The Bear’s Den, December 8, 2018

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

BEARRRSSSS

Bernstein: Bears Need Mitchell Trubisky’s Running - 670 The Score - Trubisky’s legs are a huge key to the Bears’ offensive success.

Emma: Bears’ Mitchell Trubisky A Full Go Against Rams - 670 The Score - Trubisky missed the past two games with a right shoulder injury.

Stankevitz: The 2018 Bears are following the 2017 Rams’ blueprint in remarkably close fashion - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears' turnaround in 2018 has been remarkably similar to what the Los Angeles Rams did a year ago.

Mayer: Off injury report, Trubisky set to start Sunday - ChicagoBears.com - Practicing for the third straight day without restrictions, Mitchell Trubisky was removed from the Bears injury report Friday and is set to start Sunday night against the Rams.

Kaufman: Scales just fine with remaining anonymous - Sun Times - As a long snapper, Patrick Scales knows that rarely being recognized in public by fans is a sign that he’s doing his job well. “If you don’t know me, that’s a good thing,” he said.

Players to watch in Bears-Rams game - Sun Times - Larry Mayer and Simon Kaufman of ChicagoBears.com discuss the Bears players they'll be watching on both sides of the ball in Sunday night’s game against the Rams, including defensive tackle Akiem Hicks.

Medina: Wade Phillips Knows the Bears' Offense Like the Back of His Hand, Including Fan Favorites "Trubinsky" and "Daniels" - Bleacher Nation - The old guy still has it!

Medina: Tarik Cohen Is the Surprising Face of the Evolving Bears Offense - Bleacher Nation - No one embodies the 2018 Bears like Tarik Cohen, who is making the most of increased playing time.

Hughes: Rams at Bears Game Preview, Volume II - Da Bears Blog - The Bears are simply a different team at home (5-1), where they’d be undefeated if not for a special teams meltdown against the Patriots. Sunday night this high-flying Rams offense is going to experience 20 degrees on the lake. It won’t bother the Bears. It won’t bother their crowd. Will it bother Los Angeles?

Dickerson: Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago Bears quarterback, over shoulder injury will start vs. Los Angeles Rams - ESPN - After missing two games due to a right shoulder injury, Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky will return to the starting lineup Sunday night against the Rams.

Joniak: Keys To Bears-Rams - 670 The Score - Kickoff is set for 7:20 p.m. Sunday at Soldier Field.

Emma: Bears' Khalil Mack Has Strong Appreciation For Rams' Aaron Donald - 670 The Score - "You see his play," Mack said. "He just jumps out on film. Hell of a player."

Potash: NFL cheat sheet - Here’s who to watch and why in Week 14 - Sun Times - If not for the uncertainty about quarterback Mitch Trubisky’s rust, the Bears would be a good pick against the Rams.

Wiederer: Vic Fangio insists, after a big Bears win, his prevailing emotion is relief. And occasionally satisfaction — if he allows it. - Chicago Tribune - Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio insists, after big wins and dominant defensive performances, his prevailing emotion is relief. And occasionally satisfaction — if he allows it.

Kane: Khalil Mack on the Rams’ Aaron Donald: ‘One of the best in the league’ - Chicago Tribune - Khalil Mack has an appreciation for Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, whom he called “one of the best in the league.”

Kane: Mitch Trubisky set to start vs. Rams - ‘He put together three really good days in practice’ - Chicago Tribune - Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky is set to return Sunday night against the Rams at Soldier Field after completing his third straight practice Friday.

Biggs: If the Rams were a blueprint for Bears this year, does their aggressive offseason give GM Ryan Pace more to consider? - Chicago Tribune - If the Bears were seeking to replicate the success the Rams had finding a young offensive mastermind in Sean McVay to work with QB Jared Goff when they hired Matt Nagy as the coach and guru for Mitch Trubisky, was the Rams' ultra-aggressive offseason a blueprint for Ryan Pace to follow again?

Bears playoff picture: Week 14 scenarios and your guide to scoreboard watching (and rooting) - Chicago Tribune - Examining Bears playoff scenarios entering Week 14. The main thing to know is their magic number to clinch the NFC North is three.

Wiederer & Kane: 5 things we heard from Bears coordinators, including Tarik Cohen's evolution as a receiver and facing Todd Gurley - Chicago Tribune - The Bears coordinators spoke Thursday as they prepare their units for Sunday night’s game against the Rams at Soldier Field.

Wiederer: 3 keys for the Bears against the Rams - Can Aaron Donald and Todd Gurley be contained? - Chicago Tribune -As the Chicago Bears prepare to host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night, they'll have to figure out ways to contain two MVP candidates: defensive tackle Aaron Donald and running back Todd Gurley. Quarterback Mitch Trubisky will also have to remain aggressive as a runner.

Bears vs. Rams: Tribune writers make their picks - Chicago Tribune - Can the Bears upset the Rams at home on Sunday night? Tribune writers make their picks

Game Preview: Chicago Bears - Los Angeles Rams - Da Bears Brothers Podcast - In this in-depth episode, the guys cover everything you need to know heading into the Chicago Bears' Week 14 game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Finley: Bears' Khalil Mack and Rams' Aaron Donald to face off - Sun Times - There’s more that connects Aaron Donald and Khalil Mack than sack prowess and a relentless motor. There’s pen and paper.

Potash: Masters of disguise - Rams’ Sean McVay vs. Bears’ Vic Fangio a marquee matchup - Sun Times - The Bears lead the NFL in takeaways with 30. The Rams have the third-fewest giveaways with 11. A bounce of the ball could make the difference there.

Potash: Bears vs. Rams - What to Watch 4 - Sun Times - In two seasons under Sean McVay and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, the Rams are 16-0 when Donald records a sack and 5-5 when he does not.

Morrissey: Bears' Mitch Trubisky vs. Rams' Jared Goff in a must-see game Sunday - Sun Times - This is a chance for Trubisky to take a big step, with the Rams QB serving as a frame of reference. Goff is great. Trubisky wants to be great.

Potash: Bears QB Mitch Trubisky good to go vs. Rams, without holding back - Sun Times - "There’s no questioning. We go with it. For the most part we’re not pulling back in any regards.”

Jahns: Similarities between Rams, Bears more than QBs, coaches - Sun Times - Adam L. Jahns' "Inside the Huddle" column appears in game-day editions of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Finley: 4 Bears questions - Can the Rams, and QB Jared Goff, handle the cold Sunday? - Sun Times - Four questions as the Bears prepare to host the Rams on “Sunday Night Football”:

Finley: Bears injuries - QB Mitch Trubisky all clear, S Eddie Jackson sits with shin - Sun Times - Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky practiced in full again Friday, paving the way for him to start Sunday.

RIP

Isiah Robertson, former Rams All-Pro, dies in car crash - NFL.com - Former NFL All-Pro linebacker Isiah Robertson was killed in a car crash southeast of Dallas on Thursday night, the Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed to NFL.com. He was 69.

KNOW THY ENEMY

Randall: I don’t know why Packers fired Mike McCarthy - NFL.com - Damarious Randall weighed on the surprising termination of Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, who he played under for three seasons before being traded to Cleveland in the offseason.

What does a loss in Week 14 mean for the Detroit Lions? - Pride Of Detroit - The Lions Week 14 game can have a real impact on the team going forward.

Vikings initial injury report: Eric Kendricks, Trae Waynes sit out - Daily Norseman - Four total Vikings didn’t practice on Thursday

LA Rams at Chicago Bears: Game injury report adds Friday surprises - Turf Show Times - Two new names popped up today on Chicago’s side of the injury report.

Falcons vs. Packers Q&A: Atlanta offense struggling to score despite Matt Ryan - Acme Packing Company - Dave Choate of SB Nation’s Atlanta Falcons blog The Falcoholic answers our questions about the Falcons offense.

Packers fans do not yet have a favorite candidate for head coach - Acme Packing Company - The Packers don’t seem to have a #1 target yet, and fans can’t agree on one either.

Packers fans’ confidence gets a big boost after Mike McCarthy’s firing - Acme Packing Company - The coaching change gives us the biggest one-week jump in fan confidence all season long.

Green Bay playing second fiddle to the Browns in coaching search - Acme Packing Company - A long period of ineptitude benefits the Browns now that they have a competent front office (courtesy of Green Bay)

Kirk Cousins: We haven’t sustained “the level of potential in this locker room” – ProFootballTalk - When the Vikings signed quarterback Kirk Cousins as a free agent this offseason, the thought was that his arrival would help the team build on last year's 13-3 record and trip to the NFC Championship Game. It hasn't quite worked out that way.

John DeFilippo wants more carries for Dalvin Cook, too – ProFootballTalk - Vikings coach Mike Zimmer wants more carries for Dalvin Cook, and offensive coordinator John DeFilippo does, too. The two are not at odds over that. “Yes, we would like to see him carry the ball more,” DeFilippo said Friday, via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. “Absolutely.

Mike McCarthy takes out full-page ad to say “thanks” – ProFootballTalk - Maybe some coach somewhere at sometime has taken out a full-page ad after his firing to say "thanks." So Mike McCarthy's gesture might not be unprecedented, but it certainly is unusual.

Detroit Lions Week 14 injury report: Kerryon Johnson OUT, 8 Lions - including Matthew Stafford - questionable - Pride Of Detroit - The Lions’ star rookie running back is out for a third straight week.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Zeglinski: Windy City Gridiron picks Bears-Rams - Windy City Gridiron - For the second time in as many weeks, it’s the biggest game the Bears have played in years! How the WCG staff sees it playing out.

Bears vs. Rams: How to watch, TV Schedule, online streaming, odds and more - Windy City Gridiron - I can’t wait for Sunday Night. The 2018 Chicago Bears have been compared to the 2017 Los Angeles Rams so much this year, that it will be interesting to see this Rams team up close and personal to...

Zeglinski: Football’s unease - Trey Burton didn’t throw Bears “Oompah Loompa” touchdown due to anxiety - Windy City Gridiron - The veteran tight end succumbed to a mental block on a play he executed only 10 months earlier. A worthy reminder of pro athletes being very human.

Fantasy Football Forum - Week 14: The Playoffs are Here - Windy City Gridiron - We wrap up the regular season of the WCG Tourney and turn our attention to the playoffs

Wiltfong: Bears vs. Rams Injury Report - Eddie Jackson is questionable - Windy City Gridiron - Here’s the full injury report for the Bears and Rams in advance of this Sunday’s prime-time game.

Wiltfong: Confidence of Bears’ fans still highest in the NFC North - Windy City Gridiron - Welcome to SB Nation FanPulse — a survey of fans across the NFL, powered by SurveyMonkey. Each week, we send 32 polls to 100+ plugged in fans from each team. Bears fans, sign up HERE to join...

Wiltfong: Cold Takes - A Look At Chicago’s Disappointing Trip To New York - Windy City Gridiron - Things look a bit different when you set emotions aside and go back and watch the tapes a couple of times...

Bukowski: How the Chicago Bears unlocked the real Mitchell Trubisky - SBNation.com - Head coach Matt Nagy shares how he reinvented the team’s offense

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

THE RULES

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