The Bear’s Den, December 20, 2018

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

BEARRRSSSS

Hughes: Three Thoughts For the Final Two Weeks - Da Bears Blog - It is nice to have such thoughts in December.

Wiedman: A possible Bears Christmas list may include Super Bowl - Our Turf Football - OTFB’s Chicago Bears Reporter, Wanda Wiedman lists off all the reasons why Santa should be bringing the Bears some good Christmas presents this year.

McNeil & Perkins Video: Know Your Foe: Bears-49ers Storylines - 670 The Score - Danny Parkins of 670 and Joe Fortenbaugh of The Game previewed the matchup.

Emma: Bears’ 5 Pro Bowl Selections Stand As Significant - 670 The Score - ”It’s great for our team,” Matt Nagy said of the Bears’ honorees.

Emma: Bears Won’t Rest Starters As They Fight For A Bye - 670 The Score - ”We’re trying to win,” Matt Nagy said of the final two regular-season games.

Emma: Bears’ Eddie Jackson Managing Ankle Sprain - 670 The Score - The Bears don’t believe Jackson’s injury will be a season-ending setback.

Mullin: Bears Matt Nagy following Andy Reid QB map with Mitchell Trubisky – and it’s working - NBC Sports Chicago - Our "Moon" Mullin queried Nagy on what single thread ran through Reid’s successes with quarterbacks, who under Reid typically achieved the best results of their careers. What common Reid denominator was there and that Nagy had learned?

Under Center Podcast: The Bears aren’t taking their foot off the gas - NBC Sports Chicago - JJ Stankevitz, John “Moon” Mullin and Cam Ellis look at why the Bears’ culture won’t let them ease up after winning the NFC North, plus the guys look back at the 2017 draft day trade with the 49ers that got the Bears Mitch Trubisky.

Elis: 'Club Dub' is a full-blown sensation now, and the Bears are fine with that - NBC Sports Chicago - The hottest club in Chicago has everyone's attention.

Ellis: Robbie Gould talks about being cut by the Bears and what he learned from it - NBC Sports Chicago - The ex-Bears kicker talked about what being cut from Chicago taught him about kicking and the NFL.

Mayer: Jackson, Lynch miss practice with injuries - ChicagoBears.com - Safety Eddie Jackson (sprained ankle) and outside linebacker Aaron Lynch (sprained elbow) both sat out practice Wednesday, but coach Matt Nagy reiterated that he’s “cautiously optimistic” their injuries are not season-ending.

9 questions to test your knowledge of Bears-49ers history - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears will visit the San Francisco 49ers Sunday. How much do you know about the two teams? Take this nine-question quiz to test your knowledge.

Mayer: Bears remain hungry after winning NFC North - ChicagoBears.com - Matt Nagy reiterated Wednesday that the Bears are thrilled about clinching the NFC North title, but they’re far from satisfied. “We did reach a goal that we had,” said the first-year head coach, “but we want more.”

Wednesday weigh-in: Bears prep for 49er - ChicagoBears.com - After clinching the NFC North title with a 24-17 win over the Packers last weekend at Soldier Field, the Bears return to the practice field Wednesday to begin preparing for Sunday’s road game against the 49ers.

Medina: The 49ers Continue to Yak About Their Runner-Up Finish in the Khalil Mack Sweepstakes - ChicagoBears.com - Khalil Mack continues to be the one who got away in the eyes of the 49ers. Ken's Note: I guess the Raiders fleeced the 49ers?

Medina: Mitch Trubisky Was Much Better Against the Packers the Second Time Around - ChicagoBears.com - Development! Progress! Happy feelings!

Kane: 5 things we heard about Bears QB Mitch Trubisky, including facing the 49ers’ 2-pick defense, being a Pro Bowl alternate and his beard pact - Chicago Tribune - Mitch Trubisky put it on himself and other Bears leaders to make sure the team doesn’t experience a letdown after clinching the NFC North title.

Biggs Bears Q&A: Why is Leonard Floyd so good against the Packers? Is Kyle Long set to return from IR? - Chicago Tribune - Brad Biggs answers your Bears questions weekly. Is right guard Kyle Long set to return for the playoffs? Why has wide receiver Anthony Miller disappeared recently? Why wasn't there a 10-second runoff after the Packers' penalty late in Sunday's game? Plus much more.

Biggs: Bears have their priorities straight as they remain in the hunt for a first-round playoff bye - Chicago Tribune - Recent history heavily favors playoff teams with a first-round bye, so the Bears need to keep winning and hope the Rams stumble at least once more. But plenty of teams have emerged from the wild-card round to win it all and the most important thing is playing well heading into January.

Kane: Eddie Jackson and Aaron Lynch to miss Bears practice, but Kyle Long could return soon - Chicago Tribune - Bears coach Matt Nagy left open the possibility of right guard Kyle Long returning to practice this week, though he didn’t expect it to be Wednesday.

Wiederer: 'Those guys are built to make a run': 49ers kicker Robbie Gould admires the Bears' resurgence - Chicago Tribune - In a candid conversation Wednesday morning, San Francisco 49ers kicker Robbie Gould discussed his most recent game-winning kick, the midseason struggles of Bears kicker Cody Parkey, the division championship run of his former team and much more.

Kane: Can the Bears beat the 49ers on Sunday? Check the numbers. - Chicago Tribune - Here’s a look at the Bears by the numbers as they prepare to play the 49ers on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.

Meet the San Francisco 49ers (with John Chapman of The 49ers Rush Podcast) - The Chicago Audible Podcast - The Chicago Audible kicks off their Week 16 preview by gaining a firsthand scouting report with everything you need to know about the San Francisco 49ers.

Moreano: Bears Are Better When Offense Starts First - The Chicago Audible Blog - Although the coin toss may not seem like a significant part of the game, it is for the Bears because they elevate their play when they lose the coin toss.

Stankevitz: Does it matter if the Bears ‘won’ the draft day trade with the 49ers that got them Mitch Trubisky? - NBC Sports Chicago - With the Bears playing the 49ers this week as NFC North champions, a look back at the draft day trade that got the Bears Mitch Trubisky is in order. But does it actually matter if the Bears won that trade or not?

Ellis: The Bears are happy to send 5 players to the Pro Bowl, they just hope they don't have to - NBC Sports Chicago - It's great news that the Bears got 5 players selected. Hopefully they can't send anyone.

Potash: Matt Nagy says Bears' offense is playoff-ready, but 'we still have a ways to go' - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears are 22nd in the NFL in total yards, yet 10th in offensive points produced — a much more promising disparity than the other way around.

Finley: No practice yet for Bears G Kyle Long, but that could change soon - Chicago Sun-Times - Bears coach Matt Nagy said there was a chance he could practice later in the week.

Finley: Pro Bowl alternate Mitch Trubisky I haven't 'played my best football yet' | Chicago Sun-Times - While the Bears had five players voted to the all-star team, quarterback Mitch Trubisky was one of seven players named an alternate.

Finley: Bears S Eddie Jackson has sprained ankle, won't practice - Chicago Sun-Times - Safety Eddie Jackson has a sprained right ankle and outside linebacker Aaron Lynch has a right elbow sprain,

Potash: Life is good for Robbie Gould - He's still red-hot and Bears are in the playoffs - Chicago Sun-Times - Gould has been on an almost unprecedented run since leaving the Bears. He has hit 80-of-83 field goals (96.4 percent) with the Giants and 49ers.

Telander: These five Bears are worthy Pro Bowl selections, and here's why - Chicago Sun-Times - There were basically two Bears defenses in the recent past: the one before Khalil Mack arrived in September and the one after.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Raiders sign Nathan Peterman to practice squad - NFL.com - Released by the Bills a month ago, turnover-prone quarterback Nathan Peterman has found a new home, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, as he's set to sign with the Oakland Raiders. Ken's Note: Can Peterman RUSH the passer? He sure can't BE the passer!

KNOW THY ENEMY

2019 Pro Bowl roster: CB Darius Slay makes it for 2nd straight year, Snacks snubbed - Pride Of Detroit - Check out the entire Pro Bowl roster here.

Four Minnesota Vikings named to Pro Bowl - Daily Norseman - Including one that you’re probably not expecting

Aaron Rodgers says he’s playing Sunday – ProFootballTalk - When Packers head coach Joe Philbin spoke to the media on Wednesday, he opted not to reveal whether or not Aaron Rodgers would start at quarterback against the Jets on Sunday. Rodgers took a different approach when he spoke to reporters later in the day.

Aaron Rodgers & Davante Adams named to 2019 Pro Bowl, 3 Packers are alternates - Acme Packing Company - Despite a down year, two Packers made the Pro Bowl with three others named as alternates.

Did the Detroit Lions make a mistake firing Jim Caldwell? - Pride Of Detroit - Did the Lions do the right thing when they let Jim Caldwell go?

2019 NFL Draft: Detroit Lions have a very realistic shot at a top-5 pick - Pride Of Detroit - Don’t be surprised if the Lions are picking in the top 5 again.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Sunderbruch: The Playoff Drought is Over for Chicago - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears have clinched their division, earning a spot in the playoffs for the first time in what feels like forever.

Berckes & Curl's Bears Blither-Blather: Tarik Cohen is Chicken Salad - Windy City Gridiron - Patti and Jeff continue their back in forth as the NFC North division champs prepare for the west coast

Leming's Bears mailbag: Are the 2018 Bears the 2016 Cubs? Deon Bush’s big chance and upcoming playoff match ups. - Windy City Gridiron - Well, Bears fans. It’s official. The Chicago Bears are the...

Wiltfong: Chicago Bears Sackwatch 2018 - Week 15 vs. Green Bay Packers - Windy City Gridiron - Only one sack allowed to break down this week for the Chicago Bears in their division clinching game against the Green Bay Packers. I thought Mitchell Trubisky was deft in avoiding the Packer pass...

WCG CONTRIBUTORS BEARS PODCASTS & STREAMS

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