Good Bears win, offense looks better the pass defense much worse. I still think they have to replace the GM and probably Nagy too . . .benching Mitch was clearly a mistake and that’s on him.
Northwestern with a solid W this weekend (basketball). Might be some life there after all.
- thisjustinagain - Monday, Dec 21, 20 @ 10:19 am:
Benching Mitch was the right decision, as was bringing him back with no other viable options. The fact that he suddenly looks good in what is likely his final year with the Bears indicates either a) how much he was held back by bad coaching, b) how much he wants to leave on a high note. But I have my doubts he’d be anything but another backup elsewhere, unless he gets a 1 year Bears contract and plays well an entire season.
Could the Bears finish at least .500 now? After the near-collapse of the 6-game skid after the 5-1 start.
Assuming a win over the hapless Jaguars Sunday, and conceding a likely loss to the Pack to end the year.
Will be interesting if the Bears end up with a better record than the NFC East “champion.” Which if that happens while the Bears sit out January, is all the more need to reform the NFL playoff system. Including disqualifying division champions with less than .500 records from postseason. Or do best 7 teams regardless of division per conference (like the NBA).
The NFL needs to return to 3 divisions per conference.
This would make divisional games meaningful again.
A sub-par team getting into the playoffs by playing in a pathetic division is becoming the norm.
==The NFL needs to return to 3 divisions per conference.==
I agree. And entirely based on geography regardless of tradition. Which means the days of the Cowboys playing in the NFC East should come to an end. And they join the NFC West with the Seahawks, 49ers, Rams, and Cardinals.
- thisjustinagain - Monday, Dec 21, 20 @ 12:09 pm:
On the football comments: “Any given Sunday (or Tuesday, or Saturday, or…). Not only did the Jets win one, but the Pats are NOT in the playoffs. But the entire playoff system needs revision; NO team playing .500 or less should EVER be in, not even a wildcard because they don’t deserve to be there. Letting weak teams in makes it as bad as all the weak college bowl games.
In NHL news, the Blackhawks are in a modified division only set of games this coming season. That means eight games against Detroit, nice to have that rivalry in full force again in 2021.
Just witnessed another “great moment in journalism” (sarcasm intended) on Channel 20’s 6PM news this evening.
When reporting on school board elections here in Chatham (Glenwood aka Ball-Chatham School District), they used the graphic “Dist. 186 School Board Elections.” Even with the Glenwood High School sign in the background.
Sorry Channel 20, you mixed up your school district numbers. District 186 is Springfield Public Schools. Ball-Chatham is District #5.
But this is expected from Channel 20. Why I still watch the first few minutes of their news in hopes of seeing “Springfield-area” stories before switching to 17 for the rest of the news is beyond me.
- Siriusly - Monday, Dec 21, 20 @ 9:08 am:
Good Bears win, offense looks better the pass defense much worse. I still think they have to replace the GM and probably Nagy too . . .benching Mitch was clearly a mistake and that’s on him.
- Swampy Corn - Monday, Dec 21, 20 @ 9:19 am:
Northwestern with a solid W this weekend (basketball). Might be some life there after all.
- thisjustinagain - Monday, Dec 21, 20 @ 10:19 am:
Benching Mitch was the right decision, as was bringing him back with no other viable options. The fact that he suddenly looks good in what is likely his final year with the Bears indicates either a) how much he was held back by bad coaching, b) how much he wants to leave on a high note. But I have my doubts he’d be anything but another backup elsewhere, unless he gets a 1 year Bears contract and plays well an entire season.
- Just Me 2 - Monday, Dec 21, 20 @ 10:26 am:
Can the entire House of Representatives all be sworn into office in their districts with local judges? Asking for a friend.
- Chatham Resident - Monday, Dec 21, 20 @ 10:26 am:
Could the Bears finish at least .500 now? After the near-collapse of the 6-game skid after the 5-1 start.
Assuming a win over the hapless Jaguars Sunday, and conceding a likely loss to the Pack to end the year.
Will be interesting if the Bears end up with a better record than the NFC East “champion.” Which if that happens while the Bears sit out January, is all the more need to reform the NFL playoff system. Including disqualifying division champions with less than .500 records from postseason. Or do best 7 teams regardless of division per conference (like the NBA).
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Dec 21, 20 @ 10:33 am:
The NFL is designed so that teams that fall into the 7-9, 8-8, 9-7 window aren’t helped.
The worst place to finish an NFL season is at it hovering around .500
Middle round draft picks, can’t fire anybody, can’t change the culture, it’s like being stuck in neutral, and your new picks are middle of the road.
But, of course, the Bears will find that way into that wasteland of perpetual “mediocre”
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Monday, Dec 21, 20 @ 10:34 am:
Chatham resident-
The NFL needs to return to 3 divisions per conference.
This would make divisional games meaningful again.
A sub-par team getting into the playoffs by playing in a pathetic division is becoming the norm.
- Chatham Resident - Monday, Dec 21, 20 @ 11:00 am:
Who would have thought the Jets would have upset the Rams yesterday to ensure no winless NFL teams this season?
- Mongo - Monday, Dec 21, 20 @ 11:01 am:
It was fun to watch the Bears play. Where did the defense go though??
- Dotnonymous - Monday, Dec 21, 20 @ 11:11 am:
600 bucks won’t buy much cake.
- Chatham Resident - Monday, Dec 21, 20 @ 11:36 am:
==The NFL needs to return to 3 divisions per conference.==
I agree. And entirely based on geography regardless of tradition. Which means the days of the Cowboys playing in the NFC East should come to an end. And they join the NFC West with the Seahawks, 49ers, Rams, and Cardinals.
- thisjustinagain - Monday, Dec 21, 20 @ 12:09 pm:
On the football comments: “Any given Sunday (or Tuesday, or Saturday, or…). Not only did the Jets win one, but the Pats are NOT in the playoffs. But the entire playoff system needs revision; NO team playing .500 or less should EVER be in, not even a wildcard because they don’t deserve to be there. Letting weak teams in makes it as bad as all the weak college bowl games.
- Dutch - Monday, Dec 21, 20 @ 12:22 pm:
In NHL news, the Blackhawks are in a modified division only set of games this coming season. That means eight games against Detroit, nice to have that rivalry in full force again in 2021.
- Chatham Resident - Monday, Dec 21, 20 @ 12:44 pm:
Tony LaRussa only gets a day of home detention after pleading guilty to his February DUI:
https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2020/12/21/22193060/white-sox-manager-tony-la-russa-plead-guilty-arizona-dui-case
- Chatham Resident - Monday, Dec 21, 20 @ 6:21 pm:
Just witnessed another “great moment in journalism” (sarcasm intended) on Channel 20’s 6PM news this evening.
When reporting on school board elections here in Chatham (Glenwood aka Ball-Chatham School District), they used the graphic “Dist. 186 School Board Elections.” Even with the Glenwood High School sign in the background.
Sorry Channel 20, you mixed up your school district numbers. District 186 is Springfield Public Schools. Ball-Chatham is District #5.
But this is expected from Channel 20. Why I still watch the first few minutes of their news in hopes of seeing “Springfield-area” stories before switching to 17 for the rest of the news is beyond me.