WCG's Bears Christmas Den & Open Thread, December 25

Welcome to your Christmas Day Den & Open Thread.

This special edition of the Den is about both the Chicago Bears & their game against Washington. Share your thoughts on the game (or anything else you like as long as it follows the community guidelines below).

The seat belt light is off, feel free to get up and wander around the cabin! As always, open thread responsibly!!!!

BEARSSSSSS

Wiederer: Bears LB Jerrell Freeman on Redskins' final TD: 'Looks like we gave up' - Chicago Tribune - Of all the big plays the Bears defense surrendered Saturday (there were a half-dozen of at least 20 yards) none bothered inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman more than the last one, which was also the day's longest.

Finley: Bears' Leonard Floyd suffers second concussion in 5 weeks - Chicago Sun-Times - Leonard Floyd left Sunday’s game in the second quarter, riding to the Bears’ locker room in a cart, and was later diagnosed with a concussion.

Rosenbloom: For those of you who missed Jay Cutler’s bad and stupid play, here’s Matt Barkley - Chicago Tribune - Ken's Note: Again, Rosenbloom is best described in picture form...

Campbell: Matt Barkley's ill-advised throw lowlight of 5-interception game - Chicago Tribune - In hindsight, Matt Barkley realized what had been plainly evident to everyone who bothered to show up at Soldier Field on Christmas Eve to watch the Bears get blown out. He shouldn't have tried to throw a pass with Redskins outside linebacker Preston Smith draped around his waist. Not in the third quarter of a 10-point game Saturday. Not ever.

Finley: Sparse crowd sees Bears lose home finale - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears’ home finale was just as depressing as their opener: a 41-21 loss to the Redskins on Saturday didn't feel that close.

Jahns: Bears QB Matt Barkley: 'I was standing in my way today' - Chicago Sun-Times
- Barkley threw five interceptions, and all of them were on him.

Finley: Bears' Tracy Porter 'I embarrassed' teammates, coaches, myself | Chicago Sun-Times - Tracy Porter knew exactly who to blame Saturday after the Bears’ loss.

Jahns: Cam Meredith, Jordan Howard remain positives - Chicago Sun-Times - Thoughts and observations from the Bears' 41-21 loss to the Redskins.

Potash: 'Do your job' Bears' defense lays another egg in blowout loss - Chicago Sun-Times - Jerrell Freeman knew how bad it looked.

Mullin: Bears collapse at QB, in multiple areas during beatdown by Redskins - CSN Chicago - Matt Barkley threw five interceptions as the Bears collapsed in multiple areas during Saturday's 41-21 loss to the Redskins.

Emma: Bears GM Ryan Pace Vows ‘We’re Going To Be Successful’ - CBS Chicago - Speaking to the Bears pregame show, Pace addressed the state of the team.

The Right Combination: Bears fail to contain Desean Jackson, Pierre Garcon - CSN Chicago - The Bears struggled to keep Redskins wide receivers Desean Jackson and Pierre Garcon in check in Week 16.

Mullin: Defense shredded in second straight 400-yard mauling - CSN Chicago - The Bears' defense gave up 478 total yards and 41 points to the Washington Redskins in a lopsided loss on Christmas Eve.

Emma: Matt Barkley, Bears Come Unhinged - CBS Chicago - Barkley had five interceptions, and the Bears (3-12) looked lost in their 41-21 loss to the Redskins.

Mullin: Matt Barkley interceptions doom Bears in 20-point loss to Redskins - CSN Chicago - Matt Barkley's five interceptions doomed the Bears in their 41-21 loss to the Redskins on Saturday afternoon.

Imrem: Not a happy tune for Chicago Bears - Daily Herald - More than 12 days of Christmas needed to fill all the Chicago Bears' holes.

Rozner: Bears the gift that keeps on giving - Daily Herald - In the second year under John Fox, the Chicago Bears are still the gift that keeps on giving.

LeGere: Barkley gives away 5 INTs in Chicago Bears loss - Daily Herald - It was a horrible day for quarterback Matt Barkley and the Chicago Bears, as they were dominated by Washington and fell to 3-12 in the final home game at Soldier Field, which was attended by a season-low 39,837.

Wiederer: Turnovers, defensive ineptitude plague Bears in another lopsided loss - Chicago Tribune - By the end of Saturday's game, the Soldier Field stands had emptied significantly. So, too, it seemed had the Bears' energy reserves. In an abysmal performance befitting a woeful season, the Bears were outclassed and outperformed by the visiting Redskins. And so the parting gift for the home crowd on Christmas Eve was a 41-21 loss, the team's 12th this year and the latest reminder of how flawed this Bears group remains.

Fishbain: Chicago Bears Notes: Losing continues, but that's not stopping Jordan Howard's success - Pro Football Weekly - Running back leads Bears on day when Matt Barkley and 'D' struggle

Haugh: Bears routed at empty Soldier Field - Chicago Tribune - In the most fitting holiday photo the Bears could frame summing up 2016, fewer than 10,000 fans filled Soldier Field during the final minutes of Saturday's 41-21 loss to the Redskins in the last game of a lousy season on the lakefront.

Fishbain: Turnovers, poor pass defense send Chicago Bears to 12th loss - Pro Football Weekly - Bears unravel in second half of home finale vs. Washington

Biggs: Better hope Bears aren't fooled by their defense - Chicago Tribune - When digging through the layers of issues affecting the Bears, be careful to differentiate between legitimate progress that offers hope for the future and more of the same, which has had the franchise in a downward spiral for much of the last decade.

CHRISTMAS DAY SAUSAGE

Patra: Joe Thomas on Browns' win, It 'was our Super Bowl' - NFL.com - The Cleveland Browns avoided the ignominy of becoming the second team in NFL history to go 0-16. The 20-17 victory over the Chargers was the best Christmas present for Browns fans.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Gates: Zimmer says players "Defied" Plan For Covering Jordy Nelson - Daily Norseman - In a report that can only be classed as stunning, the Vikings’ defensive backs went against the wishes of their head coach.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Noble: Chicago once again melt down at home, lose 41-21 - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears sent fans home from Soldier Field disappointed for the final time in 2016.

Householder's WCG Staff picks, Week 16: Bears vs Washington - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears host their final home game of the year

THE RULES

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