NFC Playoff Discussion - Bears Clinch Bye/Alive For 1st Seed

[WEFFPIM]

1. Atlanta (12-3 - clinches NFC South/1st seed with win over Carolina)
2. Chicago (11-4 - NFC North Champion; clinched bye week in Round 1 - clinches 1st seed with win in Green Bay AND losses by Atlanta and New Orleans)
3. Philadelphia (10-5 - NFC East champion; locked into 3rd seed)
4. St. Louis (7-8 - clinches NFC West with win in Seattle)
5. New Orleans (11-4 - clinches playoff berth - clinches NFC South/1st seed with win over Tampa Bay and Atlanta loss)
6. Green Bay (9-6 - clinches playoff berth with win over Chicago OR losses by New York and Tampa Bay)
7. New York (9-6 - clinches playoff berth win win at Washington AND a Green Bay loss)
8. Tampa Bay (9-6 - clinches playoff berth with win over New Orleans AND losses by New York and Green Bay)
9. Seattle (6-9 - clinches NFC West with win over St. Louis)

[The Explorer]

Bears will face the Saints (after they beat the Rams) if they hold on to the 2 spot. It would be a tough match up, but I would like their chances. Saints have not played well at Soldier Field in recent years.

If the Bears lose next week, they would have to play the Packers in the first round match up. I wouldn't like their chances against the Packers.

I just want the Bears to win one playoff game.

[dingojazz]

Beat Green Bay, who knows the Falcons could lose their last 2 and get the Bears the 1 seed. I'd hate to play Green Bay back to back, which will almost certainly happen if we lose in Green Bay this Sunday.

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

Beat Green Bay, who knows the Falcons could lose their last 2 and get the Bears the 1 seed. I'd hate to play Green Bay back to back, which will almost certainly happen if we lose in Green Bay this Sunday.

The Eagles still would have to win their last two games. Yeah, I know that they play the Vikings & Cowboys, but anything can happen in the NFL.

Everyone seems to forget that we beat the Packers earlier this season & have played them well during the Lovie Smith Era. I don't fear them or any other team in the NFC playoffs. We have just as good a chance as anyone else. GO BEARS!!!!!

[The Explorer]

Beat Green Bay, who knows the Falcons could lose their last 2 and get the Bears the 1 seed. I'd hate to play Green Bay back to back, which will almost certainly happen if we lose in Green Bay this Sunday.

The Eagles still would have to win their last two games. Yeah, I know that they play the Vikings & Cowboys, but anything can happen in the NFL.

Everyone seems to forget that we beat the Packers earlier this season & have played them well during the Lovie Smith Era. I don't fear them or any other team in the NFC playoffs. We have just as good a chance as anyone else. GO BEARS!!!!!

Yes, but the Bears defense has given up something around 90 points the last 3 games (forgot exact number). While the Packers passing game has been ridiculous in that same span. The Bears defense has fallen off here, they better fix it before they are one and done.

[CjayC]

The Packers are actually more injured right now, than when we played them months ago, but they have improved. Specifically their defense, and of course Rodgers has been lights out.

Tough, but its a winnable game. There is not a more up and down team than the Green Bay Packers IMO. High-highs(Giants), and low-lows(Detroit). I think we'll have a decent game against them though, as long as we hold on to the ball. The last 4 meetings between the 2 teams have been decided by a single score.

The Packers did not open up that can of whoop ass on the Giants until the Giants started making careless turnovers. They were actually in that game before they started turning the ball over, but that's what happens when you give Aaron Rodgers a short field to work with. The Giants were stupidly in man coverage a lot, and were being burned. The Packers have arguably the best group of receivers in the NFL. It is flat out dumb to play man against them because they will burn you eventually. Its hard to keep up with those explosive receivers in man coverage for very long. That's why you play zone and prevent the big play, and make them drive down the field to score on you. And if they can drive 70 or 80 yards to score on you they deserve it. If we get Rodgers to check it down enough, eventually he'll want to start taking chances, and that is where they'll be prone to mistakes.

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

The Packers are actually more injured right now, than when we played them months ago, but they have improved. Specifically their defense, and of course Rodgers has been lights out.

Tough, but its a winnable game. There is not a more up and down team than the Green Bay Packers IMO. High-highs(Giants), and low-lows(Detroit). I think we'll have a decent game against them though, as long as we hold on to the ball. The last 4 meetings between the 2 teams have been decided by a single score.

The Packers did not open up that can of whoop ass on the Giants until the Giants started making careless turnovers. They were actually in that game before they started turning the ball over, but that's what happens when you give Aaron Rodgers a short field to work with. The Giants were stupidly in man coverage a lot, and were being burned. If we get Rodgers to check it down enough, eventually he'll want to start taking chances, and that is where they'll be prone to mistakes.

THIS.

[WEFFPIM]

Well, that was really, really unexpected. Bears have at least the two spot, so bye week clinched. Can get the 1st seed with Atlanta loss to Carolina and a New Orleans loss to Tampa Bay. Both of those games are at noon, so the Bears will know if anything is at stake by kickoff Sunday.

A lot to ask for, but did anyone expect the Vikings to win? Anything can happen. I'm just glad Sunday's game will be a little less important now.

[SportsWorld]

Relieved we don't have to play the Packers 2 weeks in a row!

[emperorjones]

I would not have bet $1 on the Eagles losing that game. That is a huge choke! Huge!

[mattbulls]

:rockon:

I would not have bet $1 on the Eagles losing that game. That is a huge choke! Huge!

They played like wusses.

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

Hate to say that I told you so, but if you look above you will see that I TOLD YOU SO.

[Tbone23]

Teams are seeing what it takes to beat Vick. Blitz a corner or safety from his blind side and hit him. Repeatedly.

He starts to resemble that poor decision-making QB from the Falcons.

He is still an imensely talented guy who can beat you in many ways, but he is not as invincible as he looked earlier in the year.

Regardless, I'm glad that the Bears have the bye and that they won't be facing the Packers in the playoffs anytime soon. They are an extremely dangerous team and Aaron Rodgers is the best QB in the NFC. I would take my chances with the Saints.

[Ebone29]

As bad as the defense has played, the offense has been pretty consistent lately. I heard a lot of people saying there was a simple formula to beating the Bears, but if that were the case, they would not be 11-4 and vying for a 1 seed. I personally didn't think any new coaches/coordinators would get this much production out of basically the same players, but I was proven wrong.

Martz and Tice have shown they were worth the hire. I don't know who to give more kudo's too, because they both did the unexpected. Martz - toned down his antics and brought some balance to a stagnant offense. Tice - brought together unproven/untested/underdeveloped players and its working - very well.

If the offense can put up 24+ pts a week, our defense will do the rest. There's no "dominant" defense anymore. Not the Ravens, the Steelers, the Jets - no one is totally Dominant like the 85 Bears and "Steel Curtain" Steelers these days. I'll take my chances with a defense that has Peppers, Urlacher and Briggs any day of the week.

[mattbulls]

Tbone and Ebone? Do you know each other?

[Tbone23]

We Cousins.

[SportsWorld]

http://www.orangemane.com/BB/showthread.php?t=95858

[CjayC]

I've been reading that thread for a while now, and a lot of Broncos fans are delusional. I can't believe some people call him a game manager, and say stuff like he just plays not to lose the game.