With the loss to the Vikings this past weekend the Bears lost the ability to control their own destiny so far as the playoffs are concerned.  Since it is fair and almost a lock to say that only the division winner will make it in, it is time to take a look the playoff tiebreakers.  

Current Standings:

Remaining Schedule:

Vikings-@ Detroit, @Arizona, Atlanta, NY Giants

Bears- Jacksonville, New Orleans, Green Bay, @ Houston

Packers- Houston, @ Jacksonville, @ Chicago, Detroit

Supposing the Vikings lose the Williams boys and manage to drop one and let us in to the discussion, assuming we win out here are the tie breaks for a two club tie:

1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5. Strength of victory.
6. Strength of schedule.
7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
9. Best net points in common games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
12. Coin toss

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Wait!  Haven't I already written that post before?   Why yes, I did.  In fact I have done it two times (here and here).  Perhaps I need to create a category for it, so I can reference it again.

For the thrid striaght year, Dusty Dvoracek has ended his season in the injured reserve.  During the Vikings game,  Dvoracek ruptured his right bicep muscle.

“Losing Dusty is big,” said defensive lineman Israel Idonije. “He’s a great player for us on the inside. He does a lot of great things and we’re going to miss his play. Someone has to step up and fill that role.”

Typically at ths point I would question whether the Bears would keep Dvoracek.  He obviously has issues staying healthy and with next year being the last in his rookie contract, they might just cut him loose.  However, this is the team that still has Rex Grossman and Mike Brown on their roster.

Marcus Harrison and Anthony Adams are most likely to rotate turns at replacing Dvoracek.

There are inconsistent teams in the league.  The NY Jets going from handing Tennessee their first lose of the season to getting beat handily by Denver.  The Raiders beat up Denver and then go out and get blown up by the Chiefs.  For my money though the Bears are the most inconsistent team during a game.  Literally from drive to drive we don't know what team we are going to get and that is on both sides of the ball.

The Bears go from 0 to great in 6.5 seconds.  The problem is they also go from great to suck in 3.2.  Orton goes from throwing nice touch passes all over the field to hitting Vikings receivers right in the numbers.  Bears receivers go from making finger tip catches to not catching the ball when Orton all but walks it over to them.  The defense looks fired up on one drive only to let Peterson carry the entire defense for 10 yards.  Ron Turner has one drive that is inspiring, so he takes the rest of the night off.  FOR THE LOVE OF DICK BUTKUS CAN SOMEBODY TEAR OUT THE PAGE THAT HAS MCKIE UP THE MIDDLE OUT OF HIS PLAYBOOK!!!!! (I've been corrected.  It wasn't McKie, but it was the same ignorant play)

First let us get the good thing out of the way.  Congrats to Matt Forte for crossing the 1000 yard mark and having possibily the only good game amongst all the Bears. 

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Sorry for the lack of posts yesterday.  My computer took a dive and I just now have it back up.  There is an outside chance a preview still pops up today, but that is dependant on time.

-- WCG

I am sure most of you will be enjoying this Thanksgiving with your families and won't go near the computer or you just might not be around a computer, but I assume that most of you plan on watching the games.

This season has been a bad break figuratively for Nathen Vasher.  His coverage skills have been put into question.  He has been getting replaced by Corey Graham, a bigger and stronger corner and he has had his share of injuries.

Now the bad break is a literal problem.  Vasher is out for an indefinite amount of time,  possibly for the entire season.  He has fractured his right wrist and re-injured his right thumb.

This is a huge knock to our secondary.  Even if Vasher is not the #2 cornerback, he would be a very good nickel or #3 back.  With passing teams like Green Bay, New Orleans and Houston on the horizon if he isn't able to play the Bears will be even more susceptibleto the pass, if that is possible.

First reported by: Bear_Down and further by Chanman25

The Bears have a rep on all the weekly awards this week.

Lance Briggs is up for GMC Sierra Defenisve Player of the Week:

• Tampa Bay’s CB RONDE BARBER made two interceptions, returning one 65 yards for a touchdown. Barber also made five tackles in the Buccaneers’ 38-20 win over the Detroit Lions.

• Chicago’s LB LANCE BRIGGS contributed four tackles, three defensed passes and two interceptions to the Bears’ defensive effort in their 27-3 win over the St. Louis Rams.

• New Orleans’ CB Jason David posted two tackles and two interceptions on back-to-back series. David returned his first pick 42 yards to the Green Bay 3 to set up a New Orleans touchdown drive as the Saints defeated the Green Bay Packers 51-29 on Monday Night Football.

• Buffalo’s CB LEODIS MC KELVIN made two interceptions, returning one 64 yards for a touchdown.  McKelvin added two tackles to the Bills’ defensive effort as Buffalo beat the Kansas City Chiefs 54-31.

• Baltimore’s S ED REED intercepted a Kevin Kolb pass in the end zone and returned it 108 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Ravens’ 36 – 7 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Reed returned another interception 43 yards for a total of 151 yards gained off interceptions and made two tackles.

Matt Forte is up for two, firstly the Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Week:

• Atlanta’s WR HARRY DOUGLAS totaled 188 yards from scrimmage and led the Falcons in receiving yards with four catches for 92 yards, including a 69-yard reception.  Douglas returned a punt 61 yards for a touchdown to seal the Falcons’ victory in the fourth quarter and added a rushing touchdown in Atlanta’s 45-28 win over the Carolina Panthers.

• Baltimore’s QB JOE FLACCO completed 12 of 26 attempts for 183 yards and two touchdowns without throwing an interception in the Ravens’ 36-7 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

• Chicago’s RB MATT FORTÉ led the Bears rushing for 132 yards and two touchdowns on 20 attempts, averaging 6.6 yards per carry, as the Bears defeated the St. Louis Rams 27-3.

• Oakland’s RB DARREN MC FADDEN had two touchdowns and 38 yards on the ground on 10 carries and made two receptions for 14 yards in the Raiders’ 31-10 win over the Denver Broncos.

• Buffalo’s CB LEODIS MC KELVIN made two interceptions, returning one 64 yards for a touchdown.  McKelvin added two tackles to the Bills’ defensive effort as Buffalo beat the Kansas City Chiefs 54-31.

Next is the FedEx Ground Player of the Week:

• Chicago’s RB MATT FORTÉ led the Bears rushing for 132 yards and two touchdowns on 20 attempts, averaging 6.6 yards per carry, as the Bears defeated the St. Louis Rams 27-3.

• Washington’s RB CLINTON PORTIS tallied 143 yards on the ground over 29 carries as the Redskins defeated the Seattle Seahawks 20-17.

Atlanta’s RB MICHAEL TURNER rushed for 117 yards and four touchdowns on 24 carries in the Falcons’ 45-28 win over the Carolina Panther

This is probably the easiest decision Kevin Jones every had to make.  In the offseason when looking for a team to sign with and show of that he is still a premiere runner, the Bears were an ideal situation.  They had let go of their incumbent starter, Cedric Benson, and were now going into the season with a rookie as the starter.  Jones eyes probably go all wide and maybe a bit of drool hit the floor.  Then the Bears signed him to a one year deal.  Even better.  Now he can prove he can still run and then go out and get a big contract.  

Now on the back half of the season he isn't even being activated.  It was a question I was looking for two weeks ago, when Adrian Peterson came in when the game got out of hand and then again last week AP came in to relieve Forte in a blow out game.

The reason is the Bears felt the need to devote extra man power to the special teams, so Jones was deactivated and Peterson took over the backup job.

''Every game we go into it saying we want to spell Matt a little bit, give him a break,'' Turner said. ''It's been Kevin. And now it's Adrian. That's not a knock on Kevin at all. It's more of numbers that we can dress on special teams. We all love A.P. We all believe Kevin Jones can play, too. We have to go with who's up.''

Matt Forte is our workhorse and he will continue to be until this season is over.  He is the most important part of our offense.  He is going to be on the field the majority of the time, so whether its Jones or Peterson it doesn't really matter, so long as they don't screw up on their few touches.

*** The Bears have placed LB Darrell McClover on IR with a hamstring injury.

*** Mike Brown has a minor leg injury and is expecting to play next week.

*** Nathan Vasher has a right wrist injury.  It is the same thing or close to what he had earlier this year.  He is still being evaluated and his status for next week is unknown. 

Chalk up one more reason to move Corey Graham ahead of him on the depth chart.

*** Desmond Clark has a minor injury to his right knee.  He is hopefull to play next week.

Obviously, with Greg Olsen Clark is not a huge loss, but he is still a valuable receiving threat for Orton.

*** Marty Booker did not play last week due to a knee injury.  He is hopeful to play next week.