The Bear's Den Weekend Open Thread: December 10-11, 2015 (UPDATED)

Welcome to your Weekend Den Open Thread.

The Weekend Den is designed to give you good people a place to come and leave comments, links, love-notes to the Packers and whatever else you want to say (as long as you stay within the community guidelines).

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

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

BEARRRSSSS

Joniak: Keys To Bears-Lions - CBS Chicago - The Bears (3-9) are on the road to face the Lions (8-4) at noon on Sunday. Here are my keys to the game.

Mullin: Bears establishing smash-mouth core with Jordan Howard - CSN Chicago - The Bears’only three wins have come this season in the games in which rookie running back Jordan Howard has been given 20-plus carries.

DeWitt: Week 14 Preview Podcast, Will the Bears Sweep the Lions? (Plus: Discussion on Hicks, Floyd, and More) - Da Bears Brothers - Da Bears Brothers analyze the upcoming matchup against the Lions, give their game picks, touch on recent news, and answer questions submitted by Bears fans.

Mayer & Kaberon: 4 players to watch versus Lions - ChicagoBears.com - Larry Mayer and Eli Kaberon of ChicagoBears.com discuss the Bears players they'll be watching on both sides of the ball in Sunday's road game against the Detroit Lions.

Finley: Kyle Fuller's knee reacts 'in a positive way,' but return unclear - Chicago Sun-Times - Despite his coach’s claim that he looks "pretty much the same" as he did last week, Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller said he’s been making.

Wiederer, Campbell & Briggs: Is it just Matthew Stafford who gives Detroit the edge? - Chicago Tribune - Four storylines, first: Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio on Wednesday issued a stern denial and rebuke of a Tribune report that he might leave the Bears after the season because of rumored friction between coach John Fox and him. The report cited people with knowledge of the rumors who were granted anonymity. All eyes will be on Fox and Fangio in January to see if they remain together for a third season. Ken's Note: "The report cited people with knowledge of the rumors who were granted anonymity" is apparently the height of investigative journalism at the Chicago Tribune these days...

Finley: Back at practice, Bears' Pernell McPhee eyes fast track - Chicago Sun-Times - Pernell McPhee returned to practice Thursday, but the knee injury that kept him out a day earlier might not appreciate Ford Field’s artificial turf

Jahns: Evaluating Dowell Loggains is more complicated than you think - Chicago Sun-Times - Brian Hoyer beat the Lions. Jay Cutler beat the Vikings. And Matt Barkley just beat the 49ers.

Mullin: Bears looking into Teryl Austin’s past for clues on how Lions will scheme vs. Matt Barkley - CSN Chicago - The Bears have been scouting Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin to see how they will scheme against quarterback Matt Barkley.

Rosenbloom: Do the McCaskeys need a consultant to tell them how bad their team and coach are? - Chicago Tribune - Shortly before the Bears proved to be less miserable than the 49ers, the Rams gave Jeff Fisher a two-year contract extension even though he hasn't been over .500 in seven seasons, including this one, and I'm thinking, man, the death-spiraling Bears just have to switch to the NFC West.

Potash: Defense faces bigger challenge vs. Matt Stafford at Ford Field - Chicago Sun-Times - When the Lions came to Soldier Field in October, quarterback Matthew Stafford was on a roll with a 105.0 passer

Finley's podcast: Is Bears' Matt Barkley auditioning for another team? - Chicago Sun-Times - In the latest episode of Halas Intrigue, the Chicago Sun-Times' Patrick Finley wonders if Matt Barkley is playing for a job outside Chicago:

Emma: Bears’ Sam Acho Gains By Giving Back - CBS Chicago - Acho has been nominated for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.

STL: How many coaching changes will Bears make in offseason? - CSN Chicago - How many coaching changes will the Bears make in the offseason? The SportsTalk Live team share their thoughts.

Video: Urlacher on Marshall not remembering 3 TD game - CSN Chicago - Brian Urlacher responds to Brandon Marshall saying he doesn't remember his three touchdown game against the 49ers in 2014.

Bears Talk Podcast: Is there friction between John Fox and Vic Fangio? - CSN Chicago - In the latest Bears Talk Podcast, Jim Miller joins Pat Boyle to discuss the friction between John Fox and Vic Fangio. And are there changes in store for the Bears coordinators?

Mullin: Bears, Lions have been totally different teams in fourth quarters - CSN Chicago - The Bears and Lions have been complete opposites when it comes to fourth quarters comebacks this season.

LeGere: Bears-Lions will be Barkley's first road start - Daily Herald - Last week, QB Matt Barkley up his first NFL win in the Bears' 26-6 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. This week Barkley takes his show on the road for the first time as a starter, as the 3-9 Bears face the 8-4 Lions at Detroit's Ford Field.

Arthur Arkush: Did Derek Carr's long incompletion to Amari Cooper hit NBC's camera wire? - Pro Football Weekly - A bomb from Carr to Cooper during Raiders-Chiefs went from on track to on the ground

KNOW THY ENEMY

Smith: Lions finally expecting DeAndre Levy back on the field - ProFootballTalk
Before last season, the Lions signed DeAndre Levy to a four-year, $33.8 million contract. Since then, Levy has played in - two games and missed 26 games with injuries.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Check out WCG’s Lester Wiltfong on CLTV Sports Feed - Windy City Gridiron - When you have the chance to chat with the son of the Greatest football player of all time, you take it. So when I was asked to jump on live TV to talk Chicago Bears football with Jarrett Payton, I...

Wiltfong: Chicago Bears Injury Report: Eddie Royal doubtful - Windy City Gridiron - Here’s the injury report for the Chicago Bears at the Detroit Lions game this Sunday.

THE RULES

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