NEWSLETTER
My favorite bar in Chicago needs help.
Here’s how you can lend an assist:
Big reason the State of Illinonois #BIGNothing grant denial yesterday sucked was we were depending on that to cover staff payroll during the winter.
But now you can help us do that! Sponsor a staff shift & good karma and social media glory will be yours! https://t.co/9lHhk0jFlU
— Nisei Lounge Chicago (@NiseiLounge) December 31, 2020
And last but in no way least, our staff has their own @gofundme run by @niseilou – even if you can't make it in and hate our twitter account you can help the staff directly this winter by giving there. https://t.co/1ZkK5gAVF7
— Nisei Lounge Chicago (@NiseiLounge) December 31, 2020
And here’s one last reminder as we leave 2020 in the dust and head into 2021: I encourage you to do what you can to support your favorite local businesses. You know that saying your parents told you about how you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone? That’s very much applicable right now. So let’s try keeping our favorite places rolling.
• Outside of Bears-Packers, the NFC’s most important game will be played between the Rams and Cardinals. Both teams need wins to get in. And either could be eliminated with a loss if Chicago defeats Green Bay. But while Los Angeles will enter action without its starting quarterback, Arizona’s signal caller is ready to roll:
Kyler Murray said his leg feels fine and he will be ready to go against the Rams: “There’s no holding back. If we lose, I’ll be home chillin’.”
— Kyle Odegard (@Kyle_Odegard) December 30, 2020
• As a reminder, a Cardinals win and a Bears loss means Chicago misses the playoffs. And if the Bears go back-to-back seasons without a postseason appearance, there’s a potential for a reckoning looming on the horizon. Just in case you forgot what the guys in navy blue and orange are playing for this weekend.
• On the other side of the field, the health update isn’t all that encouraging:
Rams’ HC Sean McVay on the status of WR Cooper Kupp for Sunday’s game vs. Arizona: “We placed him on the COVID IR. That's really all I can say about that. His status for the game, he's probably not likely to be available for us."
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 31, 2020
• So the Rams could be without starting QB Jared Goff, stud RB Cam Akers, their other stud rusher Darrell Henderson, and their top receiver. Cool, cool, cool. I’m still riding with John Wolford, though. Or at minimum, I’m rolling with the chances that Sean McVay out-coaches Kliff Kingsbury. Yeah, that’s the ticket.
• OK, it’s not all bad in Rams land:
The #Rams announce that LT Andrew Whitworth has returned to practice. He was targeting the playoffs to return… but could he return sooner?
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 30, 2020
• And if all else fails, the Rams signed Blake Bortles off the Broncos’ practice squad. In case you’ve forgotten, Bortles is 2-1 in playoff games. And probably would’ve had a third win had fortunes not favored Tom Brady’s Patriots, as they almost always seemingly tend to do in January. Some guys get all the luck.
• One reason we have an eye on Rams-Cardinals is because of this ghastly trend:
Sunday marks the sixth time the Bears and Packers have met in Week 17.
Green Bay is 5-0 in these season finale matchups.
1998: Packers 16, Bears 13
2004: Packers 31, Bears 14
2006: Packers 26, Bears 7
2010: Packers 10, Bears 3
2013: Packers 33, Bears 28— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) December 31, 2020
• Then again, all I see here is that the Bears are totally due for a win here.
• Larry Mayer (ChicagoBears.com) dives into the history of the Bears playing for a playoff bid in the regular-season finale. Some people might see Chicago’s history and see it as some sort of harbinger of doom. I wouldn’t do that, but that’s just me. But also … past performance doesn’t indicate future results. And even if it did, the Bears’ past would tell us a big nothing. In eight games played since The Merger in 1970, the Bears have (1) won twice and clinched a playoff spot, (2) won two games and failed to make the postseason, (3) slid into the playoffs despite losing, and (4) lost three games and ultimately failed to qualify for the tournament. In other words, don’t waste your time trying to find present-day meaning in something that happened years ago.
• A hearty congratulations goes out to Mitchell Trubisky for his award-winning performance in 2020:
https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/1344398524524453888
• Seriously. Kudos to Trubisky for winning an award that encapsulates what he is as a person that causes his teammates to rally around him. In a year that has been challenging, flummoxing, frustrating, and tough at its core, Trubisky has been honest, accountable, real, and genuine with his reflections. Trubisky has gone through some things in 2020. And yet, he’s faced the music at every turn. He’s done far better than I would’ve if put into a similar situation.
• For your listening pleasure:
NEW POD! We break down Week 16 plus preview Week 17 for the #Bears in a win and you're in game. Listen below:https://t.co/pEjzoxNXGk
— Bear Report (@BearReport) December 30, 2020
https://twitter.com/NBCSBears/status/1344655901253316608
• The math checks out:
Complete list of NFL teams that have scored 30 or more points in each of their last four games:
BEARS
— Larry Mayer (@LarryMayer) December 30, 2020
• ‘Tis the season:
Looks like #Bears DB's were gifted PS5's for Christmas by teammate Eddie Jackson.
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) December 30, 2020
• There will be plenty of time for Eddie Jackson and his teammates to play Madden ’21 on PS5. In February. After the Bears win the Super Bowl.
• And to close out the final set of Bullets in 2020:
if I could do life over again I would change a lot, but I don’t think I’d change a thing as it pertains to this… and I guess all the things that I WOULD change could have brought me to a different place and not this moment in history four years ago 🇺🇸 https://t.co/eKF0PJuUiB
— Nate Boyer (@NateBoyer37) December 30, 2020
