Pre-Game Thread- Bears @ Pats

[jah]

Drew Brees is a Hall of Famer and #2 all time in TDs and yards.

I'm a glass half empty guy because I don't think we'll find a top 5 QB in stats in NFL history?

Really?

I think Pats fans tend to have an attitude developed during the Brady era of "all the other star QBs suck and it's heresy to give any of them credit". I'm certainly guilty of falling into this trap sometimes.

 

[signbabybrady]

I think Pats fans tend to have an attitude developed during the Brady era of "all the other star QBs suck and it's heresy to give any of them credit". I'm certainly guilty of falling into this trap sometimes.

I refuse to lower my standards

 

[RIpats88]

The bears are a mess. Scored 7 points last week. This game should be a bloodbath

 

[denverpatsfan]

Bet the under?

Patriots QB Mac Jones 'Kryptonite Weaknesses Will Be Exposed!' Predicts Bears Player

Mac Jones "does have a kryptonite we are going to expose,'' boasts Chicago defensive lineman Justin Jones as the Patriots prep for the Bears.

www.si.com

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Normally, but combo of a Monday night game, rain in the forecast, and a 3-3 team mean prices are tanking.

Ah to be young and drunk and cold/waterproof again.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Bet the under?

Patriots QB Mac Jones 'Kryptonite Weaknesses Will Be Exposed!' Predicts Bears Player

Mac Jones "does have a kryptonite we are going to expose,'' boasts Chicago defensive lineman Justin Jones as the Patriots prep for the Bears.

www.si.com

This guy is on a one-man, get-in-the-rookie's-head mission. Because what else have they got?

 

[PatsFanInVa]

From all accounts, it looks like Mac is playing. Hopefully he has a great game and then the talk about a potential QB controversy can stop ! He doesn't need any distractions.

May he play and destroy what remains of the once (and I do mean "once," at least in my lifetime) proud Monsters of the Midway. I would love that, Mac coming back, all vestiges of the High Ankle Sprain gone, Mac dialed in with all his receivers, putting on a clinic, announcing his arrival and making all of us go "um, yay, can we at least spend less roster spots on backups now?" Then I'd love for Mac to leave the JETE in the dust, needlessly hanging up a 50-burger even though the defense holds Zack "the sac" GalIdfickMasKid to 89 yards and 3 int.s.

And of course, may all the pressure in the building (where it matters) be about the wins and ball security.

Finally, if he's giving the local rocket scientist a hard time, somebody PLEASE tell him he's Jim Parsons in the New England production of "Hidden Figures," not one of those 3 ladies of color who landed our guys on the moon, mathmatically speaking.

 

[venecol]

Ryan F#CKING Leaf had a couple of 300 yd games his rookie year, so did Jmarcus Russell. These are 2 of the worst QB's in NFL history. There are a NUMBER of things you could use to praise Bailey Zappe's performances over the last 3 games, But his one 301 yd game shouldn't be a hallmark of any thread. Would his accomplishment been any less impressive if he had thrown for 275 yds?

There was a tweet that said in the entire franchise history of the Bears, a QB had only done this Twelve (12) times:

1. Passed for >300 yds
2. >TD 2+
3. 0 Int
4. AND WON the game

All four of those had to be accomplished in ONE game. Bears have only done it 12 times!

I found that curious, so I looked at how many times our own QBs have accomplished this, and excluding TB, it's been done 3 times in 22 years. I hope this clarifies it.

 

[Jlaff]

I mean people seem to give no credit to the piss-poor teams we beat the last 2 weeks. That's why Zappe looks so great. If he were to have played MIA or BAL the first 3 weeks, he'd look the same as Mac. Zappe's not better than Mac. Period.
Zappe stepped into a great situation - where the OL/Run game was getting on track, Matty P simplified the offense, the Defenses were terrible, and our Defense was able to contain pitiful opponents offenses. That equated to 2 easy wins.
The coaches aren't stupid. They know Jets & Colts are going to be tougher, not to mention the Vikings, Bills, Bengals.
But one thing that will help Mac - having the re-set on offense. Which helped everyone dial in what to focus on.

They "simplified the offence" has taken on the life of a political talking point around here.

 

[Jlaff]

With the Jets and Miami winning this week if Mac starts this is as "must win" as it gets for him. Pitchforks will be out if his picks cost Pats the game.

 

[venecol]

I mean people seem to give no credit to the piss-poor teams we beat the last 2 weeks. That's why Zappe looks so great. If he were to have played MIA or BAL the first 3 weeks, he'd look the same as Mac.

Based on your thorough analysis, I'll offer a counter argument:

Both loses to MIA & BAL were a direct result of our giveaways. If Zappe had played MIA or BAL the first 3 weeks, since he doesn't give away the ball at the same rate, he wins at least 1 if not both games.

 

[patfanken]

JRuss never had a 300yd game in his career. Leaf had 1 his 2nd year (3TDs 1Int in a loss).

Yes, the accomplishment would've been ever so slightly less impressive if he had thrown for 275yds, but that's just imho. That's the nature of subjectivity combined with arbitrary round number accomplishments. His rating for his first start was 100.0. If he threw for a few yards less (not sure how the calculations work), then people wouldn't be plastering the whole "There is only one rookie QB in the Super Bowl era to win and post a 100+ Passer Rating in each of his first two starts." Some people couldn't care less, but some are fairly wowed by that. I thought it was pretty cool.

Pardon the hyperbole, and I agree 275 yds would have been impressive too. I just can't get my head around making immediate and long lasting changes basted on a 2 game sample against bad defenses and extraordinary TO and 4th down stats. Our QB had the best season of any of the 7 QB's taken in the first 2 rounds by FAR. 3 games into his 2n season and we want to immediately turn to the next new shiny penny, and what happens when Zappe goes through a bad patch. I'll tell you what will happen. the Yahoos will be trying to figure out how the Pats can get the NEXT shiny penny in FA and the draft. Mayebe Geno Smith might become available .

 

[Jlaff]

Pardon the hyperbole, and I agree 275 yds would have been impressive too. I just can't get my head around making immediate and long lasting changes basted on a 2 game sample against bad defenses and extraordinary TO and 4th down stats. Our QB had the best season of any of the 7 QB's taken in the first 2 rounds by FAR. 3 games into his 2n season and we want to immediately turn to the next new shiny penny, and what happens when Zappe goes through a bad patch. I'll tell you what will happen. the Yahoos will be trying to figure out how the Pats can get the NEXT shiny penny in FA and the draft. Mayebe Geno Smith might become available .

It's not long lasting changes if you give Zappe another game or two to see if he's really as talented as he's looked. That doesn't set anything in stone.

I just don't see what Mac has done this year (or several weeks back into the previous season) to have earned the expectation of guaranteed job security in the face of a quarterback who has played better than him coming off the bench.

The exercise everyone keeps replaying is the hypothetical "if Mac played against the Browns and Lions he would have played great and we don't know how Zappe will play against good teams." Problem is we know how Mac has played against good teams going back several games now and it's not been good enough. The question everyone should actually want answered is how Zappe will play against the good teams.

 

[patfanken]

Thinking about tomorrow. I watched some of the Dallas/Lions game and watch Dak Prescott have a very mediocre game against that bad Lions defense even though their defense turned the Lions offense over 5 time in the 2nd half alone. Makes me worry about how not playing for a month is going to effect Mac if he actually starts this game.

As Bedard mentioned on his site, the Bears were a step up on what the Browns and Lions showed us, even though their rankings aren't exactly great either. Also, he noted all the defensive players the Bears will get back (NO one on their injury report) and who might be missing from our 11 man questionable list.

I went 3-2 in my pool and the 3 games I won were gotten picking 3 of the teams I hate the most (Dallas, Jets and Giants) GB and LAC's screwed me again. I feel dirty picking the Jets and even worse that they won. I talked myself out of taking the Pats when the line grew to 9 and I started worrying about the cover. The Pats were the heavy betting pick by just about all the talking heads mid week.

OTOH, the Yankees got booted, so F#CK them, their 99 regular season wins and their front running fans, who have nothing to be front running ABOUT! The fact they tried to watch the Sox historic 2004 comeback for inspiration and then got swept is just gravy.

 

[masterbouncer]

If Mac plays I'd like to see him having the same pocket awerness and feel for the rush to step up in the pocket like Zeppe showed the last few games. Having a less quality opponent does not mean they do not have a pass rush at all, there were multiple sequences where Zeppe avoided the rush, even had a good feeling for the blind side rush and stept up to avoid the sack and exactly that Mac didn't show so far with such a confidence, in fact this bears pass rusher has a point, Mac seems to panic against late rushes (or rushes in general when they beat the OL) and more so freezes like a deer infront of a car light instead to make anything to avoid the contact. Thats still my major concern (next to forcing the ball down the field and eating stupid INT).

Whoever will start, that is a must win game for the Pats, no excuses.

 

[Scotty]

For any Brits reading this thread....... the game is LIVE on Channel 5 from 01.00am kick off 01.15am

 

[Froob]

Anyone else going tonight? I can’t wait! Never been to a primetime game.

 

[ashley]

Good read getting everyone ready for the game:

 

[Jim Beankie]

It's not long lasting changes if you give Zappe another game or two to see if he's really as talented as he's looked. That doesn't set anything in stone.

I just don't see what Mac has done this year (or several weeks back into the previous season) to have earned the expectation of guaranteed job security in the face of a quarterback who has played better than him coming off the bench.

The exercise everyone keeps replaying is the hypothetical "if Mac played against the Browns and Lions he would have played great and we don't know how Zappe will play against good teams." Problem is we know how Mac has played against good teams going back several games now and it's not been good enough. The question everyone should actually want answered is how Zappe will play against the good teams.

I'm curious to see Mac with Thornton in there, as I'm sure TT reminds Mac of his original Slim Reaper at Bama. It seems that TT is already a massive difference maker just by being on the field. The Bears don't have any CBs on the roster that can keep up anywhere close with him, speed wise, except the 2022 UDFA from Duke (Joshua Blackwell 4.34 pro day, 10.66 100m), so TT's gonna draw some extra attention. He was already torching a really fast dude last week in Greedy Williams (4.37/1.51).

 

[venecol]

Keep reading from different reporters that "per sources" Mac is starting tonight. I find it interesting that the team has yet to announce Mac as the starter. You read that he took the "bulk" of the 1st team reps on Saturday. The bulk? So not all of them? Why not? Maybe it's gamesmanship by Bill. Maybe he's still not 100% there. His first week, he was deemed out by Friday. Second week, was doubtful by Friday. Last week, Zappe didn't know until Saturday he would start. I assume the decision was made yesterday. Probably Mac, but who knows.