Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Even at 5-8, Bears have slim playoffs hopes

As of today, the Bears can still make the playoffs and the scenerio of that happening isn't as wacky as you might think.

Here is a scenerio that might happen and would get the Bears into the playoffs:

Bears win remaining 3 games (at Minnesota, at Green Bay, New Orleans)
Redskins loses at Minnesota, vs. Dallas, at NY Giants
Panthers loses vs. Dallas, vs. Seattle, at Tampa Bay
Vikings loses vs. Bears and at Denver, wins vs. Washington
Arizona loses at New Orleans and vs. St. Louis, wins vs. Atlanta
Lions loses at San Diego and at Green Bay, wins vs. Kansas City
Saints loses at Bears, wins against Arizona and Philadelphia
Eagles loses at Saints and at Cowboys, wins vs. Buffalo

NFC Wild Card Standing:
1. NY Giants
2. BEARS (8-8)
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Vikings (8-8)---division record tie-breaker
Saints (8-8)----head-to-head tie-breaker
Cardinals (7-9)
Lions (7-9)
Redskins (6-10)
Eagles (6-10)
Panthers (5-11)

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Bears have better than slim playoff hopes

Believe it or not, every team in the NFC are still alive in the playoff race. Every team. Yes, the Falcons, 49ers, and Rams all are not eliminated yet from making the playoffs. So, if the Falcons have a shot, you better believe we have a shot.

The Bears main goal right now is to get back to .500 (7-7)

Bears play the Redskins on Thursday and then have nearly 2 weeks to prepare for the Viking on MNF. I think the Bears can win both games. The Redskins will be emotional unprepared for Thursday's game and just suffered a tough loss to the Buffalo Bills. The Bears are angry and can't wait to let off their angry on the Redskins. As for the Minnesota game, like I said the Bears will have about 11 days to prepare. They have already faced the Vikings once and that helps. The Bears have to figure out how to stop Adrian Peterson. Putting 8 men in the box might be able to stop him. The Bears should let the Vikings try to beat them with their weak passing attack. Adrian Peterson beat the Bears by himself in the last meeting. The Vikings would have lost without him. If the Bears take him out of the game, the Bears will win.

Upcoming schedules (possible results):

Detroit Lions schedule:
Sun 12/9 Dallas 1:00 pm LOSS
Sun 12/16 at San Diego 4:15 pm LOSS

Arizona Cardinals schedule:
Sun 12/9 at Seattle 4:05 pm LOSS
Sun 12/16 at New Orleans 1:00 pm LOSS

Carolina Panthers schedule:
Sun 12/9 at Jacksonville 1:00 pm LOSS
Sun 12/16 Seattle 1:00 pm LOSS

Washington Redskins schedule:
Thu 12/6 Chicago 8:15 pm LOSS
Sun 12/16 at NY Giants 8:15 pm LOSS

New Orleans Saints schedule:
Mon 12/10 at Atlanta 8:30 pm WIN
Sun 12/16 Arizona 1:00 pm WIN

Minnesota Vikings schedule:
Sun 12/9 at San Francisco 4:05 pm WIN
Mon 12/17 Chicago 8:30 pm LOSS

New York Giants schedule:
Sun 12/9 at Philadelphia 1:00 pm LOSS
Sun 12/16 Washington 8:15 pm WIN

Here is the NFC Wild Card Standings after 14 games:

1. NY Giants (9-5)
2. New Orleans Saints (7-7)
--------------------------
Chicago Bears (7-7)
Minnesota Vikings (7-7)
Arizona Cardinals (6-8)
Detroit Lions (6-8)
Philadelphia Eagles (6-8)

If the standings gets to that point, Bears control their own destiny. Wins against GB and the Saints would get them into the playoffs as the 2nd wild card team.