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So many people are looking at the last game of the season last year and saying how this team is, and how they will perform with out looking at what the new additions have done in the preseason and how they will effect the team in the regular season.

Then there are the ones who are on the bandwagon with the last SuperBowl winner. Almost every year the prior Super Bowl winner flops and there's another SuperBowl winner that these bandwaggoners attatch their carts to. Riding the Bandwagon only shows a lack of individuality. Be a man and go out and make your own assesments.

And as far as Detroit, they still haven't (We have been waiting for 3 seasons now.) improved their Offensive line or Defensive backs. Until this is done they won't be able to match up or beat the elite teams on a regular basis. I do expect them to make the playoffs, but not any further.

By the way, AFC, E. Patriots, N, Pitt., S. Houston, W. San Diego. NFC, E. Giants, N. BEARS, S. New Orleans, W. Arizona. Tough one to predict. Wild cards, AFC. Jets, Ravens. Peyton Manning is going to retire!!!! NFC Wild Cards, Green Bay and Detroit!!!! Vick is a great fantasy player but I'm not sold on him as a regular QB yet. As far as Atlanta goes it's going to be neck and neck with the Saints for who wins that division. Tampa just isn't there yet. Super Bowl, BEARS vs Patriots. BEARS WIN!!!

lol, hey we all can dream can't we?!!!That should be enough to make everyone except a Bear fan upset with me! lol. Good luck to your team. Go BEARS!!!

On the special teams note, I'm interested (and very interested as a Packers fan) to see how that actually changes the Bears. Hester's contributions may be much less this year than previous years. And if the only reason you have for the Packers not winning is "big-head syndrome" (something that most REAL packers fans know they aren't suffering from) then they should be all right. I worry more about the target on the back of the players. The Packers offense is improved, our ST's are improved and we have some key players back on D but lost Jenkins as well. I think the Pack will be just as good this year as last if not better. Rodgers is entering his prime and is getting ready to tear up opposing defenses. But hey, they play the game for a reason. If it was as easy as i put it for the Pack or as you put it for the Bears it wouldn't be any fun!

One thing is for sure, I am not a real Packer fan!!! Yup you got a target to go along with the big head syndrome. Add it all up and to me it says people are overrating the Packers chances for this season.

As far as special teams go, It would be fantastic if the Bears could get good returns beyond the 20 over 50% of the time and no other team except those with good returners like the Bears can. Add it up and I expect this to be a one year rule. Sure we will catch the ball 5 yards deeper in the endzone, but we also can return it from there too as long as it doesn't go out the back of the endzone. With our running game I don't expect it to be a death sentence for us to start on the 17 or there about when it gives us another chance at another long return.

Besides Devin has been on punt return teams and Johnny Knox (Whom also has made the Pro Bowl as a Kick off returner!!!) has been returning the kicks on the kick off return teams. Who knows though if (or when) Lovie might change his mind. Then teams might just kick out of bounds on the kick offs too. lol. We would love to start at the 45 all the time. Go BEARS!!!

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 01:10 PM ET  09.03 by Orange Juice

I think the Bears will finish 3rd in their division behind Green Bay and Detroit.

I agree with you there, but we'll see ..

bearsfan, There's no doubt that the Bears have made good steps in the right direction .. I just think that Green Bay is a much better team (one of the best in the NFC, though I do agree that people are overrating them a bit) and that Detroit looks good from what I've seen so far. The question is, are they better? There's no way to tell until the season starts .. Jahvid Best and Matthew Stafford could take this offense to a whole new gear this year or they could disappoint us .. We'll see. This will be the most interesting division in the NFL! Good luck to your team man!!

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 06:23 PM ET  09.03 by bearsfan6522009

One thing is for sure, I am not a real Packer fan!!! Yup you got a target to go along with the big head syndrome. Add it all up and to me it says people are overrating the Packers chances for this season.

Well obviously you aren't a real Packers fan! I just meant that anyone who actually follows the Packers have noticed that they haven't been big-headed about the SB win...actually the biggest heads in the NFC are in Philadelphia! I'm not saying SB because no one actually knows what'll happen when the season starts, but they're gonna be good and will make a run at it.

QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 06:42 PM ET  09.03 by bearsfan6522009

As far as special teams go, It would be fantastic if the Bears could get good returns beyond the 20 over 50% of the time and no other team except those with good returners like the Bears can. Add it up and I expect this to be a one year rule. Sure we will catch the ball 5 yards deeper in the endzone, but we also can return it from there too as long as it doesn't go out the back of the endzone. With our running game I don't expect it to be a death sentence for us to start on the 17 or there about when it gives us another chance at another long return. Besides Devin has been on punt return teams and Johnny Knox (Whom also has made the Pro Bowl as a Kick off returner!!!) has been returning the kicks on the kick off return teams. Who knows though if (or when) Lovie might change his mind. Then teams might just kick out of bounds on the kick offs too. lol. We would love to start at the 45 all the time. Go BEARS!!!

Yeah, I'm not saying it's a death sentence. It'll just be interesting to see how it does ultimately affect them because it will in all likelihood result in them not getting as good starting field position which puts more of a strain on the offense.

Well if you think about it hopefully we won't be recieving many kickoffs in a game. Whereas punts we want to recieve all day long! So putting Hester on the punt return team is a better option. The Jets could suprise people that's for sure Mr. Trump.

QUOTE(#13):

Originally posted 07:16 AM ET  09.04 by bearsfan6522009

Well if you think about it hopefully we won't be recieving many kickoffs in a game. Whereas punts we want to recieve all day long! So putting Hester on the punt return team is a better option. The Jets could suprise people that's for sure Mr. Trump.

Haha, that's always the hope. I know as a Packers fan I don't mind the new kickoff rules cause GB's ST's are generally not too great! Looking a bit better this past preseason though! Good luck to the Bears and the rest of the NFC North and to all the other NFL teams! Go Pack Go!

The signing of Safety Brandon Meriweather from the Patriots is very interesting. He is still young and has been to the Pro Bowl the last two years. I'm guessing that he rubbed Belicheck the wrong way and just too far. A team doesn't cut a player with his skills and creditials for no reason. Hopefully for him and the Bears he will have learned his lesson and will come in and make a strong contribution and that it won't take too long for him to learn the Bear's system.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned about the Packers is the loss of Cullen Jenkins. One thing I read said this is a major blow to the Packers defense. It said that they won't be able to apply the pressure on the QB that they did last year and their run defense is in immediate trouble.

Well we as Bear fans (mostly) will be watching this in three weeks. GO BEARS!!!

I listened to one man comparing the Lions Defensive to the Bear's Defense. He said that he thought the DL's and defenses were about even. Granted Suh is just entering his prime and he has a shorter distance to travel to the QB but can he really be considered better than Peppers? The Lions also have Kyle Vanden Bosch who has in the past (I think) made the pro bowl, but some people said that Idonije deserved to go to the probowl last year and the way Melton and Okoye have played in the preseason they are possiblilities for this years's pro bowl just as Fairley could be considered for the Lions. I think the DL's are close but there should be no comparison when it comes to the rest of the defense.

The Bears have two linebackers who have been to the probowl and with the addition of Merriweather yesterday they now have two Safetys that have been to the probowl. So how can anyone say that the two defenses are equal? Just some fuel for thought. Go BEARS!!!