Bears vs. Packers: What Are Experts Saying About Chicago?
The bye week could not have come at a better time for a Chicago Bears team that dropped to 3-5 on the season after a 51-23 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 8. Chicago struggled to find a rhythm offensively against the Patriots, and its defense was gashed for nearly 500 yards.
Currently sitting in last place in the NFC North division, the Bears will head back on the road in Week 10 to take on the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football.
Despite having nearly two full weeks off between games, media pundits have had plenty to talk about in regards to the Bears.
What exactly are the experts saying about the Chicago Bears heading into their Week 10 matchup with the Green Bay Packers?
CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora Says Marc Trestman's Job Security Is Tenuous
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After the Bears dropped to 3-5 following their loss to the New England Patriots in Week 8, a report from CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora indicated the team is "in a state of crisis."
According to La Canfora's sources, "players are tuning out head coach Marc Trestman and the team's dedication has been called in to question at times by players and coaches alike."
Trestman currently sits with an 11-13 record since taking over as Chicago's head coach in January 2013. Many within the organization reportedly feared for Trestman's job following the team's loss against the Patriots. La Canfora expanded further, writing:
"Numerous sources pointed to lack of leadership and accountability as key factors in the team's awful first half after expectations of a possible Super Bowl, and if anything the situation has gotten worse in recent weeks. After a humiliating defeat at New England last week, in which the Bears trailed 38-7 at halftime, several member of the organization feared for Trestman's job, sources said, and later in the week ownership ended up putting out a vote of confidence for Trestman and general manager Phil Emery. The GM chose Trestman over Bruce Arians, who has become a perennial Coach of the Year candidate in Arizona.
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It is easy to understand why there might be some turmoil within Chicago's locker room this season considering how much talent the team has on offense. If Trestman is unable to right the ship here in the second half, it may be time for Chicago to start taking a real hard look at whether or not it would want to bring Trestman back for the final two years of his contract.
NFL.com's Michael Fabiano Thinks You Should Sit Jay Cutler in Fantasy
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Despite his struggles at times this season on the field, quarterback Jay Cutler has been a solid bargain in terms of fantasy football.
According to ESPN.com's fantasy ratings, Cutler has the eighth-highest fantasy point average among all quarterbacks, averaging 18 points a game in ESPN.com leagues.
Even though Cutler is one of the league's best in terms of fantasy football, NFL.com's Michael Fabiano thinks this is a good week to sit him.
"Cutler has been one of the better draft bargains in fantasy land this season, but can you trust him against the Packers?" Fabiano wrote.
He continued:
"Listen to these numbers ... in three career games in Green Bay, Cutler has thrown a pair of touchdown passes and 10 interceptions with an average of 190 passing yards per game. He's also never won a game at Lambeau Field."
While he has certainly struggled throughout his career against Green Bay, Cutler should be more focused this week with the team coming off of a bye. He has thrown his share of interceptions this year, but his 17 touchdown passes put him at seventh-best in the league, just two behind Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers.
Even if Chicago decides to establish the running game with Matt Forte, expect Cutler to still be a solid fantasy option this Sunday night.
Chicago Sun-Times' Mark Potash Is Calling Sunday's Game a "Must-Win" for Chicago
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Sitting with a disappointing 3-5 record on the season following their loss to the New England Patriots, the Bears are now in a must-win scenario according to the Chicago Sun-Times' Mark Potash, who wrote:
"The Bears are in a tough spot. But the league is so volatile from top-to-bottom and from week-to-week, that it’s not quite the long shot it once was. Be that as it may, that still makes the game against the Packers on Sunday night a virtual must-win scenario for the Bears. Only 1-of-75 teams to start 3-6 have made the playoffs. But again, it’s recent — the Redskins in 2012 won their final seven games to finish 10-6.
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It is certainly possible Chicago can build off of a win on Sunday night and make a push toward the playoffs, but they will be facing a very difficult schedule in the future. Despite having five of their last seven games at home, Chicago will be squaring off against a bevy of potential playoff teams in the coming weeks.
Outside of Green Bay this week, Chicago has two upcoming contests against the 6-2 Detroit Lions, as well as matchups against the NFC East-leading Dallas Cowboys and NFC South-leading New Orleans Saints.
When looking at who Chicago will be facing off against in the coming weeks, it is hard to argue with Potash's statement about this Sunday being a must-win scenario for the Bears.
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CBS Analyst Bill Cowher Thinks Jay Cutler Is a Good Quarterback but Poor Leader
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It has been a tough start to the season for Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. While he has thrown for 2,093 yards with 17 touchdowns and a 95.8 quarterback rating, he is tied for sixth in the league with eight interceptions. The Bears have lost every game in which he has thrown an interception this season.
It is no secret Cutler possesses the talent to be a quality NFL quarterback, but former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher does not believe Cutler is a good leader, via Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times:
"Bill Cowher on Jay Cutler: “He’s a good quarterback but a poor leader. Sometimes when the bullets start flying, he’s not at his best."
— Mark Potash (@MarkPotash) October 29, 2014"
Cowher's assessment is partially true, Cutler does struggle when the proverbial "bullets start flying," but to say that is why he is not a good leader is a bit of a cop-out.
He did expand on his stance a bit further, saying, via SI.com's Richard Deitsch:
"At times I think he’s a detriment; just his body language, his inability at times to take the moment and seize it and be a leader. All the great quarterbacks, and you watch them, it’s when the bullets start to fly, they take control of the situation ... I still think he’s a good quarterback. I think he does have leadership -- it's not one of his strong suits. But at the same time you can win with him. But he needs to have a better defense around him that gives that team a chance."
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It is fair to criticize Cutler's performance on the field, but the narrative that he is a bad leader because of poor body language has gotten a bit played out over the years. Unless his critics are in the locker room and on the sidelines with him each and every day, it is truly hard to understand how good or how bad of a leader Cutler really is.
CBS Sports' Pete Prisco Picks the Packers to Win Big
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After the Packers were able to come away with a relatively easy 38-17 victory over the Bears in Week 4, CBS Sports' Pete Prisco does not think it will be too difficult for Green Bay to repeat that success in Week 10.
"These two teams are coming off a bye, and the Bears might be playing for their season here," Prisco wrote. "This won't be easy. The Packers are always tough at home, and this is a night game against Aaron Rodgers and that high-flying attack. Green Bay blew out Chicago earlier this season, and there's no reason to think this will be different."
He has the Packers winning by a score of 37-23.
It is hard to disagree with Prisco here. Chicago has struggled mightily against the Packers in recent years, losing seven of the last 10 meetings, including five of the past six at Lambeau Field.
Chicago did come away with a prime-time victory in Green Bay last season with Josh McCown subbing for the injured Jay Cutler at quarterback, but the Packers lost quarterback Aaron Rodgers early in the ball game, and he was replaced by Seneca Wallace.
Wallace completed 11 of his 19 pass attempts for just 114 yards. He was intercepted once, sacked four times and finished with a 53.4 quarterback rating.
Unless Rodgers goes down again with an injury this Sunday night, Prisco's prediction sounds like the most likely scenario.
Record/statistical information provided via email from the Chicago Bears or NFL.com.
Matt Eurich is an NFL/Chicago Bears Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.
Follow @MattEurich
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