The Bear’s Den, November 28, 2018

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

MEMORY LANE

NFL 2016 Final Regular Season Power Rankings - New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers - ESPN - New England, riding a seven-game winning streak into the playoffs as the AFC’s top seed, reclaims its position at No. 1 atop the final regular-season rankings. Ken’s Note: Here’s a fun look back at where we were... note some of the other teams right around us.

BEARRRSSSS

Gabriel: Bears’ Defensive Line Setting The Tone - 670 The Score - Defensive lines are hallmarks of good defenses, and the Bears have one of the best.

Emma: Refreshed Bears Set Sights On Stretch Run - 670 The Score - ”We set ourselves up to be in a good position,” Allen Robinson says.

Emma: Bears’ Javon Wims Surprises Mother With Car: ‘Dream Come True’ - 670 The Score - Back home for Thanksgiving, Wims caught his mother off guard with a gift.

Dannehy: Maybe the 2018 Chicago Bears are Not “A Year Away” - Da Bears Blog - I started this season writing about how the Bears looked like the same old Bears and that’s because they did. Blowing a huge fourth quarter lead to the Packers on opening night was very on-brand. But on Thanksgiving Day, the 2018 Chicago Bears beat the Detroit Lions despite all the excuses. In doing so, they proved they are a different team.

Mully & Haugh: Bears’ Akiem Hicks On Play Of Eddie Jackson ‘It’s Dangerous’ - 670 The Score - ”Some people just have a knack for it,” Akiem Hicks says of Eddie Jackson.

Sansone: How do the Bears stack up against the best of the NFC — the Saints and the Rams? - Chicago Tribune - NFL Week 12 wrap-up: The Bears (8-3) hold the third seed in the NFC playoff race, 1½ games ahead of the Vikings in the NFC North.

Kane: 5 keys to a Bears playoff push as they enter the season's final month - Chicago Tribune - When the Bears return to Halas Hall on Tuesday after a four-day weekend, they’ll have about a month to complete a push for their first NFC North title and playoff berth since 2010.

Swartz: Former Bear Israel Idonije lands role on upcoming Fox drama 'Proven Innocent' - Chicago Tribune - Israel Idonije is one of a few former Chicago Bears players who have transitioned to network TV.

Haugh: Ryan Pace's savvy draft picks give the Bears a strong foundation for long-term success - Chicago Tribune - To achieve success that elevates a team to the next level, organizations must trade for difference-makers and sign playmakers. But to sustain it, they must draft wisely. The Bears find themselves at 8-3 and atop the NFC North because of Ryan Pace’s ability to do both.

Mullin: Is Mitch Trubisky a top-10 quarterback in the NFL? Yep, and you could look it up - NBC Sports Chicago - Is Mitch Trubisky a top-10 quarterback in the NFL? Yes he is, and you could look it up. John "Moon" Mullin weighs in on why that matters so much.

Stankevitz: As Bears sing to anything, they're taking their popularity and success in stride - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears became a viral hit with #BearsSingToAnything over the weekend, but now have to handle the popularity that comes with their success.

Lunch with Larry: 11.27.18 - ChicagoBears.com - Bears Senior Writer Larry Mayer discusses game preparation for the Giants, how the Bears found success the last three weeks and who has played the biggest roles for the Bears to this point.

Really? Surprising Bears stats following Week 12 - ChicagoBears.com - Following last week's win against the Lions, here are some noteworthy facts, figures and stats about the game and the season to this point.

Medina: John Lynch Is Still Out There Talking About the Mack Deal He Couldn't Pull Off - Bleacher Nation - John Lynch can't seem to get over the fact that he couldn't pull off a trade to acquire Khalil Mack.

Medina: Bears Sign Track Star Turned Receiver/Return Specialist Cyril Grayson to Practice Squad - Bleacher Nation - The Bears have the need for speed.

Potash: Rabbit with a gun - First-place Bears determined to play harder as the hunted | Chicago Sun-Times - Now they’re 8-3, leading the NFC North, ranked from fourth to eighth in various power ratings and getting serious consideration as a playoff contender

Finley: Bears players dig #BearsSingtoAnything viral sensation - Chicago Sun-Times - The videos, posted on social media, dubbed songs — by Beyonce and Nickelback and everyone in between — over the Amukamara-led Motown dance celebration

Finley: Bears CB Prince Amukamara ready to face Giants for first time since leaving - Sun Times - Sunday, entrenched as a solid cornerback as one of the Bears’ leaders, the cornerback will face the team that drafted him for the first time.

Jahns: Jordan Howard: Bears RB is enjoying team's run -- and fun - Sun Times - Running back Jordan Howard is having a down year but the Bears are winning.

Finley: Why the Bears are confident in QB Chase Daniel if he has to start again Sunday - Sun Times
It’s not often, if ever, that Charles Leno drives into Halas Hall without seeing Chase Daniel’s truck in the parking lot.

Kane: Bears cornerback Prince Amukamara eyeing first playoff run since winning the Super Bowl with the Giants - Chicago Tribune - Bears cornerback Prince Amukamara is looking to help a team to a playoff berth for the first time since his rookie season, when he was a reserve for the Giants on their way to a second Super Bowl title under quarterback Eli Manning.

Wiederer: 'He has been that way his whole life' - With his competitive fire always lit, Anthony Miller envisioning big things with Bears - Chicago Tribune - Bears receiver Anthony Miller has shown glimpses of promise during his rookie season. As Miller gets more comfortable with the NFL game and more in sync with quarterback Mitch Trubisky, he has grand visions of where his journey can take him and the team.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Rating job security of NFL head coaches - Who’s on hot seat in 2018 - ESPN - Mike McCarthy’s Packers are facing another season without the playoffs. Pete Carroll’s Seahawks are pushing for a wild-card spot.

The Top 5 most insane NFL concession foods; NFL’s reaction to domestic violence, Looking to next week - For the Fan NFL Podcast
Jim, Wanda & Julie talk about the week in review and then discuss the top 5 most insane foods...

Leonard Fournette’s appeal could have $7 million in the balance – ProFootballTalk - Fournette’s contract contains sufficient language to support an argument that the suspension voids the remaining guarantees in Fournette’s four-year rookie contract, wiping out a $7 million obligation that extends over 2019 and 2020. Ken’s Note: Why is this important to us? The story’s last paragraph reads: “this is precisely why Bears linebacker Roquan Smith held out. Broad language that voids guarantees can become that “gotcha” item a team can hold over a player, giving them a blank check to get out from under an otherwise guaranteed contract whenever they want.”

Should Hue Jackson have been able to go to Bengals after being fired by Browns? – ProFootballTalk - The decision of former Browns coach Hue Jackson to join the Bengals came after the Browns decided to fire Jackson during the season. And it has sparked a passionate debate in some circles regarding whether Jackson should have been able to jump ship to a rival.

Completion percentage records are falling around the NFL – ProFootballTalk - Forty-eight hours ago, no quarterback in NFL history had ever finished a game with more than 20 passes and a completion percentage higher than 95 percent. Then it happened on Sunday. And then it happened again on Monday night.

2019 NFL Draft order, team needs: 49ers No. 1, Packers in top 12 - NFL.com - Which pick in the 2019 NFL Draft does your team hold, and what are the top needs for all 32 clubs? Have a look at where things stand for your squad coming out of Week 12.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Vikings Still Haven’t Beaten a Winning Team - Daily Norseman - It’s always pleasing when the Vikings beat the Packers. And perhaps a little more so in effectively ending the Packers’ playoff hopes. But for all the feel-good about a Vikings victory that...

Packers sign OL de Beer to practice squad - Acme Packing Company - Did Green Bay just find a diamond in the rough?

Packers shouldn’t take despite disappointing season - Acme Packing Company - There’s more to team development than the highest possible draft pick next season and Green Bay should care about it.

Video: Colin Cowherd on why Aaron Rodgers should not be in the GOAT QB discussion - YouTube - Colin Cowherd talks NFL on today's show. Hear why thinks there's not enough evidence yet that puts Aaron Rodgers in the GOAT QB discussion. He also breaks down the Steelers loss in Week 12.

The Detroit Lions’ long-ball offense is dead - Pride Of Detroit - Matthew Stafford has a cannon arm and the Lions seem content not using it.

Detroit Lions Week 12 Song of the Game: “Throw it all away” by Staind - Pride Of Detroit - Well, he did.

2019 NFL Draft order: 8th overall pick has good recent hit rate for Detroit Lions - Pride Of Detroit - The Lions are in a pretty good spot for the 2019 NFL Draft.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Householder's stock up, stock down: Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions Pt. II - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears finished their division test 3-0

Wiltfong's NFL Power Rankings: The Chicago Bears have climbed to the top 5 - Windy City Gridiron - After their big Thanksgiving win following the shortest turnaround in modern NFL history, the Chicago Bears are making people take notice. They improved to 3-1 on national TV, and the respect is at...

Wiltfong: Bears sign Cyril Grayson to the practice squad - Windy City Gridiron - The Chicago Bears have announced that they’ve added wide receiver Cyril Grayson to their practice squad. He was most recently a member of the Houston Texans’ practice squad.

Wiltfong: Ten Thoughts on the NFL and the Bears - Windy City Gridiron - The Houston Texans are kind of flying under the radar, but they’ve won eight straight games after starting out 0-3 and are sitting in the third seed in the AFC. They have an easier schedule down...

WCG CONTRIBUTORS BEARS PODCASTS & STREAMS

2 Minute Drill - Website - iTunes - Andrew Link; Steven’s Streaming – Twitch – Steven Schweickert; T-Formation Conversation - Website - iTunes - Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; WCG Radio - Website - iTunes - Robert Zeglinski

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