It’s 51℉ right now, which is about 51℉ warmer than it was a week ago, so that’s nice. Of course, it would be even nicer if the sun would join the party, but beggars can’t be choosers.
Last week’s signature Chicago cold snap presented some problems for the visiting Buffalo Bills and their trip home after Saturday’s game.
With the weather back home too severe for the Bills to fly out of Chicago on Christmas Eve, Josh Allen and the team ended up spending the holiday at the Barstool Bar in River North, where Allen tended bar for his teammates. Allen discussed the night stuck in Chicago on Kyle Brandt’s ‘Brandt’s Basement.’
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said on Wednesday at Halas Hall that he expects some more personnel changes when the Bears take on the Lions this weekend: “Certainly we’re going to move guys around a little bit,” Matt Eberflus said. “Potentially offensive line, defensive line, but it’s not any big shift.”
Eberflus indicated that the offensive line and defensive line would see the most movement, with the offensive line likely heading for another new combination in Week 17 with Teven Jenkins on the mend from a neck injury he suffered in Week 16 against the Eagles. Jenkins was a full participant on Wednesday.
Jenkins spoke to reporters at Halas Hall about his scary neck injury that resulted in him being carted off the field:
“I never imagined myself to be injured like that. Especially getting carted off at all. Anytime I can, I really try to get off the field if I’m hurt or injured. That was one of those instances they told me to stay down because of the neck injury. They had to keep it stable and everything.”
Jenkins said that he expects to play on Sunday despite the scare of the initial hit, one that Jenkins said hit him in the “sweet spot” where his neck was bent into a vulnerable position. I’m glad that Jenkins is feeling better and plans to play Sunday. Jenkins has been one of my favorite stories of this season. Going from nearly cut in training camp to a potential long-term starter at right guard this season has been enjoyable to watch.
Speaking of the offensive line, Justin Fields did the NFL tradition of gifting his lineman a Christmas/end-of-season gift, and instead of taking them out for a nice steak dinner, Fields bought them all brand-new Weber grills.
The votes are in, and Ribeye Steak is the big winner for first thing Bears offensive linemen are going to cook on their new grills from Justin Fields.https://t.co/XL1733GyLA— Bears Talk (@NBCSBears) December 28, 2022
Lovie Smith was asked about the Texans desire to win the next two games even though it would move them down the draft board, and as you would expect, Lovie wasn’t much concerned with the draft position.
“If you’re competing, you compete to win, right? So, you just kind of start with that and for our program, I’ve talked about it for a period of time. Our last games are in our division. We want to eventually take over the division. For us to have an opportunity to have a winning record in our division is pretty important to our guys. Yeah, that’s how I see it. That’s how we see it. You play to win at all times.”
Let’s be honest, Lovie was here for a long time, so I wouldn’t expect any other answer from him. Lovie’s answer was nearly identical to Matt Eberflus’ comments on Monday and what else would you expect? These guys are head football coaches, they’re paid to win football games. They’re not going to come out and say, “oh yeah, I like winning football games, but I’d sure as heck like that No. 1 pick.”
I’m just glad that the Bears’ last two are against playoff-caliber teams and the Texans have to find a way to lose to the Colts in Week 18, something they couldn’t do in Week 1 when it seemed like both teams did everything they could to lose.
Matt Eberflus has named Nicholas Morrow this week’s honorary captain of the Bears. Morrow is well deserving, having played pretty good football since moving to the WILL linebacker position a few weeks ago.
Matt Eberflus said that LB Nicholas Morrow will be the Bears’ honorary captain this week.
Patrick grew up in Chicago's Bridgeport and Garfield Ridge neighborhoods before moving to the Western Suburbs of Chicago before eventually relocating to the Las Vegas area with his family in 2023. He started with Bleacher Nation in 2021 and has spent time as a Staff Writer and on the Chicago Blackhawks beat. He is currently a writer and editor at Bleacher Nation covering the Chicago Bears and the NFL at large and the author of the Bleacher Nation Newsletter. Patrick is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).
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NEWSLETTER
