Patrick Mannelly on Bears-Packers wild-card game: 'Anything can happen'
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What is the significance of the Bears-Packers wild-card game?
We talk to Patrick Manley every Tuesday during the football season. At this time, he joins us via the Circus Sports Illinois hotline. Download the Circus Sports app today. Patrick Manley, the longest tenured bear. He is also a part of our pre- and post-game coverage on our football Sundays, and he watches every game that we care about because he's good like that. Patrick, thanks for joining us today.
It's good to talk to you guys and it's actually fun to talk about a game this week and not talk about coaching searches and a draft pick and all that kind of crap.
It absolutely is fun to not talk about that crap because I don't care about it right now either. We had a heated debate earlier on the show talking about Ben Johnson's comments saying that he's simply focused right now on his defense not giving up the points. Where do you stand on this?
I just feel like he needs – he feels like he has to outscore his opponent. And I think that 49ers game kind of summed it up. I think he knows what he has defensively right now. You know, they show they cannot get after the quarterback. They're struggling with man-to-man. And if they don't get the turnovers, they struggle. And I'm just hoping that turnover machine, whatever they had, that magic stuff they had going on in the middle of the season, comes back. Because if they do, I think they can go on a run. But I just think he realistically looks at this team and understands that this defense – It's not good. They've had a lot of injuries, and they haven't performed up to the level. Montez Sweat is not performing up to a $100 million contract.
They've had a lot of injuries, of course, and Kyler Gordon, hopefully he comes back and helps. But again, I just think he's trying to say, hey, I've got to outscore him. I've brought here to score points, and let's go.
This segment with Patrick Manley is sponsored by Packy Webb Ford. Patrick, let's be honest. If we wanted to load up all the good players on defense into that El Camino of yours, you'd have plenty of room left over. Listen, can we all just accept it is what it is? I don't understand how we're here to the playoffs. I mean, 17 games have been played, and we aren't all on the same page. It does have to be the offense if they're going to advance in the playoffs.
No doubt. I mean, that's what it is. I mean, it just the NFL has changed. And what's interesting now is we are talking about this top notch offense in the NFL.
How does Patrick Mannelly assess the Bears' defense ahead of the game?
It's exciting to say that about the Chicago Bears. And, you know, Dennis Allen has a tough job. He has a real tough job with a lot of injuries, but they're just not the strength of this team. And again, it just has to be the takeaway machine, the turnovers, whatever you want to call it. If they can get those things going again, we'll be OK. But that's not a given. I think it's kind of shown that that was a nice little streak they were on. Al Harris talks about it. We should get them every week. Sure, but it's not happening the last few weeks. And I'm nervous about that. I'm very nervous about that. Just because this, guys, you go into that last week. And you expect the Bears to kind of take care of business against the depleted Lions team, and they didn't.
They didn't show up offensively. They obviously didn't show up defensively. They did in the red zone, I will say that. They didn't allow them to score points, but it didn't look good in between the 20s. So this makes you nervous going into the playoffs where you thought a game against the Lions. You know, like, all right, let's build our confidence. Let's get going. Let's execute, not make mistakes, step up our game on defense and be ready for this run. And I just finished that game being a little more nervous than I thought I would be.
All right, this is driving me crazy. First of all, Pat, we're watching Pat on Twitch, and you can join in on Twitch, too, if you like twitch.tv slash Chicago670, the score. Are you wearing a Pat Foley t-shirt, like as in the Blackhawks broadcaster? What does it say?
That's my guy, man.
Pat Foley is a legend.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the significance of the Bears-Packers wild-card game?
0:00–2:12
2
How does Patrick Mannelly assess the Bears' defense ahead of the game?
2:12–3:57
3
What concerns does Mannelly have about the Bears' offensive performance?
3:57–13:21
4
How might Jordan Love's absence affect the Packers' game strategy?
13:21–16:09
5
What strategies will the Bears employ to exploit the Packers' weaknesses?
16:09–18:36
Speakers
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