Third-Down Problems, Awesome Soldier Field Artwork, Those Shifty Pats Are At It Again, and Other Bears Bullets

At this time last week, I found myself thankful to have snuck into the playoffs because the top-seeded team in the league knocked off the one team I needed to go down in order to land a spot in the postseason. Today, I celebrate an upset victory over the team that allowed me to make the dance in the first place. Next up? Another good friend who is a smart fantasy football player. This is where the fun begins!

  • The most impressive piece of art you’ll see all day:
  • Remarkable. Breath-taking. Impressive. I don’t have art-skillzz like this, but I’m glad other people do. I am truly thankful for the sharing of their skills. Go ahead and slap that RT button and like to share quality work!
  • Things are going well for a Bears team that enters the second week of December with a winning record. But just because the team has been rolling lately doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its issues. For starters, this needs to be cleaned up:
  • There are only three teams worse than the Bears when it comes to converting 3rd-and-short situations into third downs. That three of the five are teams who are well out of the playoff picture essentially tells you how important third-down conversions can be to a team’s success.
  • There is no simple answer to the problem either. Pro Football Reference’s data shows quarterback Mitch Trubisky has a 72.7 passer rating on 3rd/4th and short. On 3rd-and-medium, that number is 65.0. And when it comes to the running game, David Montgomery hasn’t been the answer either. Montgomery is averaging 1.7 yards per carry on 3rd/4th and short, and just 2.0 yards per rush on 3rd down, altogether. Head Coach Matt Nagy seems to have found a groove for play-calling the last few weeks, but needs to find another gear in order for this offense to hit its stride. Hopefully, it’s not one of those “too little, too late” situations.
  • Perhaps more Cordarrelle Patterson is an answer?
  • I can’t get enough of this run. Any time you can get Patterson the ball in open space is good. Watching him run with the football is a delight. More, please.
  • There is a chance that Bears win over the Cowboys ultimately proves to be one of the final nails in the coffin of Jason Garrett’s career as Dallas’ head coach. They don’t call it the hot seat for nothing, and Kalyn Kahler of SI.com writes that Garrett is firmly on it.
  • While Dallas floundered under the prime-time lights, Chicago’s football team showed some back-bone and resilience:
  • I’m not surprised, but it is still worth sharing. The Bears have been blown out just once. Otherwise, their hard-fought close losses in games where things weren’t clicking represent signs of willing to battle it out in the end. Last year, the Bears turned those games into close wins. And if they don’t squeak out three more of those this year, they will find themselves looking back at those losses as reasons as to why they are on the outside looking into the playoff picture.
  • In addition to Monday’s roster shuffle, the Bears hosted some players for workouts:
  • It’s that time of year where teams are starting to get stretched thin in certain areas, so they use workout invitations to get looks into players they might want around down the stretch or even at the start of next year when camp rosters expand to 90.
  • Khalil Mack is a real one:
  • Your 12 Days of Deals at Amazon are right here if you’re still holiday shopping and looking for convenient bargains. #ad
  • This caught me off guard when it came across my Twitter timeline on Monday afternoon:
  • The Patriots … caught up in another video-taping scandal? *clutches pearls*
  • Since then, the Pats have released a statement attempting to clarify the situation by admitting to unintentionally violating the league’s policy. No, seriously:
  • Oh, those shifty Patriots are at it again. Until more details come out, I’m not sure this will have been as egregious as what they did in 2007 when they were caught taping the Jets’ coaching signals and forced to give up a first-round pick because of their misdeeds. But this could result in some more discipline from the league offices. And because this isn’t the first time, good luck getting the benefit of the doubt from any one.
  • Some birthday wishes in Bears land:
  • https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/1204402889961156609

  • Topical:
  • written by

    Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

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