The Weekend Bears Den: October 25, 2014 - Chicago Bears vs New England Patriots news & previews

Title-hungry veterans know turnaround has to start now - Patrick Finley: The Bears’ sense of urgency for Sunday’s must-win game is high. They still believe they have the talent to compete for a championship, and the veterans know how precious that opportunity is.

Bears mindful Jay Cutler must change mindset - Rich Campbell: Is Cutler making smart decisions with the ball in critical situations, such as when the Bears are behind or in a close game? Is he checking the ball down instead of brazenly attacking downfield?

Extreme reactions, gullibility are givens with these Bears - Dan McGrath: Perspective is difficult to achieve or maintain when media coverage most closely resembles saturation bombing. All Bears all the time is a contributing factor to the hysteria, but we bring it on ourselves by being so gullible.

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.

----------
Previewing Bears-Patriots

[Video] ChicagoBears.com - A roundup of players and coaches speaking throughout the week as the Bears travel to Foxborough to take on the Patriots at Gillette Stadium.

Injury news - Larry Mayer: With Lance Briggs and Jonathan Bostic both listed as doubtful for Sunday’s road game against the Patriots, it appears that the Bears will remain shorthanded at linebacker; more injury news.

Game preview - Michael C. Wright and Mike Reiss: It's been eight years since the Bears and Patriots played at New England, in a game in which Tom Brady juked Brian Urlacher on an unforgettable 11-yard run.

Game preview - Mark Potash with a look at how the teams match up; Brandon Marshall’s fit of emotion has given the Bears what they need most: focus.

Game preview - Jeff Dickerson takes a look at how the teams match up.

Game preview - The Tribune's breakdown of how the teams match up, Trestman on Belichick, thoughts going into the game, and game picks.

Game preview - Not-Hub Fishbain and Patriots beat reporter Christopher Price preview Sunday's game in Foxborough.

Game preview - Is-Hub Arkush: The Patriots pose many problems for the Bears. Can Matt Forte be the answer to some of them?  James Neveau: Sunday an opportunity for run game to flourish.

Game preview - Jeff Joniak's keys to the game.  More thoughts heading into Sunday.

Game preview - Dan Durkin's five matchups to watch.

Game preview - Adam L. Jahns: Offense must pass the Belichick test, with the NE head coach having had an extra week to prepare for them; Marc Trestman on facing Tom Brady.

Game preview - Patrick Finley: Is ‘‘Revis Island’’ actually a good thing for the Bears? Plus, nine more questions going into Sunday's contest.

Game preview - Larry Mayer and Mini-Larry discuss the Bears players they'll be watching on both sides of the ball in Sunday's road game against the Patriots.

[Video] ESPN - Jeff Dickerson, Michael C. Wright and Tom Waddle break down why the run game and Jay Cutler's ability to limit turnovers will be key in Chicago's matchup against New England in Week 8.

Marshall plans to use drama as 'fuel' - Michael C. Wright: Brandon Marshall sees the latest situation as an opportunity for the team to take a major step toward developing.

Bears turn to UDFA as LBs' injuries continue - Brad Biggs: Christian Jones will replace Khaseem Greene as starting weak-side linebacker vs Patriots.

Team notes - Mark Potash: Brandon Marshall says he’s using frustration as ‘fuel’; Darryl Sharpton staying ready when called upon to contribute; injury updates.

Team notes - Dan Wiederer: Christian Jones in line to start at Will for injured Lance Briggs; Bears' path to an upset may require a ball-control attack; Jeremiah Ratliff's dominant performance overshadowed by postgame noise; injury news.

X&Os - Matt Bowen: Patriots' double TE alignment trouble for Bears ... [Video] Can Patriots' 'explosive' TEs expose Bears safeties downfield?

Know thy enemy - Brad Biggs with a scouting report on Darrelle Revis.

Know thy enemy - ChicagoBears.com's photo gallery preview of the opposing starters for the Patriots.

Game picks - ChicagoBears.com: National and local media outlets make their picks for Sunday's game between the Bears (3-4) and Patriots (5-2) at Gillette Stadium. More from: ESPN Chicago ... [Video] NFL Live ... Adam Hoge ... Hub-or-not-Hub.com.

Updated 09.30 CT / 14.30 GMT

Bears set to battle Patriots on road - Larry Mayer: The Bears will look to rebound from last weekend’s disappointing loss to the Dolphins when they visit the Patriots Sunday at Gillette Stadium.

Game preview - Dan Durkin takes a look at key matchups in today's game.

Game preview: QB - Moon Mullin: Coaches and players acknowledge that teams have had success bracketing Bears receivers with zone coverages, and Cutler acknowledges that that's when they need to run the ball.

Game preview: RB - Moon Mullin: The Chicago offense runs best when it runs heavily through Matt Forte, and against New England, the Forte priority may be near an all-time high, with Ka’Deem Carey keeping him fresh.

Game preview: WR/TE - Moon Mullin: The Patriots defense has not allowed a pass play over 38 yards this season, and the Bears are going against up against the NFL's best "schemer" in Bill Belichick.

Game preview: O-line - Moon Mullin: The Patriots are not strong against the run but Bill Belichick has covered up a weakness perfectly more than once in his career.  Will the Bears abandon the run once more?

Game preview: D-line - Moon Mullin: The good thing for the D-line is that Tom Brady is not a paragon of mobility; he reads and he does certainly have life options, but at least he doesn’t run a read-option.

D-line looks to put a 'Hurtt' on Brady - Chris Boden: The Bears D-line has accounted for 18 of the team's 19 sacks and will need a handful more for Chicago to leave Foxborough with a victory.

Game preview: LB - Moon Mullin: The Patriots went from averaging 20 points over their first four games (2-2) to 35.6 per game over the past three with Rob Gronkowski receiving 30 targets in those three.

[Video] X&Os - Wanny explains why the Patriots' TEs are the key to the offense.

Game preview: DB - Moon Mullin: The Patriots' receivers are tough to cover because they come in all shapes and sizes.

At 3-4, Bears already in the 'playoffs' - Moon Mullin: The Bears are reaching – if not already have reached – the fail-safe point beyond which too many teams need to lose for the Bears to have a shot at a wild-card berth.

[Video] Game preview - Chris Boden and Moon Mullin talk Bears.

Is there enough leadership among the Bears (if it matters)? - Bob LeGere: The topic of leadership at Halas Hall over the past week created some interesting reactions from players and coaches. The consensus seems to be that leadership comes in many different forms, some of which are overrated, while others can be valuable.

[Video] SportsTalk Live - Did Brandon Marshall's tirade help? Jason Goch continues to spew his usual brand of stupid. Plus, there's actually a game to talk about. [KAPCON: 5]

[Video] - Kevin Gilbride on Brandon Marshall's comments and the Bears' running game.

If Bears lose, season gets ugly for Cutler, Trestman, Emery - Barry Rozner: A loss to the Pats means the second half of the season will be a long and painful examination of all things Bears, from the QB position to the coach's future to the GM's ability to draft and evaluate talent.

Team notes - Bob LeGere: Trestman praises Michael Ola work on Bears' O-line, doesn't consider "game manager" to have negative connotations;.road warrior Bears meet home advantage Patriots; Kromer's thoughts on Revis.

----------
Bearsss

Team notes - Brad Biggs: For all the talk of a leadership void, there is a rock in the middle of the defense with Jeremiah Ratliff showing the way for young players; what led Bears to pick Shea McClellin in the 2012 draft?

Bears mailbag - Is-Hub Arkush's readers' Q&As on Jay Cutler, the Bears' issues in the vertical passing game, and NFL expansion.

Martellus Bennett working on animated project - Luis Gomez: Martellus Bennett plans to release his first animated short film, "Zoovie," next year.

----------
Polish sausage

Know thy enemy: Packers - Mike Triplett and Rob Demovsky preview Packers-Saints in New Orleans, where the Saints have been 2-0 this season.  Clinton-Dix solidifies safety spot.

10 worst QB to go No. 1 in the NFL draft - David Steele has two current players in his list, one of whom is in the NFC North [Stafford, if you don't want to click through the slideshow].

15 outrageous throwback NFL uniforms - SportingNews.com slideshows it up with a stupid clickbait title, which is a little annoying, but there are some ugly throwbacks in this lot.

The best of the week 7 cheerleaders - NFL.com ... potential future Mrs Spongie from SI.com ... SportingNews.com.

----------

Potentially NSFW (or your eyes) moment at 1:30. Alas, it's nothing to do with the lovely Louise Wener, who at the time was most definitely a potential future Mrs Spongie.