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The Weekend Bears Den: September 13, 2014 - Chicago Bears week 2 news and notes

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Jonathan Daniel

Larry Mayer's Chalk Talk - Larry Mayer discusses why Khaseem Greene wasn't active against the Bills, the arrival of safety Ahmad Dixon, and whether Robbie Gould is still the third most accurate kicker in NFL history.

Does Lance Briggs have anything left? - Is-Hub Arkush: After off-field concerns, veteran needs to have a good game in San Francisco or he will soon come to be considered more the problem than part of the answer.

Task at hand: Putting Bears back together - Dan Wiederer: Now a sports talk radio host, Patrick Mannelly finds himself in the front car of the roller coaster so many fans revel in riding.  Can Bears overcome tidal wave of negativity after disaster in opener?

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

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Chicago Bears - San Francisco 49ers news & previews

Bears players to watch versus 49ers - Larry Mayer and Mini-Larry discuss the Bears players they'll be watching on both sides of the ball in Sunday night’s road game against the 49ers.

Offense will be short-handed Sunday - Larry Mayer: The Bears will face the 49ers Sunday night without at least three and possibly as many as five starters on their offense due to injuries.

Santonio Holmes preparing for bigger role - Brad Biggs: Veteran has put in extra time learning the offense with wide receivers coach Mike Groh, ready for expanded role if needed.

Roberto Garza, Matt Slauson to sit - Michael C. Wright: The Bears will be without two starters along the O-line, while the starting wideouts are questionable for Sunday.

Kromer’s crew all lined up - Patrick Finley: De la Puente has been impressed with Ola's study habits and his play, particularly when he started the preseason dress rehearsal in Seattle.

Bushrod: Justin Smith a good test for rookie Ola - Not-Hub Arkush: Versatile rookie reserve earned high marks for a strong performance in a pinch, but will draw an even tougher assignment, on the road in prime time against Smith and the Niners. Brad Biggs: Scouting report on Justin Smith.

Not much cleared up on injury front for Bears - Bob LeGere: Friday's abbreviated afternoon practice before the Bears boarded a mid-afternoon flight to the West Coast did little to clarify the injury situation at WR.

Marshall, Jeffery listed as questionable - Dan Durkin: Depending on how Marshall and Jeffery look Saturday in walk-throughs, the Bears may need to make roster moves this weekend.

Roster news - Dan Durkin: Bears waive Fales, cut Hayden and Fiametta; all three were inactive for last week’s game versus the Bills.

Game preview - James Neveau: The Bears are dealing with some pretty big injuries, but will that prevent them from deploying an effective gameplan against the 49ers?

Game preview - Is-Hub Arkush: The Bears can win this game if they’re willing to get into a heavyweight punching contest and refuse to go down.

Game preview - Jeff Joniak's keys to the game.

Game preview - Michael C. Wright and Paul Gutierrez break down the Week 2 matchup.

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

Game preview - Dan Durkin's 5 matchups to watch.

Game preview - Mark Potash takes a look at the matchups.

Game preview - The Tribune's breakdown on the two teams, thoughts on the game, and staff predictions. [Interesting, they've stopped asking Rosenbloom for his brand of snide stupidity. - Den]

Game preview - Amani Toomer, Don Banks and Andrew Perloff preview 49ers vs Bears.

Game preview: SF scheme presents LB challenges - Moon Mullin: The Bills schemed to get the Bears out of base personnel and into nickel before rushing for 193 yards; expect the 49ers to engage in similar matchup-creation.

Game preview: D-line takes on power run game - Moon Mullin: For all of Colin Kaepernick’s flair, San Francisco plays a basic game of power football behind one of the NFL’s best O-lines.

Game preview: Can DBs answer Vernon Davis? - Moon Mullin: Davis rarely leaves the field, for the simple reason that he is fast enough to be a receiving threat in virtually every down-and-distance situation and physical enough to block effectively.

Game preview: Justin Smith tough test for O-line - Moon Mullin: The Bears have struggled with 3-4 schemes in the past and now match up against a very good one with two replacements.

Game preview: Establishing the run with Forte - Moon Mullin: Don't be misled by the Cowboys' success running the ball last week against the 49ers.  A lot of DeMarco Murray's yards came after they were already behind by three scores.

Game preview: Cutler can't afford miscues - Moon Mullin: If Cutler is patting the football in the pocket beyond 3.5 seconds, he becomes exponentially more at risk against a pass rush that sacked Tony Romo three times.

Xs&Os - Matt Bowen: Can Bears maintain their gap discipline to thwart the 49ers' "wham" block?

10 thoughts - Adam L. Jahns: 10 questions the Bears need to answer for Week 2.

Bears need precision on offense to overcome 49ers’ physical play - Mark Potash: The Bears want to play precision, mistake-free football. The 49ers play with an aggression that forces you into mistakes. There is a lot riding on the Bears’ ability to win that battle.

[Video] View from the Moon - Moon Mullin's three keys to a Bears victory vs 49ers.

Team news - Adam L. Jahns: Martellus Bennett not interested in criticism as Bears regroup; Aaron Kromer on the 49ers’ defense, which was ranked fifth overall last season; spotlight on Christian Jones; players to watch.

Team notes - Bob LeGere: Josh Bellamy may get a chance to play on Sunday; play-calling affected somewhat by absences; Bears not devaluing kickoff returns.

Team notes - Rich Campbell: How the Bears will cover TE Vernon Davis and account for injured receivers; how will the latter affect the run-pass ratio?

[Video] View from the enemy - How confident are the 49ers heading into matchup with Bears?

49ers to test re-sodded Levi's Stadium field on Saturday - (AP) The San Francisco 49ers will practice in Levi's Stadium on Saturday, a step that might be more about footing than getting familiar with the surroundings.

[Video] ChicagoBears.com - A roundup of players and coaches speaking throughout the week giving you everything you need to know as the Bears take on the 49ers in week two in Santa Clara, CA.

Know thy enemy - The Bears travel west to take on the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football. ChicagoBears.com brings you a preview of the opposing starters. Jim Harbaugh as Bears QB from 1987-1993.

The Pick is in: Bears-49ers - ChicagoBears.com: National and local media outlets make their picks for Sunday's prime time matchup between the Bears and 49ers in San Francisco. More from: ESPN Chicago ... Sun-Times ... Hub-or-Not-Hub.com ... Adam Hoge.

[Video] SportsTalk Live - Are Bears in for a long night vs 49ers? [KAPCON: 5]

5 Qs with Niners Nation - Kev and NinersNation's David Fucillo increase our knowledge base ahead of tomorrow's game. See what Kev had to say about our Bears here. Also: Why each team could lose and Under the radar Bears and 49ers.

Updated 09.20 CT / 15.20 GMT.

Roster news - Larry Mayer: The Bears on Saturday promoted Josh Bellamy, Chris Williams and Taylor Boggs from the practice squad in advance of Sunday night’s game against the 49ers.

Injury-riddled Bears make roster moves - Brad Biggs: Decisions on Marshall and Jeffery could go until 90 minutes before kickoff when teams have to announce their inactives.

Ola, de la Puente not typical backup linemen - Bob LeGere: The Bears are confident that their offense won't suffer with Brian de la Puente and Michael Ola in the starting lineup.

Game preview - Adam Hoge: Bears’ formula for victory vs 49ers: Stop the run first.

Game notes - Bob LeGere: Expect Niners defense to get physical; Forte expects Cutler to bounce back; Trestman and Harbaugh have history together.

Game preview: WR health issues on both sides - Moon Mullin: Matching M.A.S.H. units are about to go head-to-head in tonight's game.

Game preview - Dan Durkin: Bears-49ers will be a test of which front office has fielded the deepest roster.

[Video] - Moon Mullin previews the Bears-49ers matchup.  Can the Bears take away the read option?

Bears aim to avoid disastrous 0-2 start vs 49ers - Moon Mullin: However Cutler has not established that he can successfully lead, let alone carry, a team when he does not have a near-full weapons quiver.

49ers' new stadium features "mundane" visitors' locker room - Grizzly Detail staff: The Bears will likely face several challenges on the field during Sunday's match, but they could also face a hurdle off the field as they head for their locker room.

Updated 18.20 CT / 00.20 GMT.

Bears set to battle 49ers tonight - Larry Mayer: The Bears will look to rebound from their season-opening loss to the Bills and end a long losing streak in San Francisco when they battle the 49ers Sunday night at Levi’s Stadium.

Game preview - Chris Boden: Three Bears necessities for a win over the 49ers.

Game notes - Michael C. Wright:  Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery will both be active and starting against the 49ers; inactives announced.

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Bearsss

Bears’ season isn’t over … unless they lose Sunday - Tim Baffoe: True, most facets of their game were putrid against a mediocre-at-best Bills team, but it’s one game. Fifteen more glorious three-hour chunks of critiquing Marc Trestman, Jay Cutler and Mel Tucker to go.

Team notes - Patrick Finley: Bears could be without top three receivers vs 49ers; team frees up three roster spots; Conte fined for defenseless receiver hit but Marshall avoids the same for horse-collar tackle.

Marc Trestman revived career with 49ers - David Haugh: Sunday night at Levi's Stadium, Trestman returns to face the 49ers organization — which once hired him for his genius — needing to be brilliant for the Bears to avoid a disastrous 0-2 start.

Trestman high on former pupil Jim Harbaugh - Michael C. Wright: Harbaugh and Trestman worked together on the staff of the Raiders as QC coach and OC, back in 2002.

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Polish sausage

Know thy enemy: Packers - Rob Demovsky and Rich Cimini preview Jets-Packers: Only one team rushed for more than the Seahawks' 207 yards in Week 1 against the Packers, and they come to Lambeau on Sunday.

Know thy enemy: Vikings - (AP) Authorities in Texas issued an arrest warrant Friday for Adrian Peterson after he was indicted on a charge of child abuse for using a branch to spank his son. Ryan WilsonPeterson turns himself, won't play Sunday. Des Bieler: Details are disturbing.

Know thy enemy: Vikings - Michael McCann: Breaking down legal system's next steps in Peterson child injury case. Andrew Garda: What happens now?

[Week 1 cheerleader galleries from NFL.com, SI.com and SportingNews.com if you want a peek.  After reading through the Adrian Peterson stuff, I'm just not in the mood. - Den]

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A gloriously mature sound that makes more than a few acknowledgements to their back catalogue.  Had completely forgotten about this until I was rummaging through Eurythmics tracks on Youtube this morning.