NEWSLETTER
All I have to do is successfully avoid “Succession” spoilers and today will be a good day.
• Baseball fans are familiar with the story of Pedro Martinez calling the Yankees “his daddies” in the early 2000s. This clip will live on forever:
• I present this as a Bullets topper because there were big Pedro Martinez/Yankee daddies vibes emanating after another Chicago Bears loss at the hands of Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.
• And to think, I found myself pondering if we were seeing the last of Rodgers at Soldier Field. If that happens to be the case, good. Great. Where can I sign up? If I never have to watch him saunter on and off the Bears’ home turf ever again, it would be even better. Should I never see Rodgers play the Bears ever again, then *THAT* would be a best-case scenario. That man has authored some of the most torturing moments for Bears fans over the years. But yesterday’s performance took the cake:
Aaron Rodgers' comments were picked up by game TV cameras after his 6-yard TD run in the 4th quarter of the 24-14 win. "All my f—ing life, I own you," Rodgers shouted as he was congratulated by his teammates. "I still own you. I still own you."https://t.co/16rLWAL7la
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 17, 2021
• While taunting is on my mind, I would like reiterate my stance from earlier in the season: I can’t wait until we reach the part of the year where taunting penalties aren’t a thing and we laugh at the before times when it was a point of emphasis. Moving on…
• It wasn’t the 73 percent completion rate or two touchdowns that stood out from Sunday. Nor was it another 23 passes without throwing a pick against Chicago. Or that sparkling 128.0 passer rating. It was the taunt heard ’round the world. Rodgers’ taunts serve a snapshot of what the Bears-Packers rivalry has been during his time. Because no matter what you throw his way — different opposing head coaches, quarterbacks, defensive looks, coordinators, stud defenders — that Rodgers fella is going to gut your team. And he’s going to make it hurt.
• This sequence just adds salt in the wound:
Kenny Clark clearly jumped before the snap. Absolutely abominable officiating here. https://t.co/LjiRgVAkpu
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) October 17, 2021
Bears QB Justin Fields was asked if he thought his interception in the endzone was a “free play”.
“I think everybody in the stadium thought that was a free play.” #Bears.
— Mark Grote (@markgrotesports) October 17, 2021
Aaron Rodgers — the master of the free play — said he made the same mistake earlier in his career. Now, 'I'll peek at the line judge to the side of the foul and just make sure there's a flag coming out." Good advice for Justin Fields. https://t.co/mO1xjKlOnI
— Mark Potash (@MarkPotash) October 18, 2021
• Not only was it not a free play — which we have seen Rodgers manipulate yearly — the Packers QB can pass along friendly advice. Nothing like your fiercest rival making good points after knocking you down for the umpteenth time.
• Michael: Without casting blame in either direction (truly mean that), I’ll also point out that Allen Robinson seemingly stops at random on that play. Maybe it was the end of the route, maybe he thought the play was dead, who knows. But it seems pretty clear that he and Fields were on two very different pages, and I just would’ve liked to see what would’ve happened if he kept streaking towards the end zone. Miscommunication (or the lack of an ideal rapport) is not unexpected of a rookie QB, but it is something that can (and must) be addressed, particularly with one of his top receivers. That just can’t happen.
• Maybe if he got more first-team reps over the summer or started the season out as QB1, this wouldn’t still be happening.
• Oof. This stings:
The Bears’ Wikipedia page got updated earlier today (it’s since been fixed) to reflect the correct owner 🤣 pic.twitter.com/6iWwWhkmp6
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 18, 2021
• As the Bears owner, does Rodgers get any say in what the franchise does with the Arlington Heights property? Does hold any clout that would keep the Bears in the city? Asking for Mayor Lightfoot.
• Per NBC Sports Chicago’s Adam Hoge: Bears WR Darnell Mooney thought the momentum shifted after the free play that wasn’t was actually a turnover. This isn’t to say this is why the Bears lost. And it isn’t me blaming officiating for anything. But Mooney isn’t wrong in thinking that moment had a turning-point feel because we were all thinking it in real time. The Bears went from being in a position to put up another first-half score to setting up the Packers with a clean slate, the ball, and positive vibes.
• Alyssa Barbieri (Bears Wire) has a roundup of Bears fans who were big mad about yesterday’s officiating. Frankly, I can’t blame them. That wasn’t a great effort from that group. But the reality is that the Bears have so much catching up to do in order to be on the Packers’ level. So much so, it feels like the officiating would need to be so much in the Bears’ flavor in order for it to make a difference.
• Let’s be real about what yesterday’s game was for these Bears. It was a reminder that Chicago’s football team resides among the glob of teams that, on any given week, can beat any number of NFL teams — until it gets to the cream of the crop. Good enough to beat a Bengals team on the rise, Lions squad that is perpetually rebuilding, and a Raiders unit in dismay. But clearly not good enough to hang with the big boys. Or worse: Good enough to hang with the big boys long enough to get your soul crushed. It’s like the Bears are Charlie Brown and beating the Packers would equate to kicking the football. But Lucy is Aaron Rodgers.
• This tracks:
Bears were dominant early but the Packers won the pressure battle outright. Aaron Rodgers was under pressure on 32.1 percent of dropbacks. Justin Fields was under pressure on 43.2 percent.
— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) October 18, 2021
• Chicago’s defense came up with three sacks, four QB Hits, and three tackles-for-loss. But the “D” didn’t force any turnovers. And if your team can’t get one off the Packers, it needs to be perfect elsewhere.
• Yesterday’s rush defense was cringe, but it’s hard not to like a lot of what the Bears’ pass-rush did:
We talked about the CHI pass rush on the Week 6 @NFLMatchup show.
Tilted fronts/stunts (Dime) — with schemed pressures.
Khalil Mack here… pic.twitter.com/soDKx2G262
— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) October 18, 2021
• It is a #VictoryMonday for at least one Chicago team:
THE CHICAGO SKY ARE WNBA CHAMPIONS!!https://t.co/eJmdlrNlQC
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) October 17, 2021
• With all due respect to the Bears’ drafting of Justin Fields, White Sox’s run to win the AL Central, and Bulls’ offseason efforts in trying to build a contender, the Chicago Sky winning the WNBA title is the Chicago sports story of the year. They made waves, looked to be having fun while doing so, and won a championship in the process. On top of that, the Sky piqued the interest of new fans and generated a unique buzz. Here’s to more continuous growth moving forward.
• This could be interesting:
Hello: MLB Reportedly Considering Nationwide Streaming Service with No Blackouts – https://t.co/Mt4bSSHV5E pic.twitter.com/874l1xoCqo
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) October 18, 2021
• The Blackhawks are in a rough place ahead of their home opener:
Fleury Shelled, Time For Change, and Other Blackhawks Bulletshttps://t.co/cfqSNy0d5G
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) October 17, 2021
