Thursday Bears games that aren’t on Thanksgiving will always throw me for a loop. Just hook the coffee to my veins and let’s get after it!
• There was optimism earlier in the week that the Titans would be back in their facility and gearing up for a return to football on Sunday. Instead, I’m growing convinced that might not happen:
Another #Titans player has tested positive for COVID-19 and an inconclusive test from the previous day is also positive, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 8, 2020
I’m told by #Titans and #Bills players they were told there is an option of playing their Sunday game on Monday or Tuesday in Nashville. If that happens, Thursday night’s game between the Chiefs at Bills would be moved to Saturday. This all just being discussed.
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) October 8, 2020
• Whenever the NFL decides to come down on the Titans, the punishment needs to be decisive enough to deter teams from trying to short-cut the league-mandated COVID regulations. A team-wide outbreak is bad enough. But when it impacts the schedule with no signs of slowing down, that’s problematic.
• Late last night, the thought crossed my mind that we could be in for a Tom Brady revenge game because this is what happened the last time he squared off against Nick Foles:
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1313924556533362688?s=20
• If Foles can re-create the magic from that night, then I like the Bears’ chances in this one. But if he can’t, then we’re going to have extra time between tomorrow and the Bears’ next game to dissect everything that isn’t going right with Chicago’s offense. And if it looks anything like what we saw on Sunday against the Colts, well, you know, maybe I just won’t finish that sentence in an attempt to not put that negative energy into the atmosphere.
• Now, this is what the offense is supposed to look like:
• Big-time throws downfield? Check. Making plays under pressure? Double check. Point guard-like distribution? Yep. No one is asking Foles to be Superman. Just do simple better. That’s all.
• For the record, offense isn’t the only issue the Bears need to fix quickly. Special teams was a disaster in Week 4. The unit committed four penalties and allowed a punt to get blocked. And while some might dread the quick turnaround, Special Teams Coordinator Chris Tabor is ready to get back on the field. “We had some mental errors there that can’t happen,” Tabor said, via the team’s official website. “I’ve got to do a better job of getting that corrected, and [I’m] glad we’re playing on Thursday to try to get that taste out of our mouth.”
• As I alluded to on Monday, there’s something about getting a quick opportunity to right your wrongs. The Bears will look to do just that on Thursday against a talented Buccaneers team.
• Germain Ifedi is the newest member of the Bears’ offensive line. And while we have different favorite baseball teams, I can appreciate how his mind works when discussing the game:
• “I just think the analytical approach that teams take as far as team building, I think that’s so cool. And I’ve always been into that.” I’ve long been borderline obsessed with roster composition and the process behind it, which is one of the reasons I got into writing in the first place. Put Ifedi on the list of guy’s I’d like to chop it up with and discuss America’s pastime.
• Should a Bears defender allow Brady to do this to them on Thursday night, then they should retire on the spot:
https://twitter.com/nflthrowback/status/1313879257668435968?s=20
• Unfortunately, Damon “Snacks” Harrison isn’t walking through the doors at Halas Hall to help prevent Brady from busting loose in the run game. The Seahawks signed Harrison to their practice squad as part of a wave of roster moves. Hey, at least it’s not the Packers!
• Let’s keep an eye on this:
For tonight’s #Bucs–#Bears game, TB WRs Mike Evans (ankle) and Scott Miller (hip/groin) are listed as questionable & Miller is expected to play, I’m told. As for Evans, he’ll work out pre-game to test his ankle. There is optimism Evans can go, too, but the workout is key.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 8, 2020
• This sounds like a true game-time decision. It’s easy to envision a scenario in which Mike Evans is limited in a way similar to what Julio Jones was on Monday Night Football.
• Brady has done more with less better than anyone I can remember. And, yeah, he is cooking in this offense:
All in a week's work for Tom Brady:
-Became the NFL's all-time regular season wins leader
-Named NFC Offensive Player of the Week
-Named FedEx Air Player of the Week
-Threw 5 TD Passes (matching single-game team record)
-Led @Buccaneers to a 3-1 record (best since 2011)#GoBucs pic.twitter.com/9JtGGQW48C— Buccaneers Communications (@BuccaneersComms) October 7, 2020
• I like Darnell Mooney’s vibe:
How Bears rookie receiver Darnell Mooney turned his serious nature into a big NFL opportunity.
"I just keep my mouth closed and let my work do the talking," @Darnell_M1 told @ChiTribKane.https://t.co/Q0gPCCbh9T
— Amanda Kaschube (@amandakaschube) October 7, 2020
• Say less, do more. Speak softly, but carry a big stick. You know what it is…
• More of this, please:
https://twitter.com/brgridiron/status/1312866101160681473?s=20