Week 17: Packers @ Bears - for the season

[emperorjones]

Coverage: FOX
4:25 PM ET, December 29, 2013
Soldier Field, Chicago, IL

Green Bay Leaders
-------------------------------------------------------------
Passing: Rodgers - 168-251, 2218 yds, 15 tds
Rushing: Lacy - 263 car, 1112 yds, 10 tds
Receiving: Nelson - 75 rec, 1153 yds, 8 tds

Chicago Leaders
-------------------------------------------------------------
Passing: Cutler - 209-331, 2395 yds, 17 tds
Rushing: Forte - 267 car, 1229 yds, 7 tds
Receiving: Jeffery - 86 rec, 1341 yds, 7 tds

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fv5nu2QwLE[/youtube]

previews:

ESPN: http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/nflprevie ... =331229003
CNNSI: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/footba ... ?eref=sihp
USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/nfl/game ... 13-e.4385/
CBS Sports: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametracke ... 229_GB@CHI
Fox Sports: http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/gameTrax?g ... 0131229003


Packers Injury Report:
---------------------------------------------------------
Brad Jones Status: Inactive
Position: Linebacker
Jones (ankle) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Bears.

Andrew Quarless Status: Probable
Position: Tight End
Quarless (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against Chicago.

Ryan Taylor Status: Probable
Position: Tight End
Taylor (illness) is active for Sunday's game against Chicago.

Mike Neal Status: Probable
Position: Defensive End
Neal (abdomen) is active for Sunday's game against Chicago.

Eddie Lacy Status: Probable
Position: Running Back
Lacy (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against Chicago.

Randall Cobb Status: Probable
Position: Wide Receiver
Cobb (leg) is active for Sunday's game against Chicago.

Aaron Rodgers Status: Probable
Position: Quarterback
Rodgers (collarbone) is active and will start Sunday against Chicago.

C.J. Wilson Status: Inactive
Position: Defensive End

inactives:

JC Tretter Status: Inactive
Position: Offensive Tackle

Lane Taylor Status: Inactive
Position: Guard

Jumal Rolle Status: Inactive
Position: Defensive Back

Clay Matthews Status: Inactive
Position: Linebacker

Brad Jones Status: Inactive
Position: Linebacker

Chris Harper Status: Inactive
Position: Wide Receiver

*********************************************************************
Bears Inactives:
*********************************************************************

Earl Bennett Status: Inactive
Position: Wide Receiver

Chris Williams Status: Inactive
Position: Wide Receiver

inactive
Cornelius Washington Status: Inactive
Position: Defensive End

inactive
Jonathan Scott Status: Inactive
Position: Offensive Tackle

Jordan Palmer Status: Inactive
Position: Quarterback

Joe Long Status: Inactive
Position: Offensive Tackle

James Brown Status: Inactive
Position: Offensive Tackle

[mswenson]

rodgers coming back and still losing would be the best

[CBS7]

Just win baby.

[MalikJoakim24]

Just win baby.

[heir_jordan22]

I don't want another pick in the late teens and no playoff appearance!!!!! Win this damn game!

[CBS7]

Matthews is out, news on Rodgers should come out today.

Unrelated, but when was the last time we had zero pro bowlers on defense? As it stands it looks like Forte, Marshall, and Jeffery will make it but no one on the defense is even close.

[TexJazz]

Just announced that Rodgers is going to play.

[CBS7]

Hopefully rust is a factor. Things just got tougher.

[mswenson]

it cutler didn't suck that wouldn't matter. rodgers scores 10 pts beats the bears. rodgers throws 2 picks beats the bears. Oh wait that's what happened 3 years ago

[chitownsports4ever]

Matthews is out, news on Rodgers should come out today.

Unrelated, but when was the last time we had zero pro bowlers on defense? As it stands it looks like Forte, Marshall, and Jeffery will make it but no one on the defense is even close.

I saw this the other day and was going to mention it .

It was under Dave Wannstedt and Dick Jauron .

The drafting of Urlacher ended the drought

hard times ...hard time ahead

[RedBulls23]

Matthews is out, news on Rodgers should come out today.

Unrelated, but when was the last time we had zero pro bowlers on defense? As it stands it looks like Forte, Marshall, and Jeffery will make it but no one on the defense is even close.

I saw this the other day and was going to mention it .

It was under Dave Wannstedt and Dick Jauron .

The drafting of Urlacher ended the drought

hard times ...hard time ahead

Hopefully not. Let's hope that Emery is just as good at rebuilding the defense, like he was with the offense.

[bearadonisdna]

Matthews is out, news on Rodgers should come out today.

Unrelated, but when was the last time we had zero pro bowlers on defense? As it stands it looks like Forte, Marshall, and Jeffery will make it but no one on the defense is even close.

I saw this the other day and was going to mention it .

It was under Dave Wannstedt and Dick Jauron .

The drafting of Urlacher ended the drought

hard times ...hard time ahead

Hopefully not. Let's hope that Emery is just as good at rebuilding the defense, like he was with the offense.

And if he isnt? U cant rebuild a defense in one season. Which is an indictment already on emery if it needs a total rebuild to be competitive. But first things first and we have to win this game.

[blumeany]

They can most definitely make this defense better in one off season. It is god awful right now. I like our corners. If Peanut is willing to come back at a reasonable price, I'd keep him one year. Bigger problem are the front 7. Should ave one more year with Briggs. I'd move Bostic to the outside and either resign Williams or find an upgrade at MLB. On the line, resign Wooten, dump Peppers, and move Shae to another position or situational. We may be able to get Melton for a reasonable contract with his injury. A first round talent at DT might work. Someone big to fill up holes and warrant double teams.

As for the game, I fully expect Cutler to wet the bed a bit. History has not told us otherwise. As for whether the rest of the team can make up for it?...

Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk

[heir_jordan22]

Ya'll aint got no passion!! This is our team! This is our quarterback! This is a win and in game!

The time is now to believe that Cutler will step up and say "F YOU AARON! This is my division now!" The time is now to believe that Peppers will finally decide to play since he has a chance to get in the playoffs.

Lets get this W!

[CBS7]

We had the #5 defense last year. We won't get back to that level in one offseason but we should be able to get up to the average range, which would be a huge step up from where we are now.

#5 to #28.. how terrible. If this team even had an average defense we'd have 11-12 wins and likely be talking about the possibility of a superbowl.

[CBS7]

Also... yeah I'll support Jay as long as he's starting. I want him to do well. As mediocre as he's been, he's the best QB I've seen in a Bears uniform by a huge margin (except for McCown's stretch this year)

[RedBulls23]

And if he isnt? U cant rebuild a defense in one season. Which is an indictment already on emery if it needs a total rebuild to be competitive. But first things first and we have to win this game.

Wrong, it isn't indictment on Emery. Angelo left the roster in shambles when he left. Not to mention the complete **** job that was the offense, because of Angelo lack of drafting. Emery was forced to concentrate on one side of the ball, thinking that the defense could hold up for 1 more season. Unfortunately it didn't.

Seeing what Emery was able to do with the offense, I have no doubt he could restore the defensive side. He hasn't had a chance to because his hands were cuffed from past management.

[RedBulls23]

Also... yeah I'll support Jay as long as he's starting. I want him to do well. As mediocre as he's been, he's the best QB I've seen in a Bears uniform by a huge margin (except for McCown's stretch this year)

Cutler hasn't been mediocre the entire season. Health is the biggest concern with Jay.

[BullHeaded]

U cant rebuild a defense in one season.

New Orleans had the number 32 ranked defense in 2012 and the number 4 ranked defense in 2013.

I recall the Packers making a wild climb like that the first year they switched to a 3-4 as well. This may just be my observation, but I think it is way easier to rebuild a defense than it is an offense. What the Bears did from last year to this year is more the exception than what New Orleans did. I'll also caution that it is also more normal for a great defense to quickly downshift to bad (I think the Packers defense did that as well). Emery was right to start his focus on the offense and right that ship first... because defense can be turned around much more quickly.

In the Bears case though, I think it needs to start with a change in coordinator and the personnel moves have to be radical and sweeping. This defense is old, ineffective and they aren't developing young players with the exception of Isaiah Frey. The offense is in fine-tuning mode, but the defense needs a new blue print.

[blumeany]

Also... yeah I'll support Jay as long as he's starting. I want him to do well. As mediocre as he's been, he's the best QB I've seen in a Bears uniform by a huge margin (except for McCown's stretch this year)

Cutler hasn't been mediocre the entire season. Health is the biggest concern with Jay.

Cutler isn't TERRIBLE, but he also isn't good. And being injury-proof is part of being a GREAT QB. Yes, it happens to the best of them at some point, but the best are not missing games every year.

I hate this whole defeatist attitude when it comes to players like Cutler and Deng: "Oh, we'll never find anyone better than these guys, so we should just re-sign them for whatever" B.S.! Trestman should not waste his precious time as an NFL coach trying to teach an old dog new tricks when he can try teaching a new dog new tricks. Sticking to the status quo is the fastest way out of a job in the NFL. It's the guys that don't stop until they find something that works (and then ride that into the ground) that succeed and usually succeed the longest. Is Cutler the best we've had? Sadly, yes, which makes it all the more difficult to convince people we can do much better.