Packers/Bears Leadup

[MickeyDavis]

We'll discuss the game here and start a game thread Thursday afternoon. Let's keep the upcoming roster moves in the offseason thread and limit this thread to the Bears game.

Lane Taylor named starter.

Bears favored by 3.

[Profound23]

must win

[Turk Nowitzki]

Please don't let Khalil Mack murder Rodgers.

[MickeyDavis]

I wouldn't be surprised if Chicago picks up an offensive player or two that we waive tomorrow in order to get some insight into our new playbook.

[humanrefutation]

I think the Bears are going to come back down to earth this year.

[rilamann]

So the first time Rodgers steps on a football field in 8 months, playing in a new offense, will be against the Bear's defense on the road in a game that counts. Great, this one doesn't have Long night for the Packers written all over it.

[rilamann]

I think the Bears are going to come back down to earth this year.

I totally disagree.

With Matt Nagy having a year under his belt and with Kahlil Mack not joining the team 10 minutes before kickoff of week 1 like he did last season and having a full off-season and training camp with the Bears, I think they're going be better this season. Plus, I just have a hard time betting against a football team whose defense is lead by Kahlil Mack. I also wouldn't bet against the Bears winning the NFC if they get HFA, the last thing teams like the Rams and Saints want to see is that Bear's defense at solider field in frigid January.

[humanrefutation]

I think the Bears are going to come back down to earth this year.

I totally disagree.

With Matt Nagy having a year under his belt and with Kahlil Mack not joining the team 10 minutes before kickoff of week 1 like he did last season and having a full off-season and training camp with the Bears, I think they're going be better this season. Plus, I just have a hard time betting against a football team whose defense is lead by Kahlil Mack. I also wouldn't bet against the Bears winning the NFC if they get HFA, the last thing teams like the Rams and Saints want to see is that Bear's defense at solider field in frigid January.

Their defense had an unsustainably high number of turnovers last year, a number that's likely to regress this season. They also lost their defensive coordinator with his replacement running an entirely different scheme, which almost always results in a team taking a step back. When you factor in the fact that their offense was pretty subpar last year, even with an improved Trubisky, it's likely that a small amount of defensive regression coupled with that offense ends up around a .500 team, and perhaps a bit worse if Trubisky doesn't take another leap. That doesn't even factor in a more difficult schedule .

[MickeyDavis]

So the first time Rodgers steps on a football field in 8 months, playing in a new offense, will be against the Bear's defense on the road in a game that counts. Great, this one doesn't have Long night for the Packers written all over it.

The past 3 years he has thrown 4, 9 and 9 passes in the preseason. I get that the offense is new but playing a handful of snaps in a preseason game isn't going to make a difference.

[jimmybones]

I think the Bears are going to come back down to earth this year.

I totally disagree.

With Matt Nagy having a year under his belt and with Kahlil Mack not joining the team 10 minutes before kickoff of week 1 like he did last season and having a full off-season and training camp with the Bears, I think they're going be better this season. Plus, I just have a hard time betting against a football team whose defense is lead by Kahlil Mack. I also wouldn't bet against the Bears winning the NFC if they get HFA, the last thing teams like the Rams and Saints want to see is that Bear's defense at solider field in frigid January.

He’s damn good but that feels extreme to say about any outside linebacker.

[Mags FTW]

I think the Bears are going to come back down to earth this year.

I totally disagree.

With Matt Nagy having a year under his belt and with Kahlil Mack not joining the team 10 minutes before kickoff of week 1 like he did last season and having a full off-season and training camp with the Bears, I think they're going be better this season. Plus, I just have a hard time betting against a football team whose defense is lead by Kahlil Mack. I also wouldn't bet against the Bears winning the NFC if they get HFA, the last thing teams like the Rams and Saints want to see is that Bear's defense at solider field in frigid January.

He’s damn good but that feels extreme to say about any outside linebacker.

Yeah, you would've made some pretty good coin betting against the Raiders when Mack was leading their defense.

[trwi7]

rilamann thinks so highly of Khalil Mack that he doesn't even spell his name right.

[humanrefutation]

We've seen this Bears playbook before. They have one really good year defensively and have a playoff run, and then take a step back as their defense regresses and their QB play doesn't improve. In the last 20 years, they've only had back-to-back double digit win seasons one time. They've regressed every other time.

That is not to say that past failures guarantee future ones. They could buck the trend, but unless they get a big step up from Trubisky, they're likely to be worse this year.

That's why the biggest question for their future prospects is Trubisky. Does anyone here believe in him?

[rilamann]

So the first time Rodgers steps on a football field in 8 months, playing in a new offense, will be against the Bear's defense on the road in a game that counts. Great, this one doesn't have Long night for the Packers written all over it.

The past 3 years he has thrown 4, 9 and 9 passes in the preseason. I get that the offense is new but playing a handful of snaps in a preseason game isn't going to make a difference.

Normally I would agree with you, Whatever, it's Aaron Rodgers, he'll be fine. But in a new offense against an elite defense, I think it's going to be a problem. We'll see, I hope I am wrong.

[rilamann]

I think the Bears are going to come back down to earth this year.

I totally disagree.

With Matt Nagy having a year under his belt and with Kahlil Mack not joining the team 10 minutes before kickoff of week 1 like he did last season and having a full off-season and training camp with the Bears, I think they're going be better this season. Plus, I just have a hard time betting against a football team whose defense is lead by Kahlil Mack. I also wouldn't bet against the Bears winning the NFC if they get HFA, the last thing teams like the Rams and Saints want to see is that Bear's defense at solider field in frigid January.

Their defense had an unsustainably high number of turnovers last year, a number that's likely to regress this season. They also lost their defensive coordinator with his replacement running an entirely different scheme, which almost always results in a team taking a step back. When you factor in the fact that their offense was pretty subpar last year, even with an improved Trubisky, it's likely that a small amount of defensive regression coupled with that offense ends up around a .500 team, and perhaps a bit worse if Trubisky doesn't take another leap. That doesn't even factor in a more difficult schedule .

I would agree with you if the Bears had so-so talent defensively and simply took advantage of some fluky/opportunistic turnovers last season. That wasn't the case, the Bears are stacked on the defensive end. Maybe they won't get as many turnovers and maybe they won't be as good, but when I look at their roster, I just don't see how they suddenly fall off and the Bears win less than 10 games. Coordinator wise, I think they'll be fine with Pagano. He's a solid defensive coach and he has a lot of talent to work with.

As for Trubisky, he's solid and with their defense, that's all they really need him to be. As long as he doesn't make a lot of dumb mistakes they should be fine. I think Trubisky and the Bear's offense overall will be improved in year 2 of Matt Nagy.

[rilamann]

I totally disagree.

With Matt Nagy having a year under his belt and with Kahlil Mack not joining the team 10 minutes before kickoff of week 1 like he did last season and having a full off-season and training camp with the Bears, I think they're going be better this season. Plus, I just have a hard time betting against a football team whose defense is lead by Kahlil Mack. I also wouldn't bet against the Bears winning the NFC if they get HFA, the last thing teams like the Rams and Saints want to see is that Bear's defense at solider field in frigid January.

He’s damn good but that feels extreme to say about any outside linebacker.

Yeah, you would've made some pretty good coin betting against the Raiders when Mack was leading their defense.

To Jimmybones' post. Yes, Khalil Mack (thanks Twirl) is really that good. One of only a small handful of guys I have seen, who isn't a QB, who can completely take over a game.

To Mags' point. You wouldn't have won much coin when Khalil Mack was in Oakland if Mack was leading a defense with guys like Akiem Hicks, Eddie Jackson, Roquan Smith, Kyle Fuller, Danny Trevathan, Eddie Goldman. Or if Derek Carr hadn't got hurt in 2016.

Of course you can bet against Mack and win, I just wouldn't feel good about my odds is what I am saying. Just like Aaron Rodgers, I would have hard time betting against Aaron Rodgers in a given game,even right now, but doing so you would have made you a **** ton of money over the past 10 years, mostly thanks to Mike McCarthy. Like I always used to say, never bet against Aaron Rodgers, unless he is coached by Mike McCarthy.

[MickeyDavis]

So the first time Rodgers steps on a football field in 8 months, playing in a new offense, will be against the Bear's defense on the road in a game that counts. Great, this one doesn't have Long night for the Packers written all over it.

The past 3 years he has thrown 4, 9 and 9 passes in the preseason. I get that the offense is new but playing a handful of snaps in a preseason game isn't going to make a difference.

Normally I would agree with you, Whatever, it's Aaron Rodgers, he'll be fine. But in a new offense against an elite defense, I think it's going to be a problem. We'll see, I hope I am wrong.

I agree that a new offense against the Bears defense will probably struggle. I just don't think that a few preseason snaps would make a difference. And playing more than a few snaps is too risky.

[PintSizedBox10]

I’m glad we’re starting out the season against the Bears defense. We won’t face a better unit throughout the season so it’ll be a nice challenge right off the bat.

It’s really hard for me to even judge this current squad we have right now. I wouldn’t be shocked if we got blown out or somehow won big. Should be a fun game though.

[0BobLobLaw0]

Is ficken their kicker yet?

[FAH1223]

Please don't let Khalil Mack murder Rodgers.

Can't be worse than Week 1 2018, right? these guys better not fook up..