The Bear’s Den: December 15, 2017

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

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BEARRRSSSS

Game Preview: How the Chicago Bears Can Beat the Detroit Lions - Da Bears Brothers - In their weekly game preview, Da Bears Brothers explain in full how the Bears can beat the Detroit Lions who beat Chicago by three points in November.

Moreano: Trubisky needs to end the season with a division win - Da Bears Brothers - With two divisional games left in the season for the Bears, it's vital that Mitch Trubisky leads his team to a victory against the NFC North opponents.

Stankevitz: What was it like to coach against Devin Hester? 'You hold your breath' - NBC Sports Chicago - Coaching against Devin Hester was a headache for any special teams coordinator from 2006-2016, Jeff Rodgers included.

Bears film review: Adam Shaheen was better than you may have thought against Cincinnati - NBC Sports Chicago - Adam Shaheen was a key contributor in the Bears' run blocking in addition to catching four passes and a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Under Center Podcast: What did win over Bengals mean for John Fox and Ryan Pace? - NBC Sports Chicago - In the latest Under Center Podcast, JJ Stankevitz and John “Moon” Mullin debate what the Bears’ blowout win in Cincinnati meant for John Fox and Ryan Pace.

Stankevitz: Has Adam Shaheen actually lived up to expectations in 2017? - NBC Sports Chicago - In one sense, Adam Shaheen has done exactly what the Bears expected him to do as a rookie: Be a weapon in the red zone.

Emma: What Do Bears Have Left To Play For? Their Culture - CBS Chicago - Time to tank? Instead, the Bears are trying to fortify a young roster and win their final games this season.

Gabriel: What can the Bears accomplish the rest of the season? - Pro Football Weekly - Learning to win is more important to Bears organization than worrying about draft slot

Perez: Despite coming off blowout win, Bears still unpopular among experts vs. Lions - Bears Wire - The Chicago Bears are a popular pick among experts to lose to the Detroit Lions in Week 15

Lions vs. Bears preview: Q&A with Bears Wire’s Bryan Perez - Lions Wire - Bears Wire's Bryan Perez does a Q&A with Lions Wire about the Week 15 Saturday matchup between the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears.

4 players to watch: Bears-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 Saturday’s game in Detroit, including receiver Kendall Wright.

Buffone: The John Buffone Show - Previewing Bears at Lions - Bears Barroom - The Chicago Bears travel to Ford Field on Saturday to take on the Detroit Lions. John Buffone takes on questions about both teams in this fast paced podcast, Buffone 55. Additionally, the show closes with a five minute infomercial on the Bears Barroom Christmas parody CD that pokes fun at the Bears.

Barnwell: Ranking best NFL potential head coach openings in 2018, Chicago favorable - ESPN - A super-talented 22-year-old quarterback and a few defensive stars? The Texans' job is intriguing if Bill O'Brien doesn't return. Bill Barnwell sorts the coaching jobs that could come open in 2018.

Dickerson: Should Bears draft Alabama's Calvin Ridley to help Mitchell Trubisky? - ESPN - With the Bears' continued troubles at wide receiver, the team is sure to target the position in the 2018 draft or free agency.

Hughes: Bears at Lions Game Preview - Da Bears Blog - Don’t look now but Jordan Howard is only 73 yards behind Le’Veon Bell in the race for the NFL rushing title. In their first meeting this season, Howard put 125 yards on the board and the Lions defense has actually gotten worse at stopping the run since. Just last week they allowed the Bucs, one of the league’s worst running teams, to average nearly 5 yards a carry. Could be a big Saturday afternoon for the unheralded Bears superstar.

SUN TIMES

Potash: Danny Trevathan puts Bears opponents on alert - ‘We’re coming for them’ - His return after missing three games with calf injury has helped right a listing ship and helped give the Bears’ defense a chance to finish strong.

Jahns: What we want to see from Bears ‘building blocks’ in final three games - The Bears’ rout of the Bengals produced overdue feelings of hope, especially with rookie quarterback Mitch Trubisky and other youngsters producing it.

Finley: Bears’ Pernell McPhee on injured shoulder: ‘I can finish strong’ - McPhee said his shoulder felt “awesome.” He was one of three defensive starters who continued their pitch to play against the Lions on Wednesday.

Finley: Bears special teams coach on Devin Hester: ‘Best that’s ever done it’ - As the special teams coordinator for the Panthers and Broncos, Jeff Rodgers had to prepare for Devin Hester. “I’d say (he) changed the game,” he said.

Finley: On catches, runs and returns, Bears know hidden value of Tarik Cohen - Perhaps the greatest impact Cohen makes on every game is the double team he draws as a receiver, leaving his Bears teammates, in theory, more open

Finley: Bears RB Jordan Howard eyes NFL rushing lead against woeful Lions D - Bears running back Jordan Howard currently sits in fourth place in the NFL, 73 yards behind leader Le’Veon Bell of the Steelers.

Potash: Change comes with risk for Bears if DC Vic Fangio doesn’t return - Hicks is in his ultimate comfort zone in Fangio’s defense, which makes this offseason particularly interesting for him.

Potash: Bears’ LB Pernell McPhee expected to play against Lions on Saturday - Nose tackle Eddie Goldman, who did not play against the Bengals because of a hip injury, had limited participation in practice and is questionable.

Finley: John Fox’s struggles vs. NFC North one reason Bears went south - In Fox’s tenure, the Bears are 3-13 against the NFC North — with one win apiece against the Packers, Lions and Vikings. They’re 0-4 this season.

NFL Week 15 predictions: Bears at Lions - The Chicago Sun-Times’ experts offer their predictions for the Bears’ matchup with the Lions in Week 15:

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Rosenbloom: Bears No. 1 (and only) receiver Kendall Wright has better hands than eyes - Snark! The herald angels sing: When it came to his wide receivers against the Bengals, Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky did a great job of spreading the ball around to Kendall Wright. And in the wake of his 10-catch, 107-yard game against a Bengals team that didn’t care from the start and had quit...

Kane: Jordan Howard ready to 'play freely' as he pushes toward rushing title - Dowell Loggains could see a switch flip in Jordan Howard. In the first half of the 33-7 victory Sunday over the Bengals, the Bears’ second-year running back failed to gain the yard needed for a first down on second-and-1. As he came to the sideline, Howard told the offensive coordinator, “I have to get that.”

Campbell: Tarik Cohen making better decisions as Bears' punt returner - Here are three things we learned at Halas Hall as the Bears prepared for Saturday afternoon’s game against the Lions at Ford Field. Tarik Cohen’s evolution as a punt returner centers on decision making The rookie criticized himself after last Sunday’s victory for being passive in allowing two punts...

POLISH SAUSAGE

Fucillo: Adam Gase ran up score on Broncos because John Elway bad-mouthed him to the 49ers, per report - Niners Nation - The Adam Gase-49ers story will never die!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Sunderbruch: Rookie QBs By The Numbers - Trubisky Is Okay - Windy City Gridiron - With the season almost over, it’s worth looking at how Mitchell Trubisky’s rookie season to date compares to other NFL first-timers.

Wiltfong's Chicago Bears Sackwatch 2017: Week 14 vs Cincinnati Bengals - Windy City Gridiron - Only two sacks allowed to breakdown for the Chicago Bears this week, but the overall Sackwatch is still trending higher than we’d like to see. With three games to go, the Bears will really need to...

Curl: Am I the only one starting Mitchell Trubisky in the fantasy playoffs? - Windy City Gridiron - Call me a homer. When my unnamed starting fantasy quarterback had a knee boo boo to start the fantasy playoffs, there was one name on the waiver free agent wire that my eye couldn’t avoid going...

Wiltfong: Are the handcuffs off the Chicago Bears’ offense? - Windy City Gridiron - In Lester’s latest T Formation Conversation podcast, he takes a look at the gameplan the Bears used on Sunday, and discusses if that’s how they are going to beat the Detroit Lions on Saturday afternoon.

Householder's NFL Week 15 Game Preview: Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears try for their second straight road win and get their first divisional victory of 2017

Wiltfong & Householder: Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions Injury Report - Adrian Amos questionable (Update) - Windy City Gridiron - The injury list for the Chicago Bears is about as small as it’s been all season long. I’m not talking players on injured reserve - because that’s still quite lengthy - I’m just talking about the...

Zeglinski: Among NFL teams with potential head coach openings, how does the Bears roster compare? - Windy City Gridiron - Chicago will be on the lookout for a new head coach soon. As will other NFL teams. Evaluating how the Bears roster stacks up in terms of attractiveness.

FANPOSTS

Eli.m23: Devin Hester's Case for Canton - Windy City Gridiron - February 4, 2007, surrounded by my family and friends with our eyes glued to the TV screen, Super Bowl XLI between my beloved Chicago Bears and the Indianapolis Colts is about to kick-off. My older...

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

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