversity and being disciplined and not throwing games away. The best teams having depth to deal with any adversity with players that are very familiar with the teams playbook.

Bottom line. The Packers are on the door step of being very good but I can't say right now it appears that way. There's work to do and MM needs support and may have to make some really tough decisions in terms of solidifying our OL. Let's hope that the depth is 'in fact' there.

WE need a better running game. Do we just hold on until Ryan Grant returns? It seems as if, that's it. That bothers me in terms of how the best teams, or any team can game plan Vs us with their 'D' knowing our running game is 'on the Fritz'.

The Packers are a good team and could be very good but they are like all the top teams. They must find balance; have some good luck and not be beyond real hope due to adversity that takes down our star players. Aaron Rodgers is huge. WE lose him and we're toast.

3.

I saw the NY Giants play like Grizzley Bears tonight and showed the Sunday night NFL audience TEN SACKS Vs da Bears. The Bears couldn't hold the Giants fine running game that was in gear this evening. THat surprized me as I bet Bears. Well actually I take that back. Nothing surprizes me in NFL games this season. Nothing is a given in terms of matchups. It's been a real eye opener so far in terms of trying to do analysis. Your either a good or bad guesser.

It's too early to determine which teams are the best this season, based on what I'm seeing so far. The Bears may be 'just pretenders'. Let's let it all ride out for another five or six weeks.

The cream needs to rise to the top. That 'a time thing'.

GO PACKERS!

[Bretsky]

BUMPEDY BUMP BUMP BUMP

I NEVER THOUGHT THIS THREAD WOULD BE RELEVANT

Anybody think Julius Peppers was not a great free agent signing if they had the money ?
It also looks like Jay Cutler was worth two first round draft picks; over the last few weeks he's playing just as good as AROD

And the DAM SPECIAL TEAMS

The Bears win two or three gams because of them and the Packers lose two to three games becasuse of them

I'm not sure many took this thread serious.........I didn't either.......if more would of I think we'd have some MEA CULPA's DUE

[Joemailman]

It also looks like Jay Cutler was worth two first round draft picks; over the last few weeks he's playing just as good as AROD.

2 first round picks plus a third, plus Kyle Orton who is playing as well as Cutler despite being on a bad team. He'll have to play well for more than a few weeks before that trade can be considered a good one.

[HarveyWallbangers]

It also looks like Jay Cutler was worth two first round draft picks; over the last few weeks he's playing just as good as AROD

Cutler = 90 of 147 (61%) for 1062 yards (7.2 avg) with 10 TDs and 3 interceptions, 120 yards, sacked 14 times, and 2 lost fumbles. The Bears have played Buffalo, Minnesota, Miami, Philadelphia, and Detroit

Rodgers = 111 of 164 (68%) for 1402 yards (8.5 avg) with 12 TDs (1 rushing) and 0 interceptions, 157 yards rushing, sacked 11 times, and 1 lost fumble. The Packers have played the Jets, Dallas, Minnesota, Atlanta, and San Francisco.

[pbmax]

Given the age of the Bears DEs last year (and the fact that two of them are gone I think), they had a huge hole in their defense. But at $20 million for a year (and $22 million more in guarantees if he is under contract next year) means that they need to win this year or face declining returns/increasing cost.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/03/08/bears-can-pull-the-plug-on-peppers-after-one-year/

[HarveyWallbangers]

Not really sure what the comment about trading for Cutler and signing Peppers is for. I'd say the Packers are more talented, but they didn't stay healthy. They still might win the division. Do you think the Bears would be close to winning the division if they had the injuries we had? As for Cutler being worth two 1sts + a 3rd + Orton, I'd rather have Rodgers for a 1st (he's better anyways) and save the other 1st and 3rd. Peppers is their Woodson. Personally, I don't think Peppers is made for the 3-4. Sure, he's a good athlete, but I don't think he'd offer the all around skills to be an elite 3-4 OLB like Matthews and Harrison. I think teams would take advantage of him in coverage--like what happened to Aaron Kampman. I don't think he would be bad (just like I didn't think Kampman was bad), but I don't think he would have been worth the money for us and our scheme.

BTW, Cutler has done well this year. Not sure he's worth what they gave up for him. We'll see how his career goes. Peppers has been good. Most importantly for the Bears though is that Urlacher and Briggs have stayed healthy and Hester is back on returns. They've always been a pretty good team when they have that combination clicking.

[Zool]

2 first round picks plus a third, plus Kyle Orton who is playing as well as Cutler despite being on a bad team. He'll have to play well for more than a few weeks before that trade can be considered a good one.

Actually there's been a big old HONK sound coming from Orton this weekend.

9/28 117 yards, but yes before that he's had a good season.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Bretsky, my friend, you have impeccable timing. You just crowned Cutler and the Bears after they beat the Lions. Their next 4 games are Pats, Jets, Packers, and the Vikings. This has a lot of bump potential in a few weeks.

[Bretsky]

Bretsky, my friend, you have impeccable timing. You just crowned Cutler and the Bears after they beat the Lions. Their next 4 games are Pats, Jets, Packers, and the Vikings. This has a lot of bump potential in a few weeks.

Bretsky loves pot stirring during boring times; we have a bye next week.

But I still think the original topic has credence

At minimum most of us in here underestimated the Bears. We might have overestimated GB but I'm not sure we did.
But Da Bears are better dan we thought they were IMO

[Bretsky]

Bretsky, my friend, you have impeccable timing. You just crowned Cutler and the Bears after they beat the Lions. Their next 4 games are Pats, Jets, Packers, and the Vikings. This has a lot of bump potential in a few weeks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAN9ORwsiVA