NFL Week 20

[joeyl]

Oh BTW Bears fans are going to hire the best Voodoo person in 'Nawlins to put a hex on Brees and make him channel

AARON BROOKS

That was wrong but like Gard said: the person he reminds me most of is Rex: slow moving in the pocket, slow enough to get monster hits and get stripped of the ball, bad decisions and every once in a while does a big passing play when all the planets aligned perfectly.

all I can say is that my grill will be ready to go, come 1pm on Sunday.

 

[jive1]

The key on the Bears D will be the SS position. Ever since Mike Brown got hurt, the Bears D hasn't been the same dominant unit it once was. In the SEA game, Chris Harris missed tackles and was out of position way too much. The result is that Shaun got 1st downs running up the middle. Harris either needs to step up his run support, or Todd Johnson needs to get back in the game and step up. McAllister and Bush will be difficult for the safeties to contain, but luckily we have speedy LBs.

On the flip-side, the key to the offense will be the running game. The O-line needs to be able to get the push they did against SEA to get yards for Benson and Jones. If they can exploit the Saints weakness in this regard, they can not only score points, but they keep the potent Saints offense off the field. Keep the pressure off of Rex, and wear down the D so that Grossman can make a couple of big plays.

It's a good matchup in many respects.
- The Bears have a strong D-line, even without Tommie Harris and they will be taking on NO's solid "who dat" O-line.
- Bears have some solid DBs who are gonna go against NO's surpisingly good WRs. Horn will probably still be out, which helps us. Colston is a great WR, but the Bears have something that most other teams don't have. A big physical CB in Tillman. Henderson is quick, but so is Vasher. The pickup of Manning Jr. to play nickel definitely helps in this scenario since Bush could move to WR, or because NO uses many 3 receiver sets.
- NO doesn't have a great secondary, and they are susceptible to the big play. Berrian is an untouted player, but the guy is FAST, and Fred Thomas won't be able to keep up with him. Rasheid has found ways to get open, and the Saints don't have a great nickel corner. If Grossman is on his game, the Saints could have a tough time.
- Bears have a solid O-line, and the Saints D-line seems to be resurging. I think much of this game will be determined at the line-of-scrimmage.
- Deuce and Bush are a tough runners to defend, but Briggs and Urlacher are two of the most athletic LBs in the game. Should be a great matchup to watch.


It's gonna be a good game, and I for one am glad it's on Hallowed Ground instead the Dome.

 

[Kelly Lee]

I have a lot of respect for that Colts team. They are my pick to win the Superbowl as of now...The Colts will Triumph.

I know that was painful Page. Your therapy is coming along quite nicely. Just keep taking baby steps.

Page, I remember when the Colts couldn't beat the Broncos to save their lives. Things tend to cycle in the NFL so I'm sure it won't be long before they whip up on the Colts. The Broncos will be stronger this coming year so who knows.

 

[jazzbo]

Saints v. Colts

 

[Robear22]

Saints v. Colts

Short and to the point!!!!



Like I said before and what Jive has pointed out also is this. If the Bears can run, and I don't mean big gains like over 30 yards but 4 yards here and 5 yards there, the NO offense is on the sideline.

The Bears will try to limit the big play on D and when they get in the REDZONE limit NO to field goals. If they do these two things then they have a good chance to win. Unlike most teams, Urlacher and Briggs play alot of the nickel package and they have speed to cover. This will come down to which line wins the battle.

That is a big if though because as they say anything can happen on Sunday.

 

[clavefa]

That was wrong but like Gard said: the person he reminds me most of is Rex: slow moving in the pocket, slow enough to get monster hits and get stripped of the ball, bad decisions and every once in a while does a big passing play when all the planets aligned perfectly.

all I can say is that my grill will be ready to go, come 1pm on Sunday.

While all the hype is given to the 3 obivious go to guys, no mention is made of the others: Horn..is old and banged up,
Henderson although a speedster can't catch. Then theres Karney who had a great game against the C-Boys, but other than that is a blocker.
It'll be very interesting to see how Bush's running style does on a soggy turf, which could negate his cutting ability.

The Bears have 3 good backs we forget Peterson,
and 2 TE's that can catch pretty good, also i'm hearing that they'll prolly employ the 2 TE set to help block those DE's who are pretty good.

the person he reminds me most of is Rex: slow moving in the pocket, slow enough to get monster hits and get stripped of the ball, bad decisions and every once in a while does a big passing play when all the planets aligned perfectly

.

Brooks was slow? r u sure your remember seeing play
Bad decisions yes... slow he was not.

 

[MJ5150]

I think we would all agree that on paper the Saints have the better offense, and the Bears have the better defense. Agreed?

In that case, the Bears win. I know these things.

In the playoffs last year, every team the Steelers played had a better offense than Pittsburgh. In all of those games, Pittsburgh had the better defense. We all know how last season turned out.

-Mike

 

[Sundogue]

Brooks was slow? r u sure your remember seeing play
Bad decisions yes... slow he was not.

Right you are. Brooks is a better QB than Grossman.

 

[Sundogue]

OK, just got this one from a buddy in Baton Rouge (he's a TBer, but not very active), and it seemed appropos for this thread:

Boudreaux & the Devil...Boudreaux, still shivering says, "The Saints done won the Superbowl!"

That was funny.

Headline in the papers, the day after SB..."Hell Freezes Over!"

 

[clavefa]

Right you are. Brooks is a better QB than Grossman.

 

[Gard]

Right you are. Brooks is a better QB than Grossman.

Now that's just mean.

 

[SomecallmeTim]

I think we would all agree that on paper the Saints have the better offense, and the Bears have the better defense. Agreed?

In that case, the Bears win. I know these things.
-Mike

I'd be right with you if I thought that this was a matchup between a great defense and a great offense. The only problem with that is, while I'm ready to call the Saints' offense great, the Chicago defense didn't look much more than decent against Seattle last week. Maybe that's just a little rust getting worn off, or maybe they're not that dominant without Brown and Harris. I'm leaning toward the latter, at the moment. Shockingly, I have picked football games incorrectly in the past, though, so Bears fans shouldn't be too upset.

 

[MJ5150]

I'd be right with you if I thought that this was a matchup between a great defense and a great offense.

I don't think either are "great" at the moment.

The Saints offense can approach the greatness of the Colts offense if they all stay together for a couple more years.

The Bears defense was great until some injuries got the better of them.

-Mike

 

[wolfs]

Nowhere did you read that I thought the game was in the bag.I also believe it will be close . Being a huge Bear fan I'm really nervous about this game.Chicago will have to step it up a notch to win.There were some posters though that seemed to be giving the Bears no chance at all against the mighty Saints and I don't believe that to be the case.

then how do you explain this statement:

Do any of you guys that are so high on the Saints really watch any games?

are you saying now that you weren't trying to be insulting? because, i'm not really buying it...

 

[Gard]

then how do you explain this statement:



are you saying now that you weren't trying to be insulting? because, i'm not really buying it...

Indeed, because I HAVE watched quite a few games this year, mostly Saints of course, but Bears when I can.

That's PART of why I'm pickin' the Saints to win this game.

I'll also admit that there is a bit of "homerism" involved, but that's not it. I'm not blind to the fact that the Bears are GOOD.

I just don't think they're GOOD ENOUGH....not to beat the Saints - not in the 'dome, not in the saucer; not inside, not out in the weather; not on turf, not on grass.

 

[joeyl]

While all the hype is given to the 3 obivious go to guys, no mention is made of the others: Horn..is old and banged up,
Henderson although a speedster can't catch. Then theres Karney who had a great game against the C-Boys, but other than that is a blocker.
It'll be very interesting to see how Bush's running style does on a soggy turf, which could negate his cutting ability.

The Bears have 3 good backs we forget Peterson,
and 2 TE's that can catch pretty good, also i'm hearing that they'll prolly employ the 2 TE set to help block those DE's who are pretty good.


.

Brooks was slow? r u sure your remember seeing play
Bad decisions yes... slow he was not.

yeah he was quick only the first year he was at NO, then he started becoming slow and hesitant. Most of his third down plays either resulted in yards lost or intentional grounding.

 

[wolfs]

Indeed, because I HAVE watched quite a few games this year, mostly Saints of course, but Bears when I can.

That's PART of why I'm pickin' the Saints to win this game.

I'll also admit that there is a bit of "homerism" involved, but that's not it. I'm not blind to the fact that the Bears are GOOD.

I just don't think they're GOOD ENOUGH....not to beat the Saints - not in the 'dome, not in the saucer; not inside, not out in the weather; not on turf, not on grass.

well, i certainly have nothing invested in a saints victory... i'm just trying to call the game as i see it unfolding.

as i said before, i think either it will be an exciting game and probably go down to the wire... i think both matchups will. and if both go to the wire i like brees and manning right now to take their teams to victory.

i just want to make it clear that i'm basing my picks on all the football i've watched this season which includes a lot of saints and a lot of the bears with a good helping of the colts and pats as well.

 

[wolfs]

Brooks was slow? r u sure your remember seeing play
Bad decisions yes... slow he was not.

i think gard was talking about pocket presence which brooks lost some time in 2004-5.

is it just me or does trent green look like he lost pocket presence too? i'm mostly basing it on the playoff game against the colts since i only saw a couple of other chiefs games this season...

 

[tr68gt]

Superbowl '85 rematch
Bears vs. Patriots

The Bears get revenge for the regular season loss.

At least that's the way it played out in my head.

(I could be a bit biased)

 

[wolfs]

I think we would all agree that on paper the Saints have the better offense, and the Bears have the better defense. Agreed?

In that case, the Bears win. I know these things.

In the playoffs last year, every team the Steelers played had a better offense than Pittsburgh. In all of those games, Pittsburgh had the better defense. We all know how last season turned out.

definitely taking defense is a sound policy... i just didn't see enough bears domination against the seahawks last week to feel that they have a huge edge over the saints offense. big plays at big moments? yeah, a couple... especially that stuff by lance briggs on fourth down. they have the potential to dominate this game on that side of the ball... they have the talent. i just don't think they will...

i do like the matchups of both offense lines against both defensive lines. i don't think you'll see either club dominate the line of scrimmage, more of a back and forth.

anyway, it'll be a good game. very much looking forward to it.