The Bear's Den: December 27, 2016

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

BEARRRSSSS

Fishbain: Team playing for pride, evaluation in final game of 2016 season - Pro Football Weekly - Fox, Freeman making sure Bears players know that front office is evaluating for 2017

Mayer: 3 things that stood out in Week 16 loss - ChicagoBears.com - One day later, senior writer Larry Mayer discusses three things that stood out in the Bears' 41-21 loss to the Washington Redskins Saturday at Soldier Field.

Perez: Bears get big boost from Jaguars in 2017 NFL draft first-round order - Bears Wire - The Jaguars' Week 16 win could push the Bears higher up in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft

Finley: Is RB Jordan Howard the Bears' only compelling player left? - Chicago Sun-Times - Will Blackmon thought he had an 88-yard interception return for a touchdown as he was sprinting down the right sideline

Mayer: Bears dogged by minus-16 turnover ratio - Chicago Bears - The Bears' inability to generate takeaways coupled with a slew of giveaways has resulted in a minus-16 turnover ratio that helps explain their 3-12 record.

Potash: Are the Bears getting anywhere under John Fox? - Chicago Sun-Times - Is the Bears’ arrow pointing up?

Perez: Jordan Howard is 61 yards away from Bears record - Bears Wire - Bears rookie running back Jordan Howard is only 61 yards away from setting a franchise record in his first season

Jahns' Film Study: Leonard Floyd's concussion part of rough 1st quarter - Chicago Sun-Times - Thoughts and observations after watching the film of the Bears’ 41-21 loss to the Redskins.

Potash: 19 on IR? Injury rate is biggest impediment to Bears' turnaround - Chicago Sun-Times - It’s only fitting that the one player on injured reserve that the Bears designated for return, did not. With the

Finley's Podcast: Three disturbing trends in Bears' loss to Redskins - Chicago Sun-Times - The Chicago Sun-Times' Patrick Finley details three disturbing trends — even by this season's standards — against the Redskins.

Morrissey: Bears need to find a quarterback, and it's not Matt Barkley - Chicago Sun-Times - Five starts in, it's apparent he's a backup.

Finley: Bears' John Fox: Matt Barkley not only one to blame for 5 picks - Chicago Sun-Times - John Fox refused to blame Matt Barkley squarely for his five interceptions Saturday.

Mullin: Bears defense looking for "mindset," "doing a little bit more" as 2016 ebbs - CSN Chicago - Jerrell Freeman says the Bears' defense needs to improve its mindset and be more conscious of making the extra effort to make plays.

Rozner: Bears' long search for playmakers drags on - Daily Herald - Another season is gone and the Bears are no closer to finding playmakers.

LeGere: So much for Bears rebuilding - Daily Herald - Well, so much for the Bears' defense providing a foundation for a rebuilding job that obviously still has a long way to go, even after two years under G.M. Ryan Pace and coach John Fox. In back-to-back breakdowns, the Bears have permitted 71 points and 929 yards, the defense's worst two-game stretch of the season.

Mullin: Evaluating John Fox's Bears based on Redskins game as knee-jerk other premature calls - CSN Chicago - CSN Bears Insider John "Moon" Mullin evaluates John Fox's Bears based on Saturday's game against the Washington Redskins.

Biggs: 10 thoughts on the Bears' 41-21 loss to the Redskins - Chicago Tribune - 10 thoughts after the Redskins trounced the Bears 41-21 on Saturday at Soldier Field, sending them to their 12th defeat of the season.

Campbell: Progress a tough sell for Bears as losses wipe out benefit of the doubt - Chicago Tribune - After the Bears' Christmas Eve beatdown by the Redskins, there was a deeper sense of woe than after any of the previous 21 losses.

Biggs' film session: Matt Barkley learns going at Josh Norman no way to make living - Chicago Tribune - Matt Barkley's career arc won't look pretty if he has another game in which he's so careless with the ball and his decisions.

Potash: Bears (3-12) trying to avoid ignominy of worst 16-game season - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears’ season finale against the Vikings on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium was destined to be meaningless since they

Pompei: Observations From Bears-Redskins - CBS Chicago - Matt Barkley became unglued, and the Bears' secondary was exposed.

Video: John Fox says minus 16 turnover differential is a bad formula - CSN Chicago - Bears coach John Fox talks about the team's turnover problems.

Mullin: Second concussion could keep Leonard Floyd out of Bears' finale - CSN Chicago - Leonard Floyd's second concussion in barely a month could force him out of the Bears' season finale against the Vikings.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Ortega: Broncos, Panthers miss playoffs after Super Bowl 50 - NFL.com - For the first time since 2003, both Super Bowl squads from the previous year will miss the playoffs. The Panthers and Broncos will be sitting on the sidelines when the postseason starts in two weeks.

Moreano: College kids show more effort than Bears on Christmas Eve - Da Bears Brothers - - The Bears weren’t the only ones in the Chicago land area to play football on Christmas Eve. A group of 14 guys, most old high school friends of mine played in the 7th annual Bevier Bowl held at Bevier Park in Waukegan, Illinois. The biggest difference between the team the represents the city of Chicago and our guys – we at least showed some fight.

Kercheval: Hawai'i capitalizes on turnovers, fun fake punt in stunning win - CBSSports.com - Hawai'i took advantage of Middle Tennessee miscues and made some big plays with its offense. Ken's Note: Yeah, I know, I'm the only person around here who cares, but my Warriors not only made a Bowl game this year we pitched a huge upset win!

Hawai'i's Fake Punt

This Hawaii fake punt is bananas and also worked, and uh has anyone ever seen anything like this ever before? https://t.co/YYK0MN0CIg pic.twitter.com/laXEC0t5f8

— SB✯Nation CFB (@SBNationCFB) December 25, 2016

KNOW THY ENEMY

Smith: Xavier Rhodes says Vikings had a miscommunication, not a mutiny - ProFootballTalk - Everyone agrees that the Vikings did not match cornerback Xavier Rhodes one-on-one with Packers receiver Jordy Nelson at the start of Sunday's game, even though head coach Mike Zimmer wanted Rhodes on Nelson. But the details of the issue remain unclear.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Wiltfong's Snap counts, stats and more: Chicago Bears gashed on the ground again - Windy City Gridiron - We'll take a deeper look at the statistics, both individual and team, and also run down the playing time breakdown for the Chicago Bears in their 20 point loss to the Washington Redskins.

FANPOSTS

TenYearsAfter: Christmas Mock (Bears) - Windy City Gridiron - After just missing out on Leonard Williams (2015) and DeForest Buckner last year, I think Jonathan Allen makes it to us. I can't see the 49ers taking another 5-tech for a 3rd year in a row. ...

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

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