Thread: 2011 Bears Playoff Chances

I tell you, it's going to be very close to see how this team responds to this adversity. Right now, we're in a real pickle with Cutler being out. I don't know about you, but I think we're going to have a hard time moving the football unless we run a slew of screens and draws. Forte is going to be a receiver to a large degree again, plus Clutts will be getting in on some of the action. Until we can force the opposing defenses to stop cramming eight and nine guys in the box to stop Forte, our offense is doomed. We should beat Kansas City and Denver, possibly Seattle, and Minnesota because we will most likely have Cutler back by that last game. I'm more worried about Oakland and Green Bay. I've conceded that we're not going to win against the Packers because absolutely NO ONE beats them, especially at Lameblow. However, Oakland has a very potent, balanced offensive attack that could pose the Bears' defense serious problems. I think we lose to Oakland, but not by much. If Cutler were playing, we win out all games except for possibly the Packers game.

We just put three tough games against three tough opponents behind us and I will be shocked if we don't make the playoffs. There was never gonna be a good time to lose Cutler but if we HAD to pick one this is it. I think Caleb Hanie is a lot more prepared to lead this offense than a lot of people think he is. He didn't just walk in the door around Halas Hall an he did a hell of a lot better job running Mike Martz offense last year without reps than Todd Collins did with reps.

Oakland on the road will be a tough game because they're likely to blitz the crap out of him but he'll survive that, learn his "hot reads" and be better for it in the long run. Hanie isn't the kind of QB anyone can intimidate the way teams did with Rex. He's a tough kid, he's smart has a good arm and he can run away from trouble. He has at least as much moblity as Cutler or more just not as strong an arm.

Oakland will be a good challenge for him but we can beat them. After that we get Denver and God's QB and KC without Matt Cassell and those should be wins so at worst we come into the final three games 9-4 and two of those three are very winnable as well. The Packer would be a tough beat without Cutler but anything can happen in a Packer vs Bears game and even if Cutler isn't 100% by then Hanie will have had four starts under his belt before then.

We can finish 11-5 again this year and we make the playoffs easily. I like our chances with Hanie if for no othe reason than we'll be somewhat unpredictable for a few weeks. If we can make the playoffs behind a raw Kyle Orton we can make it with Hanie. He's a much better passer than Orton IMO.

Originally Posted by soulman

We just put three tough games against three tough opponents behind us and I will be shocked if we don't make the playoffs. There was never gonna be a good time to lose Cutler but if we HAD to pick one this is it. I think Caleb Hanie is a lot more prepared to lead this offense than a lot of people think he is. He didn't just walk in the door around Halas Hall an he did a hell of a lot better job running Mike Martz offense last year without reps than Todd Collins did with reps.

Oakland on the road will be a tough game because they're likely to blitz the crap out of him but he'll survive that, learn his "hot reads" and be better for it in the long run. Hanie isn't the kind of QB anyone can intimidate the way teams did with Rex. He's a tough kid, he's smart has a good arm and he can run away from trouble. He has at least as much moblity as Cutler or more just not as strong an arm.

Oakland will be a good challenge for him but we can beat them. After that we get Denver and God's QB and KC without Matt Cassell and those should be wins so at worst we come into the final three games 9-4 and two of those three are very winnable as well. The Packer would be a tough beat without Cutler but anything can happen in a Packer vs Bears game and even if Cutler isn't 100% by then Hanie will have had four starts under his belt before then.

We can finish 11-5 again this year and we make the playoffs easily. I like our chances with Hanie if for no othe reason than we'll be somewhat unpredictable for a few weeks. If we can make the playoffs behind a raw Kyle Orton we can make it with Hanie. He's a much better passer than Orton IMO.

You forget to take into account that this defense isn't the defense that we were treated to in 2005 and 2006, when the Bears led the league in points allowed and were near the top in total defense. This defense bends a lot and hasn't shown the ability to shutdown any offense as of yet. We are going to need a lot of that if we are to contend from here on out. The Bears of 1985 were able to win without Jim McMahon because they had a strong offensive line that could block anybody, plus Walter Payton was the team's running back. If you think that Forte has been lousy in recent weeks, you haven't seen anything yet. They may pull out an all out "Grits Blitz" on us before too long.

Originally Posted by Dagan81

You forget to take into account that this defense isn't the defense that we were treated to in 2005 and 2006, when the Bears led the league in points allowed and were near the top in total defense. This defense bends a lot and hasn't shown the ability to shutdown any offense as of yet. We are going to need a lot of that if we are to contend from here on out. The Bears of 1985 were able to win without Jim McMahon because they had a strong offensive line that could block anybody, plus Walter Payton was the team's running back. If you think that Forte has been lousy in recent weeks, you haven't seen anything yet. They may pull out an all out "Grits Blitz" on us before too long.

This defense is more experienced than the 2006 defense, is getting more turnovers lately and is 6th in the NFL in point differential and that would have improved even more if Nick Roach would have keyed on that pass he nearly picked on Sunday sooner. We don't need to shut teams down, just limit them to 20 points or less and that we can do.

If you ask me this offense has more talent and is more dependable than the 2006 offense even with Hanie at QB. He's a lot less schitzy than Rex.

Originally Posted by soulman

This defense is more experienced than the 2006 defense, is getting more turnovers lately and is 6th in the NFL in point differential and that would have improved even more if Nick Roach would have keyed on that pass he nearly picked on Sunday sooner. We don't need to shut teams down, just limit them to 20 points or less and that we can do.

If you ask me this offense has more talent and is more dependable than the 2006 offense even with Hanie at QB. He's a lot less schitzy than Rex.

I hope you're right, then. I really do. I think the jury is still out. I think, now, that the best we'll finish is 10-6. I'll satisfied with a year like that.

I just thought of this, but Lovie Smith's career record is 70-52. He reminds me a lot of how Bill Cowher managed to keep the Bears a relevant team for a period of several years. He's coached nearly half as long as Cowher did with the Steelers, and he's on pace currently to sneak into the playoffs for the fourth time in seven years. We need to get younger gradually, but if we can smoothly transition ourselves into a young, talented team again like we were in the mid 2000s, we could be competitive for a long time.

Still, soul, I would rather have the defense that the 2005-06 Bears had. They may not have had as much experience as this team's defense has, but they were a dominant defensive until. This team is going to have to continue with the takeaways, stellar returns on Special Team from Hester and Johnny Knox, and average about 24 points per game if we are to have a shot at winning out most of our games.

Originally Posted by soulman

I think Caleb Hanie is a lot more prepared to lead this offense than a lot of people think he is. He didn't just walk in the door around Halas Hall an he did a hell of a lot better job running Mike Martz offense last year without reps than Todd Collins did with reps.

And, honestly, he probably even outplayed Cutler in the NFCC game last year.

We'll know soon enough how things will shape up for the Bears. I expect that the game on Sunday will be close, I really do. Even the NFL Network analysts seem to be confident that the Bears still have a strong shot at making the playoffs this year. I never said that won't make it in, but I will say that I wouldn't be shocked if we only go .500 the rest of the way.