The Bear’s Den, December 10, 2019

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

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

BEARRRSSSS

Chicago Bears DL Akiem Hicks ready for return against Green Bay Packers - Chicago Sun-Times - It’s cliché to say Akiem Hicks has had Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field circled ever since he dislocated his elbow in Week 5 against the Raiders. But it’s true.

Chicago Bears LB Roquan Smith out for season with torn pectoral muscle - Chicago Sun-Times - The former first-round pick tore a pectoral muscle against the Cowboys on Thursday night.

Can Akiem Hicks clear the way for Khalil Mack and make the Chicago Bears scary again? - Chicago Sun-Times - If he’s back to full strength, Akiem Hicks could be the game-changer that propels the Bears through a brutal final three weeks.

Faith, reason fighting a battle over so-so Chicago Bears, and it’s not pretty - Chicago Sun-Times - Some fans are wired for total belief. You can’t convince them that the 7-6 Bears, who have won four of their past five games, will be sitting out the playoffs this season. They only see an arrow pointing up.

The Bears and Packers will meet for the 200th time. Take a look back at every game since 1921. - Chicago Tribune - With almost 200 games between them, the rivalry between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers is among the most exciting in the NFL. Here's a look back at some of the highs -- and lows -- of the teams' meetings.

How the Chicago Bears' 1932 championship changed the NFL - Chicago Tribune - As the NFL and Bears celebrate their 100th season, there is hardly a more vibrant, novel example of the league's growth than the 1932 championship game at Chicago Stadium. Ken's Note: Great article, read this one!

Chicago Bears still alive in playoff hunt — but barely - Chicago Tribune - With three games remaining, the Bears (7-6) are two games behind the Vikings (9-4) for what the sixth and final seed in the NFC playoffs. The Bears trail the Packers (10-3) by three games.

Rivalry game? Or just a must-win? Either way, it's the biggest game of the year for the Bears - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears hope there will be bigger games to come, but for now, this weekend is as big as it gets.

Roquan Smith's 2019 had ups-and-downs, but it ends with more optimism than ever | NBC Sports Chicago - Bears teammates and coaches explain why their star linebacker will come back better than ever.

Quick Hits: Hicks gears up to return Sunday, Bears sign LB - ChicagoBears.com - Akiem Hicks is fired up about returning to game action, the Bears signed LB Devante Bond and Kevin Toliver impressed in his first start of the season. That and more in Monday’s notebook.

Chicago Bears playoff scenarios: In the hunt, win over Packers is a must - Chicago Sun-Times - With his team’s playoff chances dwindling, Matt Nagy is concerned only with winning at Lambeau Field on Sunday. "The [needing] help stuff, we’ve created that," he said. "None of that matters if we don’t win."

Roquan Smith injury gives Chicago Bears’ Kevin Pierre-Louis shot at redemption - Chicago Sun-Times - Smith is out for the rest of the season, meaning Pierre-Louis should start against the Packers, Chiefs and Vikings as he tries to help the Bears’ last-ditch push for the playoffs.

Morrissey: 3 games and a chance for the Chicago Bears’ Mitch Trubisky to change minds - Chicago Sun-Times - I promise that if Trubisky runs and throws his way through this Great Wall of quality opponents, my unbelief will turn to belief.

Chicago Bears Halas Intrigue podcast episode 63: Playoffs? Playoffs? - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears need help to get into the playoffs. So far, the other teams are not cooperating.

Chicago Bears get into ‘rhythm’ with TEs Jesper Horsted and JP Holtz - Chicago Sun-Times - "We’re trying to figure out the best way to use them," Bears coach Matt Nagy said.

Chicago Bears CB Prince Amukamara knows risk of rushing back from hamstring problem - Chicago Sun-Times - Amukamara, who reported the injury to the Bears after the Thanksgiving win against the Lions, said he’s been running well lately.

Kevin Pierre-Louis driven to make most of increased role - ChicagoBears.com - Motivated by a mistake he made early in the season, Kevin Pierre-Louis took advantage of expanded playing time after Roquan Smith was injured against the Cowboys and hopes to continue to excel.

Roquan Smith heads to IR with pectoral injury - ChicagoBears.com - Bears coach Matt Nagy confirmed Monday that inside linebacker Roquan Smith suffered a torn pectoral muscle in last Thursday night’s win over the Cowboys and will be placed on injured reserve.

Jim Riebandt reflects on 37 years with the Bears - ChicagoBears.com - PA Announcer Jim Riebandt, who will retire at the end of the season, reminiscences about his experiences calling Bears games.

Welcome to a Relevant Packer Week - Da Bears Blog - After the ugly, hard-to-watch victory over the putrid New York Giants, Mitch Trubisky and the Chicago Bears started a new season, a new play. It’s gone a little something like this.

The Bears Could Roll with Trubisky Through 2021, But Some Questions Need to Be Answered First - Bleacher Nation - Even though the 2019 season has been a bumpy ride for Mitch Trubisky, one constant through it all has been the unwavering support from the folks at Halas Hall.

Bears’ Akiem Hicks Readying For Return Against Packers - 670 The Score - After spending eight weeks on injured reserve with an elbow injury, Bears defensive lineman Akiem Hicks is eligible to be activated for a return against the Packers on Sunday.

NOT SURE WHAT CATEGORY TO PUT THIS IN

Ex-Packers coach Mike McCarthy eyes NFL return in 2020 - NFL.com - Tom Pelissero sits down at home with former Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy, a man preparing for the second NFL chance he says his entire family needs right now. Ken’s Note: Really good read, check this one out!

POLISH SAUSAGE

Alshon Jeffery carted to locker room following non-contact injury – ProFootballTalk - Eagles receiver Alshon Jeffery was injured in the second quarter on a non-contact play. As he pushed off the line, he began limping. Jeffery limped to the sideline and threw his helmet. He was carted to the locker room.

Nelson Agholor, Derek Barnett, Jordan Howard among Eagles’ inactives – ProFootballTalk - The Eagles won’t have receiver Nelson Agholor (knee), defensive end Derek Barnett (ankle) or running back Jordan Howard (shoulder) tonight. All three are on the team’s inactives list. Agholor, injured two weeks ago, returned in Week 13 and played 61 snaps.

Cam Newton underwent foot surgery Monday – ProFootballTalk - Panthers quarterback Cam Newton underwent surgery Monday on his Lisfranc injury, Joe Person of TheAthletic.com reports. Dr. Martin O’Malley, who performed Kevin Durant’s Achilles’ procedure, performed the surgery on Newton in New York.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Detroit Lions Week 14 Player of the Game: 5 Game Ball candidates vs. Vikings - Pride Of Detroit - A look at the best individual performances from Sunday’s game.

Examining team culture for the Lions at the end of the season - Pride Of Detroit - Also, we rank the best NFL games of the past decade as the year draws to a close.

Detroit Lions Week 14 grades: Offense finally runs dry vs. Vikings - Pride Of Detroit - It was a strange turn of events on Sunday for the Detroit Lions. After the defense had been in free-fall for the past two months, it was the team’s offensive effort that sank them in Minneapolis....

Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions Week 14: Five Game-Changing Plays - Daily Norseman - Looking back at the most important plays from the 20-7 win over Detroit.

Three plays separate good from bad: Inside Aaron Rodgers’ uninspiring week 14 game - Acme Packing Company - Aaron Jones dominated, Jimmy Graham broke out, and the offensive line did its job most of the day, but Aaron Rodgers and the passing game sputtered after the first quarter. What happened?

IN CASE YOU YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Wiltfong: Bears sign Devante Bond to the active roster, make a practice squad move - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears announce several roster moves...

Bears LB Roquan Smith Out For Season With Torn Pectoral - 670 The Score - Second-year linebacker Roquan Smith will be placed on season-ending injured reserve list. He suffered a torn pectoral on the first series of a win against the Cowboys last Thursday.

Infante: Roquan Smith out for season with torn pectoral, placed on injured reserve - Windy City Gridiron - The second-year linebacker had been enjoying a strong season before his injury on Thursday.

Wiltfong: Matt Nagy Approval Rating - Windy City Gridiron - Last Monday we asked you guys to give us your thoughts on Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace in an approval rating poll, so you had to expect this one about head coach Matt Nagy was coming at...

WCG CONTRIBUTORS BEARS PODCASTS & STREAMS

Windy City Gridiron Podcast Channel which includes Bear With Me from Robert Schmitz, Bears Over Beers featuring Jeff Berckes & EJ Snyder, and T Formation Conversation from Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.; Steven’s Streaming Twitch Channel from Steven Schweickert; and Robert Zeglinski’s The Blitz Network

THE RULES

Windy City Gridiron Community Guidelines - SBNation.com - We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. The following is not permitted in comments. No personal attacks, politics, gender based insults of any kind, racial insults, etc.

WCG CONTRIBUTORS BEARS PODCASTS & STREAMS

Windy City Gridiron Podcast Channel which includes Bear With Me from Robert Schmitz, Bears Over Beers featuring Jeff Berckes & EJ Snyder, Bears Banter hosted by Bill Zimmerman, and T Formation Conversation from Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.; Steven’s Streaming Twitch Channel from Steven Schweickert; and Robert Zeglinski’s The Blitz Network

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WCG Contributors: Jeff Berckes; Patti Curl; Eric Christopher Duerrwaechter; Kev H; Sam Householder; Jacob Infante; Aaron Lemming; Ken Mitchell; Steven Schweickert; Jack Silverstein; EJ Snyder; Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; Whiskey Ranger; Robert Schmitz; Robert Zeglinski; Bill Zimmerman; Like us on Facebook.