The Bear’s Den, October 26, 2020

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

NOTE: This isn’t the “clean” version.

BEARRRSSSS

Emma: Now we find out if the 5-1 Bears are legitimate - 670 The Score - The Bears (5-1) have a tough stretch of games coming up, starting with a road game against the Rams (4-2) on Monday night. The next few weeks will show us how legitimate the Bears are.

Bears list Mack, Skrine as questionable against Rams - 670 The Score - The Bears listed star pass rusher Khalil Mack and top nickel cornerback Buster Skrine as questionable against the Rams on Monday night, but both are trending toward playing.

It's Matt Nagy vs. Sean McVay Part III on Monday night – The Athletic - It's Sean McVay vs. Matt Nagy Part III. Who will come out on top?

The Bears are 5-1, but project to be a .500 team – The Athletic - The good news for Bears fans is that going .500 after a 5-1 start means a 10-6 record and a likely playoff berth.

The Bears head west, your Big Questions & aiming for 6-1 - Hoge & Jahns - Podcasts - The Athletic - The Bears head to LA to take on the Rams on Monday Night Football. Adam Hoge and Adam Jahns welcome The Athletics' Rich Hammond of the '11 Personnel' podcast to preview the matchups to watch, plus the guys answer your social media questions, bring you their weekly bold predictions, picks and more as week 7 officially arrives.

Bears vs. Rams prediction, 3 keys, odds: Line, spread, over/under - RSN - Bears Insider JJ Stankevitz makes his pick for Monday night's Bears-Rams game.

Report: Michael Thomas could miss Week 8, Bears with hamstring injury - RSN - The Bears have already missed some of the biggest stars in the league due to injuries.

Bears Matchup Flashback: Pitiful Primetime Performance vs. Rams in 2019 - On Tap Sports Net - The Bears square off against the Rams in a Week 7 Monday Night Football matchup. The two teams last met nearly a year ago on Sunday Night Football.

Bears vs. Rams: Preview, X-Factors, and Predictions - On Tap Sports Net - For the third time in as many years, the Chicago Bears meet the LA Rams in a crucial NFC matchup.

Finding Ways to Win Still Trumps All for Bears in L.A.- SI.com - The Bears want nothing to do with comparisons to their 2019 mid-season collapse or measuring sticks.

Tashaun Gipson Sr. says Chicago Bears aren't getting respect they deserve - ChicagoBears.com - Safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. discusses how perceived disrespect drives the team.

How to watch, listen to Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Rams Week 7 Monday Night Football game - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears will take on the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night. Here’s how you can watch and listen to the contest.

Injury Update: Chicago Bears DT Akiem Hicks removed from injury report ahead of Monday Night Football matchup with Los Angeles Rams - ChicagoBears.com - Bears defensive tackle Akiem Hicks was a full participant in Saturday’s practice and was removed from the injury report for Monday night’s game against the Rams after sitting out workouts Thursday and Friday due to an illness.

The Pick Is In: Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Rams - Week 7 Monday Night Football - ChicagoBears.com - Local and national analysts make their pick for the Week 7 Monday Night Football matchup between the Bears and Rams in Los Angeles. Keep track of their weekly record here on ChicagoBears.com.

Week 7 picks: Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Rams - Chicago Tribune - The Chicago Bears face the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football looking to improve to 6-1. The Rams are tied for second in the NFC West after a disappointing loss to the San Francisco 49ers, dropping them to 4-2. Can the Bears win again in prime time and remain in first place?

Chicago Bears: Despite 5-1 record, they feel disrespected - Chicago Tribune - Are the Bears the worst 5-1 team in the NFL? Safety Tashaun Gipson admits he can’t always shut out the outside noise but hopes more wins can shut up some talking heads.

Column: Chicago Bears salary cap decisions loom - Chicago Tribune - If you are wondering how the Chicago Bears will go about solving the Rubik’s Cube that is the NFL’s salary cap projection, Monday’s night opponent the Los Angeles Rams might offer some clues.

Week 7 preview: Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Rams - Chicago Tribune - The Chicago Bears offensive line will have its hands full with the Los Angeles Rams' Aaron Donald, a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. And safety Eddie Jackson can't catch a break. A snapshot look at the Monday Night Football game in Inglewood, Calif.

Chicago Bears: Louis Riddick expects ugly wins to continue - Chicago Tribune - Louis Riddick sees a way for the Chicago Bears to turn a 5-1 start into legitimate Super Bowl aspirations:

Column: The Chicago Bears are the latest team labeled as ‘winning ugly.’ But should we care how a team wins as long as it wins? - Chicago Tribune - Chicago Bears quarterback Nick Foles wasn’t even born when the phrase “winning ugly” was first uttered about the 1983 White Sox. Now it's part of the sports lexicon with cliches such as “taking it one day at a time” and “next man up.”

Source: NFL does not fine Bears CB Kyle Fuller for hit in Panthers game - Chicago Sun-Times - Fuller disputed the penalty on the field and again Saturday, and it appears the league is on his side in that argument.

Bears want to ride Nick Foles’ hot hand - Chicago Sun-Times - The quarterback has played in peaks and valleys in almost every quarter this year. If each game is a roller coaster, the victory against the Panthers was the Matterhorn.

Bears put CB Michael Joseph on reserve/COVID-19 list - Chicago Sun-Times - There is no fear of him spreading the coronavirus — he hasn’t been inside Halas Hall since the team put him on injured reserve Aug. 31.

Time for action, not words from Nick Foles as Bears take on Rams - Chicago Sun-Times - The quarterback has to play better if the team hopes to get past the Rams, Saints and Titans.

Rams game a measuring stick for Bears, Matt Nagy - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears followed the Rams template in their rebuild, but fell off the pace with an 8-8 finish last season. Monday night’s game is an opportunity for Nagy to show he’s catching up to Sean McVay.

Bears need their QB to become First-Quarter Foles - Chicago Sun-Times - Ask Bears coach Matt Nagy what it will take for quarterback Nick Foles to take the next step at the Rams on Monday night, and he starts at the beginning.

Bears vs. Rams: What to Watch 4 - Chicago Sun-Times - Rams DT Aaron Donald is a formidable challenge, but this is where a run game, solid play-calling and Nick Foles’ ability to get rid of the ball quickly help a struggling line neutralize a mismatch.

Akiem Hicks is as essential as ever to Bears, and he’s good to go for Rams game - Chicago Sun-Times - Decline in production? He snapped back in 2016. Dislocated elbow and the recent disjointed offseason? He came roaring back. Even this week, after missing time due to illness, Hicks was back to normal at Saturday’s practice.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Dallas loses Andy Dalton on dirty Jon Bostic hit, loses 25-3 to Washington - ProFootballTalk - The Washington Football Team is a half game out of first half after a convincing 25-3 victory over the Cowboys.

As trade deadline looms, a snapshot look at who is and isn’t available - NFL.com - The NFL’s trade deadline looms in more than a week, and the league has already seen its share of big moves. More is on the horizon come November.

Alabama WR Jaylen Waddle expected to miss rest of season with right ankle injury - NFL.com - College football likely lost arguably its most electrifying offensive player for the season on Saturday, and potentially for his college career, when Alabama WR Jaylen Waddle injured his right ankle in Alabama's 48-17 win over rival Tennessee.

Report: Ryquell Armstead is expected to miss rest of year with COVID complications - ProFootballTalk - Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Armstead is not expected back because of complications caused by the virus. Armstead has been hospitalized twice and has reportedly dealt with significant respiratory issues since contracting COVID-19.

Mike McCarthy questions Cowboys' response to Jon Bostic's hit on Andy Dalton - ProFootballTalk - McCarthy didn’t appreciate that none of his players came to Andy Dalton‘s defense after Jon Bostic‘s dirty hit on Dalton. The other 10 Cowboys on the field — which included four backup offensive linemen — didn’t get in the Washington linebacker’s face.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Rams-Bears injury report: Tyler Higbee, Khalil Mack added to the list - Turf Show Times - Robert Woods was limited on Saturday

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Wiltfong: Bears vs Rams TV schedule, odds, streaming, previews, and more! - Windy City Gridiron - This is everything you need to know about the Bears vs Rams game tomorrow night, including all our WCG previews!

WhiskeyRanger: Legendary - Gale Sayers and Walter Payton - Windy City Gridiron - Somehow there’s a question about what team has the best running backs in history. Let’s answer that question, shall we?

Zeglinski: Chicago Bears injury report - McManis out, a full strength Chicago otherwise - Windy City Gridiron - Aside from minor nicks here and there, the Bears are riding a wave of great health as they enter a crucial stretch.

Infante's 2021 7-round Bears mock draft: Red-hot QB ends up in Windy City - Windy City Gridiron - In our first seven-round mock draft of the new year, Lead Draft Analyst Jacob Infante makes an early forecast what the Bears might do in the 2021 draft.

Salo's Saturday Spotlight: Is Allen Robinson Worth $18 Million Per Year? - Windy City Gridiron - Throughout the 2020 NFL season, we’ll spotlight a Bears player in a weekly column. This week, we’ll take an in-depth look at wide receiver Allen Robinson.

THE RULES

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