Da Dos

Category: Bears, Rapid Fire, Rapid Recap, 2025

  • Bears Escape a Giant Upset: 24-20

    Bears Escape a Giant Upset: 24-20

    Giants were 2-7. They lost like 10 in a row on the road. Skattabo-less, beat-up with a rook QB in a snowy windy Soldier Field and an HC on the hot-seat.

    So naturally, the Bears nearly blew it!

    The key word is “NEARLY.”

    If you missed the game, here’s a concise “Re-Kap.”

    Kap is citing 8 drops, but for what it’s worth, PFF credits 6. Either way, 6 would be the most drops by any team through ten NFL weeks, and that doesn’t even include close misses.

    However, the drops were only part of the offensive disfunction. I have no clue why Ben Johnson went so quick-rhythm passing for the first half. Giants’ D were ranked 31st vs run, and dead last vs defending parameter runs [Swift specialty]. Now maybe he was trying to zig instead of zag, but result?

    7-points.

    Didn’t help that Jaxson Dart was dealing.

    Through 3 QTRs, he looked like the superior QB while Brian Daboll looked like the superior playcaller continually targeting LBs[esp Sewell] as the Gmen bullied the Bears’ Dline.

    Then this happened.

    Up 17-7 and already close to FG range, I wouldn’t doubt if many Bear fans hit the parking lot to beat traffic. The whole game just felt off – not exactly low energy, but like a David Lynch flick that just made the whole experience a little uncomfortable.

    Then the Bears’ D rises to the occasion. Some may have wondered why I didn’t grade the Bears’ D lower. Moments like these are why. Despite getting pawned for most of the game, giving up a bunch of yards, and essentially losing in every metric… they almost always find a way to force a TO or a big stop [see the CJ blitzes, Dexter contain, Sweat sack]. After the Cowboys’ game, I was dubious they could maintain it, but they have, and this is who they are; it’s no small part why the Bears are 6-3. Will they keep forcing TOs against a brutal 2nd half gauntlet? Stay tuned, but relish it and a winning record for the time being.

    Courtney Cronin

    C.J. Gardner–Johnson on what was going through his mind in the 3rd Q when he forced Jaxson Dart to fumble: “I got tired of him running the ball. No disrespect. It’s just aggravating when he breaks for 20, 50 yards and you’re playing great coverage. So I had to find a way to get off the field to get the ball out of his hands eventually.”

    This dude just joined the club! Yet he’s already talking like a Dennis Allen ballhawk.

    This play completely turned the game around particularly since it also knocked out Jaxson Dart. After Dart went out, Daboll turtled with Russ Wilson. He definitely wasn’t going let Russ cook; heck, he wasn’t going to allow Russ to even enter the kitchen.

    Then it was Caleb Clutch time!

    In fact, the Bears scored TOO quickly, and gave what seemed like an eternity back to the Giants.

    Despite the struggling D, they still finished the game with a key CJ Gardner blitz which the Gmen totally blew in blocking [a 2nd time]. Ya know Allen was saving that blitz for a crucial moment, and it was for the final Giants’ drive.

    Bears 24, Giants 20. Fade to black…

    [Fly Eagles, Fly!]

  • Rapid Recap Bears@Bengals. Wild Jungle Shoot-out!

    Rapid Recap Bears@Bengals. Wild Jungle Shoot-out!

    So this game I decided to try something a lil different. Instead of commenting I decided to take notes as the game went along which includes facts, stats and observations. So this is basically a game log. I’ll share more crazy stuff about the game perhaps manana.

    Butch Game Notes:

    That was fast! [opening return TD]

    Bears’ O entered game 26th in redzone efficiency [converting a TD only 47.8% of time]

    Bailed out twice

    Bengals penalty [PI] on 3rd and 10, extended drive that resulted in Bear TD

    Bengals [HB Brown] Dropped easy pass that wouldā€™ve gone for big yards

    [2nd QTR]

    – Bears have a negative penalty yd differential in every game

    – Bears have 16 false starts this season

    -Since bye Bears have rushed for 137 yds designed runs per game. 2nd in the NFL

    -21% explosive run plays

    – Offsides Bengals. Santos Missed 47 yarder
    which Turned into Zaccheaus TD

    – Misdirection run game dominant

    -Bengals Ineligible man made 3rd 2 into 2nd 7
    3rd and 2 false start now 3rd and 7
    Brisker/CJ blitz, HB took Brisker, CJ sack
    Bengals keep shooting themselves in the foot

    -12/11 play TD drives

    –Caleb failed to see an easy check down [84]. Turned into 3rd and 14.

    – Fantastic booming punt by Tori

    – Sweat swat FF [or so we thought]!

    –Billings smart. Didnā€™t quit on play. Even got some yds after recovery. Sign of good coaching.

    -Agree with Archuleta
    Caleb must make decisions faster.
    Don’t know if he has to keep reminding us of this every other play.

    -Caleb seems to be running more this game

    -Deadball 15 yd penalty next to redzone

    -Calebā€™s inaccuracy INJed Kmet [2nd QTR 4:18]. Instead of YAC, he’s in the blue tent.

    -Only scrambled 3 times since bye. Cost of easy checkdowns
    -Getting off spot, scrambled 4 times in this game already,
    -Ball placement just a smidgen off

    -5 min drive. 7ypc going into Half!
    Three 10+ play drives

    Monangai 16car, 99yds, 6.2 per

    -3rd and 3 goal line terrible. 6 Olinemen
    No chance
    Needed to get Caleb on run
    Settled for FG, saved a TO for Bengals; still 1:29 left for Flacco

    -Awful KO coverage again. Bengals return ball to 45

    –Higgins TD great catch on Wright

    -Nother dumb Bears’ penalty wipes out 50 yd return
    More bad SP teams. Blocked Santos’ 47 yd attempt which appeared low anyways.

    ā€”——Halfā€”—-

    Monangai 16/100/6.3 long of 18 [1rec]
    Caleb. 9/15/93 yds 1 TD[rec] 101.1 rating
    JJ McCarthy 10/16 85yds 2TDs 89.8 rating [vs Lions]

    ā€”——
    -Bengals 32nd vs run allowing 152 per game

    -3rd and goal at 1 yd line.
    Delay of game Caleb
    Procedural penalty. More stupid penalties.

    Laser to 84! [Loveland]

    [Dowdle Panthers Key and Peel pump celebration!]

    –Flacco more accurate than Williams
    Lethal. Perfect ball placement to Higgins twice
    CB there, just a finger off

    -Beautiful Rome blocking on Brittain Brown TD scamper
    Oline sealed off backside too on 2nd lvl
    Brown finishes

    Bears almost more 1st downs than Bengals TOTAL plays 3rd QTR 1:18 left

    Booker strip. He destroyed the OT with one hand!

    -Getting too cute
    3rd and 8 waaaay too confused.. Late motion. Almost another PS flag 13:20 4rth QTR

    3rd 16, Bengals get 20 to Chase FML
    Intentional grounding obvious.
    Short FG!

    -Big Monangai run. DJ solid block.. Bengals bad tackling [Battle]
    Staying in bounds. Runs like a smart Marion Barber.

    4th QTR…
    -Looked like a DJ Moore TD, not fumble/touchback Avoided disaster

    -Good TO by BJ to reset D in redzone.
    Edmunds INT! Man that was ticky-tack application of rule. Fingertip brushes Edmunds negates awesome TD run back

    -Bengals’ Redzone D allows a score 70% of time [30th]
    30 secs to score TD on terrible Bears’ D.

    –Archuleta ā€œI don’t think I’ve seen a D collapse in the last 2 mins like that everā€™
    Bengals outscore Bears 15-0 in 49 secs

    -8 lead changes – 2 in last 58 secs
    Bengals with 15 missed tackles [16 officially]
    4 different players threw passes for Bears

    Caleb with the dagger to Loveland!

  • Caleb a JAG?

    Caleb a JAG?

    Which is a #1 overall & which a 3rd string backup?

    QB1: 77.3%, 186yds, ZERO INTs, 1 TD, [53 yds rushing]

    116.9 Rating

    QB2 [b4 last junk drive]: 68.8%, 201 yds, 1 INT, ZERO TDs, two intentional groundings, [22 YDS rushing]

    Approx 75.1 rating

    Caleb Williams didn’t play against the 2000 Ravens. As I wrote in the preview:

    Ravensā€™ D is allowing 4.6 ypc [to RBs]
    32.3 PPG [32nd]; rank 27th stopping 3rd down conversions.

    Their pass D isnā€™t much better. Their secondary amazingly enough has only ONE INT thus far [now two] while allowing 108.4 passer rating [28th]and 246 passing yds [28th] with only 8 sacks and low pressure rate.

    Caleb somehow still found a way to look indecisive, inaccurate and Trubiskesque; he also struggled mightily against the lowly Saints, so this is nothing new. We’re 24 starts in already. In fact, some argue he’s only had ONE good game all season.

    To be certain, Ben Johnson called a subpar game, but I mean, wth can he do to prevent THIS? This INT basically cost the Bears a win. Caleb made the mistake Tyler Huntley,a practice squader, did not.

    And it begs the question:

    Is Caleb a JAG?

    Think about this long and hard. No doubt Caleb has all the physical tools needed to be a HOFer. “Generational.”

    So did Smoking Jay Cutler, yet Cutler never became Aaron Rodgers despite possessing all the same physical gifts.

    [IMO, Cutler was actually more athletic].

    Halas just kept throwing Cutler out there, never even entertaining the option of benching him for his own good.

    Here’s another way to ask the question.

    Would you rather have Jordan Love? Daniel Jones? Jared Goff? How far down the QB list do you have to fall to prefer Caleb?

    Caleb over.. Bo Nix, Jackson Dart, Michael Penix, Trevor Lawrence, Mac Jones, CJ Stroud, JJ McCarthy?

    One would have to get down to the the 7th circle of the QB inferno with the likes of Wentz, Flacco, Geno and Tua to make this an easy decision for Caleb.

    [Even then I can see some Bear fans dreaming about Tyler Bagent, Cousins or even Flacco at this point]

    Asking if you’d want Caleb over Drake Maye by now is laughable. Maye who also is in his sophomore season under a new system with arguably worse weapons and no offensive wunderkind HC.

    You know, the QB that tightened Ryan Poles‘ chest and whom he laughed out of the draft room.

    Sadly, this routine is nothing new for us Bear fans.

    I remarked before how Caleb reminded me of Rex Grossman except Rex was bad/good for entire games.

    Caleb fluctuates between awful/great seemingly play to play.

    There’s the rub. Can’t possibly rely on that to win consistently. Couldn’t do it with Rex. Couldn’t do it with Cutler. Won’t be able to with Caleb if he can’t improve.

    Counting on 3+TOs a game is not realistic as we found out quickly vs Ravens.

    It’s almost better to go with a ‘game manager‘ like Orton, Foles or Josh McCown, but Poles didn’t draft Caleb to be Andy Dalton, so here we are.

    Before I get accused of over-reacting, compared to the Twitterverse, I’m being stoic. Even our old friend Jeff Hughes who advocated to start both Trubisky and Fields day 1 is expressing doubts.

    Kap, “[Caleb] is playing ok, fine, mediocre, but not like a #1 overall” – I.E. a JAG

    The only real question left: what is the best way to rescue Caleb from devolving into a permanent JAG?

    Is it for him to sit or play through it?

    Maybe Bears can make up some BS ‘groin’ INJ to lowkey bench Caleb.

    OTOH, perhaps BJ just keeps sending him up like Viper with Maverick in “Top Gun”.

    Either way, SOMETHING has to change else us Bear fans will be suffering through yet another era of mediocre-hair-pulling-jersey burning QBing with similar results:

    Bears’ suckage.

    Overtime:

    This isn’t ALL on Caleb. Ben Johnson also has to clean up many mistakes, especially the penalties.

  • Rapid Recap: Bears Beat Raiders

    Rapid Recap: Bears Beat Raiders

    Photo courtesy of AP News

    What a WILD game. I think this was the craziest game since that infamous Zona circa 2006.

    Talk about the Raiders letting Bears off the hook!

    Ashton Jeanty rushed for 128 yds, 1 TD, 6.5 per along with TWO rec TDs

    The #1 key was to stop or minimally contain Jeanty; they failed miserably.

    And before you crown his ass, a 33 yr old Raheem Mostert rushed 4 times for 62 yds at a mindboggling 15.5 per carry. They may as well have been Bo Jackson in Tecmo Bowl

    Raiders rushed for a total of 240 yds.7.7 avg yet somehow managed to still lose!

    Bears@Raiders Highlights

    I have way too many thoughts on the game to squeeze into one post but few pertinent notes.

    1. The Bears came out slow. I think they had 97 yds total in the first half despite the D spotting them great field position. Four times they started in Raider territory yet flopped.

    This was a combo of Nagyesque small-ball, Crosby scud, dropped passes, batted throws, miscues and way too many stupid penalties. Kmet especially did his best Kellen Davis impression.


    2. Raiders blitzed over 9 times, which was more in one half than Flus the entire game previously; it rattled Caleb. He looked uncomfortable, making iffy decisions [including on RPOs] and off throws. When he did scramble, his cast didn’t help him much. It was all discombobulated.

    3. The run game stunk! 69 yd total, 2.7 avg. Ben Johnson reverted to Nagy-ball of quick screens, flats and dump-offs near the LOS to essentially act as the defacto run game. Only thing missing was empty-set diamond formation. The results were predictable.

    However, all this seemed to change once Braxton was out [benched?], Benedet moved to LT, and Trapilo debuted at RT in the final drive before the half.

    After the half, the oline seemed to settle-in while BJ became more aggressive.

    It appeared BJ just gave up on the run, putting the game on Caleb’s shoulder, and he responded.

    I wrote in real time that Caleb somehow looks more comfortable in the clutch than at the start of games. It’s truly odd. The ‘scripted’ plays didn’t help much today.

    Caleb is a walking Dickenson quote, “It was the worst of halves, it was the best of halves…”

    Then came the final drive where it was all on Caleb.

    Flus’ Bears would’ve folded like knock-off jeans from a sweat-shop by the 4rth, but the Bears kept clawing back, including the D that forced the Raiders to settle for a FG late.

    The Bears’ final drive itself was bumpy as well. As Data keenly relayed:

    Bears were shooting themselves in the foot from the 1st drive. I’m shocked they had any paws to stand on by the last.

    Nonetheless, Caleb matriculated the ball downfield, and here we gotta give Swift some love as he finished when it mattered most.

    Naturally, it’s the Bears, so they [badly] screwed up the 2-point conversion making it 25-24 Bears.

    At this point, our Angelo-Emery-Pace-Poles trauma triggered as we were cynically expecting the inevitable, no Vaseline.

    Sure enough, the Raiders waltzed down field like Fred Astaire through the Red Sea, reaching the Kicker’s Promised Land which felt like anything near the 50.

    Like PavlovianĀ losers, I wouldn’t be shocked if thousands of Bear fans hit the parking-lot trying to beat Strip traffic or make one last all-you-can-eat buffet before leaving Vegas buzzed, broke and bitter.

    Then, the unimaginable manifested.
    Daniel Carslon lined up for a seemingly chip-shot 54 yd FG…

    Boom-shaka-laka!

    It only took 4 TOs, a slew of Raider mistakes, 4 Cairo FGs [including two beyond 51], a Tori coffin corner inside the 1 plus a blocked FG for a Bears’ victory!

    Crown em!