A Must-Win On Thursday For A Couple Desperate NFC Teams [Thursday Night Football Live Thread]

We had to win against the Bears last week, and our defense stepped up and took that game from the Bears in the final seconds!!

and?

the last person to throw five picks in a bears game was kyle orton

the last person to throw five picks in a bears game was kyle orton

Orton: above average intelligence, below average arm
Cutler: below average intelligence, above average arm

If you could combine them into a hybrid QB Cutlerton/Ortonler, you may have a good player.

big win for the niners!!!! besides the falcons game, this niner defense has been flawless this year. somebody give the defensive coordinator a raise!

I really can't believe Rodgers is doing as well as he is. I think somehow he inherited the Steelers O-line from last year.

Rich Eisen just had the best line of the night:  "Cutler threw complete passes to seven different Bears receivers and five different 49ers."

Actually, I didn't say that at all.  I said that it's too early to call Cutler a bust, and that remains true.  I don't have much "cheesehead' hate either, since I'm a graduate of UW-Madison.  One thing we probably can agree on is that Aaron Rodgers has a bright future.  I love his game. 

YGBSM, Cutler.....

I hope he can get it together, because this team has no draft picks in forseeable future.  I'm shocked that he's been this bad. 

You got that right and yeah I'm just hatin' cus im a cheesehead lol

Entertaining game for me. Hard fought on both sides (Defensive sides).

Tell me again...why was Jay Cutler such a hot commodity last off-season?

 NINERS WIN!

Wow, 5 picks.  That's something. 

8 seconds.  2 plays probably.

The thing about penalties is how you respond. The Bears had two penalties in a row after that. 49ers should have made a play then.

Come on, Jay.  The San Francisco defense looks tight. 

 ILLEGAL CONTACT ON THAT 4TH DOWN MY ASS, WHAT A F'IN JOKE

 F THESE REFS

The lack of discipline on the Chicago team is amazing.  Stupid penalties everywhere. 

Orton proved last week he is not a good QB. Can't ever ask him to win one for you. Cutler can. I just think he is too....i'm not sure what word to use. But he is better than Orton if the line would block.

He's not a bust yet.  He has a below average team around him, but yes, he will have to play a lot better in the future. 

I gotta give a shout out to my sister boyfriend Mike.  Back in the off season when I was worrying after the Bears got Cutler he said, "Gary, don't worry about it.  The Packers will be fine.  Cutler is going to be a bust."  I know he was right on one of the two statements in that sentence.

I hope a comeback can happen.  If not, the Kyle Orton fans will be out in force tomorrow.  Even though Orton has nowhere near the talent Cutler has, there is a cult following for Orton. 

There was a 3-year span (98,99,00) that the Steelers didn't make the playoffs, two of which were losing seasons that fans were calling for Cowher to be fired. The Rooney's gave him a contract extension. The Steelers have been one of the most stable franchises in sports since 1970. Really it all starts with the ownership. They hire people to do jobs then let them do their jobs. I don't see that as a problem with the Bears though. Looks like O-line and WR. But they did beat Pittsburgh. Maybe another late comeback for Cutler?

Yeah, he did.  Nice play by the Niners to recover it.  The defense has kept us within 4 points after all of that. 

Tillman made a nice play only to have the 49ers recover

4 picks for Cutler. 

Bad snap! Wow

I love the continuity in the Steelers organization.  If you can do, it's definitely nice to make good hires and commit to people long-term. 

The Steelers have only hired defensive coaches for the past 40 years. It only amounts to 3 hires..hehe. Drafting can make or break a coach sometimes. The Bears really need some recievers I think. Forte looks real good. Maybe some upgades in the line.

I think you're right that it shouldn't be a snap judgment.  Overall, Lovie has done a decent job as Bears coach, but I would love to see an offensive mind to work with this franchise quarterback. 

Really tough to pin it all on the head coach. I know it's easier to fire the head coach than all the players. I don't follow the Bears very closely either. But my take on firing a head coach is you better have someone better available and willing to take over the job. The good thing for Chicago is they aren't one of those teams a very good coach may stay away from because of the owner (Washington, Oakland) and there are some really good coaches not coaching right now. The key is getting one of those coaches.

Thank you, Singletary.  That was incredibly stupid. 

It's crazy.  The guy has no time to throw.  He just threw another pick.  I don't want to see him get discouraged because this team is not ready to win (O-Line, D-Line, WR's)

Tough to defend his play this year, but I think he's proven that if he has some time to throw he's pretty damn good.  Still a bit wild, which compound with little time to throw is making a mess, but he's got a ton of talent.

Lovie Smith is two quarters away from the first real questions being asked about whether he should go away.  It's a tough business, but the clock might be starting to tick on him. 

Maybe I should be glad I can only watch the game occasionally for 20 seconds.

It's pretty painful so far.  The playoffs will be a blast, but these teams will not be invited.

This game's a real battle of mediocrity.

Yeah...INT's to the nose tackle aren't exactly great.

Another red zone interception.  I don't know how much longer I can defend Jay Cutler.  He hasn't been what I expected so far.

Fun! A Jay Cutler red zone interception!

This game has really changed since SF wasted that opportunity to score on their first drive.

Will the Crabtree Curse strike the 49ers again? I sure hope so

Will the Crabtree Curse strike the 49ers again? I sure hope so

...And the feed I was using is also Teh Suck.  Anyone have a good link?

Not having NFL Network = Teh Suck.

Good thing the power of the interwebz allows me to watch this game.