:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1403929/20120909_pjc_ad4_342.0.jpg)
Status quo won't be good enough for Bears - Dan Pompei: As the season goes on and the stakes get higher, the challenges will be steeper for the Bears. What is there for the Bears to improve upon?
Jay Cutler can feel pain of verbal hits, too - Sean Jensen: “I understand a lot of these guys have a job to do and these networks have a job to do and they’ve got to make TV happen,” he said. “I’ve never had a teammate come out and say, ‘He’s a bad guy. I don’t like playing with him.’ I’ve had teammates who have been supportive of me, and that’s the most important part to me.”
Larry Mayer's Chalk Talk - Are Bears going to sign Plaxico Burress? What are the Bears and NFL records for defensive TDs in a season?
New WCG community guidelines - Dane updated them. Defaming Craig Steltz is now a bannable offence.
Follow WCG on Twitter; like us on Facebook (& click on 'Subscribed to').
----------
Bearsssss
Shea McClellin says he has much to improve on - Adam L. Jahns: Marinelli thinks he's made nice progress, plus Emery taking in college games.
Earl Bennett expects to play against Lions - Adam L. Jahns: ‘I feel good,’’ he said. ‘‘I might bring out the orange shoes. You never know.’’
Cutler just might need the freedom to call his own plays - Mark Potash: As talented as Cutler is, he thrives more than most on being in rhythm and being in charge. Plus, the bye week, Wootton's development, and the D's improvement.
Matt Bowen: Scouting the Bears - After five games, the secondary has been the Bears' most pleasant surprise with quality play across the board.
Matt Bowen: Scouting the Bears - Lovie Smith's aggressive philosophy is working wonders with a Cover-2 defense many believe is passé.
Bears one of only two NFL teams still relying heavily on Cover-2 defense and thriving - Dan Pompei: Critics have said the Cover-2 is no longer as effective as it once was because of rules changes. But the teams that still rely most on it are not backing down, and there is no evidence to suggest they should.
Turnovers setting the table for the Bears success - Mike Mulligan: Lovie Smith's successful teams are excellent in winning the turnover differential battles.
Bears offense, defense making 'defer' the right coin-toss call - Moon Mullin: On the surface, it's only the coin toss. But digging deeper, the art of "deferring" is paying off big time for the Bears defense.
Moon Mullin's Bears Schedule - Lovie and company are in the driver's seat and all they had to do was watch on Sunday. Now, they need to take care of business vs. Detroit.
----------
Not-Bearsssss
NFP Sunday Blitz - Dan Pompei: How the Eagles and Lions think alike; best NFL foursomes and all the latest scuttlebutt.
Matt Bowen's game notes - Rodgers puts on a show vs. Texans; plus, Giants over the 49ers, Rice's route to beat the Patriots, RGIII and more.
NFL.com: What we learned from Sunday's games - The Packers' aerial attack is back, the Lions look too sloppy to make the playoffs, and the Vikings are asking Ponder to do too much.
Know thy enemy: Lions - Lions 26, Eagles 23. Kevin Seifert: Before the game went wild, Stafford had completed 10 of 28 passes for 150 yards. The Lions finished the game with two of their top five DBs on the sideline.
Know thy enemy: Lions - Brad Biggs: The return of Louis Delmas for the Lions gave them a wealth of options and players said that led to them blitzing more than they have in any other game.
Know thy enemy: Lions - Brad Biggs: Despite 2-3 record, Detroit should be formidable opponent next Monday night.
Know thy enemy: Vikings - Redskins 38, Vikings 26. Kevin Seifert: The game showed how slim the Vikings' margin for error is. This team doesn't have the firepower to overcome big deficits or multiple mistakes.
Know thy enemy: Packers - Packers 42, Texans 24. Kevin Seifert: One of the best performances in Aaron Rodgers' career overshadowed a series of defensive injuries that could change the long-term analysis of this game.
Alex Karras may have been a Lion, but he also reserved a special hatred for the Packers and was in the funniest film prior to Undercover Brother. "Never mind that [Edit: dilf], here comes Mongo!"