The Bears Can Exorcise Demons and Punch Their Playoff Ticket Today and Other Bullets
Not sure if coming back from a 21-0 deficit in NFL Blitz or posting a quadruple double in NBA Jam Tournament edition was a better arcade game accomplishment, but doing both in the same night was pretty cool.
- If you’re going to celebrate Clinchmas, do it in style:
ChrisMitch.#DaBears pic.twitter.com/w7wrNiBwfe
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 16, 2018
- It’s Week 15 and the Bears can clinch a playoff spot. Who saw this coming? Let’s discuss some playoff scenarios. The Bears need one of the following things to occur to clinch the NFC North for the first time since 2010: Beat the Packers or hope the Vikings lose to the Dolphins. Chicago could also clinch the division if its game with Green Bay and Minnesota’s contest against Miami both end in a tie. But where would the fun be in that?
- At minimum, the Bears can land a postseason spot if Washington loses to Jacksonville in a game of two franchises no one wants to tune into watch.
- Should the Bears officially make their way into the postseason for the first time in eight years, Head Coach Matt Nagy will probably have the inside track on joining the likes of George Halas and Mike Ditka. A panel of Associated Press writers have voted Nagy as their Coach of the Year … to this point. To be clear, this isn’t the official NFL Coach of the Year award, just a snapshot teaser of a micro-poll that hints at who the award winner could be when it’s announced. Should Nagy bring it home, he’ll join George Halas (1963, 1965), Mike Ditka (1985, 1988), Dick Jauron (2001), and Lovie Smith (2005) as award winners. Ditka won the Super Bowl when he won it the first time and Smith took his squad to the big game when he won. Could Nagy be next?
- ESPN’s Louis Riddick is a fan:
“In one game… I’ll take Matt Nagy and Vic Fangio against anybody in the NFL.”
– @LRiddickESPN on the potential for the @ChicagoBears to beat anyone. pic.twitter.com/1k5Wh3JE6x
— Golic and Wingo (@GolicAndWingo) December 14, 2018
- Riddick is all-in on the Bears doing the thing, but …
.@LRiddickESPN says the Bears will make the Super Bowl, but this one thing has to happen … pic.twitter.com/dFvBfULpLP
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) December 14, 2018
- This was a fun read:
“The most fun coach I’ve ever played for.”
How Matt Nagy’s gadget plays are giving the Bears more than just points on the scoreboard: https://t.co/gofCMALxTX
— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) December 14, 2018
- Michael made the point the other day that Nagy runs so many “trick” plays, to the point where I’m hesitant to call them “trick” plays. Simply put, it’s creative play-calling on a higher level.
- I’m not just saying this because I have Allen Robinson on my fantasy team, but it would be cool to see some creativity result in an Allen Robinson touchdown.
- The Bears haven’t beaten the Packers at Soldier Field since September 27, 2010, so getting a win today would be a pretty big deal:
Bears look to finish 7-1 at home for the first time since 205. Bears won a total of 7 home games under the previous head coach from 2015-17.
— Jeff Dickerson (@DickersonESPN) December 16, 2018
- Good coaching and good players have raised to public profile of the 2018 Bears:
These Bears are the top Pro Bowl vote getters at their position in the NFC:
OLB Khalil Mack
CB Kyle Fuller
SS Adrian Amos
FS Eddie Jackson
RS Tarik CohenFan voting ended yesterday, players/coaches vote today, rosters announced next Tuesday.
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) December 14, 2018
- Well-deserved for obvious reasons, especially when you look at Khalil Mack, Kyle Fuller, Eddie Jackson, and Tarik Cohen. Strong safety Adrian Amos is a bit of a surprise considering he is having a down year by Pro Football Focus’ lofty standards, but is still a reliable defender in the secondary. Fan votes are just one-third of the equation, but perhaps this will give us an idea of how things could go when Pro Bowls nominations are officially announced.
- In an ideal world, the Bears have no one in the Pro Bowl … because they’ll be preparing for the Super Bowl.
- Leonard Floyd appears to have turned a corner and a strong finish to this regular season could really change the narrative surrounding his season:
