The Bears Den: Monday, November 7, 2016

Before we get started today, let's check in with the Packers and our good friend Aaron Rogers.... how did your game go this weekend, Aaron?

BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!

BEARRRSSSS

Cox: Akiem Hicks destroyed the Vikings offensive line - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears dominated the Minnesota Vikings' offensive line on Monday night, led by a huge performance from Akiem Hicks.

Perez: Bears could face Buccaneers without Winston, Evans in Week 10 - Bears Wire - Jameis Winston and Mike Evans suffered injuries in Week 9 that could impact their availability in Week 10 against the Chicago Bears

Bears putting safety Adrian Amos in better position to succeed - Chicago Sun-Times - When Bears assistant secondary coach Sam Garnes was asked if there was a play that illustrates the progress his defensive backs have made this season... he pointed to Adrian Amos' pass break-up against Jordy Nelson....

Finley: Analyzing the Bears at the break - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears’ bye falls exactly eight games into the season, the perfect time for the Sun-Times’ experts to examine the highs and lows of the year.

Potash: Analyzing the Bears at the break - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears’ bye falls exactly eight games into the season, the perfect time for the Sun-Times’ Bears beat writers

Jahns: Analyzing the Bears at the break - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears’ bye falls exactly eight games into the season, the perfect time for the Sun-Times’ experts to examine things.

Perez: What Bears fans should be watching in Week 9 | Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears might be off this week, but that doesn't mean there isn't meaningful football for Bears fans to watch

Mullin: Bears at season’s halftime, defense already better than 2015 and pointing up - CSN Chicago - Through eight games, the Bears defense has improved statistically in just about all areas, particularly in the front-seven, since 2015.

Jahns: Ending city's longest title drought demands faith, time for Bears - Chicago Sun-Times - With a reunion at Soldier Field, a film debut and more, it was time to party like it was 1986 in January,

What does history say your team's chances of making the playoffs are?

(Records with ties not included. Sorry.) pic.twitter.com/4UZSpcWgKV

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) November 7, 2016

Mayer: Acho to co-host Celebrity Waiter Night - ChicagoBears.com - Bears outside linebacker Sam Acho will host a Celebrity Waiter Night Monday to benefit Living Hope Christian Ministries, an organization his parents founded in 1989.

Campbell: Bears at midseason rookie progress report - Chicago Tribune - The Chicago Bears' 2-6 start amplifies the importance of developing young players such as Leonard Floyd in the second half.

Wiederer's Midseason report: The defense, Bears look to show strides in 2nd half - Chicago Tribune - With better health, Bears expect to improve upon already impressive rank in yards allowed per game (ninth) and yards allowed per play (eighth).

POLISH SAUSAGE

Florio: Goodell admitted inconsistency in interpretation of "forcible" blows to quarterbacks - ProFootballTalk - So when Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke to Panthers quarterback Cam Newton last week about Newton's concerns regarding missed roughing-the-passer calls on Newton, what did Goodell say? Glad you asked.

Lincicome: Don't look now, but TV viewers finding alternatives to watching football - Chicago Tribune - The NFL doesn't yet rank behind C-SPAN and the Weather Channel. But fears of the game's demise are causing all manner of anxiety.

KNOW THY ENEMY

DLT's Diatribes - Back to the Future - Bucs Nation - We've been here before haven't we Buc fans?

Philipse: The Buccaneers can now focus on the draft. Again. - Bucs Nation - Eight games into the 2016 NFL season, Tampa Bay appears to be done.

Gates: Detroit Lions 22, Minnesota Vikings 16 - Daily Norseman - The Vikings had their chances, but in the end just made too many mistakes.

Noonan: Green Bay digs early hole, can't climb out in 31-26 loss - Acme Packing Company - The Packers were down by a touchdown after a single play on Sunday, and they were never able to bounce all the way back as they fell to 4-4.

Florio: Frustrated Blair Walsh tiring of questions about his misses - ProFootballTalk - Vikings kicker Blair Walsh has been missing too many kicks. And he knows he has been missing too many kicks. And he seems to be getting frustrated about the kicks he's missing. Asked by reporters after Sunday's latest two-miss effort to explain what happened, Walsh opted for the literal.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Wiltfong: The Chicago Bears have three top 25 rookies - Windy City Gridiron - With the NFL season 8 weeks old, NFL.com took a mid-season look at the 2016 rookie class and ranked their top 25 rookies.

Berkes: Five Questions with WCG Part 4 - Windy City Gridiron - Part 4 of our 5 questions this week, we examine the direction of the defense and the pieces missing to complete the unit.

Zeglinski: Jordan Howard runs over the Vikings. Anatomy of a play(s) - Windy City Gridiron - In a complete win for the Bears against Minnesota, Howard would not be stopped.

Berckes: Five Questions with WCG Part 5 - Windy City Gridiron - We finish the series this week with a little bit of fun - favorite players and game day rituals.

FANPOSTS

Anona Mister: 2016 - Is there any hope? - Windy City Gridiron - 2-6. Normally, it's the kiss of death. It means the season is a lost cause. I'm on my fourth kool aid, though. Maybe it's not over. This is not the most ridiculous thing imaginable. Maybe...

TheProudHypocrite: 2017 draft priorities - Windy City Gridiron - This is obviously only a mid-season 2016 perspective. This is also obviously a pre-free agency perspective, assuming that unrestricted free agents Alshon Jeffery & Cornelius Washington are...

FanPosts - Recent - Windy City Gridiron - Here's a link to our FanPost section, where YOU have the opportunity to contribute to Windy City Gridiron. Take a few minutes and write a post about what you are thinking about regarding the Chicago Bears, and there'a chance it will be linked right here in the Den.

THE RULES

Windy City Gridiron Community Guidelines - SBNation.com - We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. The following is not permitted in comments, FanPosts, usernames or anywhere else in an SB Nation community: Comments, FanPosts or usernames that are intolerant or prejudiced; Personal attacks or threats on community members; Gendered insults of any kind; Trolling; Click link for full information.

Follow WCG on Twitter; follow Ken on Twitter; like us on Facebook (& click on 'Follow')