The Bears Den: October 24, 2012 - Week 8 News and Notes

Brad Biggs: 10 thoughts - Ten thoughts after the 13-7 win that keeps the Bears in sole possession of first place atop the NFC North at 5-1.

Larry Mayer's Chalk Talk - How have Bears done when opening 5-1? Why did the Bears rotate Bennett and Weems in for returns? Why did Hayden come in at nickel back instead of DJ Moore at times?

Peter King's MMQB - News and views from around the NFL. TMQB - Why Stafford should be forcinging it to Calvin Johnson more, and mailbag.

Team report - The state of the franchise.

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Bears-Lions

Laurence Holmes' breakdown: 24 hours later - Thoughts from the game.

Tillman praised after shutting down Lions WR Johnson - Sean Jensen: The Lions made Johnson the highest-paid WR in the NFL with an eight-year, $132 million extension that included $60 million in guarantees. He entered play Monday averaging 111 receiving yards, but Tillman held him to three catches for 34 yards.

Moon Mullin's notebook - With Calvin Johnson having the nickname "Megaton," Moon Mullin suggests a new nickname for Charles Tillman. Also, at 5-1 are the Bears poised to make the playoffs?

Was the Ndamukong Suh hit on Jay Cutler a dirty one? - Adam L. Jahns: It looked like a takedown move straight out of the WWE. But it was just Ndamukong Suh doing what he does and that’s playing violently.

Lions' Suh professes respect for Cutler - Vaughn McClure: "He’s a solid quarterback," Suh told the Tribune. "He’s the type of quarterback that can definitely take a team to the promised land, in my opinion."

Matt Bowen: Scouting the Bears - Impressive. Tough. Physical. That all applied when Cutler jogged back to the huddle after a hit that would send some QBs to the showers. And I guarantee his teammates noticed because toughness sells in the locker room.

ProFootballFocus: Three performances of note - Tillman tames Megatron, OL leaves Forte high and dry, Melton’s Monday Night Moments.

Cutler, Marshall on same page in victory - Larry Mayer with team news and notes.

Bears “lucky” four more times vs. Lions - Moon Mullin: Are the Bears just getting "lucky" with their recent string of forcing turnovers? Not according to Lance Briggs. The Bears lead the NFL with 21 takeaways and since Lovie Smith came to Chicago, the Bears are first in the league with 287.

Dan Pompei's grades - The Bears relied heavily on three-WR packages as Lions were missing two of their top three CBs.

[Video] Fox Chicago Bear Down - Lou Canellis and Hub look back on the win over the Lions.

View from the Press Box - Dionne Miller: Soldier Field was absolutely electric Monday night as the Bears returned to action for the first time in 15 days.

Grizzly Bears and Teddy Bears - Maggie Hendricks with her Grizzly Bears and Teddy Bears. Srsly.

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Other Bears news

‘Old’ men of Bears’ defense have stingy down pat this season - Mark Potash: With Tillman, Briggs, Urlacher and Peppers leading the way, the Bears maintained their No. 1 ranking in the most important defensive statistic of them all — points allowed per game (13.0).

Bears defense compiling awesome numbers - Brad Biggs: Across the board, the Bears defense is among the leaders in the NFL

Bears offense knows it needs to improve - The Bears defense is holding its own and more for now. The offense know they've got a ways to go to assist their ball-hawking defense.

NFCN Blog: Knee-jerk reactions - Kevin Seifert's thoughts on the mainstream chatter about teams following week 7's games. Will the Bears' offense be limited by Jay Cutler's bruised ribs?

Free Head Exam: Chicago Bears - Kevin Seifert's three issues that merit further examination. Plus, if teammates feel the way Marshall does about Suh's hit on Cutler, the rematch at Ford Field could get interesting.

[Video] NFL32OT - Jason Taylor breaks down how the Bears can be Super Bowl contenders.

Bulls praise toughness of Cutler, Bears - Jesse Rogers: Add the Chicago Bulls to the growing list of people impressed by the Chicago Bears this season -- especially their defense and quarterback. No word on whether Tom Thibodeau was screaming "Stay in! Stay in! Stay in! Stay in!" when Cutler suffered his injury.

Is Cutler the toughest quarterback in the NFL? - Moon Mullin: Jay Cutler is often criticized for the way he carries himself on and off the field. As Cutler's career progresses, it seems his toughness is outshining his shortcomings.

[Video] Briggs & Thayer - Nobody's questioning Cutler's toughness any more, and his leadership by example.

Urlacher tells outsiders to 'get over it' when it comes to Cutler - Jason Cole: Chicago seemingly has the pieces of a championship team, and the passer's questionable vibe won't stand in its way. That's Yahoo! Sports' Jason Cole. Quality sports journalism ensues.

[Video] ESPN First Take - Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless on how close the Bears are to a Super Bowl team.

[Video] Marshall addresses spiritual conversion - Brandon Marshall joins First Take to talk about his spiritual conversion, conversation with Stephen A. Smith and Ndamukong Suh's hit on Jay Cutler. That's a double dose of Stephen A. Smith. You lucky, lucky people.

Brad Biggs on Mully & Hanley - Regardless of the Bears record and recent success, Brad Biggs thinks Smith has yet to earn a lucrative, long-term deal.

Bears climbing high on the NFL ladder - Steve Silverman: The NFL season has taken shape. We have a very good idea as we head towards Week 8 who the contenders are and who are merely pretending.

Chicago Bears need a Ring of Honor - Mike Mulligan: The Bears need a place of distinction for long-serving players without a chance of enshrinement in Canton.

[Video] Briggs & Thayer - Weirdest thing stuck to helmet? Tom Thayer's answer is amusing.

Know thy enemy - Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera will be trying to turn around his team.

Tale of the Tape - Previewing Bears-Panthers.

How much worse than Den is Bears Bites? - This much.

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Polish sausage

Narrower goal posts could add intrigue to NFL games - Sam Farmer: The NFL should consider reducing the current width of 18 feet, 6 inches, to create more intrigue with field goals and maybe even extra points.

Know thy enemy: Lions - Kevin Seifert's free head exam. Since starting 5-0 last season the Lions are 7-11, including the playoffs.

Know thy enemy: Lions - Michael Lombardi: In the NFL, success can be more difficult to handle than losing, and the Lions have not handled their success well. Their lackadaisical attitude has been obvious on tape, as has their lack of concentration; it's clear the Lions are not focused.

Know thy enemy: Packers - Kevin Seifert's free head exam. Alex Green has 95 yards on 42 carries; can he continue as an exclusive back?

Know thy enemy: Packers - PFF's three performances of note from the Packers' crushing victory over the Rams.

Know thy enemy: Packers - Losing Charles Woodson for the next six weeks or so is not the devastating injury to the Packers' defense that it would have been in recent years.

Know thy enemy: Vikings - Kevin Seifert's free head exam: three issues to consider for the team in purple.

Know thy enemy: Vikings - PFF's three performances of note from the Vikings' win over the Cardinals.

Roger Goodell: This could be last year of Pro Bowl - The NFL will consider dropping the Pro Bowl if the level of play doesn't improve, Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday night.

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