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Welcome to First and Final Thoughts, a little too much on the nose. Here we'll have Insider J.J Stankevitz and Producers Cam Paul Ellis and Paul Aspan give some insight into what's on their minds between games.
Final Thoughts on Week 10
J.J. StankevitzThe final margin of 12 points in Sunday's 34-22 win was not indicative of how close this game was. The Bears left the game on the board with Cody Parkey's brutal game, and would have been up 41-10 , in this scenario, would not be gone for their final touchdown, too). It is well established in the NFL that it is good, but not a better, predictor of future success than beating teams by narrow margins. So while some may be riding the Bears for going 6-3 against an "easy" schedule, they've won four games by 12 or more points, and that would have been the Seattle Seahawks not rated a meaningless touchdown with time running out in Week 2. So while beating the Lions may not "mean" much to someone who discounts "easy" wins, it actually places plenty for where the Bears can go in 2018.
Paul Aspan: Mitchell Trubisky heard the haters and responded to his best game – yes, even better than the 6 TD Tampa performance. Similar to the Bucs, the Lions no doubt blew some coverages, but Trubisky was on point of the get-go. I know "Pretty Boy Assassin" is a distant memory but that's how it's played on Sunday, and the guy is doing it.
I was shocked to hear Matt Nagy say there was zero chance to bring in another kicker this week after Cody Parkey's 'Chuck Knoblauch-esque' day, but I also did not really remember / realize his contract, because … kickers. Parkey's $ 9 million guarantee is the third highest of any NFL kicker, trailing Justin Tucker (who missed a game-tying extra point this year) and Stephen Gostkowski. Money aside, I just really want someone who is a million times to pay a bit of money for me.
Cam Ellis: When you're a kicker in the NFL and you're going to be kicks, the critisicm is more often than not deserved. With that said, I'm not sure about the fact that I was not practicing at Soldier was overblown – it's not like Khalil Mack is running at midfield during the week-end. Everyone's had their worst day at work, however, and if you have not – it's coming! The difference is not you get booed by 61,000 people when you did not follow up on that email. Jimmy Fallon on national TV. I'm all about holding NFL accountable players – you're paid handsomely to play a game ounce and get away from it. Let's keep some of this in perspective, though.
First Thought on Week 11
Stankevitz: Sunday night's date with the Minnesota Vikings looks like a massive swing game for the Bears' outlook in 2018. Win it, and you're 7-3 with a legitimate hope of winning the NFC North. It's easy to envision the Bears beating the Vikings and being at least 8-4, if not 9-3, when the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers come to town on consecutive December Sundays. Lose it, and the Vikings probably part of the division while Thanksgiving's date with the Lions takes on added pressure. This will be a major test of the Bears' mettle, as they are in the process of getting worse (which, again, is important), their three losses have a total of 11 points, raising the question of this can close a win over a good team. It will take a deep effort by everyone involved – offense, defense, special teams and coaching – for the Bears to emerge from one of the franchise's biggest games in recent memory with a win. But there are many, if any, reasons to think they can not do it.
Aspan: I've said that the Vikings signed Kirk Cousins that it's a lateral move from Keenum Case – and Pro Football Focus pretty much backs that up. Keenum was their # 9 QB last year and "You like that!" Checks in at # 8 halfway thru the season.
So, Cousins does not worry me. Adam Thielen is dangerous, but it's the Vikings and the scientist behind that defense, Mike Zimmer, coming off bye, against Trubisky that gives me pause. This is not a simple fact that the Vikings had 10 sacks against the Lions – the Bears had six – that's clearly one of many issues in Detroit. But Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter are going to be a handful. Mix in the way Zimmer disguises some of his blitzes and let's see how to trust Trubisky, coming off his best game, fares in his biggest test to date.
Ellis: This is not exactly about the Vikings, but for being in the first year of a 3-year, $ 42 million contract, does it seem like Allen Robinson's been underappreciated this season? Being a little bit out of luck, but a healthy Robinson's brought exactly what the Bears were expecting to their revamped offense. He probably still needs a bit more consistency, but when he's fully involved with their offense, the Bears look tough to stop. There's no excuse for him not to get 8-9 targets against the Vikings this Sunday night. One has rostered full of undersized recievers, having a 6'3 guy like Robinson who can get up and get jump balls to an unprecedented amount of offense. Taylor, Anthony Miller, and Trey Burton are not half bad, but this offense is not necessarily on the rolls unless Robinson's name is continually called.
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