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The Bear Win In Minn Den, December 31, 2018

The Bears went 5-1 in the NFC North, 4-0 in the NFC West and will face the Eagles in round one of the playoffs

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Chicago Bears v Minnesota Vikings
Overheard conversation: “Hey Kirk, you need some pointers this offseason? Come hang out with Goffy and me, but you got paid so first round’s on you. Oh, sorry... I shouldn’t have mentioned first round, not today... sorry bro... enjoy your vacation!”
Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images

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

BEARRRSSSS

Haugh: Bears Play To Win, Just As Matt Nagy Said They Would - 670 The Score - Matt Nagy’s approach Sunday was consistent with his actions all season.

Emma: Bears’ Matt Nagy Defends Cody Parkey After Missed PAT - 670 The Score - The missed extra point was due to other circumstances, Matt Nagy said.

Bernstein: Bears Choose To Close Out Strong - 670 The Score - A dominating defense shined in arguably the Bears’ most complete performance.

Emma: Bears Will Host Eagles In Wild-Card Round - 670 The Score - The Bears finished 12-4 and clinched the No. 3 seed in the NFC.

Medina: Bears to Host the Eagles in the First Round of the Playoffs - Bleacher Nation - It's set! Bears and Eagles will play next week at Soldier Field!

Dickerson: Bears enter playoffs as NFC's hottest team after win over Vikings - ESPN - Credit coach Matt Nagy for setting the tone for a Bears team that could have rested in Week 17 but kept its momentum going with a win in Minneapolis.

Pedal-down Bears keep Vikings out of playoffs with 24-10 win - ESPN - Get a recap of the Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings football game.

Emma: Bears Rookie WR Anthony Miller Suffers Left Shoulder Injury - 670 The Score - The injury occurred to the same shoulder Miller dislocated in September.

Ellis: Khalil Mack basically put up better numbers than the entire Raiders defense - NBC Sports Chicago - One of this season's most fun comparison comes to an end.

Stebbins: Bears wide receivers Josh Bellamy and Anthony Miller fined for actions in fight against 49ers - NBC Sports Chicago - Bears wide receivers Josh Bellamy and Anthony Miller were each fined for their actions in a sideline fight that broke out against the 49ers on Sunday.

Refocused, NFL Week 17: Chicago Bears 24, Minnesota Vikings 10 | NFL Analysis | Pro Football Focus - The Chicago Bears defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 24-10, in Week 17 of the 2018 NFL season.

Meveau: Chicago Bears to Host Philadelphia Eagles in First Round - NBC Chicago - The Chicago Bears will host an NFC Wild Card Round game against the Philadelphia Eagles next weekend at Soldier Field.

Neveau: Bears Beat Vikings to Finish Off Remarkable Regular Season - NBC Chicago - The Chicago Bears ended the season in emphatic fashion on Sunday night, beating the Minnesota Vikings to keep their division rival from reaching the postseason.

Mayer: NFL sets date, time for Bears playoff game - ChicagoBears.com - The NFL announced that the Bears will host the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC wildcard round of the playoffs at 3:40 pm (CT) next Sunday at Soldier Field.

Enter to win tickets for Sunday's playoff game - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears are headed to the playoffs and are giving fans the opportunity to win tickets to next Sunday's wildcard contest against the Eagles at Soldier Field.

Game recap: Bears head into playoffs with win - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears knocked the Vikings out of the playoffs with a 24-10 victory in Sunday’s regular-season finale in Minnesota and will host the Eagles in the wildcard round next weekend.

Pace talks Nagy, Long - ChicagoBears.com - Bears general manager Ryan Pace spoke to play-by-play announcer Jeff Joniak on WBBM Newsradio 780 AM and 105.9 FM prior to Sunday’s game against the Vikings.

Medina: Round One Is Set: Bears and Eagles Will Play at 3:40 PM CT on Sunday at Soldier Field - Bleacher Nation - Bears and Eagles are playing the first Wild-Card Weekend game at Soldier Field since 1991.

Rams’ rout, other results didn’t change Bears’ approach – ProFootballTalk - All the Bears had to do was lose. A loss would have sent the Vikings to Chicago next week for a wild-card game. Instead, the Bears dominated the Vikings and now will have to play the defending Super Bowl champions. They don't seem to mind.

Chicago Bears-Minnesota Vikings Postgame Show: Bears Hit the Ground Running and Never Look Back (Bring on Philadelphia) - Chicago Audible Podcast - A comprehensive game recap with instant analysis and insight on the Chicago Bears Week 17 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

Stankevitz: Bears eliminate Vikings, will face Eagles in wild card round of NFL playoffs - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears landed a knockout blow to the Minnesota Vikings with a 24-10 win at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, ensuring they’ll play the Philadelphia Eagles in the wild card round of the playoffs next weekend.

Santaromita: Nick Foles got injured a week before the Eagles play the Bears in the playoffs - NBC Sports Chicago - A week before playing the Bears in the playoffs, Eagles quarterback Nick Foles picked up an injury in Philadelphia's regular season finale.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Dirk Koetter fired by Buccaneers – ProFootballTalk - Dirk Koetter seemed to know his time with the Buccaneers was up on Sunday and he has now reportedly been informed of his firing. Koetter has been fired after three years as the team’s head coach. Koetter was 19-29 during his time in Tampa.

Jets fire Todd Bowles – ProFootballTalk - On Monday, Jets CEO Christopher Johnson said, “Todd Bowles is our head coach.” On Sunday, Jets CEO Christopher Johnson said, “Todd Bowles was our head coach.” The Jets have announced that Bowles won’t return in 2019. It’s not a surprise.

Seahawks head to Dallas, hand Cardinals first overall pick – ProFootballTalk - The Seahawks are heading to Dallas, and the Cardinals are on the clock. After Seattle defeated Arizona today, the Seahawks are the NFC No. 5 seed and will travel to Dallas to take on the Cowboys in wild card weekend.

NFL releases playoff schedule: Bears-Eagles Sunday Late Game – ProFootballTalk - The NFL released the schedule for next weekend. The playoffs start with a Texas doubleheader. Houston hosts the winner of the Colts/Titans game at 4:35 p.m. ET on Saturday followed by the Seahawks at Cowboys at 8:15 p.m. ET. ESPN has the AFC game and FOX the NFC game Saturday.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Report: Packers to request interviews with Josh McDaniels, Brian Flores – ProFootballTalk - The regular season is over for 30 of the league’s 32 teams and that means it is just about time for head coaching searches to kick into high gear. When they do, Jim McBride of the Boston Globe reports that the Packers are expected to request interviews with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McD...

Nick Foles says he’s dealing with soreness in ribs - NFL.com - Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles says he’s experiencing soreness in his “ribs area” after making an early exit during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 24-0 win over the Washington Redskins.

Philly Special Effect: Touchdown passes from position players to QBs on the rise – ProFootballTalk - The Eagles scored one of the most famous touchdowns in NFL history when tight end Trey - Burton threw to quarterback Nick Foles in the end zone in the Super Bowl last season. The NFL is a copycat league, and this year plenty of teams emulated the Eagles.

The Detroit Lions didn’t tank and I’m glad - Pride Of Detroit - Having a better draft pick would’ve been nice, but Sunday was too fun not to sit back and enjoy.

3 takeaways from the Detroit Lions’ victory over the Green Bay Packers - Pride Of Detroit - The Lions obliterated the Packers to close out the 2018 season.

Lions-Packers final score: Detroit ends season with first shutout in 22 years, 31-0 - Pride Of Detroit - Score updates and highlights live from Lambeau.

Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings: Key information and first quarter discussion - Daily Norseman - Alright, chums, let’s do this.

Chicago Bears 24, Minnesota Vikings 10: Vikings fail to make the playoffs - Daily Norseman - Just a dismal Sunday in Minneapolis. Ken's Note: If by dismal, you mean spectacularly fun for Chicago, then yes it was :)

Cornerstone players injured as Packers take unnecessary risk in final weeks of 2018 - Acme Packing Company - Joe Philbin was coaching for his professional life. Players always want to play. The front office needed to step in and save Green Bay from itself.

Report: Aaron Rodgers left season finale versus Lions in an ambulance - Acme Packing Company - The concussion suffered by the quarterback apparently warranted further tests at a local hospital.

2019 NFL Draft Order: Packers get 12th pick in round one, second pick still TBD - Acme Packing Company - Green Bay’s loss on Sunday helped them move up a few spots in the draft.

Vikings knocked out of playoffs due to loss against Bears plus Eagles’ victory - Acme Packing Company - Minnesota just needed to win today to get in. Instead, they’re headed home early. -

2019 NFL Draft order: Detroit Lions have the 8th overall pick - Pride Of Detroit - Zeglinski: The Lions dropped three spots thanks to their Week 17 win. Ken's Note: Fantastic day for Bears fans in Lions world. Lions humiliate the Packers by shutting them out (and who doesn't love a good Packer humiliation), they cost Detroit a top 5 drat pick (yet another win) then they got to watch former high draft pick Eric Ebron play for the Colts like the Pro-Bowler that he is now that he has escaped from Detroit and think "what could have been" if he hadn't been stuck with crappy coaching and a crappy offense. Win, Win, Win.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Zeglinski: Windy City Gridiron picks Bears-Vikings 2.0 - Windy City Gridiron
It’s the 2018 regular season finale. Don’t worry, far more meaningful football is on the way.

Wiltfong: Chicago Bears activate Kyle Long - Windy City Gridiron
He’s back to kick ass and chew bubble gum, but he’s all out of bubble gum....

WCG CONTRIBUTORS BEARS PODCASTS & STREAMS

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