The Bear’s Den, December 30, 2020

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

BEARRRSSSS

This Packers Week Pivotal For Pace, Trubisky, Pagano.- Da Bears Blog - We are about to find out if this Chicago Bears run is real. That’s exactly how it should be.

Lunch With Urlurker: 12.29.20 - ChicagoBear.com - Urlurker, with his assistant Bears Senior Writer Larry Mayer break down the playoff scenarios and tiebreakers heading into Week 17, discusses the chances of Roquan Smith being named an All-Pro and gives his keys to victory in Sunday’s huge matchup with the Packers during his weekly

5 things we learned from Chicago Bears position coaches | Mitchell Trubisky, Jimmy Graham, Cole Kmet, Bilal Nichols - ChicagoBear.com - Bears position coaches talked to the media Monday. Here are five things we learned.

After Roquan Smith’s Pro Bowl snub, Bears hoping for All-Pro - 670 The Score - After Bears inside linebacker Roquan Smith was snubbed of a Pro Bowl selection, his teammates and coaches are hoping he earns All-Pro honors.

Bears’ path to the playoffs fraught with danger - Chicago Sun-Times - A win and they’re in, but keep that back door open. The Bears, in fact, are 4-16 against the Packers in the final month of the regular season during the Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers eras.

Seven things that will swing Bears’ playoff push - Chicago Sun-Times - From Aaron Rodgers’ brain to Kyler Murray’s leg, here’s what could help decide the Bears’ bid for the postseason.

Bears snap judgment: Several unlikely players get snaps in win over Jaguars - Chicago Sun-Times - That and more in the Chicago Sun-Times’ weekly look at Bears playing time, including a look at Anthony Miller’s declining opportunities and which players are closest to having played every snap.

Bears win and in? Not so easy against Aaron Rodgers - Chicago Sun-Times - And I want to remind the Bears’ community that Rodgers might not be disappearing from their collective misery for another five years or so.

3 observations from the Chicago Bears’ Week 16 win - Chicago Tribune - The Chicago Bears really need cornerback Jaylon Johnson back against the Green Bay Packers because no one else in the secondary is consistently making plays on the ball. Getting Buster Skrine back would be a plus too.

Chicago Bears: 101 answers to 101 questions - Chicago Tribune - At the beginning of the Chicago Bears’ 101st season, we presented 101 questions without answers, an exercise meant to magnify the uncertainty of such a tumultuous time. Well, now we’ve arrived at Week 17, and it turns out all those summer questions now have answers.

Allen Robinson hits 100 catches as key cog in Bears offense – The Athletic - Allen Robinson continues to do more with less within the Bears offense.

Chicago Bears Have to Wonder What Happened to Eddie Jackson - SI.com - Statistics are down across the board for Eddie Jackson this season after signing a $58.4 million deal and Sunday the Bears will be looking at Adrian Amos, the safety they let go to Green Bay who has been putting up steady numbers since leaving the team in 2019

Chicago Bears gearing up for Week 17 matchup against Green Bay Packers, chance at NFC playoff berth - ChicagoBear.com - Battling back from a six-game losing streak earlier this year, the Bears have put themselves in position to earn a playoff berth on the final day of the regular season.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Jared Goff most likely isn't going anywhere - ProFootballTalk - In 2016, the Rams and Eagles traded up to get the first two picks in the draft. They made quarterbacks Jared Goff and Carson Wentz the first and second overall picks, respectively.

Dwayne Haskins passes through waivers unclaimed - ProFootballTalk - A year and a half after he was a first-round draft pick, no one wants Dwayne Haskins. At least, not at his current contract.

NFL will not reschedule games for competitive reasons in the postseason - ProFootballTalk - The NFL said all along, though, that it would not reschedule games for competitive reasons, only medical reasons. It will take the same approach in the postseason, and the NFLPA is in lockstep in scheduling decisions being based only on health and safety.

Rams place WR Cooper Kupp on reserve/COVID-19 list - Leading receiver Cooper Kupp was placed on the team's reserve/COVID-19 list, putting his status in question for Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Cardinals. Los Angeles needs either a win or a Bears loss to the Packers to clinch a playoff berth.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

NFC North Rundown: Playoff implications will make Packers-Bears clash one to remember - Acme Packing Company - While Green Bay will be fighting for top-seed status, Chicago will be playing to keep its season alive at least another week.

2021 NFL Draft: Vikings will pick between #9 and #15 - Daily Norseman - Where will depend on a number of things

Detroit Lions head coach candidate power rankings: Robert Saleh hype is back - Pride Of Detroit - The Saleh Hype Train is back on its tracks.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Silverstein: The First Long Snapper - The untold story of George Burman - Windy City Gridiron - How a Bears backup became an NFL pioneer.

Infante: 2021 NFL Draft - Prospects to watch in each Week 2 non-New Year’s Six bowl game - Windy City Gridiron - This week is a huge one for college football bowl games, so we broke down the top NFL Draft prospects in each of the non-New Year’s Six games.

Wiltfong: Bears to honor Gale Sayers on Sunday - Windy City Gridiron - According to Larry Mayer, the team’s lead writer on their website, the Chicago Bears will honor Hall Of Fame running back Gale Sayers this Sunday in their game against the Green Bay Packers. Sayers...

Householder's Stock up, stock down: Chicago Bears blowout Jacksonville Jaguars - Windy City Gridiron - It’s hard to find stuff to complain about in a blowout win but I’m sure we’ll find something.

Wiltfong's NFL Power Rankings: Put some respect on the Bears! - Windy City Gridiron - We take a trip around the NFL Power Rankings to see what they’re saying about this Chicago Bears this week.

Wiltfong: Ten Thoughts on the NFL - Windy City Gridiron - Lester runs through his Thoughts on the week’s NFL games, right here, and be sure to share some thoughts of your own in the comment section.

THE RULES

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