TUESDAY TIDBITS: "We've Got to Play Better, Simple as That"

By TJ Troup

Two weeks so far in what is going to be a very interesting season filled with compelling drama and excitement. Going to begin by praising McCaffrey of the 49ers, any player that can join Faulk, and Moore as the only three players in history to rush for 50 touchdowns, and catch 30 touchdown passes is an outstanding achievement! Especially when you consider how many outstanding versatile backs we have seen in league history. 

Shifting gears to prognostication, no doubt there are folks who enjoy predicting the team won/lost records each year. This is certainly a daunting challenge, yet there is a "writer" named Adam Rank who foolishly predicted the outcome of the NFC North as follows: Bears 11-6, Packers 10-7, Lions 8-9, and Vikings 7-10. 

What did he base his predictions on, especially since he is off to a horrendous start. Coach TJ has the advantage of two weeks into the season, so this should be easy, right? Well, lets look back at the end of the season and see who did better, me or Adam Rank. The Vikings will finish 9-8 for the year, the Lions will finish 11-6, and the Packers 12-5, oh need to predict the cuddly soft little Bears? Let's take a quick look at what the defense has accomplished, shall we. Have allowed 73 points in the last five quarters of play. Their defensive passer rating is 136, which if they continue would be the worst in league history (league average is about 93). 

Had no expectation that the Bears secondary of 2025 would exceed the '63 or '85 Bears in efficiency, yet when a team is forced to play Stevenson, they are going to be a) shredded, b) torched c) destroyed, of d) all of the above! Against Detroit, they allowed 5 plays of over 30 yards, the most of any team in the last 10 seaons. Would relish all of you sharing the worst coaches in the last 55 years, and some of you might have Eberflus & Gibron on your list. Ben Johnson will not join those two as he has too many positive qualities, yet he is sure dealing with a learning curve, and the title of this week's saga is a quote from him. Oh, the final record for the this woeful pathetic excuse of a team? The Bears will finish 6-11, and with the Adam Rank's brilliant expertise, the Bears need to go 11-4 the rest of the way for him to be correct. 

Mike Haffner with a fingertip touchdown catch

How many of you see hell freezing over right now? When that happens the Bears will go 11-4 the remaining games of 2025. Every team has a history, and some teams have an interesting story to tell, and will end with the Denver Broncos and their game against the Jets on September 21st, 1969. 

All-AFL DE Gerry Philbin takes down Steve Tensi

All-AFL DE Rich Jackson sacks Joe Namath

Though they had never had a winning season, this early-season clash with the champion Jets draws a record crowd to Mile High! Over the course of the last 53 games Denver had played their record against everyone except the Jets was 12-35, but against New York 3-3! 

Could they possibly beat the defending champs on this crisp day in Denver? New York builds a 13-0 lead, but Floyd Little's 52-yard punt return sets up his 1-yard score to put points on the board (Little pounds out 104 rushing yards against the tough Jets defense). Tensi is injured and Pete Liske (former Jet) enters the fray.

Steve Tensi

Lou Saban had him on the Buffalo roster in '64 but since he had Lamonica and Kemp he left for Canada, where he played outstanding football, and now Saban needs a backup to Tensi and brings Liske back. Pete lofts a pass to a wide-open Mike Haffner who stretches and makes a fingertip catch for a touchdown, and later Liske finds Denson open and the Broncos now lead. 

The Jets respond and score, and must go for two to gain a tie, but fail. Though they are outgained, the Broncos have knocked off the Super Bowl champs to have a record of 2-0. No, Denver does not have a winning season in '69 ("they're killing me Whitey, they're killing me"), there is continued excitement in Denver for years to come. 

This coming Sunday the Broncos play the Chargers in a key AFC battle, for me a game to watch. See ya next week.