Things “Joestradamus” has in common with the Chicago Bears: we’re both 2-0.
According to my prediction this week, we should both have no problems making it 3-0.
Follow paulmbanksNFL passing emphasis, rushing decline: by the numbers
September 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment
It’s happening. The day has finally come where the play calling in the NFL resembles my own play calling from back when I first started playing Madden.
First and 10? Streak to the endzone. Second and four? Streak to the endzone. Third and short? Streak to the endzone.
Okay, it might not be that drastic. But if it hasn’t been apparent in the past decade or so leading up to this season, it should be clear to everyone now that the NFL is a passing league.
Follow paulmbanksChicago Bears Predictions: Week Two
September 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment
(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
‘Joestradmaus’ still has the magic touch. The Bengals put up three more points than I predicted, but cut a guy a break; at the end of the day, the Bears still won.
Charles Tillman and the gang managed to corral the one-man wrecking crew known as A.J. Green before things got too far out of hand, and the offense showed some promising signs as they dug out of a late double-digit deficit to start the Trestman Era on the right foot.
But this week’s contest against the Minnesota Vikings doesn’t just feature a one-man wrecking crew, it features a deity cleverly disguised as a human who snacks on Bears defensive play calls as if they were Jolly Ranchers.
This week, I’ll tell you why ‘Purple Jesus’ Adrian Peterson will continue his reign of terror at Soldier Field, and why the Bears will still come out winners in the end.
Follow paulmbanksChicago Bears Predictions: Week One
September 8, 2013 By Leave a Comment
It’s that time of year again, folks; time for “Joestradamus” to bust out the crystal ball and make Chicago Bears predictions for 2013.
Remind me to have my legal people to look into getting “Joestradamus” trademarked, I think I’m onto something here.
Last year in my prediction series, I correctly called the first eight Chicago Bears predictions en route to a 7-1 start. Things got a bit sketchy in the third quarter when I called for three more victories while the Bears were only able to eek out one.
Let’s also not mention that I never predicted the final four games of the season…
But fear not! I’ve been inspired by the news of J’Marcus Webb signing with the Vikings to find my prime predicting form from the first half of last season.
Without further ado, I give you my first installment of my annual foray into clairvoyance.
Follow paulmbanksChicago Bears Full Offseason Recap Part 4: Overall
May 30, 2013 By Leave a Comment
The offseason in Chicago usually leaves fans cringing and complaining about what the team did (or didn’t do) to “get better”. This offseason, however, has set the Chicago Bears up to take a huge leap forward this season and for many to come.
Part 3: NFL Draft
Follow paulmbanksMeet the Candidates for the Chicago Bears Head Coach Position
January 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Breaking up is hard to do. After a 10-6 season that will leave the Chicago Bears watching the NFL Playoffs from their couches, the team cut their ties with head coach Lovie Smith after 9 seasons.
Many players have already voiced their displeasure with GM Phil Emery’s decision to fire Smith. Devin Hester is even threatening retirement now that Lovie will no longer be calling the shots.
But as Emery stated in his press conference this past Tuesday, a lack of offensive consistency and playoff appearances are what did Lovie in. The Bears only managed 3 postseason berths, a 3-3 postseason record, and ranked in the top half of the NFL in yards per game just once (15th in 2006) in the past 9 seasons.
That track record would’ve done anyone in, not just Lovie. Despite being a defensive genius and a true “leader of men”, Emery knows that it’s in the best interest of the team to find a coach who will bring the offensive production to the same level that the defense has been producing at for decades.
Finally, someone understands.
The Bears will now be testing the free agent coaching waters for the first time since 2004. There are 7 names that have already emerged as candidates for the job, most of them being offensive coordinators.
While it’s nice to imagine all of the big name coaches on the market in blue and orange, I’m going to stick to the 7 men who have been granted permission to interview for the job.
My apologies to anyone hoping to hear Nick Saban or Andy Reid.
Emery has a lot of deciphering to do in the coming weeks, but he hopes to have picked his replacement before the East-West Shrine Game (college football’s “all star game”) on January 19th.
Without further ado, let’s meet the contestants.
Follow paulmbanksSunday Has Become a Must Win Game for the Bears
November 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Chilo Rachal has waved goodbye to the Bears, should we be waving goodbye to the Bears season?
It was all going according to plan just 20 short days ago. The Bears held a 7-1 record, tops in the NFC North by a long shot, and were coming off of an astounding display of dominance over the Tennessee Titans. The defense was being praised by the national media as one of the elite units in the league, and the offense was slowly but surly rounding into form.
Or so we thought. Fast forward about 3 weeks.
If you didn’t know any better and you saw the way most Bears fans have been hanging their heads lately, you’d assume the Bears would have a record worthy of a basement dwelling position in their division.
That’s obviously not the case, as the Bears stand at 7-3 and still hold a share of the NFC North lead with the Green Bay Packers. But with the injury bug biting harder than usual, and with the offense in complete disarray, the fate of the Bears season may very well rest in the outcome of their matchup with the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday.
Follow paulmbanksThe Numbers Behind the Bears’ Domination of the Titans
November 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Lovie Smith’s message to the team this week was to “have a fast start”. They clearly got the memo.
In 2000, the Tennessee Titans pulled off the famous “Music City Miracle”. In 2012, the Bears stormed into Nashville and put on a performance that from this day forth should be known as the “Music City Massacre” (I’m trademarking this).
If they hadn’t done so already, the Bear’s firmly placed their names amongst the NFC’s elite with their 51-20 shellacking of the Titans.
At 7-1 (I told you!), the Bears hold a 1.5 game lead in the division over the surging Green Bay Packers and are tied for 2nd in the NFL in winning percentage with their week 10 opponents, the Houston Texans.
The way the Bears dominated the Titans on Sunday was almost comical. They forced so many turnovers that defensive end Corey Wootton was visually disappointed when a pass he tipped fell harmlessly to the ground instead of being picked off. It felt like the players on defense were expecting to come away with the ball on every play.
Even though the defense stole the show once again, the offense and special teams put on a clinic as well. A one sided affair like this one is a gold mine for statistical gems. So without further ado, I present to you the best “Fun Facts” from Sunday’s game.
Follow paulmbanksChicago Bears Season Outlook: 3rd Quarter
October 17, 2012 By 1 Comment
With a 4-1 record, it’s been all smiles for the Bears so far. Can they keep it up through the 3rd quarter of games this season?
The Bears have taken full advantage of facing the weakest strength of schedule in team history over the first 5 games of the season. They’ve rode their dominating defense to a 4-1 record and now stand alone at the top of the NFC North after the Minnesota Vikings fell to the Washington Redskins this past weekend.
In my first 2 installments of “Quarter Previews” (1, 2), I correctly predicted the Bears would be 4-1 through the bye week. The next 3 games remaining in the 2nd quarter of the season remain to be seen, but the Lions, Panthers, and Titans aren’t striking much fear in me.
I have the Bears heading into the 3rd quarter with a 7-1 or 6-2 record. In either scenario, 6+ wins will likely be enough to have the NFC North lead at the midway point of the season.
But no matter how good the Bears play over the rest of the first half of the season, the 3rd quarter will prove to be their toughest test. The Houston Texans,San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks all rank in the top 6 in the NFL in overall defense, and the Viking’s Adrian Peterson loves to feast on the Bears.
But with 3 of these 4 games coming at home, I think the Bears have a few tricks up their sleeve that may lead to a surprise in the standings when the 3rd quarter is said and done.
Follow paulmbanks2012 NFL Season Preview: NFC East
August 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment
With the NFL regular season rapidly approaching, let’s take a look at the intriguing NFC East. Featuring the reigning Super Bowl champions (Giants), the former “Dream Team” turned “dynasty in the making” (Eagles), the league’s most exciting rookie (Robert Griffin III), and America’s team (you know who that is), this division might just prove to be the wildest in the NFL.
Giants: Remember the 2008 team that started 11-1 after winning Super Bowl XLI? This squad could be similar, with a confident defending champion facing a mild early schedule. They addressed two big depth needs at RB and WR with their first two draft picks (David Wilson and Reuben Randle), while third-rounder CB Jayron Hosley has made some noise in the preseason. Just ask Mark Sanchez.
What we know for sure is [Read more…]
Follow paulmbanksNew Year’s Resolutions for the Minnesota Vikings
December 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A season that didn’t seem to be able to get any worse just did during the Christmas Eve game against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. Not only did the Vikings come out of the contest victorious, but franchise running back Adrian Peterson tore his ACL and MCL. Happy holidays to the purple people eaters. For those of you who are thinking that the injury isn’t a big deal because of the timing, consider the recovery. These are two severe injuries that require extensive rehabilitation. The treatment will be both physical and psychological for AP. It is not even certain if the recovery will be fully to his previous condition.
What we do know is that he is expected to make a full recovery in time for opening day 2012. He should be 100% by sometime in the early-mid preseason.
It’s that time of year where all of us vow to cut out those midnight snacks and work out more.
If I spent half as much time exercising as watching other people play sports, I’d be on a commercial for GNC. The Minnesota Vikings certainly have some resolutions that need to be adhered to in order to avoid the sub-par play fans have witnessed throughout the last two seasons.
Follow paulmbanks49ers Jim Harbaugh: Already Coach of the Year in the NFL
November 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Everything has seemed to come up roses for the San Francisco 49ers this season, and more specifically Jim Harbaugh. He was able to leapfrog to the NFL and not even have to relocate from the metropolitan area where he coached college. His squad had minimal expectations coming into the season and now it looks like the second best group in the NFC.
Offense sells tickets and defense wins championships. If this adage holds true, it seems like San Francisco is on the right side of the spectrum and the Green Bay Packers better start making some adjustments. The 49ers have allowed just under fifteen points per contest. That is phenomenal considering that we are talking about the half of the schedule with the better weather. Defensive tackle Justin Smith and linebacker Patrick Willis are consistent performers for San Francisco. Their quality play has catapulted the unit into one of the elite groups in the entire league.
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