Should we believe Lovie plays his starters on Sunday... (1 Viewer)

[groin pains]

Does he really want to knock Green Bay out that bad at the risk of injury?

 

[David Yudkin]

They can still get the #1 seed (although unlikely).

 

[Eviloutsider]

They will.

 

[Statcruncher]

He should play them the whole game, that's what rivalries are about. You have the chance to step on a hated opponent's throat, you do it. If they didn't have a bye I could understand, but with a week off already you have the green light to go full bore. Injuries happen and can't be predicted, they can happen in practice as well.

Play the full game and win > great confidence builder plus you shaft the Packers

Play the full game and lose > wake up call and you have a bye to figure it out

Play half a game and win > best case scenario but I don't see Green Bay rolling over

Play half a game and lose > handing the Packers a playoff berth and the possible karma of facing GB again after gathering rust for a couple weeks

Honestly with a bye I don't think I would rest against any team, let alone Green Bay. Other than a Super Bowl win, is there anything sweeter to a Bears fan than that thought of going into the hallowed confines of Lambeau Field and sending their rabid fans home in shocked silence as they try to cope with the fact that their season is over? Okay, maybe this possibly being his last play in the NFL is sweeter, but you know what I mean.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Their own team success is more important than ruining the possibility of Green Bay's. I suspect the Bears will play their starters for a bit, but probably less than a half, and they will feature a very vanilla game plan. With the 2 seed all but locked up (going all out and hoping that Carolina beats Atlanta ain't worth it), playing it smart is the right thing to do.

 

[duaneok66]

Their own team success is more important than ruining the possibility of Green Bay's. I suspect the Bears will play their starters for a bit, but probably less than a half, and they will feature a very vanilla game plan. With the 2 seed all but locked up (going all out and hoping that Carolina beats Atlanta ain't worth it), playing it smart is the right thing to do.

excellent post . . .

 

[Sudsy]

Since they are going to lose either way they should take the built in excuse of having not played their starters. It will allow the illusion to live a while longer.

 

[duaneok66]

Since they are going to lose either way they should take the built in excuse of having not played their starters. It will allow the illusion to live a while longer.

didn't they already beat Green Bay?

 

[Chase Stuart]

Let them win. There's a decent chance they beat ATL in round two, and that way CHI could host the NFCCG.

 

[Sabertooth]

Does he really want to knock Green Bay out that bad at the risk of injury?

I think he does. Lovie has done very well against Green Bay. Don't underestimate the fact that this is the biggest rivalry in the NFL, maybe all of sports. They can keep a hated rival out of the playoffs with a win. They don't want the Packers in the playoffs. Think of how humiliating it would be to sit your starters only to have the Packer get into the playoffs and beat you.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Vegas couldn't be making this any clearer for us. Chicago is a 10-point dog this Sunday.

 

[Phurfur]

Does he really want to knock Green Bay out that bad at the risk of injury?

That is what true professionals do! Go for it Lovie and help bring some integrity back into the game.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Vegas couldn't be making this any clearer for us. Chicago is a 10-point dog this Sunday.

Yep. Either:a) they know the Bears aren't gonna go all-out in this game. orb) they know the general betting public still thinks that the Packers are still the vastly superior team, even though the Bears have shown themselves over the course of the entire season to be the better team. Odds are, it is a lot of both.

 

[Phurfur]

Does he really want to knock Green Bay out that bad at the risk of injury?

I think he does. Lovie has done very well against Green Bay. Don't underestimate the fact that this is the biggest rivalry in the NFL, maybe all of sports. They can keep a hated rival out of the playoffs with a win. They don't want the Packers in the playoffs. Think of how humiliating it would be to sit your starters only to have the Packer get into the playoffs and beat you.

When Lovie took over the HC job he stated at his press conference that his first priority was to beat GB. The Chicago media and fans ate it up.

 

[groin pains]

Not sure the Bears will go all out, especially if the Falcons secure the #1 seed by the late game kickoff! Green Bay may be the lock of the day!

 

[harryhood]

Let them win. There's a decent chance they beat ATL in round two, and that way CHI could host the NFCCG.

GB over Philly in RD 1, eh?

 

[Tony Jabroni]

He should play them the whole game, that's what rivalries are about. You have the chance to step on a hated opponent's throat, you do it. If they didn't have a bye I could understand, but with a week off already you have the green light to go full bore. Injuries happen and can't be predicted, they can happen in practice as well.

Play the full game and win > great confidence builder plus you shaft the Packers

Play the full game and lose > wake up call and you have a bye to figure it out

Play half a game and win > best case scenario but I don't see Green Bay rolling over

Play half a game and lose > handing the Packers a playoff berth and the possible karma of facing GB again after gathering rust for a couple weeks

Honestly with a bye I don't think I would rest against any team, let alone Green Bay. Other than a Super Bowl win, is there anything sweeter to a Bears fan than that thought of going into the hallowed confines of Lambeau Field and sending their rabid fans home in shocked silence as they try to cope with the fact that their season is over? Okay, maybe this possibly being his last play in the NFL is sweeter, but you know what I mean.

<_< *PUKES*

Best of luck

 

[Chase Stuart]

Let them win. There's a decent chance they beat ATL in round two, and that way CHI could host the NFCCG.

GB over Philly in RD 1, eh?

 

[buck naked]

Let them win. There's a decent chance they beat ATL in round two, and that way CHI could host the NFCCG.

GB over Philly in RD 1, eh?

You may want to wait to pat yourself on the back. The Bears need to win before you do. The Bears COULD have knocked out the Packers, but now they might get knocked out instead. Who cares about hosting the game if the Bears lose.

 

[Eric Stratton]

Let them win. There's a decent chance they beat ATL in round two, and that way CHI could host the NFCCG.

GB over Philly in RD 1, eh?

You may want to wait to pat yourself on the back. The Bears need to win before you do. The Bears COULD have knocked out the Packers, but now they might get knocked out instead. Who cares about hosting the game if the Bears lose.

I thought Chase was better than this.

 

[Chase Stuart]

Let them win. There's a decent chance they beat ATL in round two, and that way CHI could host the NFCCG.

GB over Philly in RD 1, eh?

You may want to wait to pat yourself on the back. The Bears need to win before you do. The Bears COULD have knocked out the Packers, but now they might get knocked out instead. Who cares about hosting the game if the Bears lose.

Everyone wants to be home. Do you think the Steelers are unsure if they're happy that they play the Jets at home instead of having to go to Foxboro? Or do you think they were very happy as soon as the game ended?

 

[BassNBrew]

Let them win. There's a decent chance they beat ATL in round two, and that way CHI could host the NFCCG.

GB over Philly in RD 1, eh?

You may want to wait to pat yourself on the back. The Bears need to win before you do. The Bears COULD have knocked out the Packers, but now they might get knocked out instead. Who cares about hosting the game if the Bears lose.

Everyone wants to be home. Do you think the Steelers are unsure if they're happy that they play the Jets at home instead of having to go to Foxboro? Or do you think they were very happy as soon as the game ended?

I'd rather play Atlanta on the road than Green Bay at home.

 

[DrJ]

I'd rather play Atlanta on the road than Green Bay at home.

I wouldn't. Win or lose, I'm quite happy to be going to the biggest football game outside of the Superbowl maybe ever. Isn't this what we watch this sport for?