I am working through a blister on the index finger of my right hand, so I am trying to be equally proficient and efficient with my keystrokes today.
- ICYMI: The Chicago Bears have removed Matt Eberflus as their head coach. You can read more from the team’s official announcement here. Eberflus finishes his Bears coaching career with a .304 winning percentage and the dubious distinction of never beating the Green Bay Packers. Want to ensure a short shelf life as the head coach of Chicago’s football team? Then go winless in five games against their biggest rival.
- Thomas Brown, who took over as the offensive coordinator three games ago, now has the interim head coach title. There is so much to unpack from this morning’s news. But before we do some of that in this set of Bullets, I’ve gotta say that Brown’s career arc in November should serve as a reminder to never give up on your dreams. Thomas Brown has been promoted twice in the span of 17 days. If he can do it, then you can, too.
- On the one hand, it is a little messed up that the Bears fired Eberflus just hours after allowing him to host a press conference and say that he expects to be the team’s head coach for the upcoming Week 14 battle against the San Francisco 49ers. That is the type of thing that unserious franchises allow to happen. But on the other hand, this is precisely what I have come to expect from this team. Because if there is one thing I know about the Bears, it is that they operate in chaos. The Bears will always choose the most chaotic path.
- What a tweet to see today:
- For more on the Bears head coach’s firing, I’d encourage you to read reporting from beat reporters at The Athletic, Tribune, Sun-Times, and ESPN.
A brief collection of Bears thoughts from the Thanksgiving (because who doesn’t love Black Friday leftovers?)
- My biggest takeaway from Thursday’s game is that rookie quarterback Caleb Williams’ ability to find a way to keep chugging along despite everything else falling apart around him is equally impressive and honorable. Williams made chicken salad out of chicken spit a bunch on Thursday and overcame a woeful start to deliver a three-touchdown performance and 97.8 passer rating. Gutsy stuff from QB1.
- Caleb Williams’ stats vs. the NFC North this season: 75/117 (64.1 completion pct.), 827 yards, 5 TD, 0 INT, 99.2 passer rating. That’ll do, rookie.
- For funsies, this is what that stat line looks like when prorated over a full 17-game season: 425/663 (64.1%), 4,686 pass yards, 28 TD, 0 INT. Swoon.
- Keenan Allen’s mid-season renaissance has been wonderful to see. After Thursday’s two-score performance, Caleb Williams has a 92.9 passer rating when throwing to No. 13. I’m not sure what (if anything) that will do for any extension talks between Allen and the Bears. But Keenan showing that he still has some gas in the tank will do wonders for his stock this upcoming offseason.
- Here are DJ Moore’s numbers since Thomas Brown took over as offensive coordinator: 30 targets (averaging 10 per game), 22 receptions, 265 yards, 2 TD. It is almost as if targeting your best wide receiver early and often is the type of thing that would pay off for a developing quarterback. Who’da thunk it?
- It was nice to see defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. stuff the stat sheet on Thursday. Dexter collected 1 sack, 1 QB Hit, 1 tackle-for-loss, and finished with 3 solo tackles. Dexter leads the team with five sacks and 16 quarterback hits this season. The University of Florida product’s leveling up as a second-year player has been a sight for sore eyes.
- Seeing Darnell Wright leave the game with a knee injury stinks because he had been playing so well in recent games leading up to this last one. Hoepfully, the injury isn’t one that will put him on injured reserve. I hope the Bears find a way to figure out a suitable replacement at right tackle because I did not like what Larry Borom put on tape on Thanksgiving and don’t imagine it’ll look any better when I re-watch the game.
- I’m not a big podcast listener, but I am curious to hear what Cole Kmet has to say about the pick plays he got called for on Thursday. Those are tough to call in real-time. And I swear everything looks like a penalty when you slow it down for instant replay.
- Are you ready for the first-ever Black Friday NFL game? Raiders Head Coach Antonio Pierce kept it real with his pre-game assessment:
#Raiders HC Antonio Pierce on Friday's game vs. the Chiefs: "Let's call a spade a spade. Best team in football against the worst team in football. Let's change the narrative." pic.twitter.com/P9CCAaaCDa— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 27, 2024
- “Let’s call a spade a spade,” Pierce said, via Ari Meirov. “Best team in football gainst the worst team in football. Let’s change the narrative.” I appreciate the honesty.
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- Over at Bleacher Nation’s Cubs division, Brett Taylor shares some good news regarding right-handed pitcher Ben Brown.
- Some love for Chicago Bulls rookie Matas Buzelis: