Chisoxfn

I would pass on making a splash - keep the draft capital and wait for next year unless you think you get real value/long term difference maker. They are too far away to blow it all now.

These never get old!

A win is a win - hope DJ is ok. Huge props for D and for Swift!

This year feels like outside of maybe 1-2 teams, it is anyone’s race. Tons of parody in college football which are words I don’t think I’ve ever said.

Heck of a game

Was really hoping. Packers got super lucky there.

Road win - ugly but a win. Caleb with the come from behind victory and he played pretty good at the end - stepped up a lot and used his legs when it mattered. The drops and penalties were costly and Caleb had a few he’d like back as well - but man much nicer going into bye week pulling that out - but with very clear stuff to still work on. Lers get some players back after the bye and keep on growing!

Bright side is Minny and Lions are 2-1 and showed they are pretty good. Or at very least Vikings D showed they are very good.

That was fun. Still stuff to clean up but more progress and a ton of big plays. That was fun!!! Let’s hope they keep growing!

Agree completely.

I actually thought Caleb has made some real steps - not where he needs to be but this loss was not on Caleb. Unless he was the reason for all the issues up front and the penalties. He still made his share of mistakes but not many QBs could overcome the amount of shooting of the feet that happened. Still he has a lot more growth that needs to happen. I don’t have faith in Poles but I still think BJ will figure it out and I am confident he will figure it out with Caleb.

Not sure why either - I haven’t been a big Poles fan for a while. But I do get with the new coach why they did it. I also expect they will be 1-3 or even 0-4 leading into bye. They better start to turn things around after that. Lions are just too good and Bears made way too many mistakes. Between penalties, inability to execute on 4th and short, the turnovers, they just aren’t there to be able to win a barn burner.

I expected them to get whooped and they did. Poles is the one who will end up on hot seat if the talent looks sub par.

This is insane.

He also threw some real good balls - including a couple tight windows ones where they couldn’t pull it down. Had some ugly ones too…some might have been not having the right timing or aligned with say Kmet on where to settle - but also just some places where he should have used an 8-iron but instead went with the driver.

The key is - how does he build from this. And if he doesn’t - then they will be looking for a new qb. I expect BJ will use the film study to teach and Caleb better be putting in the work.

All that said - there were plenty of good moments and lots of teaching moments. Had they won I think everyone would be singing a slightly different tune and the reality is somewhere in the middle. The oline looks like a unit with a lot of new players and offense made mistakes reflecting of a unit learning a new system. Defensively they wore down given the lack of depth - especially in secondary due to injuries and also I think just wearing down due to being first full game. Biggest thing is I think you could see the quiet and stoic pissed off look in Johnson’s eyes and I trust he will use this and be the type of coach who can build guys up and this team will grow from here, but as Kyle said - we expected a rough start while they adjust and that is what it looks like is happening - the real test is post bye week do we see a team that is starting to ascend - I sure as heck hope we do. It may be too little too late but if they come out of bye and start playing consistently good football that to me is kind of the baseline expectation.

I thought Caleb played a solid to good first half and then had a lousy second half.

That was what I assumed but I read somewhere where a former ref said that wasn’t actually the rule. I’m curious cause my initial thought was what a horrible challenge…now I’m curious is this one of those obscure things that never happens and there was a confusion?

So did they rule the first contact was to the jersey vs the ball?

They drafted a right tackle two years after passing on Jalen Carter for Wright. Poles is still the problem until we see some more consistent scouting hits. Turner was out with an injury I believe.

I will say as ticked as I am, this season was always tough and about building momentum - so now have to see how they respond. Not winning this is tough though cause they open up with a pretty brutal schedule if I remember.

Absolutely.

Other than the big trade with Panthers and getting Johnson as HC, a lot of Poles moves are still up for debate. I will say at least they invested a bit more in oline but it still looks like he could have a lot of scouting misses.

It will be interesting to see how team responds to this. Let this be a catapult to better times. I think it will be a rough week at Halas Hall and it is going to only get tougher with Lions looking to get their first win.