The Bear’s Den, December 28, 2017

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

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BEARRRSSSS

Rosenthal's QB Index, Week 17: QBs who could use a new coach - NFL.com - Could a change in offensive scheme spark wonders for Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Seattle Seahawks passer Russell Wilson? Gregg Rosenthal thinks so, and says six other QBs would also benefit from a coaching change.

DeWitt: Revisiting the Vikings (with Sam Ekstrom of "Locked on Vikings") - ChicagoBears.com - Listen as Da Bears Brothers revisit the playoff-bound Minnesota Vikings with a firsthand report from Sam Ekstrom of "Locked on Vikings."

Everything you need to know about the NFL's coaching carousel - Chicago Tribune - The firing-and-hiring season for NFL head coaches gets under way in earnest very soon, perhaps as early as Sunday night.

Campbell: Examining where the Bears will pick in the 2018 draft order - Chicago Tribune - Looking at the matchups and results in Week 17 of the NFL that will determine where the Bears will pick in the 2018 draft.

Rosenbloom: Looks like Dowell Loggains gave himself a nice going-away present - Chicago Tribune - Bears offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains neutered the aggressive blitzing ordered by Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams on third downs by calling screen plays that led to scores. So now, Loggains has game video to use when he goes looking for a new hob next week.

Biggs Bears Q&A: Will the Bears make the playoffs next season (assuming there's a coaching change)? - Chicago Tribune - The Tribune's Brad Biggs answers your Bears questions weekly.

Kane: Change likely coming all around Mitch Trubisky, but he sees ‘big jump’ in 2018 - Chicago Tribune - How Halas Hall changes will benefit Mitch Trubisky will be answered in the months to come, but no matter what he expects bigger things next season.

Biggs: At 5-10 heading into finale, Bears are who we thought they would be - Chicago Tribune - It looks like John Fox will take the fall for a disappointing year with Sunday's game likely his last as Bears coach because the team has won only as much as most observers predicted before the season.

Telander: Ex-Bears LB Doug Buffone another likely victim of CTE - Chicago Sun-Times - Two months ago, Dana Buffone had Doug’s body exhumed from its resting place and his brain removed and sent to the CTE Center at Boston University.

Hoge & Jahns Podcast: What will Week 17 be like for Bears coach John Fox? - Chicago Sun-Times - In episode 141 of their podcast, the Chicago Sun-Times' Adam L. Jahns and WGN Radio's Adam Hoge break down the Bears' matchup against the Vikings.

Finley: Why Bears should consider Vikings OC Pat Shurmur for head-coaching gig - Chicago Sun-Times - General manager Ryan Pace would be wise to look closely at Shurmur - and not just to mine for insider knowledge on an NFC North rival.

Morrissey: Bears need a coaching-search miracle - Sun Times - Don’t dismiss divine intervention out of hand. There’s very little reason to think the Bears can get this right on their own.

Finley: Bears RB Tarik Cohen, the only 'little grown man in Chicago,' has proven durable - Chicago Sun-Times - By Sunday, Tarik Cohen will have made appeared in all 16 games, an accomplishment for any running back, much less one that stands 5-6, 179 pounds.

Potash: Finale vs. Vikings will provide Bears' Mitch Trubisky a progress report on 2017 - Chicago Sun-Times - An excited Trubisky and the prospect of better days head with the No. 2 overall pick at quarterback is the biggest bright spot in a dreadful season.

Jahns: Bears still see Adam Shaheen as 'good, all-around tight end' for their future - Chicago Sun-Times - “We know that he’s going to be a good all-around tight end because of his size, speed, his athleticism,” Loggains said.

Gabriel: Next Chicago Bears coach doesn't need offensive background - he needs great offensive staff - Pro Football Weekly - If you believe Ian Rapaport’s report on the NFL Network that Bears President Ted Phillips has already been making calls regarding potential head-coach candidates, it’s a foregone conclusion that John Fox will not be back next season as the Bears' hea

LeGere: Chicago Bears' Trubisky progressing quite nicely - Daily Herald - In the three months since Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Mitch Trubisky abruptly went from watch-and-learn mode to "Here's the keys to the family Buick," there isn't an area of his growth that offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains can single out. That's a good thing.

Stankevitz: John Fox tunes out speculation about being fired: ‘I don’t worry about it’ - NBC Sports Chicago - There's been plenty of speculation about whether John Fox will return next season. The head coach didn't sound worried on Tuesday, though.

Mullin: Bears are the anomaly of John Fox's coaching career - NBC Sports Chicago - There's something about John Fox and his Bears teams/tenure that doesn't quite focus completely.

Bears: How Tarik Cohen avoided the rookie wall in his explosive debut season-| NBC Sports Chicago - Tarik Cohen never hit a rookie wall, and has thrived in his debut season with the Bears.

Hub Arkush: How black will this Monday be for for Chicago Bears? - Pro Football Weekly - It should be darker for John Fox than for Ryan Pace

Mayer: Bears begin preparing for finale in Minnesota - ChicagoBears.com - Three days after their 20-3 win over the Cleveland Browns, the Bears returned to the practice field Wednesday to begin preparing for Sunday’s season finale against the Vikings in Minnesota.

Mayer: Trubisky has improved since debuting versus Vikings - ChicagoBears.com - In Sunday’s season finale in Minnesota, Mitchell Trubisky hopes to show the Vikings that he’s taken major strides since making his first NFL start against them 12 weeks ago.

2018 NFL Draft: Bears drop 2 spots in 1st round after Week 16 win - Bears Wire - A look at where the Chicago Bears select in the first round fo the 2018 NFL Draft

Cox: Mitchell Trubisky expects ‘to make a big jump from Year 1 to Year 2’ - Bears Wire - Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky is setting out to do bigger and better things in 2018.

Baffoe: End Of John Fox Era No Cause For Celebration - CBS Chicago - There will still be problems for the Bears after the expected firing of Fox next week.

Emma: Growth Of Mitchell Trubisky Offers Bears Hope - CBS Chicago - Though change is expected after this week, the Bears have some stability in the form of Trubisky.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Dolphins' Cutler says he's undecided regarding 2018 - Chicago Sun-Times - Former Bears quarterback Jay Cutler may be heading back to retirement after this season.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Vikings open as double-digit favorites vs. Bears - Vikings Wire - If the Vikings win, they'll secure the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Wiltfong's Chicago Bears Sackwatch 2017: Week 16 vs Cleveland Browns - Windy City Gridiron - Another five sack game in the week 17 match-up against the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears’ Sackwatch will approach Mike Martzian levels of sucking. While the sack numbers in those days...

Zeglinski & Sunderbruch's Week 16 Overreaction: Better than the Browns edition - Windy City Gridiron - Chicago was supposed to win against the Browns - the worst team in the NFL. The Bears, independently, still have more bright spots than most would like to admit.

FANPOSTS

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