2025-26 NFL Season Thread

[Snopek]

 

[southsider2k5]

23 minutes ago, Tony said:

I mentioned it during the game, but there was a play on third down where he missed Loveland while rolling out of the pocket. Collinsworth said something to the effect of “We have seen Caleb make some absolutely out of this world throws this year, a few of them in this game, but he’s gotta be able to hit the easy ones, something he has been inconsistent on thus far and a reason his completion percentage is around 56% on the year.”

And I don’t disagree with any of it. There have been a ton of improvements from Caleb and I’m happy where he is right now..but that area does have to improve, and believe it will 

I am about 98% sure that they gave Caleb a directive this year that if he isn't 100% sure on a throw, throw it away, because anytime it is a 50/50 throw, it goes into the sideline.

[Milkman delivers]

39 minutes ago, bmags said:

The bears last two losses left me more exhilarated than certainly the Saints or raiders wins.

We may finally have a team that can compete in every type of game. Pulling that game out would have been so fun but still I just kept pinching myself.

Luther Burden is gonna break Johnny Morris’ records you heard it here first.

Yes, I felt somewhat optimistic even after losing because they proved they can also stand and trade punches in a high scoring game.

But man, Williams always seems to leave something to be desired. He’s good enough, but a “generational talent” should make that last throw. I don’t think he’s ever going to be as good as he should be, mainly due to the hype he came into the league with.

[bmags]

3 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

I am about 98% sure that they gave Caleb a directive this year that if he isn't 100% sure on a throw, throw it away, because anytime it is a 50/50 throw, it goes into the sideline.

Yeah, we don’t really seem to have a 50/50 guy. He trusts Rome on those and no one else…and Rome sucks at it

[southsider2k5]

1 minute ago, bmags said:

Yeah, we don’t really seem to have a 50/50 guy. He trusts Rome on those and no one else…and Rome sucks at it

I keep telling myself to think a couple of things.  

#1 it is obvious the dude didn't get coached AT ALL last year.  Not only Caleb, but the entire team.  It is uncanny how much improvement the Bears squeezed out of the exact same guys from year to year.

#2, The Bears have seen a crazy amount of injuries this year.  The WRs, secondary. and LB positions have just been decimated with injuries.  For Williams specifically, about the time he seems to get chemistry going with someone, they get hurt.  The improvements we saw over the season from Buden, Loveland, and Odunze, and Williams ability to find them make me think this will continue in the right direction.

#3, get The Bears a real pass rush, and keep Caleb out of desperation time for every game, and this team is going to be unreal.

[bmags]

28 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

I keep telling myself to think a couple of things.  

#1 it is obvious the dude didn't get coached AT ALL last year.  Not only Caleb, but the entire team.  It is uncanny how much improvement the Bears squeezed out of the exact same guys from year to year.

#2, The Bears have seen a crazy amount of injuries this year.  The WRs, secondary. and LB positions have just been decimated with injuries.  For Williams specifically, about the time he seems to get chemistry going with someone, they get hurt.  The improvements we saw over the season from Buden, Loveland, and Odunze, and Williams ability to find them make me think this will continue in the right direction.

#3, get The Bears a real pass rush, and keep Caleb out of desperation time for every game, and this team is going to be unreal.

I kinda felt opposite. Our starting LT last year is now 3rd string behind a rookie and younger guy. Added two pro bowl interior OL. Our best receiver was a rookie, best TE was a rookie.

I think we overrated what we had, but Ben sprinkled hardcore psycho dust so that when Burden is out our run game gets affected because Rome and Burden are legit great blockers - and that’s all BJ

[Quin]

1 hour ago, Tony said:

I mentioned it during the game, but there was a play on third down where he missed Loveland while rolling out of the pocket. Collinsworth said something to the effect of “We have seen Caleb make some absolutely out of this world throws this year, a few of them in this game, but he’s gotta be able to hit the easy ones, something he has been inconsistent on thus far and a reason his completion percentage is around 56% on the year.”

And I don’t disagree with any of it. There have been a ton of improvements from Caleb and I’m happy where he is right now..but that area does have to improve, and believe it will 

The crazy thing is that, if he improves these throws, he's basically an MVP candidate.

I keep thinking about how with 2ish minutes left, Collinsworth said that the Bears would rather be where they are than the 49ers are. Even if it didn't work out, that's all because of Caleb.

[southsider2k5]

42 minutes ago, bmags said:

I kinda felt opposite. Our starting LT last year is now 3rd string behind a rookie and younger guy. Added two pro bowl interior OL. Our best receiver was a rookie, best TE was a rookie.

I think we overrated what we had, but Ben sprinkled hardcore psycho dust so that when Burden is out our run game gets affected because Rome and Burden are legit great blockers - and that’s all BJ

I mean specifically guys who were here both last year and this year.  Thinking of the improvement in Williams and Odunze year of year as examples. Swift was borderline unplayable last year.

[southsider2k5]

14 minutes ago, Quin said:

The crazy thing is that, if he improves these throws, he's basically an MVP candidate.

I keep thinking about how with 2ish minutes left, Collinsworth said that the Bears would rather be where they are than the 49ers are. Even if it didn't work out, that's all because of Caleb.

Purdy is probably on the Mt Rushmore of smartest QBs in football  Dude makes more out of a pretty mediocre bag of tools than just about any QB in the NFL.  The top guys all have big arms, legs, or both.  Purdy just sees the field in about 0.5 speed, while everyone else is running at 1.2.  He makes it look easy.  If Caleb gets a fraction of that football IQ, he is a half a billion dollar QB.

[bmags]

I am just so so tired of the Caleb Williams lecture remix we get every game. Brady thankfully stopped and he’s been great, as is Olsen.

But we still get this excited moment where they get to lecture Caleb on making the smart play. Sure, but they act like Caleb has 20 interceptions and 60 sacks again. He’s made incredible progress and lead them to a title in a brutal division with two great defenses. 
 

so tiring.

[Quin]

2 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

Purdy is probably on the Mt Rushmore of smartest QBs in football  Dude makes more out of a pretty mediocre bag of tools than just about any QB in the NFL.  The top guys all have big arms, legs, or both.  Purdy just sees the field in about 0.5 speed, while everyone else is running at 1.2.  He makes it look easy.  If Caleb gets a fraction of that football IQ, he is a half a billion dollar QB.

It really can't be understated that it's Ben's Year 1 at coach and Caleb's Year 2 (first stable year). And every story makes it sound like they're football psychopaths made for one another. I think they get there.

Also, I really don't want to see DJ or Kmet leave. 

If Poles has shown there's one thing he's genuinely good at it, it's cap management. Hopefully he can figure out how to workout some restructures that keep the offense together while giving room to rebuild the defense.

Of course, the big impediments are self-inflicted (Dayo, Jarrett).

[bmags]

1 minute ago, Quin said:

It really can't be understated that it's Ben's Year 1 at coach and Caleb's Year 2 (first stable year). And every story makes it sound like they're football psychopaths made for one another. I think they get there.

Also, I really don't want to see DJ or Kmet leave. 

If Poles has shown there's one thing he's genuinely good at it, it's cap management. Hopefully he can figure out how to workout some restructures that keep the offense together while giving room to rebuild the defense.

Of course, the big impediments are self-inflicted (Dayo, Jarrett).

1 blind spot my life as a bears fan gave me was being extremely mad at our 2025 draft week 2. Ozzy and Turner were inactive, burden and colston were buried.

hyppolyte was and still sucked, and our fifth round pick went MiA for some reason.

My entire life meant these guys were busts. Development was a word I heard but never experienced so I just wrote them off.

But now we have a psycho coach and this draft catapulted our season in the second half.

Caleb is not a finished product yet and that’s not an insult, it means we are going to get an all Pro.

[Quin]

9 minutes ago, bmags said:

1 blind spot my life as a bears fan gave me was being extremely mad at our 2025 draft week 2. Ozzy and Turner were inactive, burden and colston were buried.

hyppolyte was and still sucked, and our fifth round pick went MiA for some reason.

My entire life meant these guys were busts. Development was a word I heard but never experienced so I just wrote them off.

But now we have a psycho coach and this draft catapulted our season in the second half.

Caleb is not a finished product yet and that’s not an insult, it means we are going to get an all Pro.

I remember my friends messaging me that the Bears drafted Burden and I was confused as hell why they'd take him with DJ and Rome (and two pass catching tight ends) in house and RBs on the board. Little did I know that it's ok to have more than one really good receiver (you can have lots of weapons) and I don't need to fall in love with shiny running backs when Monangai exists.

[Harry Chappas]

This may sound idiotic but I'd package the #1 and Rome to move up in the draft for a top DL

I think they will move Moore but will only get a late round pick for him 

Burden seems to be legit WR1 and Loveland TE1 you can sprinkle around him and Moore with the TE & RB room 

[Kyyle23]

Just now, Harry Chappas said:

This may sound idiotic but I'd package the #1 and Rome to move up in the draft for a top DL

I think they will move Moore but will only get a late round pick for him 

Burden seems to be legit WR1 and Loveland TE1 you can sprinkle around him and Moore with the TE & RB room 

Brother this is not the season to be musing about draft position in December 😂

[bmags]

1 hour ago, Quin said:

I remember my friends messaging me that the Bears drafted Burden and I was confused as hell why they'd take him with DJ and Rome (and two pass catching tight ends) in house and RBs on the board. Little did I know that it's ok to have more than one really good receiver (you can have lots of weapons) and I don't need to fall in love with shiny running backs when Monangai exists.

My take with Luther was always that I love having Luther because I loved Luther (mizzou) but was criminal to not solve our holes. Well, in fact getting great players rules.

[Quin]

8 minutes ago, bmags said:

My take with Luther was always that I love having Luther because I loved Luther (mizzou) but was criminal to not solve our holes. Well, in fact getting great players rules.

It also helps that it seems like Ben Johnson has seemingly been the perfect coach for him.

God bless our crazy man.

[southsider2k5]

2 hours ago, Harry Chappas said:

This may sound idiotic but I'd package the #1 and Rome to move up in the draft for a top DL

I think they will move Moore but will only get a late round pick for him 

Burden seems to be legit WR1 and Loveland TE1 you can sprinkle around him and Moore with the TE & RB room 

Just take guys in the trenches and rebuild from the inside out.  The O line is really expensive and will need new blood once the cap problems get bad here in a few years.

[Chisoxfn]

4 hours ago, bmags said:

I kinda felt opposite. Our starting LT last year is now 3rd string behind a rookie and younger guy. Added two pro bowl interior OL. Our best receiver was a rookie, best TE was a rookie.

I think we overrated what we had, but Ben sprinkled hardcore psycho dust so that when Burden is out our run game gets affected because Rome and Burden are legit great blockers - and that’s all BJ

100 percent. The oline improvements are significant and notable. The coaching is noticeable too - but Burden, Loveland, Monagai and Trapilo are also nothing to sneeze at. All of them have been meaningful contributors - two of which (Burden and Loveland) have been top 5 at their respective positions when on the field after adjusting for first few games. 
 

Defensively they have had injuries to some key players. JJ is still getting up to speed from a serious injury and Kyler is a very good nickel when healthy - and yes - they missed Edward’s and Edmunds and had some injuries on the line - but this defense is just not very good. It’s real knock I have for Poles is the fact he has made heavy investments in dline - very few have panned out. Hopefully Shamar Turner ends up being a piece and Booker at worse looks like a rotational end. Dexter has flashed at times, but clearly not good enough to be a difference maker.