The Bears Win Den, December 30, 2019

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

In honor of Nick Kwiatkoski, it’s time for another Safety Dance!

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

BEARRRSSSS

Takeaways: Bears have a long way to go before they’re playoff contenders again - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears won in ugly fashion against Minnesota’s backups, but Allen Robinson and Eddy Pineiro showed their value.

Former Bears don’t hold back when evaluating Mitch Trubisky - NBC Sports Chicago - Lance Briggs, Alex Brown, Matt Forte and Olin Kreutz sounded off on Mitch Trubisky after his third year in the league.

Mitch Trubisky did nothing in Week 17 to close door on expected 2020 QB competition - NBC Sports Chicago - Mitch Trubisky wasn’t great in the Bears’ win over the Vikings in Week 17, keeping the door for a QB competition this offseason wide open.

Haugh: Bears’ Offseason Focus Must Start With Quarterback - 670 The Score - The Bears have a broken offense led by a flawed quarterback, and they must be honest in their assessment of Mitchell Trubisky this offseason.

Bears Begin Searching For Solutions After Ugly 2019 - 670 The Score - The Bears have an array of flaws to address this offseason after going 8-8 in a 2019 season that began with championship expectations.

Bernstein: Bears Put Us Out Of Our Misery - 670 The Score - The Bears’ 8-8 season wasn’t a losing campaign -- but it was a lost one after beginning with championship aspirations.

Bears Beat Vikings In Season Finale To Finish 8-8 - 670 The Score - Eddy Piñeiro’s fourth field goal of the game for Chicago came from 22 yards with 10 seconds left, giving the Bears a 21-19 victory over Minnesota on Sunday with the Vikings resting their regulars for the playoffs.

Bears WR Anthony Miller Suffers Left Shoulder Injury - 670 The Score - Bears receiver Anthony Miller saw his 2019 season end early.

Bears vs. Vikings final score, highlights for Week 17 - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears rallied for a 21-19 victory on the road to wrap up their 2019 campaign on a high note.

2020 season ‘can’t get here soon enough’ for Bears after they beat Vikings to finish 8-8 - Chicago Sun-Times - While it was mildly refreshing to see the Bears do some things right, winning a preseason-like game doesn’t change anything about their hefty to-do list for the offseason.

NFL Week 17: Chicago Bears beat the Minnesota Vikings 21-19 - Chicago Tribune - The Bears had nothing to play for but pride, and they salvaged that on kicker Eddy Pineiro’s fourth field goal of the game. Pineiro made a 22-yard field goal with 10 seconds to play to give the Bears the victory.

Column: Chicago Bears must take a long look in the mirror - Chicago Tribune - Even with a gritty 21-19 win over a bunch of Vikings reserves, the Bears didn't learn much of big-picture significance on Sunday in Minneapolis. The true self-examination will begin in the days and weeks ahead.

Brad Biggs: Stop making excuses for Chicago Bears' flop - Chicago Tribune - There was no way for the Bears' super-hyped season to have a happy ending. Sunday's win over Vikings backups means nothing. Matt Nagy & Co. have a lot of work to do this offseason.

Column: Chicago Bears and Matt Nagy need to prove it in 2020 - Chicago Tribune - After the Bears’ disappointing 8-8 season ended Sunday with a last-minute 21-19 win over Vikings backups, why would any independent thinker view the 2020 offense with anything other than a see-it-to-believe it approach?

Bears escape 2019 season with 8-8 record – The Rock River Times - Already sunk by midseason, the Chicago Bears were happy to wrap up a frustrating year with a late-game push for the win.

Chicago Bears-Minnesota Vikings Postgame Show: Bears Barely Beat Vikings Backups to End 2019 Season - Chicago Audible - A complete recap of the Chicago Bears 21-19 win over the Minnesota Vikings.

With 2019 already lost, it's hard to find any value in the Bears' final win - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears won their finale Sunday, but that didn't make anyone feel any better about a lost season.

Bears 21, Vikings 19: Whose arrows are up and down after hollow season-ending win - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears ended their season with a victory over the Vikings in a meaningless game. Here's who's up and down.

Bears (Minus 10 day-one starters) beat Vikings’ backups – ProFootballTalk - The Vikings had nothing to play for today, having already locked up the No. 6 seed in the NFC, and so they treated today’s game against the Bears like the preseason.

Eddy Pineiro gives Bears one less thing to worry about - Chicago Sun-Times - After making 4-of-4 field goals vs. the Vikings — including a 22-yard game-winner — Pineiro finished the season with 11 in a row. “I feel pretty good that that void was filled,” Matt Nagy said.

Even against backups, Bears QB Mitch Trubisky was who he’s been all along - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears had to be wary of false positives heading into Sunday’s game against a Vikings team that played only two defensive starters. But Trubisky didn’t even give them that.

2020 NFL free agents: Bears S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix ready for unpredictable free agency - Chicago Sun-Times - Clinton-Dix signed a prove-it deal with the Bears intent on resetting the market for himself. Mission accomplished, he says.

Morrissey: United Bears stick together, hold off mighty Vikings’ second-stringers! - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears’ offense struggled to get the ball into the end zone against a team preoccupied with the upcoming playoffs.

NFL coaching vacancies: Black Monday figures to be quiet for Chicago Bears - Chicago Sun-Times - Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace don’t seem to be in jeopardy, but the Bears could make moves on the rest of their coaching staff.

Three takeaways from the Bears’ season-ending win against the Vikings - Chicago Sun-Times - Rookie David Montgomery finished the season with the second-best game of his career.

POLISH SAUSAGE

What we learned from Sunday's Week 17 games - NFL.com - Miami upset New England to knock the Patriots out of a first-round bye, Jameis Winston threw his 30th interception and Damien Williams got hot against the Bolts. Here's what we learned from Week 17.

Jameis Winston in 30-30 club with game-ending pick-6 - NFL.com - Jameis Winston threw a record seventh pick-six on the final play of the season to become the first in NFL history to throw for 30-or-more touchdowns and 30 interceptions in a season.

Rivers would play for another team before retiring - NFL.com - Philip Rivers was emotional after the Chargers' loss to the Chiefs Sunday, which could possibly be his last game with the team. The quarterback said he would play for another team before retiring.

Ravens set single-season team rushing yards record – ProFootballTalk - The 2019 season started with major questions about what the Ravens offense would look like and one of the answers is that it has a rushing offense that’s surpassed every other in team history.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Detroit Lions DT Damon Harrison considering retirement: ‘My body is just not there’ - Pride Of Detroit - Snacks was emotional in the Lions locker room following their 2019 finale.

After ‘long’ season, Graham Glasgow wants to feel wanted - Pride Of Detroit - The Lions starting right guard continues to trend towards seeking free agency.

Detroit Lions’ strong effort to play spoiler comes up short, lose 9th straight - Pride Of Detroit - The Lions gave it their all, but another fourth-quarter letdown prevented them from playing spoiler.

2 takeaways from the Detroit Lions’ loss to the Green Bay Packers - Pride Of Detroit - Detroit loses late to the Packers once again.

Chicago Bears 21, Minnesota Vikings 19: Well, that was fun - Daily Norseman - Now, on to the playoffs. Ken's Note: Swept by the Bears and the Packers but still in the playoffs. Hmmmm.

Packers clinch playoff bye with victory, must now cheer for Seahawks against 49ers - Acme Packing Company - The bye was the most important thing. But Green Bay can still guarantee that they don’t have to go to California if Seattle gives them a little help. Ken's Note: Barely squeaked past Detroit, this Green Bay team is fundamentally flawed.

Packers rally from down 14 to beat Lions 23-20 thanks to late Mason Crosby field goal - Acme Packing Company - Green Bay’s season of winning ugly came to a head in Detroit, down 17-3 at halftime and the offense a mess. Aaron Rodgers rallied in the second half, and Mason Crosby gets redemption to punch Packers’ ticket to bye. Ken's Note; Plus major helmet tips to the refs, who not surprisingly gave the game to Green Bay. Again.

IN CASE YOU YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Curl: Brawny Chicago Bears batter Minnesota Vikings backups in brutal 21 to 19 beat-down - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears managed to avoid embarrassment and push their draft picks back a little in uninspired victory over Vikings backups

Wiltfong: Bears restructure Kyle Fuller’s contract to free up 2020 cap space - Windy City Gridiron - According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Chicago Bears have restructured the contract of cornerback Kyle Fuller to give them more cap space in 2020. There are no contract details yet, but once we have...

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

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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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