The Bear’s Den, October 7, 2020

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

RIP Eddie

BEARRRSSSS

Recapping the Bears first loss and getting ready for a prime time game against Tampa Bay - Bearly Sane Podcast - Picking up the pieces from our first loss, we talk about the same offensive issues even with the QB switch. We also talk about how the stats don't match the feel on defense and the worst special teams in the league. Andrew Williams joins me to talk about the Tampa Bay Bucs and their 3 and 1 start and how others see the Bears.

Chicago Bears QB Nick Foles looks to bounce back in Week 5 game against Tampa Bay Buccaneers - ChicagoBears.com - Bears quarterback Nick Foles looks ahead to Thursday night’s game against the Buccaneers after a disappointing first start against the Colts.

Quick Hits: Chicago Bears rookie TE Cole Kmet has earned more playing time - ChicagoBears.com - Bears coach Matt Nagy plans to increase Cole Kmet’s playing time after the rookie tight end was on the field for only 15 of 62 snaps (24 percent) in Sunday’s loss to the Colts.

Lunch With Larry & Urlurker: 10.6.20 - Bears Senior Writer Larry Mayer and our own Urlurker break down Sunday’s game, Larry names his team MVP for the first quarter of the season and previews Thursday night’s matchup with the Buccaneers in his weekly Q&A with fans.

Matt Nagy’s Offense Was Not Good Enough Sunday. Will It Ever Be? - Da Bears Blog - Matt Nagy, an offensive head coach, has had far too many postgame press conferences like Sunday, wherein he proclaimed the offense “wasn’t good enough”. No, his offense wasn’t good enough Sunday.

Bucs missing Mike Evans, top playmakers in prep for Bears - 670 The Score - The Buccaneers are missing several of their most prominent pieces on offense as they prepare for the Bears. Receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Scotty Miller and Justin Watson along with running back Leonard Fournette were each held out of practice.

Bears believe rookie TE Cole Kmet ready for increased role - 670 The Score - Bears rookie tight end Cole Kmet has played just a minimal role in the team’s offense through four games, which is something coach Matt Nagy intends to change moving forward.

7 NFL players who made appearances in professional wrestling - 670 The Score - Lawrence Taylor and Steve “Mongo” McMichael are among the NFL players who expanded the boundaries of the gridiron for stints as professional wrestlers, be it for a one-match cameo or for an entire secondary career.

Chicago Bears will work out kicker Kai Forbath - Chicago Tribune - The Chicago Bears will try out veteran Kai Forbath on Wednesday, introducing at least the possibility they could have a new kicker for Thursday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Chicago Bears: 3 observations from Week 4 loss - Chicago Tribune - The Chicago Bears are the only NFL team that hasn’t scored in the third quarter this season, an issue coach Matt Nagy wants to clean up before Thursday’s meeting with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Soldier Field.

All-22: What led to the disparity on third down between the Bears and Colts? – The Athletic - Breakdowns in protection, play calling and accuracy on offense marred the Bears’ loss to the Colts.

Jahns: 5 takeaways from Bears’ loss as Matt Nagy starts ‘calibrating’ offense – The Athletic - Sunday’s Bears loss to the Colts raised some questions on and off the field.

Bears film review: Nick Foles’ bright spot and another 3rd-and-1 failure - RSN - Adam Hoge and JJ Stankevitz break down two plays from Sunday’s Bears-Colts game, starting with a well-designed and well-executed play for the offense.

Bears’ Matt Nagy suggests Cole Kmet’s role in the offense may expand soon - RSN - The rookie tight end has gotten off to a slow start.

Hoge’s 10 Bears Things: Big week for Matt Nagy, Nick Foles and Bears offense - RSN - The Bears suffered their first loss of the season against the Colts and it was ugly. Here are Adam Hoge’s 10 Bears Things on a short week:

Chicago Bears Week 4 Takeaways: Trickle-Down Struggles Aplenty - On Tap Sports Net - The Indianapolis Colts handed the Chicago Bears their first loss of the year in Week 4. Here are the biggest takeaways from the Bears’ ugly performance.

5 things we learned from Bears coordinators ahead of Thursday Night Football matchup - ChicagoBears.com - Bears DC Chuck Pagano shares what he’s learned from preparing to face Tom Brady in the past, OC Bill Lazor sees rookie Darnell Mooney as more than a deep threat and STC Chris Tabor likes what he saw from Ted Ginn Jr. on punt returns.

Bears film review: Nick Foles’ debut as starter has some good, but a lot of bad - Chicago Sun-Times - The Sun-Times’ weekly film review breaks down a rough day for Foles (with a bright spot that could indicate he’ll get better), a stagnant Anthony Miller and the pass rush going quiet on third downs.

Bears try to ‘regroup’ with Bucs looming Thursday - Chicago Sun-Times - Neither the Bears nor the Buccaneers practiced Monday, but they had to submit injury reports as though they had.

Remember Bears 48, Buccaneers 10 from way back when? - Chicago Sun-Times - Matt Nagy hoped Mitch Trubisky’s six-touchdown game in 2018 would be a springboard. Two years later, Trubisky is on the bench and Matt Nagy’s offense is still searching for its high-output groove.

Bears ‘calibrating’ offense to fit Nick Foles - Chicago Sun-Times - Benching Mitch Trubisky for Nick Foles only makes sense if the Bears can calibrate his version of the offense quickly.

Matt Nagy: Bears WR Anthony Miller ‘playing really good football’ despite dip in snaps - Chicago Sun-Times - Miller has two game-winning touchdown catches this season, but hasn’t been a consistent No. 2 receiver to Allen Robinson. The Bears are still waiting on the breakout from a player they drafted No. 51 overall in 2018.

POLISH SAUSAGE

North Dakota St. QB Lance declaring for 2021 NFL Draft - North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance, one of the top prospects in college football, intends to enter the 2021 NFL Draft.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Justin Houston: Colts have the best defense in the NFL - ProFootballTalk - “We really believe we’re the best defense playing this game right now,” Houston said, via ESPN.

Aaron Rodgers: Down years for me a lot of times are career years for others - ProFootballTalk - Rodgers, 36, is having one of his best seasons in completing 70.5 percent of his passes for 1,214 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and no interceptions.

With COVID-19 cases increasing in Wisconsin, Packers say no fans indefinitely - ProFootballTalk - COVID-19 cases are increasing in Wisconsin, and as a result the Packers have no plans to allow fans at Lambeau Field.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Zimmerman: Marc “Silvy” Silverman has some concerns about the 3-1 Chicago Bears - Windy City Gridiron - Silvy brings plenty of opinions on the Bears Banter Podcast

Wiltfong's NFL Power Rankings: Who are the 3-1 Chicago Bears? - Windy City Gridiron - We take a gander at some NFL Power Rankings to see how they feel about the Bears.

Householder's Stock up, stock down: Chicago Bears vs. Indianapolis Colts recap - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears lost their first game or the year and it was U-G-L-Y with no alibi.

THE RULES

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