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Bears, Saints have same record, but their coaches completely different - David Haugh: Sean Payton has the Saints arriving in must-win mode; Marc Trestman has the Bears feeling more like this season must end.
Reaction to Kromer incident proof Bears’ power structure must go - Rick Morrissey: Nobody at Halas Hall knows how to build a winning organization, and nobody has enough self-awareness to know he doesn’t know. Mark Potash: Phil Emery failing crisis management.
Emery, Trestman not close to meeting their own expectations - Adam Hoge: Not only have the Bears not reached Emery’s and Trestman’s own public expectations, but they’ve collectively fallen further away from them in each season.
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Previewing Chicago Bears vs New Orleans Saints
Game breakdown - The Tribune's team matchups, scouting report on Jimmy Graham, game picks, and thoughts heading into the game.
Bears to face tough test Monday night - Larry Mayer: The Bears defense will face a difficult challenge Monday night against a Saints offense that features Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham. Chris Emma: Bears defense has allowed 11 TDs to TEs this season.
Game preview - Jeff Dickerson breaks down how the teams match up. Saints still in playoff hunt, have more to play for.
Game preview - Adam L. Jahns: In their own words, five Bears and five Saints to watch during "Monday Night Football."
Game preview - Mark Potash breaks down how the teams match up.
Game preview - Is-Hub Arkush: The Bears and the Saints feature two of the worst defenses in the NFL. Both are so bad it is hard to give either team an edge on this side of the ball.
Game preview - Jeff Joniak's Keys to the game.
Game preview - Not-Hub Fishbain, Saints beat writer Nick Underhill discuss the background behind today's matchup.
Game preview: QB - Moon Mullin: Jay Cutler must outplay Drew Brees without his security blanket in Brandon Marshall.
Game preview: RB - Moon Mullin: Matt Forte is bordering on nothing short of a historic year, but all that's been overshadowed by a losing Bears season filled with chaos on and off the field.
Game preview: WR/TE - Moon Mullin: What Marquess Wilson demonstrates becomes significant in how aggressive the Bears need to be in deepening a thin corps of deep threats heading into 2015.
Game preview: O-line - Moon Mullin: Roberto Garza is back but the Bears offense will field its fourth different starter at left guard, UDFA Ryan Groy.
Game preview: D-line - Moon Mullin: The Bears understand that stopping the run will be important Monday night, but they haven't won a game this year in which they didn't record two sacks. That means getting to Drew Brees.
Game preview: LB - Moon Mullin: The Bears will get a long look at some of their younger linebackers who could be a part of the team's future.
Game preview: DB - Moon Mullin: Drew Brees will have his choice of three rookies in the Bears secondary to attack, which could pose a problem for a defense that has struggled against the pass all year.
Game preview - Chris Boden: Three Bears necessities for victory over Saints.
X&Os - Matt Bowen: The Saints have underachieved on defense because of poor discipline, poor tackling and the inability to produce impact plays. There will be opportunities for Cutler & co., and the Bears must stay aggressive.
[Video] - Moon Mullin, Chris Boden: Can Bears overcome distraction?
Team notes - Larry Mayer: Robbie Gould was limited in practice Saturday with a quad injury and is questionable; Jared Allen not lacking in motivation; Bears place Darryl Sharpton on IR, elevate David Fales.
Game notes - Bob LeGere: Coaches keep coaching as hard as they can no matter how bad things get, says Joe DeCamillis; Marc Trestman on difference between Aaron Kromer's and Brandon Marshall's comments about Jay Cutler; injury and roster notes.
[Video] ChicagoBears.com - A roundup of players and coaches speaking throughout the week as the Bears prepare to take on the Saints at Soldier Field.
Know thy enemy - Brad Biggs compiles a scouting report on running back Mark Ingram.
Know thy enemy - Mike Triplett: As coordinator of very possibly the worst defense in the league this year, Rob Ryan says he's never had a season this bad.
[Video] ESPN: Know thy enemy - Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden break down the inconsistencies of the Saints this season as they prepare to take on the Bears.
Game picks - ChicagoBears.com: National and local media outlets make their picks for Monday night's game between the Bears (5-8) and Saints (5-8) at Soldier Field. More picks from: ESPN Chicago ... ESPN Saints reporter Mike Triplett ... [Video] NFL Live ... Sun-Times ... Hub-or-not-Hub.com ... [Video] Wanny.
Game preview updates
Bears set to host Saints Monday night - Larry Mayer: The Bears will look to snap a two-game losing streak and improve to 6-8 Monday night when they host the Saints at Soldier Field. Players to watch.
Game preview - James Neveau: Saints' poor defense begging for Bears to run Matt Forte ... Drew Brees could feast against lackluster Bears' pass defense.
[Video] ESPN - Michael C. Wright, Mike Triplett preview Saints-Bears.
Stats & Info - ESPN's top stats to know about Monday’s matchup.
Other updates
[Audio] Trestman: Kromer drama has brought us together - "Distractions are things that can certainly bring a team together, and our team was able to capture that this week and turn it into a very positive work week for us.”
Jay Cutler upset over festering issues between Bears players, coaches - Jason La Canfora grabs your attention with the usual crap-stirring headline, proceeds to have very little to say about Cutler.
Latest twists change thinking on Trestman's future with Bears - Moon Mullin: Marc Trestman’s second year has been horrific on multiple levels and for the organization to expect a turnaround in 2015 or beyond is to ignore a franchise reality.
Rich Gannon: Jay Cutler has 'flat-lined' - (Tribune): Former Trestman QB thinks Cutler's problems stem from trust issues with his coaches throughout his career. [Non-Trib link.]
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Bearsss
Larry Mayer's Chalk Talk - Larry discusses which Bears players could be voted to the Pro Bowl, if David Fales will get any game reps, and if recently-signed Montell Owens will play on offense.
All eyes will be on Cutler when Bears face Saints - Bob LeGere: Tonight will illustrate what kind of leadership and how much trust remain on this Bears team.
Cost of Bears starting over with new coaches and no Cutler would be huge - Brad Biggs: On top of it costing more than $25 million, the Bears would also have to hope to hit in the draft, or consider the likes of Brian Hoyer and Mark Sanchez in free agency.
Bennett working hard to earn spot in Pro Bowl - Rich Campbell: Martellus Bennett has a better understanding of the offense and hasn't had to contend with the shoulder and knee injuries he did last year, and the Bears are game-planning accordingly.
Young defense bright spot for Bears' future - Bob LeGere: For the second straight season the Bears' defense has been one of the league's worst. But at least this year, several rookies have gotten valuable playing experience that could prove useful in the future.
Despite struggles, Pasqualoni stays focused on Bears defense - Chris Boden: Paul Pasqualoni's main projects this year were to get the franchise's interior tandem of the future game-ready; he, Clint Hurtt and Joe Kim are curious to see the level of fight at their position these last three weeks.
Team notes - Adam L. Jahns: Stephen Paea has performed admirably in this disastrous season; Mel Tucker on defending Jimmy Graham; player spotlight on Christian Jones.
Team notes - Bob LeGere: Jay Cutler says reported rift between himself and Brandon Marshall is a creation of the media; Alshon Jeffery expected to get more attention from opponents; David Fales signed to 53-man roster.
Bears mailbag - Is-Hub Arkush's readers; Q&As. How can the Bears be fixed?
Mock Draft - Dane Brugler: If you want to get a Bears' fan heated, just ask about the talent of Chicago's safeties. Rob Rang: Bears need pass rush, take Florida DE/OLB Dante Fowler.
Marshall opens Northbrook training facility - Rich Campbell: Brandon Marshall's latest business venture is an expansion of FitSpeed Athletic Performance, which he and trainer Matt Gates began in South Florida almost three years ago.
Photos - ChicagoBears.com: The Bears wish a happy 54th birthday the Richard Dent. See photos from the Hall of Famer's years in Chicago.
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Polish sausage
Know thy enemy: Packers 13, Bills 21 - (NFL.com): Game report and [Video] highlights. Rob Demovsky: Rapid reaction ... Aaron Rodgers not totally to blame in offensive letdown ... More special-teams gaffes hurt Packers.
Know thy enemies: Vikings 14, Lions 16 - (NFL.com): Game report and [Video] highlights. Kevin Seifert: Rapid reaction (Vikings) ... Michael Rothstein: Rapid reaction (Lions) ... Lions will go as far as defense can take them.
Where Americans hate NFL teams the most - Will Brinson: The Bears and Packers swapping distate of one another makes absolute sense. Max Rust: Nation as a whole prefers the Green and Gold.
Chances dim for a move to LA in 2015 - Ken Belson: In a game of cat and mouse, no one appears willing to build a stadium in Los Angeles until a team has committed to moving there.
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I've been downhearted, baby.