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Originally posted by who:

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Originally posted by Goalline:

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The Bears were the hungry team, at least in the second half. The unbeaten Packers were supposedly ready to move to a higher level this season. Uh uh. Sorry, not ready yet. Not tough enough. The Bears out-toughed them. Landry would understand.

I buy this quote.

I don't. I think the Bears were extremely fortunate to get a ton of turnovers. How many times do people hit arms or air when they're trying to punch out footballs, and never hit the footballs? Like, what?, 80% of the time? They did it three times! And then Favre threw one of his dumbest passes in recent memory. Those aren't about toughness at all. Throw in our unbelievable ability to have penalties at the worst times, and a couple bad calls by the refs, and I just don't see really anything about toughness at all. People did see that Driver almost had that last touchdown, right? So, if he comes down with that, then the Bears haven't out-toughed us? It's pretty silly.

quote:

Originally posted by BearNDesert:

The Bears aren't a tougher team than the Pack; however, I DO think they're a more confidant team. I don't think the Pack, even at 4-1, are quite sure just how good they are. (Even Favre, the seasoned Pro, has said as much in interviews.)

Like it or not, the Bears are reigning NFC champs, while most of the staff and many key players for the Packers weren't even on the team when you won the division in 2004. Your team, from the coaches down to the players, have to learn how to win tough games like that.

The good news is, it'll come...probably this season. I remember the Bears were in the midst of a pretty good season in 2005 (beating poor teams like the Saints and Lions, while losing to then-quality teams like the Bengals and Redskins), but it wasn't until their game against the Panthers (NOT the playoff game ), where they completely dominated a 7-2 team predicted by many to return to the Super Bowl, that I noticed a palpable change in the team's attitude. It was their signature game and, from that point on, they played with a swagger and confidance that, despite the current team's flaws, continues to this day.

When will the Pack have their "signature game"? My crystal ball says Thursday, November 29th at Dallas .

B-N-D

PS: It amazes me how many people still equate the Bears' ability to get turnovers as "fortunate". That's been the team's M.O. since Lovie got here in 2004. They practice the strip constantly and any ball that hits the ground in practice, even an incomplete pass, is considered "live" and is expected to be pounced upon or returned. That's why you'll see our punter making an athletic play to recover a fumble--it's not luck.

quote:

Originally posted by BearNDesert:

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Originally posted by who:

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Originally posted by Goalline:

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The Bears were the hungry team, at least in the second half. The unbeaten Packers were supposedly ready to move to a higher level this season. Uh uh. Sorry, not ready yet. Not tough enough. The Bears out-toughed them. Landry would understand.

I buy this quote.

I don't. I think the Bears were extremely fortunate to get a ton of turnovers. How many times do people hit arms or air when they're trying to punch out footballs, and never hit the footballs? Like, what?, 80% of the time? They did it three times! And then Favre threw one of his dumbest passes in recent memory. Those aren't about toughness at all. Throw in our unbelievable ability to have penalties at the worst times, and a couple bad calls by the refs, and I just don't see really anything about toughness at all. People did see that Driver almost had that last touchdown, right? So, if he comes down with that, then the Bears haven't out-toughed us? It's pretty silly.

The Bears aren't a tougher team than the Pack; however, I DO think they're a more confidant team. I don't think the Pack, even at 4-1, are quite sure just how good they are. (Even Favre, the seasoned Pro, has said as much in interviews.)

Like it or not, the Bears are reigning NFC champs, while most of the staff and many key players for the Packers weren't even on the team when you won the division in 2004. Your team, from the coaches down to the players, have to learn how to win tough games like that.

The good news is, it'll come...probably this season. I remember the Bears were in the midst of a pretty good season in 2005 (beating poor teams like the Saints and Lions, while losing to then-quality teams like the Bengals and Redskins), but it wasn't until their game against the Panthers (NOT the playoff game ), where they completely dominated a 7-2 team predicted by many to return to the Super Bowl, that I noticed a palpable change in the team's attitude. It was their signature game and, from that point on, they played with a swagger and confidance that, despite the current team's flaws, continues to this day.

When will the Pack have their "signature game"? My crystal ball says Thursday, November 29th at Dallas .

B-N-D

PS: It amazes me how many people still equate the Bears' ability to get turnovers as "fortunate". That's been the team's M.O. since Lovie got here in 2004. They practice the strip constantly and any ball that hits the ground in practice, even an incomplete pass, is considered "live" and is expected to be pounced upon or returned. That's why you'll see our punter making an athletic play to recover a fumble--it's not luck.

quote:

Originally posted by who:

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Originally posted by BearNDesert:

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Originally posted by who:

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Originally posted by Goalline:

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The Bears were the hungry team, at least in the second half. The unbeaten Packers were supposedly ready to move to a higher level this season. Uh uh. Sorry, not ready yet. Not tough enough. The Bears out-toughed them. Landry would understand.

I buy this quote.

I don't. I think the Bears were extremely fortunate to get a ton of turnovers. How many times do people hit arms or air when they're trying to punch out footballs, and never hit the footballs? Like, what?, 80% of the time? They did it three times! And then Favre threw one of his dumbest passes in recent memory. Those aren't about toughness at all. Throw in our unbelievable ability to have penalties at the worst times, and a couple bad calls by the refs, and I just don't see really anything about toughness at all. People did see that Driver almost had that last touchdown, right? So, if he comes down with that, then the Bears haven't out-toughed us? It's pretty silly.

The Bears aren't a tougher team than the Pack; however, I DO think they're a more confidant team. I don't think the Pack, even at 4-1, are quite sure just how good they are. (Even Favre, the seasoned Pro, has said as much in interviews.)

Like it or not, the Bears are reigning NFC champs, while most of the staff and many key players for the Packers weren't even on the team when you won the division in 2004. Your team, from the coaches down to the players, have to learn how to win tough games like that.

The good news is, it'll come...probably this season. I remember the Bears were in the midst of a pretty good season in 2005 (beating poor teams like the Saints and Lions, while losing to then-quality teams like the Bengals and Redskins), but it wasn't until their game against the Panthers (NOT the playoff game ), where they completely dominated a 7-2 team predicted by many to return to the Super Bowl, that I noticed a palpable change in the team's attitude. It was their signature game and, from that point on, they played with a swagger and confidance that, despite the current team's flaws, continues to this day.

When will the Pack have their "signature game"? My crystal ball says Thursday, November 29th at Dallas .

B-N-D

PS: It amazes me how many people still equate the Bears' ability to get turnovers as "fortunate". That's been the team's M.O. since Lovie got here in 2004. They practice the strip constantly and any ball that hits the ground in practice, even an incomplete pass, is considered "live" and is expected to be pounced upon or returned. That's why you'll see our punter making an athletic play to recover a fumble--it's not luck.

All teams practice stripping. As well as all offenses attempt to hang on to the ball. It was lucky that three came loose, and that all three ended up in the Bears hands. Couple that with a dumb Favre pass, and twelve goddamned penalties, and the way we were running and passing at will on you, well maybe you can see why I just don't think this Bears confidence is much of anything to talk about, when you really should have been out of the game by halftime. I don't see a very good team there.

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I don't. I think the Bears were extremely fortunate to get a ton of turnovers. How many times do people hit arms or air when they're trying to punch out footballs, and never hit the footballs? Like, what?, 80% of the time? They did it three times! And then Favre threw one of his dumbest passes in recent memory. Those aren't about toughness at all. Throw in our unbelievable ability to have penalties at the worst times, and a couple bad calls by the refs, and I just don't see really anything about toughness at all. People did see that Driver almost had that last touchdown, right? So, if he comes down with that, then the Bears haven't out-toughed us? It's pretty silly.

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Originally posted by Liam:
I take a lot of comfort in the fact that the Packers aren't freaking out nearly as much as the fans and "experts".

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Originally posted by who:
The Bears have forced seven fumbles this season and recovered all seven. For comparison on how probable that is, you might look here:

NFL stats

You'll see there that Indy has forced nine fumbles but only has recovered four. You'll also notice New England has forced six fumbles and only recovered three. Dallas has forced four fumbles and recovered two.

A football doesn't know that a Chicago Bears player has stripped it, nor does it bounce into a Chicago Bears hands because Lovie Smith has taught it for years. It bounces in weird ways for everyone, but the Bears so far have been LUCKY that those balls haven't bounced out of bounds (Woodson) or simply been recovered by the opposing team on half of the times, which is the typical outcome.

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Originally posted by Music City:

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I don't. I think the Bears were extremely fortunate to get a ton of turnovers. How many times do people hit arms or air when they're trying to punch out footballs, and never hit the footballs? Like, what?, 80% of the time? They did it three times! And then Favre threw one of his dumbest passes in recent memory. Those aren't about toughness at all. Throw in our unbelievable ability to have penalties at the worst times, and a couple bad calls by the refs, and I just don't see really anything about toughness at all. People did see that Driver almost had that last touchdown, right? So, if he comes down with that, then the Bears haven't out-toughed us? It's pretty silly.

Very accurate post. They turned the ball over, lost the game as a result.

The thing that might help this team out is the fact that they might have been getting a little happy with themselves. You turn the ball over 5 times (really 4 that were part of the actual game), it's a matter of focus.

I think that the team itself is tough. They played a VERY physical game on Sunday night. Sure, the mistakes cost them, but it wasn't as if the Bears were just punching the Packers in the mouth and they were taking it. The Packers were a very physical team on Sunday.

The key is they don't have the playmakers to make mistakes in the frequency they did Sunday and expect to have a chance to win. Yeah, maybe the Cowboys do. Their offense is very good, better than the Packers'. A guy like MBIII wouls have left the entire Bears D in the dust on that opening drive run. MBIII would have had 150+ Sunday night with the holes the OL was opening. But when you have a 7th round rookie with no "house" speed, you have to take what you can get. And that means turning the ball over becomes a HUGE problem. It is a problem regardless, but without bona-fide playmakers, it becomes magnified.

So the Packers are at a point where they have to prove they can learn from their mistakes. They gave one away- shake it off, get focused again, and go out and beat Washington. I think they are more than tough enough to do that- they just can't fumble the football.

quote:

Originally posted by BearNDesert:


PS: It amazes me how many people still equate the Bears' ability to get turnovers as "fortunate". That's been the team's M.O. since Lovie got here in 2004. They practice the strip constantly and any ball that hits the ground in practice, even an incomplete pass, is considered "live" and is expected to be pounced upon or returned. That's why you'll see our punter making an athletic play to recover a fumble--it's not luck.

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Originally posted by Hungry5:
While there were many things in this game to upset a Packer fan, there was one play (after watching the game again) that kind of sticks out, at least to me.
The 1st down play after the bone-headed INT and bores TD should have been a pass, IMO. Instead McCarthy took the ball away from Favre and ran it. I don't have a big problem with the runs on 2nd and 3rd as much as the run on 1st. It's not like Favre is some wet behind the ears wide-eyed kid. I think Favre knew he threw a bad pass as soon as he let it go and the best thing would have been to come back out slinging it and take control back.


Tauscher was on with Homer this afternoon and said the O did not execute well in the 2nd half. Believe what you want, but this team is following McCarthy's lead (at least publicly) that the plays called were right and the execution is what was lacking in the 2nd half.

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Originally posted by BILL H:
many agree to the statements in the article,now the question is,is MM smart enough to not be stupid the rest of the season?we will wait and see but he seems to be a stubborn man who once committed to something will not change it if its not working,example,zone blocking,if it was that good every team would use it,not just two or three,it may be good if you have Barry Sanders but they dont.

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Originally posted by scoop:
Zimmerman is an arrogant, self-important idot.

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Originally posted by Goalline:

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Originally posted by BearNDesert:


PS: It amazes me how many people still equate the Bears' ability to get turnovers as "fortunate". That's been the team's M.O. since Lovie got here in 2004. They practice the strip constantly and any ball that hits the ground in practice, even an incomplete pass, is considered "live" and is expected to be pounced upon or returned. That's why you'll see our punter making an athletic play to recover a fumble--it's not luck.

People watching football for the first time in their lives. Turnovers are almost never the cause of LUCK.

Who, the Packers turned over the ball NOT because the Bears were lucky, but rather because the Packers were careless with the ball. The lack of mental concentration or toughness to protect the ball. The lack of Nick Collins to protect his position as the last line of defense or the lack of mental toughness.

This team plays a sound football game and they blow out the Bears.