What made you laugh? Dolphins versus Jets is a great rivalry in a hard-fought division. It’s a key game with first place as the prize.
Bobby c’mon it’s week 3.
Sports talk people had Taylor on today and asked him if he was getting anxious about the Bills and he said, yes they have some good defensive players.
No one laughed – it was all dead serious.
Peoples sense of reality is slipping after 2 f’n games….
Bears vs. Packers
Of the moment importance: both teams 2-0, with other teams in the div 0-2.
Historical importance: the league’s longest rivalry.
Bears offense good passing game (3rd in NFL), bad running game (29th)
Packers defense good against the pass (3rd), bad agains the run (28th)
Bears vs. Packers
^rigorous response
Bears fan
ah, I see…
I know a guy who claimed to have played linebacker for a season under George Halas.
I can’t find him on a Bear’s roster – if he warmed the bench for a season, he would be there somewhere, right?
I’m dead serious too. This is the NFL my friend. It isn’t the NBA, it isn’t the MLB, and it isn’t the NHL. Every single game counts. The only sport with more dire implications for every single game is college football. In week 4 teams already start having byes and that’s it. A quarter of the season already gone in the blink of an eye. And you’re telling me that’s not important?
Look at the statistics. Teams that don’t win their first couple of games rarely make it to the playoffs. And not only does every game count, divisional games are of even more extreme importance.
If the Dolphins win they have a heck of a head start in the division. If the Jets lose, they are already in a serious hole to climb out of. Not so much because of the numbers as because of their mental state. The pressure is going to keep mounting and people are going to be dying to make them eat their words. I say they crumble if they finish the first quarter of the season with a losing record.
Bears versus Packers is going to be a great game. I didn’t think Chicago would get out of the gate so well. But the Pack win this one. They were already everybody’s early favorite to win the NFC. If they go undefeated for a little while longer people will be picking them to win the Super Bowl. And if that happens, you’ve got a young team that’s still getting better every season. In other words, a possible threat for a new dynasty.
Arizona Cardinals fan here
…thank god we play the Raiders this weekend
Arizona Cardinals fan here
…thank god we play the Raiders this weekend
Yes, if he was on the active roster I would think so.
I grew up in Chicago during the Ditka era (i.e., the “46” defense):
Disagree, especially looking at these 2 games. It is as if the pre-season meant nothing – no one seems prepared. The anxiety is because of the shorter season + injury potential, that I understand.
Like I said, after 8 games the dominate teams will stay dominate – the probability a team like Miami will keep going after 3-0 is low.
But hey, parity could become a reality, every division could wind up won 10-6.
I’ve very nearly come to the “There is no God” equivalent of NFL fandom.
Oh well. Go Ponies!
-But the Pack win this one.-
That definitely is what I would have said going into the season. I think losing Ryan Grant really hurt the Packers because it made them a much more one-dimension (i.e. passing) team. Not sure that’s going to catch up to them this week, but eventually it will.
I think the Pack has a more potent offense than Chicago, even without Grant. And I think they have a better defense too. The Pack look like the real deal.
@House: Funny, the Cowboys’ start has had the opposite effect on me. SMU grad?
Great video, Matt! I love watching aggressive defenses wreak havoc like that. The ’85 Bears were absolutely terrifying.
NFC East:
Is the offensive line the only problem in Dallas?
What do we make of the Giants chances in the division?
Will Vick give Andy Reid one last run at a Super Bowl?
Will Mike Shanahan be the latest big name coach to fail in Washington?
Yeah, I’m an SMU grad. Soooooo happy they’re finally playing well after so many years. Just hoping tonight is a competitive game.
-The Pack look like the real deal.-
Let’s see how Chicago does running the ball against them. So far this season, Green Bay’s given up 149 yards to Philly and 124 yards to Buffalo.
Is the offensive line the only problem in Dallas?
No. A big part of why the Cowboys are having a problem pass blocking—Romo has thrown 98 passes in two games, while Dallas have only run the ball 41 times. A good coaching staff is going to make adjustments to the scheme to compensate for weaknesses (pass blocking, for example). If they don’t, blame Jason Garrett.
What do we make of the Giants chances in the division?
I haven’t seen anything from the Giants to suggest that they’re significantly better than Philadelphia or Washington, and the Cowboys are either going to end up playing better the Giants or completely self-destructing, so . . .
Will Vick give Andy Reid one last run at a Super Bowl?
I’m not totally sold on Vick as a winner at quarterback, and I think that by midseason, teams will be coming up with schemes better suited to limiting him, so I’ll yes to a run, but no to making it.
Will Mike Shanahan be the latest big name coach to fail in Washington?
I think they’ll be competitive this year, and none of the other teams in the division seem especially stable.
I’m enjoying Bobby’s steering of things lately.
NFC East:
Is the offensive line the only problem in Dallas?
With this start, it can’t be. I hate them with every fiber of my being, but I still feel bad for Dallas fans I know (& that includes our own JR)
What do we make of the Giants chances in the division?
I’m a fan, and I think the Eagles have a better shot.
Will Vick give Andy Reid one last run at a Super Bowl?
I expect playoffs, possibly as division champs.
Will Mike Shanahan be the latest big name coach to fail in Washington?
Yeah, maybe acheives meidocrity or makes it a couple seasons.
Sorry that SMU got beat. I was hoping they could shake up the top 10 and make way for my Sooners.
Martz is a spread man though, so I’m not sure they will fully-exploit a running game. And Cutler’s got the best passer rating in the league. They’re gonna cut him loose (no pun intended). Anyway, this game should show us if the Bears are contenders or pretenders in the division.
Regarding the Boys, it’s interesting how Garrett is slowly but surely falling out of favor, dating back to when he got that huge payday. I agree that they should be running the ball early and often. They have the best running back trio in the league. If Jerry feels they should be running the ball too, Garrett better watch his neck.
I also agree that the Giants seem average. I don’t know that they are a playoff team this year.
I don’t know why people don’t consider Vick a winner. He’s been to the playoffs before. He can get it done. Plus he’s proving to be a pocket passer now. It’s not like he’s only running option plays and teams can now scheme for that. His sprint-outs are improvised. You can’t scheme for a player like Vick. Too much versatility and talent. The only thing you can do is buckle your chin strap and play smart. Like the cliche goes, “you can’t stop him, you can only hope to contain him.”
I like Shanahan but I think Washington is too old. I don’t think they’re built to win now and he’s better off to start rebuilding the team how he sees fit.
-Martz is a spread man though, so I’m not sure they will fully-exploit a running game.-
Right, I don’t expect them to dominate via the run or anything, but I think a playoff-caliber team has to be able to exploit the weaknessness of a given opponant rather than just living and dying by what they’re most comfortable doing. The Bears already seem to be moving toward using Greg Olson differently (more as a receiver, less as a pass blocker) than Martz has typical done, so I’m interested to see if they’re going to show any running game (Chicago is, of course, historically a running team).
-You can’t scheme for a player like Vick.-
You can if you have the right scheme, and good, fast linebackers. The Bears, for example, with Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher, have been pretty effective against him in the past.
Not a chance in the world. There are no linebackers that are as good and fast as Vick! That’s the problem. You can’t spy him because your spy isn’t likely to be half as fast as he is. If you worry about containing him he’s starting to figure out how to cut you up in the passing game. Vick is gonna be a problem for a lot of people this year. The Eagles are gonna score some serious points.
I agree that a play-off caliber team has to be balanced. As discussed, we’re going to see if Chicago is really a play-off caliber team tomorrow.
I don’t wanna seem too negative about Vick because I’m actually hoping he plays well and wins some games, but I saw the Bears do it to Michael Vick 1.0 in 2005, Bobby—13/32 passing for 122 yards and two INTs; 6 rushing attempts for 35 yards (5.833 ypc), one reception for a -14 yards. The Bears sacked Vick twice and won 16-3. So . . . it can be done. Is this version of Vick a better passing QB? If so, that might make a difference, but I wanna see how he does now that defenses will have had an opportunity to gameplan specifically against him.
Of course I’m not saying Vick is invincible in every game he plays and that he’s never had a bad outing. I’m just saying that Vick has been in the league for years and people have been game-planning against him for years. He’s not some mystery player that just came on the scene. It is what it is. There is no special scheme that can beat Vick. You just have to lace em up and outplay him.
You have to pick your poison, like with all great players. Either play the run or play the pass. Conventional wisdom has it that you want to make Vick beat you with his arm. That’s the best thing you can do, but it still doesn’t guarantee him from sneaking out of the back door if there’s nothing downfield.
I’m not buying into the Bears yet (I still think they should be 1-1). They looked fantastic against Dallas, but I never buy into Dallas no matter how talented they are.
Bears O-line looks weak and with how fantastic Clay Matthews has been playing, he should have another field day.
It is so hard to pick a winner in rivalry games. I feel like this game will be a shootout and the only way I can decide on who will win is to ask myself; who would I want in passing shootout Jay Cutler or Aaron Rodgers?
That definitely is what I would have said going into the season. I think losing Ryan Grant really hurt the Packers.
I totally agree and I’ve been biting my nails when I hear rumors of picking up Marshawn Lynch or Ahman Green. I do have to say though… John Kuhn has run very well even if only on 11 carries.
-I’m not buying into the Bears yet-
Me neither . . . and I’m saying that as a Bears fan. That said the Packers offense didn’t look all the good against the Eagles, and Rogers isn’t in the top 10 in QB rating, passing yards per game, yards per attempt, completions, or completion percentage. The defense is very good against the pass, and Matthews is looking great, but, as I said earlier, they’re near the bottom of the league statistically in rushing yards per game allowed.
The Bears defense also sacked Rodgers seven times in two games last year (and this was before Julius Peppers), so Green Bay needs to run the ball effectively, too, in order to slow down the Bears’ pass rush.
One thing I’ve noticed with Aaron is that he’s terrible in bad weather games (which scares me if they ever have a home playoff game).
In the Eagles game her threw very well until it began to rain and then you could see he lost control of his throws.
Even against the Bears last season he didn’t look himself (or maybe that was because of the Bears).
Here’s another fun stat. In two games last year Cutler was intercepted 6 times by the Packers (:P). Opening game last year everyone said it would be a high scoring game. In the end it became a battle of the better defense (which could of been different had Urlacher not been injured). Maybe this year it will be the same
Yeah, it’s going to be fun to watch regardless of the outcome.
And on that note…NFC North:
If the Bears don’t have success this year is Lovie Smith out and Mike Martz in?
Has Stafford already shown too much of a propensity for injury to be a reliable franchise QB?
Is Aaron Rodgers marked for greatness?
If the Vikes have a failed season (i.e., not reaching the conference finals) will Favre limp into retirement with his tail between his legs?
Robert W Peabody III
Barn-burners this weekend?
Dolphins vs Jets
haha that made me laugh….