The Bear’s Den, October 13, 2020

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

BEARRRSSSS

Chicago Bears take extra COVID-19 precautions - Chicago Tribune - Chicago Bears players sounded unsettled Monday as they returned to team activities at Halas Hall for the first time since practice squad offensive lineman Badara Traore received a positive test result for COVID-19 on Saturday.

Nick Foles: Reviewing Chicago Bears QB's Week 5 performance - Chicago Tribune - Don’t let the Chicago Bears victory fool you. They beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers despite being held to 243 total yards. The offense also failed to top 300 yards for the 17th time in Matt Nagy's 38 games.

The Khalil Mack effect: An All-22 review of his dominance in the Bears’ win – The Athletic -Detailing how Khalil Mack had his best game of the season against Tom Brady and the Bucs.

Bears Backfield Made its Impact Through the Air Against Buccaneers - Chicago Audible Podcast - In the Bears' 20-19 win over the Buccaneers, Chicago's backfield didn't do well running the ball. But the unit did have success in the passing game.

Bears' Matt Nagy explains how team is addressing positive COVID-19 test - RSN - Matt Nagy laid out all the steps the Bears are taking after last week's positive test.

Hoge's 10 Bears Things: Season hinges on getting offensive line in order - RSN - The Bears are 4-1, but Matt Nagy is still searching for his running game. Here are Adam Hoge's 10 Bears Things as the team emerges from a "mini-bye" over the weekend:

Matt Nagy's Ditka-Style Rant Sent Message Well Received - SI.com - When the Bears coach went on a Ditka-like tirade on Friday about his offense's execution—or lack therof—the message hit home. Better yet, they agreed.

Bears NT John Jenkins is eligible to begin practicing this week - Bears Wire - The Bears have designated nose tackle John Jenkins to return from injured reserve after missing three games with a thumb injury.

Matt Nagy says Bears ‘can be so much better on offense’ - Bears Wire - Week after week, Bears fans hear the same talking points from Chicago's coaches about the team's less-than-thrilling offense. It's a work-in-progress. We're close. We need to play better. (Insert coaching cliche here).

Amy Trask believes Chicago Bears are in the hunt for postseason berth - Bears Wire - Despite how the Bears are winning, which is ugly on a week-to-week basis, that they've got an opportunity to compete for a postseason berth.

Chicago Bears change practice schedule due to positive COVID-19 test - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears altered their practice schedule Monday, two days after practice squad offensive lineman Badara Traore became their first player since the start of the regular season to test positive for COVID-19.

Chicago Bears podcast: Will they win in Week 6? - Chicago Tribune - Can the Chicago Bears fix their offensive woes heading into Week 6 on the road against the Carolina Panthers? Dan Wiederer and Brad Biggs break it all down on the latest episode of the Bear Download podcast.

Answering the Bears’ most pressing questions - Chicago Sun-Times - The Sun-Times’ Patrick Finley answers the Bears’ biggest questions after five weeks of the season:

Bears’ positive COVID-19 test prompts team to keep practice squad players home - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears changed their practice schedule Monday as a precaution after a practice squad player was put on the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday, coach Matt Nagy said.

Will Bears coach Matt Nagy change anything after fiery critique of offense? - Chicago Sun-Times - Nagy broadened and softened his frustration Monday, and players were conciliatory as well. It remains to be seen whether anything will be different about the Bears when they hit the field against the Panthers on Sunday.

Bears’ Akiem Hicks has ‘fantastic’ start to buoy defense - Chicago Sun-Times - After missing 11 games last season, Hicks has returned in top form. ‘‘I’m always going to think that I’m the best d-tackle in the game. If I don’t have that belief in myself, I don’t think I’ll succeed in a way that I plan to.’’

Bears part of cluster of teams that could make 2020 playoffs look much different than 2019 - Bears Wire - It just makes sense that the 2020 NFL season is fitting the narrative of the year in general: unpredictable and downright hard to believe. Amidst a global pandemic that's showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon, the teams with the best records entering Week 6 are hardly the collection anyon...

Ryan Pace Proving Again He's a Master Bargain Hunter For The Bears - Ryan Pace gets plenty of heat from Bears fans for his high-profile blunders. Not enough people give him credit for his bargain eye.

Chicago Bears WR Allen Robinson II, RG Germain Ifedi agree with head coach Matt Nagy’s critique of offense - ChicagoBears.com - Speaking to the media Monday, Bears receiver Allen Robinson II and right guard Germain Ifedi both applauded the candid comments that coach Matt Nagy made last Friday about the team’s offense needing to improve.

Bears back to work after COVID-19 positive test - 670 The Score - The Bears returned to work on Monday morning after offensive lineman Badara Traore, a member of the practice squad, tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday. The team took preventative measures in the aftermath of the positive test.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Falcons must be open to full rebuild following firings - NFL.com - The firings of coach Dan Quinn and GM Thomas Dimitroff might be the precursors to even more dramatic changes in Atlanta. Judy Battista explains why a complete housecleaning has to be a consideration for Falcons owner Arthur Blank.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Panthers 23 Falcons 16: 8 winners from Carolina’s Week 5 win in Atlanta - Cat Scratch Reader - The Panthers picked up their first road win over the Falcons since 2014 in yesterday’s 23-16 victory.

2020 Buccaneers of the Week: at Bears - Bucs Nation - Which five players were Tampa Bay’s best in Thursday night’s 20-19 loss to Chicago?

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Wiltfong: Bears designate John Jenkins to return from injured reserve - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears have designated nose tackle John Jenkins to return from injured reserve, thus opening up a three week window that he can practice before activating him.

Infante: 2021 NFL Draft - Weighing out quarterback options for Bears - Windy City Gridiron - It appears likely the Bears will draft a quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft, so let’s break down some of the top prospects in the class.

Schmitz: Khalil Mack is coming for you - Windy City Gridiron - A beast awakened last Thursday night. His name is Khalil Mack.

WhiskeyRanger: Just One Play – Under Pressure (Week 5, 2020) - Video Breakdown - Windy City Gridiron - Let’s break down some film from Bears-Buccaneers, shall we?

THE RULES

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