Da Dos

Category: NFL, Bears, Season, Game Day

  • Super Bowl LX

    Super Bowl LX

    I rememeber that ’18 NFL Draft when CLE selected Baker Mayfield #1 overall, the Jets selected Sam Darnold #3 overall, while the Bills drafted Josh Allen at #7 banking that he’d be another good ‘project’ like Carson Wentz for the Eagles [‘ 17 Wentz threw for 33TDs/7ints and 101.9 passer rating].

    Incidentally, the Bears drafted Roq at #8, Bills drafted Edmunds at #16, Panthers drafted DJ Moore at #24 and Hippy’s adopted son Chosen Rosen went #11 overall.

    I remember thinking at the time that both Mayfield and Darnold were ‘can’t miss.’
    I loved Mayfield’s mojo to turn around the factory of sadness. I thought Darnold’s steady demeanor and playing in L.A. [USC] suited him well for the intense NY market.

    Yet somehow, the Browns and Jets still broke them.

    I was a bit more on the fence about Josh Allen. Wentz recency bias made me think big physical ‘projects’ from small schools could work, but man, that’s a gamble [as the Eagles found out].

    I wasn’t too sold on Rosen. To me, he was sorta the JJ McCarthy of that draft. Meh.

    However, both Mayfield and Darnold “busting” really made me self-evaluate. How could I have been so wrong on both? I didn’t expect either to be sure-fire HOFers, but BUSTS?

    I mean one, yeah, stats say QBs are 50/50, but BOTH. Maybe draft picks are no better than taking a spin at the Roulette table.

    Well, as it turns out, both Mayfield and Darnold only needed to join functional teams.

    Then it hit me. I was wrong, but not in the way I imagined.

    I erred in believing in that the philosophy of “pick yourself up by your bootstrap” still applies to QBs. It obviously does NOT.

    Like much in life, surrounding greatly impacts results.

    This is an old debate: nature-v-nurture.

    But it’s not binary.

    Browns and Jets have been forever dysfunctional, and as Florio refrains, “dysfunctional teams do dysfunctional things” and this can be macro: owners, GMs, coaches, draft…to micro: developing players, ESP QBs.

    Being dysfunctional isn’t a death sentence either. The Bengals, Lions and Bears have also been a laughing stock for 40+ years, yet they seemed to have dug themselves out of the Browns/Jets 9th circle of hell.

    I was mistaken in assuming that a single individual, even a QB, can simply will himself to be an Ubermench regardless of circumstance.

    One might be tempted to retort, “Well, Brady and Mahomes would’ve been great no matter.” Really? What if the Chris Palmer Browns drafted Brady and the Pace-Nagy Bears drafted Mahomes?

    This works the other way as well.
    A successful organization doesn’t automatically generate HOF QBs like some GPT prompt.

    Reid in KC could only go so far with Alex Smith. The same Pats who won 6 SBs drafted Mac Jones. 9ers traded the house for Trey Lance.

    Oops!

    I suppose this is a long-winded way of stating the obvious:

    It takes both nature+nurture=success.

    The formula isn’t written in stone. Who knows about the ratio. 80% to 20% or vice versa.

    But USUALLY [outliers do exist] it is some ratio of both.

    This SB marks the first time two top 5 [drafted] QBs square-off. That’s a remarkable stat given the ENORMOUS amount of resources that go into finding a franchise QB.

    It illustrates how fickle the whole process really is, how maybe one seemingly minute factor could set off a whole butterfly effect.

    Terry Bradshaw’s life literally came down to a coin flip. Steelers won. They drafted Bradshaw, and after a disastrous start he rebounded to win 4 SBs.

    The Bears traded their #2 to the Green Bay Packers for veterans Lee Roy Caffey, Bob Hyland, and Elijah Pitts translating to squat.

    If Bears win coinflip and draft Bradshaw…well, you elder-fans tell me if it results in 4 SBs…

    Overtime:

    Butch’s SB pick.

    I think I’ve been right in every pick [except in Bears over Rams, but I can live with that].

    I think SEA’s D is simply too dominant to allow such a young QB (who’s been a playoff TO machine) to excel.

    When a D has a legit nickname [The Darkside], you know they’re good!

    There’s a risk that Darnold will Darnold, but thus far he really hasn’t [outside Rams]. If he starts seeing ghosts again, it’ll be one epic chokejob.

    On top of that, SEA has a great one-two punch at HB, plus a dangerous returner and solid specials with sound coaching.

    The Pats’ Dline is real, but how tight will the refs call this game? A lot of times they allow WAAAAY more holding [and PIs] than usual in the SB, which may mitigate the Pats’ biggest advantage.

    As such, I predict a slow, tight game, but with huge SEA momentum surges which will be too much for a relatively inexperienced Pats’ team.

    Darnold gets his ultimate vindication while the Queens are stuck with #9 watching the SB in a Cancun bar….

  • Rams@Bears Div Rd

    Rams@Bears Div Rd

    Well, gonna ride or die with Saint Brown!
    Plus, da WAGs

    Get your Bear kit ready:

    Some interesting notes:

    Bears Facts@DaBearsTakeOver

    Sean McVay’s 1st year as Head Coach • 3,804 passing yards • 28 passing TDs • 1,953 rushing yards • 17 rushing TDs Ben

    Johnson’s 1st year as Head Coach: • 3,942 passing yards • 28 passing TDs • 2,456 rushing yards • 19 rushing TDs

    Jake@Jake_B30

    The #Bears have given up 415 points this season The crazy part is, they’ve given up 136 (32.7%) to 3 teams alone (all away games) In the other 14 games, they gave up an average of 19.9PPG. In their 9 home games (including the playoffs) they’ve allowed 18.7PPG, which ranks 10th

    NFL Researcher@NFL_Researcher

    Only two defenses had 3 players with 50+ pressures during the 2025 season, per
    @NextGenStats
    :

    @Broncos
    | #BroncosCountry
    🔸Nik Bonitto – 80
    🔸Zach Allen – 59
    🔸Jonathon Cooper – 50

    @RamsNFL
    | #RamsHouse
    🔹Jared Verse – 67
    🔹Byron Young – 54
    🔹Kobie Turner – 52

    [Needless to say, Verse vs LT will be a battle to monitor]

    The game may come down to how windy it is. If it’s too windy to pass, both teams will be forced to rely on the run, and neither have run as well as earlier in the season. If Thuney is indeed moved to LT, and McFadden starts at LG, gotta wonder how that may affect chemistry, combos, timing, etc.

    Wind may also screw with the Rams’ specials which have struggled mightily. Santos may not have the strongest leg, but he’s made 50+ yarders in cold blustery clutch conditions.

    If it isn’t that windy, then Stafford [likely MVP] can definitely dissect this toothless D IF it can’t generate pressure.

    Allen is caught in a catch 22:

    The front 4 aren’t monsters, but if he blitzes, Stafford has been a stone cold assassin:

    Clay Harbor@clayharbs82

    Matt Stafford has a 125.4 passer rating with 32 TDs and an INT when facing the blitz. He also doesn’t turn the ball over; he set a record with 28 consecutive TD passes without an INT earlier this year.

    So Da Beloved have their work cut out for them either way, but hey, what’s new?

    They’ve been defying the odds all year. No reason to stop bearlieving now.

    🐻⬇️!

  • Packers@Bears III. SNL edition II. WC I.

    Packers@Bears III. SNL edition II. WC I.

    In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a superstitious man! Saint Mike Brown and Da Gals oversaw the last epic comeback.

    We all know what’s at stake. This is only the 3rd time the Bears have faced the Packers in the playoffs, and for all we know, they may not square off again in the playoffs for another 50 years, so this is YUGE.

    So Bear da fuq down and FTP!!!

  • Final Week of NFL Season. Lions@Bears

    Final Week of NFL Season. Lions@Bears

    Not gonna lie, it’s a little hard to get into this game because I simply don’t know what Lions’ team is going to run out of the tunnel.

    Will they be like the Bears last year vs Pack in the finale desperately trying to play spoilers even if it only involved some marginal playoff seeding?

    Or will Dan Campbell rest his MASH unit and call it a season, maybe even doing a small favor to his former OC Ben Johnson? I mean, the last thing Campbell would want is Goff tearing his achilles in a meaningless game [Remember when Lovie made Lach play the last game, and he INJed himself and was never really the same?]

    The seeding is relatively simple now. Seattle clinched #1 Seed [that D impressed]. Bears currently hold tie breaker over Eagles for the #2 Seed, so if both win out, Bears are #2. If Eagles tie/lose, Bears are #2.

    As for who the Bears will face as the #2 Seed, well, that’s a bit more complicated which I’m sure the pregame shows will math ad nauseum, but suffice it to say, Bears will likely host a game vs Packers which would be insane.

    9ers and Rams are also possibilities. Sadly, not which ever NFCS team limp-dicks in.

    ✶ Sports Mockery ✶@sportsmockery·16h

    Here are the odds for who the Bears might face in the first round:

    1. Green Bay Packers: 78%
      • They are the clear favorite if the Bears win against Detroit or if Philadelphia loses. The Packers are already locked in at the #7 seed.
    2. San Francisco 49ers: 13%
      • If the Bears lose to Detroit and Philadelphia wins, they will drop to #3. Seattle wins and the Rams beat Arizona also affects this.
    3. Los Angeles Rams: 9%
      • Similar scenario as with the 49ers; Bears drop to #3 if they lose to Detroit and Philadelphia wins. If the 49ers win or if Seattle wins and the Rams lose to Arizona, this also matters.

    I’m interested in Ben Johnson’s strategy.

    Will he follow the Belichick way of playing all the starters to keep them sharp for the playoffs?

    Or will he choose to rest players since they aren’t the #1 seed and don’t have a bye?

    Maybe he’ll find a middle ground and rest some injured players and older veterans who usually would play.

    Ultimately, the main goal is to win and stay healthy.

    The Bears will need every advantage in the playoffs since they’ve exceeded expectations all year.

    Bear Down, baby.

  • Bears@9ers WK17 SNF Thread

    Bears@9ers WK17 SNF Thread

    Game preview?
    Stop Christian McCaffrey on the ground and through the air.
    Purdy is efficient, but he’s not super-mobile and can throw some INTs if pressured.

    Hopefully, BJ/Caleb start cooking early and deliver 4 complete QTRs of scoring, preferably by running over 9ers [minimal cuteness, por favor].

    We’re all going to be Panthers’ fan for a day. We’ll find out if SEA loses, and if Bears are playing for the #1 seed [and 9ers possibly for the NFCW] by kickoff.

    Let’s roll!

  • Packers@Bears WK16 SNL Edition

    Packers@Bears WK16 SNL Edition

    Hey, Saint Brown worked like a charm last week. No need to mess with the formula.

    One detail that stuck in my mind…instead of Caleb being all jubilant over the Browns ass-kicking, he was still salty from the previous loss at Lambeau even invoking the immortal words of Dennis Green, “We feel like we left them off the hook.” Other players expressed similar sentiments.

    Bears really don’t like the Puke, and as we saw on TNF, when SEA felt disrespected ‘laughed at’, they flipped the switch.

    BJ also doesn’t want to be made the fool for that whole “Kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year” WWF statement.

    So, game on.
    Bear Down.

  • Browns@Bears WK15 Thread

    Browns@Bears WK15 Thread

    Let’s see if Saint Mike Brown brings us better luck.

  • Bears@Packers Thread WK14

    Bears@Packers Thread WK14

    You know I gotta bring out the big guns again! And doubling-up!

  • Bears@Eagles Paint it Black Friday

    Bears@Eagles Paint it Black Friday

    Bringing out the big ‘guns’ for this one. Tired of everyone calling the Bear frauds.

    I have a theory on Caleb. He needs to get hit. So call a QB run for him early, let his juices get going; then he focuses. Maybe this will get him to play 4 QTRs like a boss.

    I know we’ll be highlighting a gimpy Saquon, but can’t forget that AJ Brown has owned the Bears in the past:

    A.J. Brown has had 13 catches for 282 yards and has scored 1 touchdown in 2 games versus the Bears in his career.

    Since it’s Philly, here’s one the funniest clips from one of my fave comedies, “It’s Always Sunny in Philly”

    May the Bears make the Eagles their scientists.

    Bear down!

  • Bears@Vikings Game Thread WK11

    Bears@Vikings Game Thread WK11

    Drake Maye vs Jets 1st half:
    Maye completed his first 11 passes going 14-for-16 [78%] for 140 yards. One of the misses was a long bomb that may have been INTed
    Maye’s also 73.5% with a 113.2 QB rating for the season.

    Would love to see Caleb start with that efficiency, so he can leave the cape in the phone booth for once. Be better for all our hearts.

    Pretty cool vid here. Kinda behind the scenes and a great insight into current Halas and Ben Johnson locker room. That Washington game may be bigger than even the pundits imagined.

    Win, he must. Overcome the darkside of inconsistency, he will.

    Let’s hope their run game gets bogged down like that X-wing in the swamp.

    Knock on wood. Bear down, jabrones!