Da Dos

Tag: Week 10

  • Overtime Giants

    Overtime Giants

    Update. Bears are now tied for #1 with the Lions in the NFCN!

    Few additional take-aways from Sunday.

    1. Bears seemingly always get shafted with penalties.

    The refs didn’t hesitate to throw a roughing passer on Sewell when it was basically against the laws of physics for him to avoid the hit.

    Yet same refs, same games, didn’t throw the flag on Giants’ defender doing his best Sagat Tiger Knee to Caleb’s head.

    The crowd let the refs know it too. Think it was collectively getting the red-headed step child treatment for seemingly forever. I don’t know what Ben Johnson can do without getting fined, but SOMETHING must be done about this apparent unfavorable treatment. This game was relatively flag-less for Bears, but history says It could cost the Bears a playoff spot, or even a WC win down the line.

    2. Caleb scrambled more

    Cbear said he’d like to see Caleb run it more when it’s not there [+ to get down quickly], and BJ must’ve heard as Caleb seemed to scramble more.

    It wasn’t accidental either.

    Courtney Cronin
    DJ Moore on why the Bears are seeing an increase of critical scrambles from Caleb Williams: “I think he got the green light to go ahead and use his legs more because teams are playing 2-mans, quarters and man-to-man, so he can just be able to get out with his legs and be another weapon.”

    In other words, unlike Trubisky and Fields, Caleb‘s arm is forcing Ds off the LOS which opens up runlanes for him and the HBs. It’s also worth noting that they’re scrambles not designed Dart-runs which gets him killed every week. Caleb seems to only really resort to scrambles when absolutely necessary [unlike Fields].

    3. BJ needs to cut Olamide Zacchaeus‘ snaps and give them to Burden and Loveland.

    • Find some alternative to Sewell. Teams are just gonna keep attacking him in the pass which also stresses the run D
    • Jarrett snaps also need to be reduced. Seems like every time he’s in, a big play pops. Problem is Chris Williams ain’t it either. Bears may just be stuck here.
    • More run por favor, BJ

    Game balls.

    1. Caleb Offense
    2. CJ Gardner-Johnson Defense

    Shot out to Montez Sweat for his 4.5 sack in last 4 games; he’s absolutely not Dayoing it.

    On that note some are saying Ryan Poles needs to revamp the D. I’m not sure he’s CAPABLE of it. Dayo and Jarrett are going to cost the cap in ’26 $20M/$19M respectively.

    The wind was a big factor in the game. It forced both teams to go for it instead of settle for FGs.

    Result? They were a combined 2-8 in successfully converting a 4rth down which I think is least efficient 4rth down conversion rate in a few years. They essentially turned it over a combined 6 times on downs alone.

    Maybe Darnell Wright needs to start a political podcast named, “No Spin Zone”!

  • 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!]

  • Giants@Bears Thread

    Giants@Bears Thread

    So to continue with my mid-term grades, I’ll make it short.

    The D is schizo. Allowing 6.4 YDs per play. Tied for worst with Bengals.

    However, Bears’ D also leads the NFL in TOs! Apparently the last D to allow the most yards per play AND lead in TOs was the 1995 Cardinals [4-12]. It’s unsustainable to say the least.

    Bears Dline lacks a pass rush, and can get gashed on the ground albeit Sweat is starting to heat up, and maybe Austin Booker lives up to the hype. Add in INJs and allowing 28.4 PPG [25th]…

    Defense: C

    As for specials, it’s been up and down year for FGs, and Bears actually haven’t punted much. Regardless, Tori does look better.

    That being said, the KO coverage is straight azz and has allowed teams to keep hanging around; it’s nearly impossible to mess up an onside kick, yet the Bears managed it. Hightower should be fired, and Moody maybe needs to replace Santos.

    Bears Specials: D

    As for the Giants, what’s to say?

    Bo Nix stats vs Gmen:

    Passing: 27-of-50, 279 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 83.7 quarterback rating 

    Rushing: 5 rushes, 48 yards, 2 touchdowns, 21-yard long run 

    Fourth Quarter Performance: In the final quarter, Nix recorded two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns, becoming the first player in NFL history to do so in a single quarter

    Bears SHOULD win the game, esp in “Bear weather” which means they’ll make it much closer than it should be.

    Same as it ever was…