It’s A The Bear’s Den Christmas, December 25, 2020

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

BEARRRSSSS

Chicago Bears NT Bilal Nichols playing best football of career with help from veteran teammate Akiem Hicks - ChicagoBears.com - Entering the 2020 season with sizeable chips on both of his shoulders, Bears defensive lineman Bilal Nichols is emerging as the type of player only he imagined he could become.

Choosing Sides: How many points will Chicago Bears score in Week 16 game at Jacksonville Jaguars? - ChicagoBears.com - Our esteemed panel, which is joined this week by former Bears player and longtime radio analyst Tom Thayer, predicts how many points the Bears will score Sunday in Jacksonville.

Chris Simms: Mitch Trubisky, Matt Nagy earned another season with Bears - RSN - The new-look Bears offense is good enough for another chance in Simms' eyes.

NFL Playoffs: Simms thinks Bears have chance to beat any NFC team - RSN - So you're saying there's a chance...

NFL Playoffs: Cardinals lose, Packers win and everything Bears need in Week 16 - RSN - The Bears don't control their playoff destiny, but a loss by the Arizona Cardinals - and a win in Jacksonville - would put the postseason on the line in Week 17.

Inside the Bears' Nick Foles to Mitch Trubisky turnaround – The Athletic - Inside the Bears' Nick Foles-to-Mitch Trubisky turnaround.

Chicago Bears: What’s Mitch Trubisky’s future? - Chicago Tribune - It probably goes without saying, but this Chicago Bears season has been a roller coaster, from Mitch Trubisky's benching to his return and a sudden offensive resurgence. But before Matt Nagy’s team heads into two crucial games, our team of writers weighs in on four timely topics.

Column: Chicago Bears need a Christmas presence - Chicago Tribune - The Chicago Bears now need to focus, separate their disappointment from their opportunity and head to Jacksonville with a focus on beating the Jaguars — and to sneak into the playoffs.

Bilal Nichols emerging as a playmaker on Bears’ line - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears miss Eddie Goldman, but Nichols has added a big-play element that figures to put the Bears in better position next season, when Goldman presumably returns and Nichols moves back to his defensive end position.

Bears predictions: Week 16 vs. Jaguars - Chicago Sun-Times - The Sun-Times’ experts offer their picks for the Bears’ game Sunday against the Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field:

‘You gotta trust him’ — Bears vow to stay aggressive with Mitch Trubisky - Chicago Sun-Times - Mitch Trubisky has given his coaches reason to trust him over the last three games. He’s made only two serious errors. Both of them, though, came when the Bears chose to be aggressive late in the game.

TEs Jimmy Graham, Cole Kmet prove to be productive combo for Bears - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears still have work to do at tight end down the road. But for now, Graham and Kmet are an upgrade over what they had last season and good enough as a pairing to give the Bears what they need.

Bears practice without Khalil Mack, Allen Robinson, Akiem Hicks - Chicago Sun-Times - Nagy called the absence of Mack and Hicks "more precautionary," and later said the same about Robinson, who did practice Wednesday.

Pro Bowl returner Cordarrelle Patterson won’t rule out playing Sunday - Chicago Sun-Times - After he was hurt in the first half Sunday, the Bears pulled Patterson from offensive duty.

Cody Whitehair confident in Chicago Bears’ new-look offensive line - ChicagoBears.com - Guard Cody Whitehair discusses how offensive line changes have helped resurrect the Bears’ offense.

Bears Look to Keep Momentum in Jacksonville - Da Bears Blog - I think this surge is real. Halas Hall was in a fevered rage after the Lions collapse. The building is ecstatic about what they’ve seen in recent weeks. And they should be.

670 staff predictions: Bears-Jaguars - 670 The Score - The Bears (7-7) visit the Jaguars (1-13) on Sunday afternoon.

POLISH SAUSAGE

NFL Week 16 game picks: Saints over Vikings; Packers top Titans - Will the Saints clinch the NFC South title with revenge on their minds against the Vikings? Gregg Rosenthal picks the winner of each game on the Week 16 schedule.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Wednesday Walkthroughs: What Packers playoff matchup scares you the most? - Acme Packing Company - The Packers are playoff-bound. Which opponent should scare them the most?

Detroit Lions announce most defensive coaching staff is OUT vs. Bucs - Pride Of Detroit - The Lions will have a bunch of young, inexperienced coaches leading the defense.

Bevell: Detroit Lions coaches could’ve returned Sunday, but NFL wouldn’t postpone game - Pride Of Detroit - Shame on you, NFL.

Report: Detroit Lions to interview Rams director of college scouting Brad Holmes for GM job - Pride Of Detroit - Another under-the-radar-candidate for the GM job has emerged.

Nearly 1,000 Jaguars fans want to take the field to secure the tank and get Trevor Lawrence - Big Cat Country - We want to send our Keep Choppin’ Wood newsletter to more Jaguars fans but it costs money! (Who knew?)

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

5 Questions with Windy City Gridiron Jeff Berckes: Bears vs. Jaguars - Big Cat Country - The Chicago Bears travel to Jacksonville this Sunday to take on the Jaguars. One team is still fighting for a playoff spot, while the other is in the middle of a horrid 13-game losing streak.

Berckes' 5 Questions with Big Cat Country: Trevor Lawrence Mania - Windy City Gridiron - We check in with our friends at Big Cat Country to talk about the Jaguars and the prospect of getting Trevor Lawrence in Teal and Gold.

Berckes & Snyder's Bears Over Beers: Did the Bears do enough to save their season? - Windy City Gridiron - Jeff and EJ talk about the changes they called for weeks ago and if that matches up with actual changes on the field

Zeglinski: Windy City Gridiron picks Chicago Bears-Jacksonville Jaguars - Windy City Gridiron - In a playoff push, the Bears must avoid the dreaded trap game against Jacksonville.

Superfans: Dear Santa, All I want is a 5 seed for the Bears... - Windy City Gridiron - An open letter to the Big Man.

Householder's Week 16 Game Preview: Chicago Bears-Jacksonville Jaguars - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears meet a team that is tanking. Now’s not the time to take an opponent lightly.

Mitchell: Carr places Cole Kmet on his NFL All-Rookie team - Windy City Gridiron - The former Texans quarterback turned NFL Analyst thinks Kmet has had the strongest year of any rookie tight end

THE RULES

Windy City Gridiron Community Guidelines - SBNation.com - We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. The following is not permitted in comments. No personal attacks, politics, gender based insults of any kind, racial insults, etc.

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.; EJ also co-hosts The Bootleg Football Podcast with Brett Kollmann; R. Schmitz has a film breakdown show on YouTube titled Run Pass Opinion; and Steven’s Streaming Twitch Channel from Steven Schweickert.

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