The Bears Den: December 19, 2013 - Week 16 news & notes

Breaking down playoff scenarios - Larry Mayer: There are a variety of different post-season scenarios entering Week 16 for the Bears, who could clinch the NFC North title with a win Sunday night and some help.

Bears have come a long way quickly - Michael C. Wright: Amazingly, just 15 days had passed between the Bears feeling all hope was lost after the loss to the Vikings, to euphoria after the Ravens' win over Detroit. Marshall almost pulled "a Dez Bryant".

[Audio] - Lester joins the Patrick Schmidt Show to talk Bearsss and more than a little sense.

Follow WCG on Twitter; like us on Facebook (& click on 'Subscribed to'). Check out David "OSS" Taylor's CheekyMonkeyArt prints and t-shirts. Den pic in hi-res.

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Looking ahead: Bears-Eagles

Bears to face potent Eagles offense - Larry Mayer: Needing a victory over the Eagles Sunday night in Philadelphia to bolster their playoff chances, the Bears will look to contain one of the NFL's most explosive offenses.

Bears' mission: Keep Eagles from soaring - Bob LeGere: Between the explosiveness of the Eagles' offense and their up-tempo style of rapid-fire plays, the Bears' defense will face one of its toughest tests of the season Sunday night in Philadelphia.

Bears defense be warned: Eagles can pull a fast one - Patrick Finley: For the Bears and their NFL-worst run defense, slowing the Eagles on Sunday will be like trying to stop a ceiling fan with their bare hands.

Know thy enemy - Rich Campbell: Nick Foles can make all the throws to DeSean Jackson and Riley Cooper and is a major reason for the Eagles' turnaround,

View from the enemy - Adam Hoge: You don’t have to dig too deep into the matchup to understand why LeSean McCoy can’t wait until Sunday night. Dan Wiederer: McCoy eager to attack Bears run defense.

Bears aim to slow Eagles running attack with their own - Dan Wiederer: Bears may need to rely on their running game to control tempo, keeping the high-paced Eagles offense off to the side as long as possible.

Game preview - Hub Arkush: Forte, McCoy could be difference in Bears-Eagles clash.

Game preview - James Neveau: The Cowboys and Broncos put up a combined 98 points in a game earlier this season, but Eagles-Bears could surpass that Sunday.

[Video] View from the Moon - Moon Mullin: Briggs day-to-day; Eagles offense, Cutler ready for second straight start?

Know thy enemy - Dan Durkin takes a detailed look at the Philadelphia Eagles. Can the Bears' receivers take advantage of the Eagles' secondary?

[Video] Game preview - View from the enemy: CSN Philly's Geoff Mosher talks Bears-Eagles.

[Video] CSNChicago discussion - The panel talk Bears-Eagles. [KAPCON: 4]

Bears optimistic Briggs will play - Larry Mayer: Marc Trestman remained optimistic that Lance Briggs will play Sunday after the veteran practiced on a limited basis Wednesday.

Bears excited about Briggs’ likely return against Eagles - Adam L. Jahns: The Eagles aren't an ideal opponent to face upon return but, for a beleaguered defense, getting Briggs back could be a significant boost at a significant time.

Briggs can't work miracles for Bears - David Haugh: Even if Lance Briggs could come back from a shoulder injury 100 percent after seven weeks out, the defense still would be bad.

[Video] Game preview - Michael C. Wright and Phil Sheridan deliver the latest storylines as Chicago prepares to face Philadelphia in Week 16.

Team notes - Dan Wiederer: Chip Kelly admires how Trestman makes the most of his offensive playmakers' balance and versatility; Marshall thinks the Eagles' offense is legit; more notes.

Bears may be playing for a Christmas vacation - Moon Mullin: If the Packers and Lions lose, would Trestman dangle Xmas Day off as a carrot for his players to beat the Eagles? The coach laughed, but didn't say "no".

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Bearsss

Trestman not focused on playoff scenarios - Jeff Dickerson: Bears head coach focused on getting team ready for Sunday, not what he would do if the game is rendered meaningless.

Team notes - Bob LeGere: Briggs' snaps likely to be limited if he plays; Bears 4-0 in night games this season; Bears sign OT Joe Long.

Team notes - Mark Potash: Marshall wants Jeffery in Pro Bowl; Hester leads returners in votes; injury and roster notes.

Game review - Adam Hoge takes an X&Os look at the Jeffery end-around, and reveals his five highest- and lowest-graded Bears from Sunday.

Ratliff making a major impact on Bears D-line - Moon Mullin: Expectations were modest for a 32-year-old DT who hadn’t been on an NFL field for more than a year. Any reservations were misplaced.

[Video] CSNChicago discussion - The title is "Grading Marc Trestman" but it devolves into an argument about why Cutler should only be paid a below-market rate. [KAPCON: 5]

Marshall goes on Pro Bowl campaign trail for Jeffery - Dan Wiederer: Brandon Marshall emphatically asserted Wednesday that Jeffery belongs in this season’s Pro Bowl in just his second NFL season. Jeffery not showing up in Pro Bowl voting.

Bears impending free agents - The Sun-Times with a list of the Bears in the final year of their contracts, along with key season stats.

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Polish sausage

Know thy enemy: Packers - Rob Demovsky: Eddie Lacy's case for the NFL's offensive rookie of the year award keeps getting stronger ... Still no end to the Rodgers saga.

Know thy enemy: Vikings - Ben Goessling: As the Vikings close out their 2013 season, their confusing, convoluted QB plan continues to be compelling. Dalton ahead of 2011 QB classmate Ponder.

Know thy enemy: Lions - Kevin Lincoln: Even after a cataclysmic collapse, there’s room left for the Lions to redeem themselves.

Know thy enemy: Lions - Kyle Meinke: Lions' loss captures what is wrong with Jim Schwartz regime, as they continue to lose to teams of equal or lesser talent through self-inflicted mistakes. John Niyo: Lots of mistakes, but nobody to fix them.

Know thy enemy: Lions - Dave Birkett: Jim Schwartz's job shouldn't hinge on playoff berth, but rather: Is he capable of winning a Super Bowl as Lions coach?

Know thy enemy: Lions - Dave Dye: Not surprisingly - what else are they going to say? - Lions players are defending Schwartz, whose job appears to be on the line. Reggie Bush went so far as to call Schwartz "a disciplinarian."

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