NEWSLETTER
My favorite recipe is older than I am. It is a no-bake cheesecake that got me through my college years. Who knew having kitchen skills would be a way to open doors to new friendships? Anyway, it’s pretty simple. Blend a bar of Philadelphia cream cheese, an 8-ounce container of sour cream, 1/4 cup sugar, a splash of pure vanilla extract, and a container of extra creamy cool whip. Once it is all combined, pour it into a ready-made graham cracker crust (or you could make your own pressed into a pie plate) and set it in the fridge for at least four hours.
Over the years, I’ve come to find out that the longer it chills, the better it tastes. That’s one of the joys of cooking and baking — learning something new with each experience.
• More proof that the Seahawks never, e-e-e-ever play a normal game? How about a contest featuring two kicks out of bounds, a doink, a Russell Wilson injury (more on that later), and this:
Absolutely legal and fine pic.twitter.com/aTLPKVhYxj
— BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL (@edsbs) October 8, 2021
• I see your double doink and raise you a double punt!
• Russell Wilson went down with a finger injury that could keep take him out of action. Further testing is required, but NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reports surgery hasn’t been ruled out just yet. Wilson has not missed a game in the 10 years he has been slinging it in Seattle. That is a run of 149 consecutive regular-season starts. Tack on the playoff games, and we’re looking at 165 straight starts. A surgery that could take him out of the lineup is a big stinking deal — even if replacement Geno Smith went 10-for-17 with 131 yards and a TD.
• Speaking of Russ, here we go again:
Glazer believes Wilson likely to seek trade again https://t.co/ezDmlS35tQ
— NBC Sports EDGE Football (@NBCSEdgeFB) October 8, 2021
• NFL on FOX insider Jay Glazer believes Wilson will once again seek an offseason trade out of Seattle. “A million percent I see trying to do this again,” Glazer said on FOX’s TNF pre-game show, as transcribed by the team at NBC Sports Edge. If you’ll recall, Wilson was the talk of the town last offseason when the Bears were trying to cook up a trade for the Seahawks star. In case that is still on your mind, I struggle to see a fit with Justin Fields in the fold. But if you’ll recall, the Raiders and Saints are team who were also on Wilson’s preferred trade list last offseason. So keep tabs on how Jon Gruden and Sean Payton address their QB situations moving forward.
• Let’s make a smooth transition from talking about stuff from a game between one Bears opponent from earlier in the season (Rams) and one coming down the line (Seahawks) to their next opponent (Raiders) by offering up this nugget:
#Raiders saw what the #Bears pass rush did to Penei Sewell last week and thought, you know what, we might need to tweak some things with our rookie tackle for Derek’s sake.
— Maurice Moton (@MoeMoton) October 7, 2021
• Bears pass-rushers roughed up Penei Sewell, who was college football’s top offensive lineman prospect entering the 2021 NFL Draft. Sewell’s 46.3 grade was ultra-whack. Perhaps it was with that in mind, coupled with rookie Alex Leatherwood’s own woeful 36.6 grade last week, that ultimately had the Raiders sliding Leatherwood inside. Nothing like having the threat of Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn coming to town to push a struggling offensive line to make some changes.
• Last time the Bears and Raiders played each other, Derek Carr wasn’t sacked and Chicago’s defense came up with just one QB Hit. The then Oakland Raiders (playing as a home team in London, because of course) made an all-out effort to make sure Khalil Mack was a non-factor. Kudos to Gruden for not letting the Bears’ best player beat him. I fully expect that Gruden will show up and obsessively try to do it again. Then again, it’ll be tougher with a healthy and producing Robert Quinn on the other side.
• And now I’m wondering if that was the game that led to Bears GM Ryan Pace pouring a significant free agent investment in Quinn the following offseason. For what it’s worth, I have no problem putting resources into the defensive side of the ball. And I definitely do love investing in proven pass-rushers. But at some point, I’d like for the Bears to invest equally on the offensive side of the ball. Especially when it comes to those positions responsible for protecting Justin Fields. But that feels like a different post for another day.
• I’ll be curious to see how the Bears deploy their pass-rushers. Defensive Coordinator Sean Desai probably has an idea that Raiders left tackle Kolton Miller came into Week 5 as PFF’s best-grading pass-blocker. But he also probably knows the Chargers came up with four sacks and seven QB Hits. This is one of those game-within-the-game chess matches we just love seeing.
• The Raiders appear to be getting healthy. And just in time to see the Bears:
Josh Jacobs and Kolton Miller both upgraded to full on #Raiders injury report pic.twitter.com/IPjwjMBhZF
— Levi Damien (@LeviDamien) October 7, 2021
• Meanwhile, Akiem Hicks (groin) and Khalil Mack (foot/ribs) didn’t practice for a second straight day. We’ll get more clarity with today’s injury report update. And we’ll have full clarity once the Bears share who is (or isn’t) traveling on the flight to Vegas. But no matter how you slice it, it isn’t ideal to see two key pieces of the defense unable to practice early in the week.
• On a brighter note, I could get used to this:
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1446501891341312003
• A thread of Devin Hester collegiate excellence:
October 8, 2005: @CanesFootball’s Devin Hester (@D_Hest23) catches the Duke punt, breaks a gazillion tackles, and takes it to the house…pic.twitter.com/YRp5hOpR89
— This Day In Sports Clips (@TDISportsClips) October 8, 2021
Earlier in the game @D_Hest23 had another incredible return. This one for 43 yards. pic.twitter.com/OMhWVBHjun
— This Day In Sports Clips (@TDISportsClips) October 8, 2021
• Finding the right thing to snack on during a Bears 3 p.m. game can be a challenge. If you’re playing your cards right, you’ve had a solid breakfast and will have a quality dinner to wind down with. In the meantime, you’ll probably want to snack. Which is where my friend Jim’s Instant Pot Chex Mix comes into play.
• Today’s Epic Daily Deals at Amazon are pretty loaded, including iPad, electric toothbrushes, and James Bond. #ad
• The artistry of a successful penalty shot in hockey is a thing of beauty:
https://twitter.com/BN_Blackhawks/status/1446301895266643983
• I’ve been disenchanted with baseball since late July, but this is the type of moment that could draw me back in:
Randy Arozarena Became the First Player to Steal Home in the Playoffs Since Javy Báez in 2016 – https://t.co/iNJ7OcJcwX pic.twitter.com/ytCmiuXeKr
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) October 8, 2021
• There are few plays in sports that are as exciting as a straight steal of home. Find someone whose presence you enjoy as much as Randy Arozarena enjoys the playoffs.
• Chicago’s football team is always willing to lend a helping hand:
.@whitesox, if you need any relief pitchers just let us know. 😏@lscreeden | @spiceadams pic.twitter.com/H7AdBbS5ZX
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 7, 2021
• These are the Bulls’ best home looks:
The Chicago Bulls Are Switching Back to Wearing White Jerseys at Homehttps://t.co/OlIpd1s1WJ
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) October 8, 2021
