The Bear’s Den, October 20, 2020

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

BEARRRSSSS

Nagy on Fuller’s personal foul: ‘He’s just playing football’ - 670 The Score - “There is literally nothing you can do in his position,” Nagy said Monday. “He’s just playing football. It’s unfortunate. It’s a bang-bang play. The referees have a tough job there when it is that fast.”

Emma: Observations from Bears-Panthers - 670 The Score - Chicago earned a 23-16 win at Carolina on Sunday to improve to 5-1. The Bears now sit alone in first place in the NFC North after the Packers dropped to 4-1 in losing to the Buccaneers. Here are the observations from the Bears-Panthers matchup.

Grading the Bears: Gritty Team Hauls Off Winning Marks - SI.com - The Bears offense might want to consider taking up a collection for the closer, reserve safety DeAndre Houston-Carson.

3 things that stood out to Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy after team’s Week 6 win over Carolina Panthers - ChicagoBears.com - After watching tape of Sunday’s 23-16 road win over the Carolina Panthers, Bears coach Matt Nagy on Monday discussed three things that stood out to him in the game, including another stellar performance by the defense.

Inside Slant: Chicago Bears QB Nick Foles prefers ugly wins over pretty losses - ChicagoBears.com - Quarterback Nick Foles knows that there’s still room for improvement on offense, but praised the Bears for finding a way to win after they improved to 5-1 Sunday with a victory over the Panthers.

They Said It: What writers across the country are saying about Chicago Bears after Week 6 win over Carolina Panthers - ChicagoBears.com - In the aftermath of the Bears’ 23-16 win over the Carolina Panthers, here’s what writers around the country are saying about the team.

Possible Bears Trade Options to Fix Left Guard - SI.com - Even in a victory for the Bears over Carolina Sunday it became obvious there is a real need for a legitimate starting left guard.

Bears Opinion Batch: The Foles Factor, Dominant D, Rotten Run Game, and More - On Tap Sports Net - With the Chicago Bears sitting in first place in the NFC North at 5-1, there is a lot to like along with plenty of room for growth.

Bears brush with COVID-19 again, Panthers have 'unconfirmed' positive - RSN - The Panthers also placed lineman Tyler Larsen on the COVID-19 reserve before Sunday’s game against the Bears, although that doesn’t necessarily mean he tested positive for the virus himself.

Why the Bears’ ‘lights-out’ defense is the best in the NFL – The Athletic - The Bears defense is the main reason why the team is 5-1 and in first place in the NFC North.

With Nick Foles and a 5-1 record, the Bears look like a surefire playoff team – The Athletic - No one is going to badger Nick Foles for winning ugly, just as long as he wins.

Can the Bears win the NFC North? It’s a question worth asking now – The Athletic - The Bears defense is next-level. The Bears offense ... not so much.

Can the Bears’ O-line and run game improve? Matt Nagy believes so – The Athletic - The Bears' run game has taken a nosedive since the beginning of the season.

Chicago Bears: Matt Nagy on Week 6 win - Chicago Tribune - Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy said Kyle Fuller sat behind him on the plane ride home, and they discussed the play on which Fuller was flagged for unnecessary roughness.

Bears Film Study: Breaking down hard hits, ‘dumb’ picks and missed blocks - Chicago Sun-Times - Four plays that defined the Bears’ admittedly ugly win at the Panthers on Sunday.

Matt Nagy on Bears’ offense: ‘We know where the warts are’ - Chicago Sun-Times - The issue is not that Nagy’s offense isn’t playing at a fantasy world level, but that it isn’t even close. The Bears averaged 2.5 yards per carry against a defense that ranked 31st in rushing yards allowed.

Ten days after ripping Bears offense, Matt Nagy takes new tack - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears coach uttered the Bears’ record six times in a 17-minute interview Monday. He said some version of the word “excited”, often with the record attached — “The exciting part is being 5-1,” for example — five more times.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Broncos sign Blake Bortles to practice squad - ProFootballTalk - The Broncos signed veteran quarterback Blake Bortles to their practice squad, the team announced Monday.

Ten NFL teams have one win or fewer - ProFootballTalk - Nearly a third of the league stinks.

Titans may be fined, but no suspensions or lost draft picks for COVID-19 violations - ProFootballTalk - The Tennessee Titans are getting off without any major league discipline after an investigation into the team’s COVID-19 outbreak.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Monday Morning Optimist: one weird game doesn’t end the season - Cat Scratch Reader - Are the Bears good? I have no idea.

Panthers 16 Bears 23: 3 winners and 3 losers from Carolina’s disappointing loss - Cat Scratch Reader - The Panthers fell to .500 after a frustrating loss to the Bears in Week 6.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Schmitz: The Chicago Bears keep winning games, despite expert predictions - Windy City Gridiron - Doubters can’t stop these Bears from (apparently) doing what they do best: winning football games.

Infante: Bears vs. Panthers - Snap counts, stats and more - Windy City Gridiron - Jacob subs in for Lester this week, giving his thoughts about the Bears’ statistics and playing time from their 23-16 win against the Panthers.

Leming's 10 takes after a big Chicago Bears road win in Carolina - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears improved to 5-1 on Sunday after a 23-16 win on the road against the Panthers. While things weren’t pretty and the offense is still struggling, there’s reason for optimism.

Infante's Notes: Bears improve to 5-1 with strong defensive outing against Panthers - Windy City Gridiron - Watching the Bears win will never be an unwelcome sight, no matter how well the team plays in doing so.

THE RULES

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