Another Cubs collapse had me active on Twitter. It randomly put me in a place where I was thinking about the offseason for my two favorite teams (despite both still being very much in the midst of their regular season schedule). A thread of thoughts on Bears football. And as an additional bonus, some baseball musings.
The mid-week episode of The BN Bears Show covered a whole bunch of ground this week. Everything from unexpected silver linings, to a way-too-early prospect watchlist, to a “leadership council” meeting — which feels like is something that we shouldn’t have to resort to during a build-up to Week 4. But I digress:
The Bears leadership committee folks who play on defense need to “lead” other members of the “council” into the Broncos “backfield” to “sack” the opposing “quarterback” on Sunday. There is no excuse for a defensive line that has given up significant resources in terms of cash (Yannick Ngakoue, DeMarcus Walker, Justin Jones) and draft picks (Gervon Dexter Sr., Zacch Pickens) not to hassle Russell Wilson for 60 minutes at Soldier Field. Wilson has been sacked 10 times and hit 31 times in three games. For those of you who aren’t fluent in boy math, that is a pace of 56 sacks and 175 quarterback hits allowed. YIKES!
Since limiting the Raiders to 17 points in Week 1, the Broncos have coughed up 35 to the Commanders and 70 to the Dolphins in back-to-back weeks. If this trend of Broncos opponents doubling up on last week’s point total continues, then the Bears are going to score 140 points on Sunday. Don’t argue with my math here, people. It’s sound.
Thirteen might be Taylor Swift’s favorite number, but it isn’t mine. Not when the Bears have lost 13 consecutive regular-season games dating back to last year. But the mindset at Halas Hall is simple enough: One win can change the vibes. (Sun-Times)
Anecdotally, I thought quarterback Justin Fields was short with his answers during his weekly press conference. But Colleen Kane (Tribune) was on site and also made note of Fields’ brevity during his Wednesday press availability. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, mind you. However, it felt telling (and representative) of the state of the Bears that Fields didn’t have much to say. What’s left to say about a broken offense that has more questions than answers?
Adam Jahns (The Athletic) is right. QB1 needs to show signs of life against a bad Broncos defense. Sam Howell went 27-for-39 for 299 yards, 2 touchdowns (with no interceptions), and a 108.8 passer rating. Jimmy Garoppolo went for just 200 yards, but completed 20 of 26 passes, put up a 107.9 quarterback rating, and threw 2 touchdowns (with just 1 interception). This feels like a good time for a JF1 breakout game. And if it doesn’t happen? Well, we’ll continue having tough conversations about the future of the position.
Thursday Night Football features the Lions and Packers in a game in which I wish both teams could lose. Patrick has an injury report update leading into tonight’s NFC North showdown.
Some good news from friend of the program Brad Spielberger:
Don’t get me wrong. Therapy is cool. But have you tried the 2024 PFF NFL Mock Draft Simulator? Yep. We’re already here. Three games into the season and we’re already looking at 2024 NFL mock drafts.
I stumbled upon a list of diamonds in the rough that should be on our radar while browsing through PFF’s website this morning. Every year, we see FCS studs go from unheralded draft prospects to standout producers in the NFL. I’d like to see the Bears hop on that train and snag someone fun.
Sigh. The Shohei Ohtani NFL comps annoy me because it’s not as if the Charles Woodson comparison isn’t right there for you. But, for SEO and algorithm purposes, I understand why there is an incessant need to throw Ohtani’s name in a headline. In any case, this is still a fun read from The Athletic’s Dan Pompei on how the NFL looks at two-way players.
DJ Moore made history during the Chicago Bears' win on Monday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings. Sure, the win was full of oddities. But it also featured Moore reaching rarefied air by joining the list of Bears players to...
Here we go again. Chicago Bears legend Devin Hester has made it to the semifinalist round of Pro Football Hall of Fame voting. This is Hester's third time making the cut. And while I strongly believe he should've been in...
A random thought from the top: I wonder how three of the Chicago Bears' four wins in 2023 (including yesterday's doozy on MNF) coming in primetime slots can frame how a national audience views the Bears. And I wonder how...
They did it! The Chicago Bears won a game against a divisional opponent. And they did it on the road ... in come-from-behind fashion ... with quarterback Justin Fields leading a game-winning drive. And it comes against the Minnesota Vikings,...
Just when you think you've seen it all, the Chicago Bears take the field and serve up a reminder that you haven't. After cornerback Jaylon Johnson came away with an interception of Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs that was about...
The Chicago Bears haven't won a game against a rival who plays in the NFC North since the 2021 season. They could change that tonight with a win against the Minnesota Vikings. But if they can't, they'll go into the...
It was truly frustrating that Chicago Bears stud defensive end Montez Sweat wasn't on the field for key defensive snaps during the team's end-of-game collapse against the Detroit Lions in Week 11. And it has led us to a good...
The Chicago Bears take the field for Monday Night Football in a few hours, but I'm struggling to focus on the game. Why? Because the Carolina Panthers relieved Frank Reich of head-coaching duties and that has me distracted. Seeing a...
A week ago today, Bears Head Coach Matt Eberflus told reporters there wren't major injury updates to report on after the team's Week 11 loss to the Detroit Lions. Unfortunately, one player's injury from the previous week will keep him...
If you're reading this, it means the Amtrak wi-fi is working. Or, at a minimum, is working long enough for me to push Bears Bullets out the door. News from the top with the Panthers firing Head Coach Frank Reich....
The Detroit Pistons (2-15) will try to stop a 14-game losing streak when they host the Los Angeles Lakers (10-8) on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at Little Caesars Arena as 7-point underdogs. The matchup airs at 7:00 PM ET on...
The Memphis Grizzlies (3-13) will try to stop a four-game losing streak when they host the Utah Jazz (6-11) on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at FedExForum as 5-point favorites. The contest airs at 8:00 PM ET on BSSE. The matchup...
The Orlando Magic (12-5) are heavily favored (by 10 points) to continue a five-game home win streak when they host the Washington Wizards (3-14) on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 7:00 PM ET. The over/under is 233.5 for the matchup.Magic...
The Philadelphia 76ers (12-5) are favored by 1.5 points against the New Orleans Pelicans (9-9) on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 8:00 PM ET. The matchup airs on NBCS. The matchup has an over/under set at 226.5 points.76ers vs. Pelicans...
According to Elliotte Friedman, just a few hours after announcing they're punting Corey Perry off the roster, the Blackhawks are bringing in 26-year-old wing Anthony Beauvillier via trade from the Vancouver Canucks. https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1729671443149963295 Beauvillier is in the final year of...
The Chattanooga Mocs versus the Lipscomb Bisons is one of eight games on Wednesday's college basketball slate that features an ASUN team in play, and we've got best bets tips for you.How to Bet on ASUN Games[lasso rel="draftkings-promo-1" id="299003"]Best ASUN...
Patriot League teams will be in action in 10 games on Wednesday's college basketball schedule, and we have your best bets information below. That includes the VMI Keydets taking on the Navy Midshipmen at Navy Alumni Hall.How to Bet on...
America East teams will hit the court in six games on Wednesday's college basketball slate, and we have your best bets information below. That includes the Dartmouth Big Green taking on the Vermont Catamounts at Roy L. Patrick Gymnasium.How to...
The Dartmouth Big Green versus the Vermont Catamounts is one of six games on the Wednesday college basketball slate that includes an Ivy League team. If you look below, you can see our best bets for that conference action.How to...
The Grand Canyon Antelopes versus the UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros is one of five games on the Wednesday college basketball slate that features a WAC team. If you look below, you can see our best bets for that conference...
