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Willie Young Beats Frank Omiyale, Sacks Jay Cutler, Does Fly Fishing Dance [VIDEO]
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We’re putting up one post for the entire day of games, including tonight’s Bears at Eagles contest. To follow me throughout the day, you can check the Twitter feed or on the right rail of this page or just go and FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER BY CLICKING HERE.
Here’s what you need to know about today’s games.
Enjoy a day and night of football.
I never doubted the Lions ability to lose. Monday night, at home against the Baltimore Ravens, they put on a losing clinic. The best wide receiver on the planet did his best David Terrell impression, dropping first down after first down and prompting Robert Klemko to explain his humanity to fans. Penalties were committed on what seemed like every opposing pass play. New ways to turn the ball over were invented on the spot. It became evident early Monday night the Detroit Lions had no chance to overcome the Detroit Lions.
What I did doubt – and still doubt – is the ability of the Bears to win enough. Because Sunday night in Philadelphia the league’s top rushing attack will face the league’s doormat rush defense. Because the week after, the Bears will need to complete a season sweep of the Green Bay Packers for the first time in what feels like ten generations. Can the Bears win their final two games and the NFC North? Absolutely. But Bears fans should understand that if Aaron Rodgers returns for the finale, the Bears will more than likely be underdogs in both contests.
How did they get here? How does a team with an historically poor defense find themselves controlling their own playoff destiny? (Side note: this is one of the dumbest phrases in existence. Destiny – by definition – assumes a lack of individual control.)
They got here because of Marc Trestman.
Phil Emery wants to build a championship contender in 2014 and he knows that tying up too much money in a single position can drastically effect his ability to plug needs, mostly on the defensive side of the ball. If Emery franchises Jay Cutler, the cap number for next season is thought to be between 16 and 17 million. That money is a directly assault on the salary cap. Here’s a bit from a NFP post from Brad Biggs on the Aaron Rodgers deal:
Now, Rodgers is on the books for seven seasons – through 2019 – at a total of $130.75 million, an average of $18,678,571 per season. Probably the best part of the contract for the team is the salary cap numbers never get out of whack. That is good for Rodgers too because those issues can lead to restructures and players getting cut. Here are his cap numbers through the life of the deal:
2013 $12 million
2014 $17.9 million
2015 $18.6 million
2016 $19.6 million
2017 $20.65 million
2018 $20.9 million
2019 $21.1 million
When Emery said he didn’t like the idea of using the tag on Jay Cutler in 2014 it was not because he didn’t want Jay Cutler on the roster for next season. Emery knows a long-term extension with Cutler affords him cap wiggle room and opens the door for mid-contract restructures to fit players when necessary. If the Bears franchise Cutler and pay Josh McCown the 2-3 million he’s earned this season, they would have a larger cap hit at quarterback than the Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers in 2014.
I will reiterate what I’ve said since the Cutler/McCown conversation began. I believe both will be back next year and I think the Bears will have the league’s best quarterbacks room. Or as Potash wrote in his Sun-Times piece, “It’s a new era in Chicago. Krenzel/Hutchinson is a problem. Cutler/McCown is a luxury. The Bears have bigger issues with three games to go.”
I know many of you think the Packers, with Rodgers, are a greater threat to the Bears postseason hopes. But that should not matter. With the Lions owning the tiebreaker, the Bears need a one game lead on them and that might be too difficult for this defense to pull off. Root for Green Bay today.
And as always, I give thanks for those of you who’ve spent time on this site over the years. I love this site because of you.
Feel like gambling on Thanksgiving Day? Drink six beers, select a member of your family and tell them exactly how you feel about them. Or bet on sports. I make my three picks for the day after the jump.
Five games remain for each of the teams battling to win the NFC North and earn a place in the tournament. Five games. So let’s take a look at them.
At Minnesota, home Dallas (Mon), at Cleveland, at Philly, home Green Bay
Home Green Bay, at Philly, home Baltimore, home New York Giants, at Minnesota
At Detroit, home Atlanta, at Dallas, home Pittsburgh, at Chicago
After looking at those fifteen games, how is it possible to argue Bears fans should be rooting for the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving?
The Bears had an opportunity Sunday to seize control of the NFC North and ignite the fan base for a stretch run. Instead the left the game on the field. No other way to say it. A few thoughts…
This was a must win game until the Bears pulled off an upset at Lambeau Field. Now this is merely a game to establish pole position in the NFC North for the final two months of the season. Will the Bears seize this opportunity at home?
A week ago – yes, it was only a week ago – every comment, Tweet and email directed my way was about the 2014 offseason. The Bears season was going to be ended unceremoniously at Lambeau Field and Mel Tucker Watch was going to begin. Then Shea “Packer Killer” McClellin was turned loose on Aaron Rodgers. Season reborn? Who knows…
One thing is clear. The winner of Sunday’s showdown between the Bears and Lions will be the clear favorite to win the NFC North. Makes it so much easier to ask the It is age-old question…
Why do I like the Chicago Bears this week?
I always like the Chicago Bears.
