I feel like this is a defining moment for our season today. If we can beat a team like Tampa Bay, I feel like the team will have taken a step in the right direction on the road to being a good team again. I really don't want to see another "moral victory" or a hear about how we "were close" today. I really hope we beat a team that we should beat. And I am not saying Tampa is a bad team, or an easy win. I'm not saying that. I'm saying we should be at the point (in this 3rd year of Ryan Pace and John Fox) to be able to beat a team of this caliber.
If we just come back with another losing effort, then we know we're still the Bears - a crappy team always dreaming about "next year" and how someday it will all be better.
We need to win this game today. And we SHOULD win this game today. No excuses.
I feel like this is a defining moment for our season today. If we can beat a team like Tampa Bay, I feel like the team will have taken a step in the right direction on the road to being a good team again. I really don't want to see another "moral victory" or a hear about how we "were close" today. I really hope we beat a team that we should beat. And I am not saying Tampa is a bad team, or an easy win. I'm not saying that. I'm saying we should be at the point (in this 3rd year of Ryan Pace and John Fox) to be able to beat a team of this caliber.
If we just come back with another losing effort, then we know we're still the Bears - a crappy team always dreaming about "next year" and how someday it will all be better.
We need to win this game today. And we SHOULD win this game today. No excuses.
I don't know what to expect from Tampa. The football pundits are high on them this year, I don't see it. I think they are a 500 team trying to get it together. If we want to be a 500 team we need to beat teams like Tampa.
I feel like this is a defining moment for our season today. If we can beat a team like Tampa Bay, I feel like the team will have taken a step in the right direction on the road to being a good team again. I really don't want to see another "moral victory" or a hear about how we "were close" today. I really hope we beat a team that we should beat. And I am not saying Tampa is a bad team, or an easy win. I'm not saying that. I'm saying we should be at the point (in this 3rd year of Ryan Pace and John Fox) to be able to beat a team of this caliber.
If we just come back with another losing effort, then we know we're still the Bears - a crappy team always dreaming about "next year" and how someday it will all be better.
We need to win this game today. And we SHOULD win this game today. No excuses.
Couldn't agree more. Now let's go get this victory!
Post by Whisky Beer Bob on Sept 17, 2017 8:09:31 GMT -6
This game is an excellent test for our secondary. That Evans is a big boy and DeSaun Jackson can be a huge pain in da ass to defend against. I am not too worried about their run game thou... They do have of our cast-offs in Jacquizz Rodgers.
Post by britishbearfan on Sept 17, 2017 9:26:16 GMT -6
We should be realistic about the fact that the Bucs are heavily favoured to win - but it is still a winnable game for the Bears.
I think that the key to stopping the Bucs high powered offense will be to shut down their run game hard and make them one dimensional. We are lucky that Doug Baldwin is out but Jacquizz Rodgers is an ok back - although a lot of his upside is on pass blocking and receiving. Overall, Bears should have a good chance to stop their running game - but I don't see it as a foregone conclusion. It is important that the run is shut down however because the Bears are clearly going to have to sell out against the pass to stop their passing attack. The match up that worries me is not so much the outside receivers but the tight ends and slot. I think we particularly miss Freeman here as he has been great in coverage since joining last year. Overall, I doubt that the Bucs passing defence can be completely stopped but if they can become one dimensional then they can probably be limited and possibly forced into some takeaways.
Tampa seem to have a pretty good but not elite defence. I think they will tougher against the run this year with the signing of Chris Baker at DT. They were pretty great at getting to the QB last year - particularly against us. I hope we see a balanced offense between pass and run. If Bucs stack the box we have to be willing to pass the ball. It looks like the Bucs are another small but quick defence so I hope the Bears can exploit some of their big TEs to move the chains. If its very hot in Tampa and they haven't played for a month - then maybe the Bears can use some long drives to tire them out and then bring it home with Howard and Cohen.
Overall, I think this is a winnable game - but if either the defence can't stop the run or the offense can't sustain drives then I could see this being a long afternoon for the Beloved!