[jimdgoulding]

That was a tough game for me to watched.  The Bear defense was superior but they had no offense and the turnovers killed their chances.  Especially those red zone turnovers.   The hit on Cutler was very cheap and brutal. I was really hoping the Bears would have returned the favor on Schaub.  Teams need to pay a price for those kinds of plays and I'm not talking about fines.  A helmet to the knee from Peppers would have been a fair trade.

You mean your team was out hit?  The Bears' D out hit?  Don't know about the hit in question- did the player go for Cutler's knees- but Wade Phillips was my hero last night.  Thought the Bears did come off as kinda conservative on offense and I feel bad for Cutler having to leave the game.  But, your stadium, your weather, and you were 7-1.  Ya got to give-it-up for Houston.   

[jackman]

Houston won fair and square but I wouldn't say the Bears were outhit.  They were just lame on offense. That hit on Cutler was totally cheap.  It also appeared to be intentional.  I sincerely wish the Bears would have done the same to the Texan QB.  There was nothing skillful or heroic abou an obvious cheap late hit to the head as Houston did to Cutler.  I just wish the Bears would have returned the favor.   A nice cheap late hit to your qb.

Unfortunately, this Bears team plays tough and clean on defense.  They outplayed Houston on Defense but our offense has been eratic all season. Losing Cutler will be tough but I hope he comes back soon.  They can beat a team like Houston with Campbell at QB if be has a week to work with the offense. Houston barely win last high and the Bears had zero offense and several unforced turnovers.  The Texans did not look that good to me. 

[jimdgoulding]

Know where I can see that hit online?  Anybody? 

[jackman]

I'll check YouTube but my phone is ready to die.  It was a late helmet to helmet hit. Looked bad.  I have no idea how bad Cutler's concussion is but he kept playing until halftime.  The hit looked bad.

[JerryM]

Know where I can see that hit online?  Anybody?

It's here.

If this hurt Cutler, I feel sorry for Vick!

[jimdgoulding]

Yep, looked to me like it should have been penalized.  I saw the flag thrown.  Was it?

[jackman]

Cutler is a pretty tough guy.  That hit was right on the chin, helmet to chin.  It deserved more than a penalty, it was penalized. The Bears should have retaliated and had Peppers knock out Schaub with something similar.  I would have been in favor of some retaliation because it looked intentional. 

Also, Vick is a little dude. That hit would have killed him. He is too small to take big hits.  That rookie looks better than Vick anyway. I'm happy for Philly and hope they kick that fat bum Abdy Reed out if there. He sucks.  I think that rookie from AZ looks like the future QB of the Eagles.  They have nothing to lose by playing him.

[cab]

Looked to me like the weather won that game. Hard to get a real take on which team was better with both dealing with the elements as much as each other.

[jimdgoulding]

Come to think of it, my group and I weren't the only ones who thought the officials were playing it loose early in the game, the announcers did, too.  Thinking about that some more I'm wondering if that might not have been a plan cause the weather was already gonna slow things up and tight officiating could or would even more.  There were high expectations for this game what with the size of the audience for two potential playoff teams.  Maybe it was a conscious decision to let em rip mostly due to the weather.  Maybe, even, the ratings.  I'm leaning that way.  That's not a meant as a justification for the hit, please understand, and I don't know who would or could make such a decision (or suggestion) but it looks to me like someone did thinking back on it and the circumstances.

[jimdgoulding]

Cutler is a pretty tough guy.  That hit was right on the chin, helmet to chin.  It deserved more than a penalty, it was penalized. The Bears should have retaliated and had Peppers knock out Schaub with something similar.  I would have been in favor of some retaliation because it looked intentional. 

Also, Vick is a little dude. That hit would have killed him. He is too small to take big hits.  That rookie looks better than Vick anyway. I'm happy for Philly and hope they kick that fat bum Abdy Reed out if there. He sucks.  I think that rookie from AZ looks like the future QB of the Eagles.  They have nothing to lose by playing him.

Yeah, Vick is getting his career shortened.  Can't find any worthwhile invention in their offense and they need some cause the O line can't hold up.  Reed is a goner.  The O coordinator, also, I imagine.  Philly fans oughta be happy about that.  What say ye?

[jackman]

I actually have been and am still a fan of Vick but this offense does not fit his skills.  He has no protection, is not the most accurate passer, and guys are getting too many shots on him.  He gets hit on almost every play, even when he gets rid of the ball.  Andy Reed has never been committed to the run and defenses are teeing off on Vick.   Also, Vick is not a big guy and the beating he is taking is starting to take a toll.  Not good because he needs his elusiveness to survive.  The new guy (the rookie from AZ) is very tall and appears to be more of a conventional passer than Vick.  And he's young so he should be able to take a beating for a while. 

I hope the Eagles get their act together because Philly fans are among my favorite.  They are nuts but they really support their team. 

[jimdgoulding]

I actually have been and am still a fan of Vick but this offense does not fit his skills.  He has no protection, is not the most accurate passer, and guys are getting too many shots on him.  He gets hit on almost every play, even when he gets rid of the ball.  Andy Reed has never been committed to the run and defenses are teeing off on Vick.   Also, Vick is not a big guy and the beating he is taking is starting to take a toll.  Not good because he needs his elusiveness to survive.  The new guy (the rookie from AZ) is very tall and appears to be more of a conventional passer than Vick.  And he's young so he should be able to take a beating for a while. 

I hope the Eagles get their act together because Philly fans are among my favorite.  They are nuts but they really support their team.

I hope Philly does, too.  Fans deserve it.

[Letitroll98]

Houston won fair and square but I wouldn't say the Bears were outhit.  They were just lame on offense. That hit on Cutler was totally cheap.  It also appeared to be intentional.  I sincerely wish the Bears would have done the same to the Texan QB.  There was nothing skillful or heroic abou an obvious cheap late hit to the head as Houston did to Cutler.  I just wish the Bears would have returned the favor.   A nice cheap late hit to your qb.

Whoa, that's not right.  Of course the hit was wrong and deserved a penalty.  Even though a case for a clean hit can be made as Cutler was virtually a runner at that point, it was way, way too high.  A solid shoulder in the ribs would have been reasonable.  But it's not football etiquette to go after an innocent player, you gotta put a clean, hard, sloberknocker hit on the guy who did the hitting.  There's a bunch of coaches, and there used to be a bunch of players, sitting out this season because they targeted another team's quarterback.  If not that game, they'll be an opportunity in the future for the Bears to take clean, sanctioned revenge on the guy, and he'll be reminded why he's seeing stars when it happens, NFL players know how to properly take care of their own.

As for Vick, he's done for the year and likely for good if Fowles shows any life as a starter.  If Fowles flounders, Andy will put Vick back in as soon as he's cleared to play.  I never thought Vick was anything more than what he was in Atlanta, an athletically gifted young man with a great arm, that can't be consistent enough to be a championship quarterback.  When Philly played Atlanta in the playoffs with Vick as the Falcon's QB, we salivated at the mistakes and miscues we knew he'd make.  It doesn't matter what system you put him in with what players, he was always a good, but never great quarterback.  All that being said, I'm not in love with Fowles like the rest of Philly seems to be, lots and lots of holes in that man's game.  I like a lot of what he does, but that doesn't blind me to his accuracy problems and the many bad decisions and misreads.  I wish him all the best and hope he's the next Brady off the bench, but I'll be watching with jaded eyes.  Which if I'm right, leaves Philly waiting for a new coach and a 3-13 season in 2012, and a high draft pick in 2013, Geno Smith, Matt Barkley, Tyler Wilson, or Aaron Murray here we come, whoo hooo!     

[ken]

Any Raider fans out there (preferable from the Bay area) happen to hear if Taiwan Jones may be in store for more reps against the Saints this week.  I made the unfortunate mistake of picking him up last week and starting him  (Yipes!) only to read he had two carries for five yds    My gut tells me not to start him but the pickings are pretty lean and there aren't very many other options available. 

[jackman]

Letitroll,

I disagree with your conclusion.  If a scub takes out a star player, going after the scub accomplishes nothing.  The hit on Cutler was a total cheap shot to the head, with a helmet to the chin. Cutler was a runner but he already threw the ball.  It looked premeditated.  I'm disappointed the Bears didn't do the same to the Houston QB.  Let the second stringers battle it out.  Maybe it would make Houston think twice next time and send a message to the league. 

[S Clark]

...The hit on Cutler was a total cheap shot to the head, with a helmet to the chin. Cutler was a runner but he already threw the ball.  It looked premeditated.  I'm disappointed the Bears didn't do the same to the Houston QB... Maybe it would make Houston think twice next time and send a message to the league.

Some clubs have a reputation for violent play that borders on cheap.  Steelers, Lions, Titans..... and Bears.  Any team can have an isolated cheap play, but some still coach it. Then again, there are some coaches on the sideline for promoting cheap shots. The league is changing, like it or not, and retaliatory hits are going to be seen less and less. Some don't like that; I think it is a change whose time has come.  Sorry Jackman, lots of time I agree with you, but not this time.

[jackman]

I agree with you on the Steelers and the Lions but, okay I might be biased, I don't think the Bears are in that category.  They try to strip the ball but don't recall anything close to the cheap shot Cutler received being inflicted by a Bear defender.   That was cheap and deserved a response.

[jackman]

Some clubs have a reputation for violent play that borders on cheap.  Steelers, Lions, Titans..... and Bears.  Any team can have an isolated cheap play, but some still coach it. Then again, there are some coaches on the sideline for promoting cheap shots. The league is changing, like it or not, and retaliatory hits are going to be seen less and less. Some don't like that; I think it is a change whose time has come.  Sorry Jackman, lots of time I agree with you, but not this time.

Hey, you forgot the Saints.  I wonder if they would have instituted their "bounty" system if they knew other teams were going to retaliate and knock out...say, Drew Breese.  When they stepped on Cutler's throat during their game with the Bears, I was really hoping someone would have done the same to Breese.  It's not difficult, especially to do it to a QB.  He is very vulnerable, especially when he's looking down the field, or after he throws a ball. 

[S Clark]

No I didn't forget them.  They weren't named but clearly alluded to with their coaches.  There are always players that go over the top, the league should deal with them severely- season suspensions for repeat offenders.  I remember when Andre Gruode nearly lost his scalp to a stomping.  Haynesworth should have been banned for the rest of the year.  Harrison should have been banned forever for telling the commish that he wasn't going to change his headhunting regardless of the rules.  But players should not retaliate- it's not hockey.

[Letitroll98]

Letitroll,

I disagree with your conclusion.  If a scub takes out a star player, going after the scub accomplishes nothing.  The hit on Cutler was a total cheap shot to the head, with a helmet to the chin. Cutler was a runner but he already threw the ball.  It looked premeditated.  I'm disappointed the Bears didn't do the same to the Houston QB.  Let the second stringers battle it out.  Maybe it would make Houston think twice next time and send a message to the league.

First I should say I'm not defending the hit, I can't get inside a player's head to determine premeditation, but the end result was wrong, a clear hit to the head with a helmet.  It's just as plausible that the player saw the pass and was pulling up at the last second which caused the high hit (ok, not likely, but it could happen), in either case a flag and a fine, that motivation doesn't matter is the point.

I honestly don't know which player committed the foul, whether he's a scrub or starter, but he was on the field on an important play so I assume he plays regularly and exposes himself to any legally meted out retribution.  But illegally going after another player with the express intent to harm is just plain wrong and indefensible.  If their quarterback gets hurt on a clean play and you're happy about it, cheer to your heart's content.  If the loss of your quarterback inspires your defense to sack the other guy until he can't play anymore, great, that's football.  But there's no way you can advocate going after a players head or knees to purposely maim and injure.

And more to the point, if Cutler doesn't want to get nailed legally or otherwise, he shouldn't run toward the line of scrimmage like he's going to run, and then pass at the last second.  Granted it can be a great play, but he has to realize he can get hurt and his loss to the team is more important than any one play.  My QB's Big Ben and Vick got nailed on perfectly legal plays and we don't know if they'll be back this year, your QB might have been hurt worse by a completely legal hit.  It's the QB's responsibility to look at the big picture, perhaps he should have slid.