2023 NFL Season Thread

[KelVarnsen]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

What are the Packers’ chances of slipping into the playoffs? Slim, I’d imagine.

https://www.tsn.ca/nfl/nfl-week-18-p...dings-19.70959

[DropIt]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

What are the Packers’ chances of slipping into the playoffs? Slim, I’d imagine.

They have to beat Chicago at Lambeau.

So like 100% basically

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by DropIt

Rhey have to beat Chicago at Lambeau.

So like 100% basically

That’s promising.

[DropIt]

Originally Posted by Spurs

Win and they are in

And they are playing the Bears who they should beat anyways but moreso because the Bears have no reason to want to win this game.

Wrong.

Keeping Green Bay out of the playoffs is more than enough reason. As well, this game will most likely determine Justin Fields' future in Chicago and what the Bears decide to do with that draft pick

[Jiggy_12]

Packers have the same situation as last year. Win at home against a rival and get in.

Last year the Lions with nothing to play for completely embarrassed then.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by DropIt

Wrong.

Keeping Green Bay out of the playoffs is more than enough reason. As well, this game will most likely determine Justin Fields' future in Chicago and what the Bears decide to do with that draft pick

The Bears shouldn't let one game make that decision.

Based on how Fields was talking after last game my reading of the tea leaves was that its his last game in Chicago last week. So I'm undecided if the Bears still come out and play their best game here. On one hand they likely want to finish strong. On the other their quotes last week was that of a team who had finished the season. I think I'd lean Bears to make the game difficult and cover the spread at worst.

Either way Bears are in a good spot, teams like Pittsburgh or Vegas likely will covet Fields gor a decent return, and that top pick is house money. Two years from now they could be a serious contender if they just beat average in the draft and free agency.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

Packers have the same situation as last year. Win at home against a rival and get in.

Last year the Lions with nothing to play for completely embarrassed then.

Difference is that this is a younger Packers team who likely see making the playoffs as the 7th seed as an achievement. Last year the QB had one foot out the door and the 7 seed was still underachieving. This team might choke in the moment, but this year I think it might be more talent/experience that stalls them. Which if I was a fan of them would be more forgivable than last year.

[Spurs]

Originally Posted by DropIt

Wrong.

Keeping Green Bay out of the playoffs is more than enough reason. As well, this game will most likely determine Justin Fields' future in Chicago and what the Bears decide to do with that draft pick

That sounds great for the fans, but are players really going to care about keeping the Packers out?

The Fields point could affect the game though as you make a good point they will likely want to maximize his opportunities even though it should be clear that though he is exciting you aren't winning anything with him as the starter.

[Senator Clay Davis]

The players who have the chance to ruin their rivals season will 100% care. One of the best things the NFL did in recent history was switching to all week 17/18 games are division games. Even for teams whose seasons are over they will have that motivation. Doesn't mean the Bears will win, but having the Packers playing the Bears instead of the Cardinals or Panthers makes a hell of a difference.

[KelVarnsen]

And players like Fields are gonna want to show other teams why they should make a deal for them.

[Senator Clay Davis]

And Eberflus is trying to get another year, guys will have performance bonuses on the line etc...Bears might lose by not being as good, but they aren't going to be just no showing.

[Spurs]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

The players who have the chance to ruin their rivals season will 100% care. One of the best things the NFL did in recent history was switching to all week 17/18 games are division games. Even for teams whose seasons are over they will have that motivation. Doesn't mean the Bears will win, but having the Packers playing the Bears instead of the Cardinals or Panthers makes a hell of a difference.

Listening to plenty of ex-athletes they often mention that they don't get into these traditional rivalries that the fans have. Now if the Bears-Packers had some contentious games sure, but I think we as fans overrate how much players care about these rivalries.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I just hope the Steelers lose.

Fully expecting them to get in. That franchise has a horseshoe up their butts, feels like things always line up for them in these situations.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Spurs

Listening to plenty of ex-athletes they often mention that they don't get into these traditional rivalries that the fans have. Now if the Bears-Packers had some contentious games sure, but I think we as fans overrate how much players care about these rivalries.

Lol

[SuperMatt18]

I don't think Spurs is completly wrong TBH

Important games against one another and big playoff games are what builds rivalries. Generally that happens in division becasue you play each other twice every year, but only if the division is competitive.

When is the last time the Packers and Bears have played in an actually important game against one another? I guess 2021 when the Bears could and won and clinched a playoff spot (and lost)

With Rodgers at QB the Packers were 25-5 against the Bears, it wasn't much of a rivalry.

Bears haven't won a playoff game in 14 years and only made the playoffs twice in that time...i honeslty can't remember a really important hostile game between those two teams.

Not like say any of the AFC North rivalries, or some of the other big rivalries.

[browna]

Yeah as a Seahawks fan the only hope for the playoffs is that only "care" the Bears have is to stop getting asked why they can't beat the Packers.

Rivalries (for players, not fans) aren't nearly as heated anymore with the movement of players pretty freely.

Any last bastion of player hate of rivals for NFL teams went out the door when Favre went to the Vikings or Jimmy G to Oakland from SF.

[devo22]

solid drive. The run game has been fun to watch these past few weeks, both Harris and Warren have run well and the OL is doing a decent job.

weather looks terrible. Wonder how many fumbles or at least close calls there are today.

[KelVarnsen]

That was a lot of words there by John Perry.

None of them were very clear.

[devo22]

Brad Allen is one confused man. Loves the spotlight though.

[KelVarnsen]

This is a miserable game