NFL rules

[AZ BU Fan]

What an opening weekend for the NFL!

Great matchups everywhere, with good games.

Just wish more of the underdogs could have held on and knocked off more of the favorites..

Packer - Niner game was exciting as was Bears v Bengals.

Monday's games look to be exciting too.

This League knows how to get it done.

[tornado]

enjoyed seeing the Packers go down despite all their dancing, trash talking, cheap hits and celebrating every single play...

http://nfl.si.com/2013/09/08/clay-matthews-late-hit-colin-kaepernick-green-bay-packers/

[Da Coach]

Kirk Wessler really rips the Bears offense and defense and says they were really "bad", and that they did not deserve to win. He believes the Bears won, 24-21, only because of the Cincinnati Bengals' mistakes.

Goodness, were these Bears bad

http://www.pjstar.com/sports/wessler/x1803826164/Wessler-Goodness-were-these-Bears-bad

I can't quite agree with that assessment. Sure there were some bad plays and some mistakes, it was the first game under an entirely new coaching staff with much of the roster revamped, but maybe Kirk has forgotten that the Bears have been bad for several years. They have had one of the worst offenses for years, and one of the worst offensive lines and receiver groups in the NFL year after year, not to mention a history of quarterback ineptitude that goes back dacades.
Yesterday they won an exciting game, and did give up any sacks despite 4 new starters and 2 rookies playing their first NFL game on the Offensive Line (they averaged giving up 50 sacks per season the last 3 years). They made 6 of 14 3rd downs (despite their slow start), they had 323 total yards, and Cutler passed for 242 yards. They controlled the time of possession for 31:30, and they were a +2 in turnovers. And one thing Kirk also forgot to mention was that the Cincinnati Bengals have been one of the very best defensive teams in the NFL the past few years.

What do other Bears fans think? The ones I have talked to were quite happy with this game and result.

BTW, the Chicago media are almost all more positive than KW-

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-0909-bears-bengals-chicago-20130909,0,6917884.story

[AZ BU Fan]

Just win baby!

[Da Coach]

Kirk Wessler really rips the Bears offense and defense and says they were really "bad", and that they did not deserve to win. He believes the Bears won, 24-21, only because of the Cincinnati Bengals' mistakes.

Goodness, were these Bears bad

http://www.pjstar.com/sports/wessler/x1803826164/Wessler-Goodness-were-these-Bears-bad

I can't quite agree with that assessment. Sure there were some bad plays and some mistakes, it was the first game under an entirely new coaching staff with much of the roster revamped, but maybe Kirk has forgotten that the Bears have been bad for several years. They have had one of the worst offenses for years, and one of the worst offensive lines and receiver groups in the NFL year after year, not to mention a history of quarterback ineptitude that goes back dacades.
Yesterday they won an exciting game, and did give up any sacks despite 4 new starters and 2 rookies playing their first NFL game on the Offensive Line (they averaged giving up 50 sacks per season the last 3 years). They made 6 of 14 3rd downs (despite their slow start), they had 323 total yards, and Cutler passed for 242 yards. They controlled the time of possession for 31:30, and they were a +2 in turnovers. And one thing Kirk also forgot to mention was that the Cincinnati Bengals have been one of the very best defensive teams in the NFL the past few years.

What do other Bears fans think? The ones I have talked to were quite happy with this game and result...

Interesting...Kirk Wessler's column from Monday was originally titled "Goodness, were these Bears bad". That title is still evident in the URL (the web address-
http://www.pjstar.com/sports/wessler...hese-Bears-bad

But today, the title of the same column (on the web version) has been changed to-
Nobody deserved to win Bears-Bengals game

Maybe KW had second thoughts about being so hard on the Bears? What would cause a columnist to have his column title changed after most people had already read it? Nobody I have talked to felt the Bears played as badly as Kirk seemed to think, and the talk on the Chicago sports talk shows yesterday and today was overwhelmingly positive about the play of the Bears.
And for the record, despite Kirks latest change in sentiments, I still think the Bears played more than well enough to deserve the win.

[doug shank's crossover]

Wow! Wessler really missed this one. Firstly, the Bengals aren't the same old Bengals. They're touted as one of the top 5 teams in the AFC and are a "sleeper" pick by many to go to the SuperBowl. Secondly, this game was the first time in 33 years that the Bears have strung 2 80 plus yard drives together for a comeback win in the fourth quarter. This team might end up going 8-8, but it's definitely got a good vibe going now. We'll see how they handle the Vikes next week....

[Da Coach]

The NFL Power Rankings are out after week 1, and CBS Sports has the Bears at #10, up from their preseason rank of #14, ahead of the Bengals, Colts, Super Bowl Champion Ravens, and some other pretty good teams!-

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/pat-kirwan/23574150/nfl-power-rankings-broncos-replace-niners-at-no-1-saints-rising

ESPN has the Bears at #9-

http://espn.go.com/nfl/powerrankings

Fox Sports has them at #7!-

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/powerRankings

And NFL.com has the Bears moving all the way up to the #6 spot!-

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000241907/article/power-rankings-week-2-eagles-saints-soar-redskins-sink

"Goodness"! Pretty impressive for as team that was so "BAD"!

The Bears are 5 1/2 point favorites over the Vikings for Sunday's game.

[AZ BU Fan]

KW must be a closet Packer's fan, dissing the Bears after a W. A Week 1 come from behind victory should be savored, but that doesn't help sell papers or get internet hits.

I bet Packer backers would have been ecstatic with an ugly W vs a good L to the 49ers ..

[Chico]

enjoyed seeing the Packers go down despite all their dancing, trash talking, cheap hits and celebrating every single play...





http://nfl.si.com/2013/09/08/clay-ma...n-bay-packers/

Just the Packers do that huh? I do agree that was a cheap shot by Mathews, just one of many I saw that day. That's not like him. But every game they all do the ridiculous celebrating and dancing after every play, every catch and every TD. Must be sickening to the old timers. Today's players should all be like Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals.

[Chico]

Another thing I don't like in today's football is the grabbing for the ball every play. Just tackle the ball carrier and force the fumble if possible. I love it when they grab for the ball instead of tackling and the ball carrier gets 5 more yards.

[AZ BU Fan]

With the new 'offensive' NFL, and kickers hitting 55 yd plus FG seemingly with ease, forcing fumbles must be a better play even if ball carriers gain extra yards.

I'd be stunned if the statistic crazy NFL team coaches/coordinators would tolerate their players' giving up extra yds trying to strip the ball if it wasn't a good tactic...

[Chico]

With the new 'offensive' NFL, and kickers hitting 55 yd plus FG seemingly with ease, forcing fumbles must be a better play even if ball carriers gain extra yards.

I'd be stunned if the statistic crazy NFL team coaches/coordinators would tolerate their players' giving up extra yds trying to strip the ball if it wasn't a good tactic...

Play football.

[tornado]

Goodness, were these Bears bad
http://www.pjstar.com/sports/wessler...hese-Bears-bad..

they may be bad but they're 2-0 with fans excited!
...Cutler getting some pretty good press....

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/rosenblog/chi-chicago-bears-cutlers-drive-rosenbloom-20130915,0,1046094.column