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The Bear’s Den, October 31, 2017

A year ago today the Bears beat the Minnesota Vikings... that was a great Trick & Treat

San Francisco 49ers vs Chicago Bears
A fan of the Chicago Bears dresses like a monster during the Halloween game against the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Field on October 31, 2004 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the 49ers 23-13.
Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

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

ZACH MILLER’S HEALTH

Campbell: Zach Miller's injury won't diminish his huge impact on the Bears - Chicago Tribune - There were a few unfamiliar faces in the Bears locker room as the team prepared for its first regular-season practice Sept. 4. So Zach Miller did what Zach Miller does. He walked over and said hello. Smile on his face. Hat turned backwards. The 33-year-old tight end approached Tre McBride, a 24-year-old...

Kane: Bears coach John Fox says Zach Miller in good spirits after serious knee injury - Chicago Tribune - The angle at which Zach Miller's left leg bent was so horrifically wrong that there was little doubt the Bears tight end was seriously injured Sunday afternoon at the Superdome in New Orleans.

It was so serious, in fact, that Miller needed urgent vascular surgery, a procedure that went beyond trying to save his football career to trying to save his ability to walk.

Kane: Doctors stabilize Bears TE Zach Miller's left leg in urgent surgery - Chicago Tribune - Bears tight end Zach Miller had urgent surgery on Sunday night to repair a torn popliteal artery after he dislocated his knee during Sunday’s loss.

ProFootballDoc: Zach Miller has surgery to save leg; many surgeries to come - The San Diego Union-Tribune - Bears tight end Zach Miller's knee injury included artery damage.

Current, former Bears among many to share support for Miller via Twitter - ChicagoBears.com - After Zach Miller sustained a knee injury Sunday, teammates, NFL players and others tweeted words of encouragement to the Bears tight end.

Kennedy: Bears’ Zach Miller receives well-wishes from NFL community - Sun Times - The NFL community has rallied around Miller wishing him a speedy recovery on social media. Here are some of their posts.

Arthur Arkush: Chicago Bears TE Zach Miller underwent urgent vascular surgery to repair torn artery in left leg | Pro Football Weekly - Bears' Miller suffered knee dislocation on controversial overturned TD catch, rushed to New Orleans hospital

Morrissey: Zach Miller and an image that won’t soon go away - Sun Times - Bears tight end dealing with a dislocated knee that could have meant amputation.

Zach Miller of Chicago Bears undergoes emergency surgery in effort to save injured leg - ESPN - Bears TE Zach Miller will remain in a hospital after emergency surgery to repair a damaged artery in his left leg. Sources previously told ESPN that surgeons had been working to save Miller's leg.

LeGere: Surgery to save Miller's injured leg 'successful' - ChicagoBears.com - The dislocated knee that Chicago Bears tight end Zach Miller suffered Sunday was much more serious than originally assumed -- requiring surgery to save the injured leg. Bears officials have called the surgery "successful."

Emma: Bears Zach Miller Underwent Urgent Vascular Surgery To Save Left Leg - CBS Chicago - Miller suffered a serious injury to his left knee in the third quarter of Sunday's game.

Patra: Bears' Zach Miller (knee) undergoes vascular surgery - NFL.com - Zach Miller underwent successful vascular surgery and continues to be treated at a New Orleans hospital after suffering a devastating leg injury in Sunday's game against the Saints.

Andracki: Zach Miller nearly lost his leg after horrific knee injury in Bears loss - NBC Sports Chicago - Zach Miller's knee injury in Sunday's Bears loss isn't just affecting his playing career, but possibly his life after emergency surgery.

BEARRRSSSS

Biggs Film session: Mitch Trubisky, Bears couldn't make Saints pay for blitzing continuously - Sun Times - The progression of rookie Mitch Trubisky is going to expose him to nearly everything a quarterback can face in the NFL. In Sunday's 20-12 loss to the Saints it was heavy pressure. The Bears won't always face a defense as aggressive as the one Dennis Allen directs for the Saints and they won't soon have to go back to the raucous Superdome — one of the most difficult places for quarterbacks to play and offenses to communicate.

Finley: Bears ILB Jerrell Freeman suspended 10 games for PED use - Sun Times - Bears inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman was suspended 10 games for violating the NFL’s performance enhancing drug policy.

Finley: Good, bad and worse: How the Bears fared in 20-12 loss to Saints - Sun Times - Kicker Connor Barth’s second-quarter miss made him 7-for-11 for the season and 25-for-34 since he took Robbie Gould’s place to start the 2016 season.

Pompei: Observations From Bears-Saints - CBS Chicago - Mitchell Trubisky had a rough day but once again received little help from his receivers.

Biggs: 10 thoughts on the Bears' 20-12 loss to the Saints - Chicago Tribune - 10 thoughts after the Chicago Bears lost to the New Orleans Saints 20-12 on Sunday afternoon at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Imrem: Next step for Bears is to get a new coach - Daily Herald - Chicago Bears next long step is to fire John Fox and replace him with a young, offensive-minded coach.

Under Center Podcast: Should the Bears go to Jordan Howard more in late-game situations? - NBC Sports Chicago - Alex Brown, Jim Miller and Laurence Holmes recap the Bears' 20-12 loss to the Saints.

Stankevitz: Bears grades - Mixed bag for Trubisky, coaching staff after loss to New Orleans - NBC Sports Chicago - Mitchell Trubisky did some things well, but struggled in other areas in the Bears' 20-12 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

Stankevitz: Why the Bears enter their bye week feeling like they’re ‘close’ to playing winning football - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears' record isn't a great endorsement, but the players believe the team is turning a corner.

Hub Arkush: Where do Chicago Bears go after New Orleans? - Pro Football Weekly - Slowly but surely, Bears' arrow is pointing up...

Emma: Bears LB Jerrell Freeman Suspended 10 Games For Repeat PED Violation « CBS Chicago - Freeman was also suspended last November for a first-time PED violation.

Finley’s Halas Intrigue: Breaking down Bears loss, 2nd-half hopes — and refs - Sun Times - From New Orleans, Patrick Finley and Chicago Sun-Times colleague Mark Potash discuss the Bears’ loss, their second half hopes and the blown call.

Hoge & Jahns Podcast: Bears lose to Saints but refs deserve criticism - Sun Times - The Chicago Sun-Times’ Adam L. Jahns and WGN Radio’s Adam Hoge break down the Bears’ 20-12 loss against the Saints in Week 8.

Finley: Bears lose offensive linemen Kyle Long, Cody Whitehair to injuries - Sun Times - The Bears finished Sunday’s game with their left guard at center, two backups at guard and their only remaining healthy center inactive.

Jahns: 12 takeaways from the Bears’ 20-12 loss to the Saints - Sun Times - Some thoughts and observations after watching the film and going through the stats of the Bears’ 20-12 loss against the Saints on Sunday.

Potash: Time for NFL to simplify the catch/no-catch rule - Sun Times - In the context of a football game, tight end Zach Miller absolutely made the reception from quarterback Mitch Trubisky for a 25-yard touchdown Sunday.

Jahns’ Film Study: Negative runs continue to plague the Bears’ offense - Sun Times - Thoughts and observations after watching the film of the Bears’ 20-12 loss to the Saints in Week 8.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Patra: Matt Forte 'surprised' Jets didn't run ball more in rain - NFL.com - The Jets called 37 pass plays to 21 running plays in Sunday's 25-20 loss. Running back Matt Forte saw just four carries for seven yards while Bilal Powell took 14 totes for 33 yards.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Western: NFL is hoping to get the Packers to London in 2018, but opponent is to be determined - Acme Packing Company - If it happens, who would the Packers end up playing? We have narrowed the list down to just a few likely options.

Patra: Saints RB Ingram says game was close because 'I sucked' - NFL.com - New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram was blunt when assessing his play Sunday: "I sucked." Ingram had two turnovers in the Saints' close win over Chicago

Patra: Eric Ebron doesn't care if Detroit Lions trade him or not - NFL.com - Detroit Lions tight end Eric Ebron addressed the trade rumors swirling as the NFL heads toward the trade deadline. Ebron said 'if the front office thinks that, then we'll see Tuesday.'

Glover's Stock Market Report: Browns - Daily Norseman - My favorite NFL team went to London and they didn’t even get me a t-shirt...but they did win.

Reisman: Do you feel better, worse, or the same after the Lions’ loss to the Steelers? - Pride Of Detroit - How are we feelin’, Lions fans?

Reisman: The Lions’ red zone offense was absolutely embarrassing vs. Steelers - Pride Of Detroit - A statistical breakdown of just how bad the Lions’ red zone offense was on Sunday night.

Reisman's Week 9 NFC North standings: Lions fall 2.5 games behind Vikings - Pride Of Detroit - The Lions’ margin for error for the rest of the season is incredibly thin.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Silverstein: NFL suspends Jerrell Freeman 10 games without pay for PED policy violation - Windy City Gridiron - This is the 2nd PED suspension for Freeman since 2016.

Wiltfong: Zach Miller Injury Update - Successful surgery, but “not out of the woods” yet - Windy City Gridiron - Yesterday afternoon, Chicago Bears tight end Zach Miller was rushed to University Medical Center New Orleans to have emergency surgery on his left leg.

FANPOSTS

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's 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; racial or other offensive epithets; Personal attacks or threats on community members; Gendered insults of any kind; Trolling; Click link for full information.

The Bear’s Den Specific Guidelines – The Bear’s Den is a place for Chicago Bears fans to discuss Chicago Bears football, related NFL stories, and general football talk. It is NOT a place to discuss religion or politics or post political pictures or memes, and any posts that do this will be deleted and the poster will be admonished. We do not allow comments posted where the apparent attempt is to cause confrontation in the community. The staff of WCG are the sole arbiters of what constitutes “apparent attempt to cause confrontation”. We do not allow the “calling out” of other members in any way, shape or form. Posts that do this will be deleted on sight. Bottom line, it’s fine to debate about football, but personal jabs and insults are strictly prohibited.

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