Chicago Bears

After using their first round pick on guard Kyle Long on Thursday night, the Chicago Bears came back over the next two days and six rounds and added five more players to their draft class. Here are Chicago’s picks from rounds two through seven.

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With the way the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft had shaken out, the Chicago Bears had a glut of options available to them. Phil Emery made the call to select Oregon guard Kyle Long with the twentieth overall selection. Let’s break down this pick that left fans a bit confuzzled.

Continue reading "Chicago Bears 2013 NFL Draft: Round One Recap"

The Chicago Bears own the number 20 overall pick in this Thursday’s first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, one of their five selections in the seven round mega-event. With so few selections (no pick in round three or seven), GM Phil Emery has his work cut out for him to load up new Head Coach Marc Trestman’s roster. But thanks to a successful free agency period, Emery doesn’t go into this draft with any gaping holes. Let’s get into some of the Bears’ needs they might/should address during this draft.

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In a move than some fans were desperately hoping to avoid hearing about, the Chicago Bears decided to not re-sign Brian Urlacher. Despite Head Coach Marc Trestman having been quoted as early as Wednesday morning saying Urlacher “had a place on this team,” they cut ties with the veteran linebacker. GM Phil Emery made the tough call, which was illustrated in the statement he released. The details are as follows (as we’ve cobbled them together from reporters and Brian himself): Urlacher’s team pitched a 2-year, $11.5 million deal that he expected to negotiate down from. Chicago countered with a 1-year, $2 million (not all of which was guaranteed). That offer was countered with a $3.5 million contract, with another 500k in possible incentives. Chicago balked and made it clear that their offer was of the “take it or leave it” kind.

Continue reading "Moving on from Urlacher: The Right Move?"

A lot of reporters and Bears insiders didn’t think it would be an overly thrilling day for news coming out of Halas Hall. After all, Phil Emery hadn’t made a lot of moves to get his team all that far under the salary cap, coming into the first day of the league year with less than $4 million in room. But that clearly didn’t stop Emery from chasing and netting his target players, addressing two areas of vital importance for Chicago.

Continue reading "Bears Move Quickly on Day One of Free Agency"

you heard? Free agency in the NFL sorta kicks off tonight! Time to legally tamper my face off! The Chicago Bears are among 32 teams looking to improve by signing veterans to their roster, but they’ve got some issues to deal with first.

Continue reading "Chicago Bears 2013 Free Agency Preview"

The Chicago Bears relieved Head Coach Lovie Smith of his duties on Monday, ending his nine-year tenure with the team.

On Tuesday, GM Phil Emery held a press conference (a day after the news of Smith’s firing, oddly enough), outlining the reasons for the drastic change. While noting Smith’s acumen and the team’s “defensive excellence” during his reign, he explained that the offensive woes that have long plagued the Bears as well as the lack of recent postseason appearances served as the catalysts for the move.

Continue reading "Bears Releasing Lovie was the Right Move"

Going into today’s match-up with the Detroit Lions, the Chicago Bears needed help from the Green Bay Packers in order to get into the playoffs. Did they take care of business? Did the Packers? It’s time to find out in this Gameday Review!

Continue reading "Joe's 2012 Gameday Review: Bears 26, Lions 24"

Let’s start the Gameday Preview!

 

(9-6) Chicago Bears at

(4-11) Detroit Lions 

The Offense

The Defense

I’m feeling a little lazy with this one, so just go check out my Gameday Preview from week 7. It’s almost the same. The differences? Calvin Johnson has set the record for receiving yards in a single season, but now he’s going for 2,000 yards. The Bears are supposed to be getting Henry Melton and Tim Jennings back on defense, after missing each for multiple games. The interior of the Chicago offensive line has been decimated by injuries, which could mean less protection up the middle against Nick Fairley and Ndamukong Suh, who won’t have anything else to play for than to pad their stats and sack the quarterback.  Matthew Stafford has degenerated into a turnover machine, despite the insane yardage he’s putting up.

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, but could they do their job on the road? It’s time for the Gameday Review!

 

(9-7) Chicago Bears 28

(5-10) Arizona Cardinals 13

An early reversal on what would have been a first down catch by Brandon Marshall in the first quarter forced the Bears to punt to the Cardinals, who received the ball at their own four yard line when it was downed by Zack Bowman. Bowman wouldn’t cease his involvement there however, as running back Beanie Wells fumbled the ball (without any real contact) in his backfield, which Bowman quickly picked up. Falling over the goal line with the ball, the turnover put the Bears up 7-0 in the first quarter, a lead they would not relinquish. Though to their credit, the Cardinals actually looked competent on their third drive as Ryan Lindley found Larry Fitzgerald twice on their way to an early field goal.

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g loss to the Green Bay Packers last weekend (where life got in the way of the Gameday Review), the Chicago Bears are in desperation mode as they attempt to claw their way back into the playoffs. Can they start an upward trend against the struggling Cardinals? Answers abound in the Gameday Preview!

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You know the rivalry. It’s the Green Bay Packers versus the Chicago Bears in a December game. It’s been 13 weeks since these teams met on the first Thursday nighter of the season, and each have had ups and downs in that time, especially the Bears, who now are fighting for their playoff lives.

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If you were looking for a reason to feel good about the Chicago Bears, today didn’t help you out. In the slightest. At all. So if you’re already too PO’d to care, I understand. If not, come on in for my Gameday Review!

Continue reading "Joe's 2012 Gameday Review: Vikings 21, Bears 14"

The stakes are high in week 14, so let’s jump into the Gameday Preview!

 

(8-4) Chicago Bears at

(6-6) Minnesota Vikings 

The Offense

Jay Cutler lost his first game in which his QB rating was over 100 last week.  He’ll have to continue to build on that performance today if he’s going to make up for any defensive deficiencies. He’ll get Devin Hester and Alshon Jeffery back from injuries, meaning the wide-out corps isn’t as depleted. Jeffery should help move the chains against corner A.J. Jefferson so that Brandon Marshall doesn’t have to do EVERYTHING. I’m not overly impressed with Minnesota’s run defense, so I think there has to be a focus on getting Matt Forte and Michael Bush the ball. Win time of possession and keep Adrian Peterson off the field. In their last meeting (week 12), Jared Allen was pretty quiet. He’s going to want to flip that script this week against an offensive line that actually played relatively well versus Seattle. Jonathan Scott is going to see a ton of Allen today, and it might not be pretty unless Chicago chips and helps out early. Jay needs to stay upright so he can rip through this secondary.

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So far that sounds like a win for the Chicago Bears, right? Not so fast my friend. Let’s get you into the Gameday Review.

 

(7-5) Seattle Seahawks 23

(8-4) Chicago Bears

Continue reading "Joe's 2012 Gameday Review: Seahawks 23, Bears 17"

Having gotten back on the winning track against Minnesota, the Chicago Bears face another possible playoff participant Sunday afternoon in the Seattle Seahawks. With some players likely playing despite injuries (Tillman, Briggs, Forte), this preview is clearer than it might have been four or five days ago. Let’s get into it!

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It felt closer than it really was at times, but the Chicago Bears started fast and held strong, topping the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field on Sunday. The offense got early help from the defense in the form of short fields and they capitalized. That’s the standard Bear recipe for success. Let’s dive into the details in this Gameday Review!

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Having lost two straight games, the Chicago Bears need a win in the worst possible way. With QB Jay Cutler supposedly returning to the starting line-up, they’ve got the advantage over their division rival Sunday. Let’s get into the Gameday Preview!

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In case your various social media timelines didn’t tell you, the Chicago Bears played the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. It did not go well. Specifically, it was one of the most embarrassing performances of football I’ve ever seen. With that in mind, it’s time for the Gameday Review.

Continue reading "Joe's 2012 Gameday Review: 49ers 32, Bears 7"

Let’s get to the break-down!

 

(7-2) Chicago Bears at

(6-2-1) San Francisco 49ers 

The Offense

Let’s get this right out of the way. This offense is not the same without Jay Cutler. Jason Campbell doesn’t have the same mobility or the innate play-making ability that’s made Jay so effective. However, with a week of first-team reps (something he doesn’t get any of during a normal work week), Campbell will be much better-suited to compete than he was coming out of the tunnel at halftime of last week’s loss. Aiding his effort will be a large dose of Matt Forte and Michael Bush. Campbell has a decent deep ball, so if the Niners draw in to stop the run, there could be plays to be made deep.

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;s get right into the Gameday Review before I get upset.

 

(8-1) Houston Texans 13

(7-2) Chicago Bears 6 

As we’ve seen a time or two this season, the Bears started this game slow and sluggish. The crowd got an early tease thanks to an overturned Texan fumble on the opening kickoff, but a forced punt brought Chicago’s offense on the field. And that’s where things got ugly. An actual catch from Kellen Davis was fumbled when ex-Bear Danieal Manning put a helmet on the ball. Houston took the short field and settled for a field goal, talking the early lead. Mike Tice’s offense gets back on the field and faces a fourth and inches, which they go for without hesitation. Michael Bush picks up the first down, only to fumble it away. On Chicago’s next drive following a one-handed grab by Brandon Marshall, Jay threw it near the goal line to Davis on a tight end post. As you’d imagine, Davis was knocked off his route and was nowhere near the pass, leaving Manning a clean opportunity to come down with the pick, which he did.

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k ten in the NFL, the AFC-leading Houston Texans head to the Windy City to take on the second place Chicago Bears. Is this a Super Bowl preview? Couldn’t tell ya. All I know is that Sunday Night Football should be very entertaining…

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Let us recap this glorious event.

 

(7-1) Chicago Bears 51

(3-6) Tennessee Titans 20 

Sunday’s contest had an auspicious start for the Bears. On the Titans’ very first play from scrimmage, Matt Hasselbeck found Kenny Britt wide open over the middle for a big gain. As he manages to do so often, Charles Tillman came over to make the tackle… and strip Britt of the football. From it only got worse for the Titans as Sherrick McManus blocked a punt which landed in the arms of Corey Wootton, who ran it in for the game’s first touchdown. Following a safety (due to a J’Marcus Webb penalty) and free kick, Chicago backed up the Titans offense, making them punt deep from their own territory, which Devin Hester returned 44 yards to the eight yard line. Matt Forte took that short field and turned in a one-play TD drive as he carried a pile of defenders over the goal line. Up 14-2, Brian Urlacher was not content, picking off a Hasselbeck pass on the next drive and taking it back 46 yards to paydirt. Tillman then victimized Chris Johnson with the dreaded ball-punch, forcing another fumble. Cutty and the offense got back on the field and finished a drive with a 13-yard score to Brandon Marshall. Following that insane barrage of action, Chicago held a 28-2 lead at the end of the quarter. They never looked back.

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After squeaking by the Panthers in a game they had no business winning, the Chicago Bears continue their southern trek in week nine by heading to Tennessee. The Titans are led by veteran QB Matt Hasselbeck, who continues to fill-in for the injured Jake Locker. No more time to waste! Let’s preview this game!

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because of laziness than of hope, but the results are the same.) I’m glad I did, because the Chicago Bears capitalized on late mistakes from the Panthers and pulled out an amazing comeback win by scoring 16 points in the final seven minutes.

Continue reading "Joe's 2012 Gameday Review: Bears 23, Panthers 22"

Alright everyone, we’ve got a Bears game at a normal time today! The Chicago Bears are home once again this week as they welcome in the disappointing Carolina Panthers, who are coached by former Bear Ron Rivera. Can the Bears rise to 6-1? Let’s get to the preview!

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Another week in the NFL has passed and so with it goes another victory for the Chicago Bears. As so many divisional games are, it was a slobber-knocker on Monday Night Football. Luckily Lovie Smith’s crew came to play and got their fifth win of the season. Time for a Gameday Review!

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After pulling into first place in the NFC North on their bye (thanks to a Vikings loss), the Chicago Bears have a chance to pull away in the division race on Monday night. If they can take down one of the North’s playoff teams from 2011, Chicago may stake their claim. Let’s preview this primetime match-up!

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But instead of falling apart under the pressure or playing down to the level of their opponent, the Chicago Bears rose to the occasion and defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Florida heat. In this week’s Gameday Review, I’m going to use a more note-based format, offering my immediate thoughts as the game progressed instead of what looks like an essay to me. Here we go!

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Fresh off their Monday night dismantling of the Dallas Cowboys, the Chicago Bears head down south to meet with the struggling Jacksonville Jaguars. Depending on the outcome of the earlier Vikings-Titans game, this might be a chance for the Bears to pull into sole possession of first place in the NFC North.  Let’s see what kind of resistance they’ll get.

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Monday Night Football has ended and the Chicago Bears are 3-1. Lovie Smith’s squad traveled to Dallas and picked apart Tony Romo on their way to the decisive victory. I couldn’t be more excited, but I have to try and be objective for you as I break this one down. So let’s get to it!

Continue reading "Joe's 2012 Gameday Review: Bears 34, Cowboys 18"

Let’s get into the Gameday Preview!

 

(2-1) Chicago Bears at
(2-1) Dallas Cowboys 

The Offense:

Mike Tice is still trying to find the right recipe on offense three games into the season, and tonight he faces the top yardage defense in the NFL. Despite missing nose tackle Jay Ratliff, the Cowboys have been stout as can be, only giving up 250 yards of offense a game. And in case you weren’t aware, DeMarcus Ware is going to be rushing off the edge. Either of them. Chicago can’t get stubborn and overconfident in their tackles’ ability and not send help their way like they did against Clay Matthews. If they can chip and help out against Ware, they can keep Jay upright and looking down the field. Cutler’s receivers Marshall and Jeffery are going to be pressed at the line by Rob Ryan’s cover corners Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne. If Cutler tries to go down the middle, he’ll have to deal with linebacker Sean Lee, who excels at snagging interceptions. In the passing game, Devin Hester could be of particular use out of the slot if he can beat Mike Jenkins or Orlando Scandrick regularly.

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It had a slow-moving intensity to it, but the Chicago Bears made the key plays when it mattered as they handled the St. Louis Rams at home Sunday afternoon.

 

(2-1) Chicago Bears

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Who can get above .500 with a win today?

 

(1-1) St. Louis Rams at
(1-1) Chicago Bears 

The Offense
As there’s no Matt Forte in the backfield, Cutler is going to be handing off the Michael Bush and Kahlil Bell most of the afternoon. (I don’t know why Armando Allen is on this team.) So it’s going to be more of a ground and pound running style attack. That could play into Chicago’s strengths if they commit to the run. They need to get defensive end Chris Long away from Cutler, and how better to do that than by running it up his butt?

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be upset about coming out of their second game of the season.(1-1) Green Bay Packers 23
(1-1) Chicago Bears 10

It was a defensive struggle in the first quarter, with both defenses getting pressure from their stars. Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers made their presence known, each tallying takedowns in the period. It was knotted at a whopping 0-0 when the first quarter ended, but in the second the Pack came alive. (Kinda.) An early field goal gave them the 3-0 lead, but it was a fake field goal pass to back-up tight end Tom Crabtree that snapped the game open and gave Green Bay an insurmountable 10-0 advantage. The play call was absolutely brilliant and it worked to perfection. As much as I’d like to yell and scream about the lack of awareness, it was just too well executed to properly defend.

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After rising to the occasion versus the Colts, the Chicago Bears face a familiar challenge this week when they travel to Cheese country to take on the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football. These division rivals are on an early collision course with definite ramifications. Will the Bears rise to 2-0 or can the Packers avoid an 0-2 hole? It’s time for a Gameday Preview!

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e been immediately evident, but today’s 41-21 win over the Indianapolis Colts proved that the Chicago Bears have an offense to be reckoned with. They weren’t without their issues though, as the first four plays of the game were just about as bad as they could have been.

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It’s time.

 
(0-0) Indianapolis Colts at
(0-0) Chicago Bears

The Offense

In their proper introduction to the rest of the NFL world, Jay Cutler and the new-look Chicago Bears

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The Chicago Bears finished with a disappointing end to what opened up as a promising season in 2012. Injuries along the offensive line and to Jay Cutler and Matt Forte kept them from making the playoffs. That didn’t sit with new GM Phil Emery, who has made tremendous strides in addressing key weaknesses during the offseason. Changes in the coaching staff, new offensive weapons, and a returning defensive unit ensure that Lovie Smith’s team is going to be interesting, at the very least. Now let’s dive into the 2012

Continue reading "2012 NFL Season Preview: The Chicago Bears"

If it seems like preseason has gone on too long and that the regular season should be just around the corner, you’re right! Tonight the Bears are in Cleveland to take on the Browns in their final exhibition game before shit gets serious. Now let’s cover what I've decided should be named Scrub Wars 4: Vendetta Blood Party.

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Let’s get into what I expect to see from the Chicago Bears tonight.

-Keep building. The offense came out and put on a sold show last week versus the Redskins, but let’s see if they can do the same against the front four of the Giants, who have a history of making any offensive line look a few notches worse than what they really are. Jay Cutler must continue to get rid of the ball quickly in Mike Tice’s offensive scheme or risk being blown up in a meaningless game. Just like Apollo.

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It was a great start and a great finish for the Chicago Bears as they won their first preseason game of 2012 thanks to a 57-yard field goal from Robbie Gould. That’s the most excited I’ll get about the fact that they won. Because as you all should know by now, WINNING IN THE PRESEASON DOESN’T MATTER IN THE SLIGHTEST. That being said, there are some positives to discuss coming out of the win. Let’s go through them so you can get back to not caring about preseason football.

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Hey there! In case you haven’t noticed, we’ve got some more Bears preseason action tonight! For the second week in a row, the Bears welcome in a quarterback with some star power. Robert Griffin III will be at the helm of the Washington Redskins in this second tune-up of the preseason. Starters will be in on the action for a longer stretch of time, meaning this game is slightly more significant than the last. (Only slightly.) Let’s get into tonight’s biggest stories!

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Well hey everybody. Are you finished with your hibernation? I only ask because the Chicago Bears are clearly wrapping theirs up as preseason football kicks off tonight. The Bears welcome the new-look Denver Broncos (Peyton Manning, y’all) into Soldier Field for their first exhibition game tonight. Without delving into the finer details (as its preseason and therefore mostly irrelevant), here’s what I’ll be looking for when Lovie Smith’s crew hits the field. Oh, and like every preseason before, I won't be breaking down match-ups here. There's no gameplanning against your opponent in preseason, so why spend the time discussing it? 

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In the final day of the 2012 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears continued to stockpile depth at a key defensive position after getting a jump start on days one and two. But they started the day off with a pick on the offensive side of the ball to load another bullet in offensive coordinator Mike Tice’s gun. A gun named Jay Cutler. (How did that metaphor work for everyone? I’m too tired to think it’s anything other than awesome.)

Continue reading "The Chicago Bears 2012 Draft: Day Three"

The Chicago Bears' 2012 Draft contiuned Friday night as rounds two and three went on the air. Let's get right into their picks!

Not wanting to wait until their slotted selection at 50 overall, the

Continue reading "The Chicago Bears 2012 Draft: Day Two"

The first 18 picks in Thursday night’s first round of the NFL Draft shook out about as well as Bears GM Phil Emery could have hoped, with the only pass-rusher coming off the board being Melvin Ingram to the Chargers at eighteen.

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The Chicago Bears will be among them as they try to rebound from last year’s disappointing stretch run. After picking up solid pieces in free agency, GM Phil Emery will be looking to the draft to fill holes and strengthen core units. Let’s look at some the key positions and likeliest targets for the Bears as they select 19th overall in Thursday night’s opening round of the draft.

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GM Phil Emery made a statement in his first free agency by addressing the Chicago Bears’ longest suffering need, acquiring receiver Brandon Marshall in a deal with the ‘Phins. Sending two third-round picks in the exchange, Chicago instantly adds a number one wide-out to its roster.

Continue reading "Using Marshall Force: Bears Trade for Pro Bowl WR"

The Chicago Bears, with new GM Phil Emery, are in an interesting situation. They have an aging but still productive defense paired with a young but still unproven offense. To improve their lot, Chicago must take advantage of their glut of cap space and bring in proven commodities to take over starting jobs, provide competition to incumbents, or bring depth to key units. Let’s take a look at some of the free agents the Bears should pursue, the free agents they should stay away from, and the free agents they’re already reported to be chasing.

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ing staff (which is not yet completed), Ted Philips has finished his search for the fifth GM of the Chicago Bears. His name? Phil Emery. Excited yet?

Does his name sound familiar? It should. Phil Emery worked in the Bears personnel department as an area scout from 1998 to 2004. Notable selections during his tenure were Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Charles Tillman, Marty Booker, Jerry Azumah, Mike Brown, Tommie Harris and Nathan Vasher. Now, that’s not a bad list…of eight players. The question is: who knows how responsible Emery is for drafting those players, if at all? Scouting personnel discussions are intensely private and are probably one of the best kept secrets in the NFL. Plus a team has so many scouts that it would be nearly impossible for anyone outside to determine whose input got a specific player drafted.

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Well that didn’t take very long. After all of three days, Lovie Smith has found his next offensive coordinator. The big-time hire? Mike “Boat Show” Tice. (I would have also accepted “Ticket Scalper.” I hinted at Tice’s eventual hiring on Tuesday when I addressed the firing of Jerry Angelo and Mike Martz, but I suppose I should break down this “hire,” yes?

Continue reading "Bears promote Tice to OC: Right call?"

Woof. The news broke quickly today from Halas Hall as the Chicago Bears started their offseason with a major shake-up near the top of the organization with the removal of Jerry Angelo and the “resignation” of Mike Martz. No time to waste in breaking these moves down!

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the Bears held onto the win over the struggling Vikings to get to 8-8 on the year.

 

(8-8) Chicago Bears 17
(3-13) Minnesota Vikings 13

For another week Chicago’s offense sputtered and killed its own momentum with costly turnovers. Earl Bennett started the game off right with an early fumble, giving the Vikings possession and the opportunity to drive down for a field goal. A Percy Harvin run later in the first gave the Vikes a 10-0 lead and Bears fans reason to change the channel. Luckily, there was a second quarter. A rare pass to Roy Williams capped off the Bears’ only touchdown drive, but a throw off the hands of Toby Gerhart fell right into the lap of first-time Pro Bowler Charles Tillman, who ran it right back for 22 yards and six points. From there Chicago’s defense locked down, picking off Minnesota’s quarterbacks two times (a total of three) to secure the win.  

Continue reading "Joe's 2011-12 Gameday Recap: Bears 17, Vikings 13"

Let’s get this over with.

 

(7-8) Chicago Bears at
(3-12) Minnesota Vikings

I am not going to waste your time with an in-depth analysis over a game without a crap-ton of starters on both sides of the ball. There’s a lot of “Joe Webb isn’t that bad” talk around the NFL, but I’m not totally sold. He’s probably a better option that Christian Ponder or Josh McCown though. But he’s missing Adrian Peterson, so you can’t totally rely on him this week. Chicago’s defense is the best unit in this game, and that typically goes a long way. The Odds:

Continue reading "Joe's 2011-12 Gameday Preview: Bears at Vikings"

 

(14-1) Green Bay Packers 35
(7-8) Chicago Bears 21

On the very first drive of the game, Aaron Rodgers made sure his team grabbed a number one seed and never looked back, leading the Packers on a 9-play, 80 yard touchdown drive that ended with a 2 yard slant to Jermichael Finley in to make it 7-0. That drive featured ONE running play and some insanely accurate passing. The Bears couldn’t even hope to keep up, thought their defense held Rodgers in check for most of the first half… until he found James Jones on another slant to put Green Bay up 14-3 at halftime. Despite out-gaining and controlling the time of possession in the first half, Chicago had nearly nothing to show for it.

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ipped away from you on Sunday Night Football as the “somehow still in the playoff hunt” Chicago Bears head to Green Bay to take on the rival Packers. Yikes. Break out the eggnog as you read this preview… it’ll ease your mood going into the game. 

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;t here yet though, so the Gameday Recaps continue!

 

(7-7) Seattle Seahawks 38
(7-7) Chicago Bears 14

Going into halftime, Bear fans had reasons to be optimistic their team would break out of their slump. At 14-7, Chicago’s defense had kept Marshawn Lynch in check and held Tarvaris Jackson to minimal completions. Seattle’s offense had only managed 6 first downs at the break. What really gave Chicagoans hope was that the defense had already scored a touchdown thanks to a Julius Peppers strip of Jackson in the endzone. Recovered by Israel Idonije, the score tied the game up in the first quarter and shifted momentum in Lovie Smith’s favor. Unfortunately, Caleb Hanie was still in the game.

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Losers of three straight, the Chicago Bears are trying to get back on the winning horse this afternoon against the rising Seattle Seahawks. Can you believe these two teams are actually still in the playoff hunt? They both need a lot of help to get there, but this game is too significant for either team to lose. Drop one more game… and you likely won’t see January.

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ime and the second securing the sudden death victory.

 

(8-5) Denver Broncos 13
(7-6) Chicago Bears 10

There’s plenty of blame to go around for this horrific failure. Everyone is going to point at Marion Barber for his two colossal errors and rightly so. His failure to understand the situation and keep the ball inbounds in the fourth opened the door for a comeback in regulation. The fumble on the first drive overtime (while on his way to what seemed to be a touchdown) was unacceptable. Barber cost his team the game TWICE. But he’s not the only one to blame. How about putting it on the offense, who had a chance to convert on third and five after Barber’s out of bounds blunder and keep the ball?

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With two straight losses with Caleb Hanie at the helm, the Chicago Bears find themselves in an unenviable position on Sunday, traveling to Denver to meet the best (and most run into the ground) story in the NFL: Tim Tebow. After taking over the reins for John Fox’s offense, the Broncos are 6-1 and lead the AFC West after starting the year 1-4. Will there be more magic in Denver or can Urlacher and the Bears keep Timmy in check? It’s time to break this one down!

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d, here’s the analysis of today’s clusterf*ck.

(5-7) Kansas City Chiefs 10
(7-5) Chicago Bears 3

After seeing Matt Forte fail to get up following a hit to the knee and was declared out of the game, I knew the Bears were going to fall. Sure, Marion Barber came in and played pretty well, but he’s not enough to keep this offense going for four quarters. Hanie’s three interceptions (I do include the final toss-up) were too costly for a team missing their top two offensive talents.

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With their fourth loss in the rearview mirror, the Caleb Hanie-led Chicago Bears welcome the deceptively decent Kansas City Chiefs to Soldier Field. Oh yeah, and Kyle Orton might show up sometime today as well. Casual NFL fans may look at this game as an easy win, but it could be very, very ugly. My breakdown illustrates why.

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t’s get to the breakdown.

Chicago Tribune

(7-4) Oakland Raiders 25
(7-4) Chicago Bears 20

With Caleb Hanie at the helm, the Bears struggled to move the ball through the air. Going into this game, most fans would have expected Martz to rely more heavily on the run than he would if Cutler was playing, but that wasn’t the case. The game started off balanced in terms of run/pass ratio, but that eventually faded away as Hanie was forced to throw from behind. However, Martz needed to give his QB help by focusing on getting the ball to Forte and Barber, both of which had solid numbers despite their lack of attempts. Hanie was jittery early on, overthrowing or vastly under-throwing his receivers, which led to the first and second of his three interceptions. He played relatively well after he settled down, making scrambles for large gains and big throws to Johnny Knox for a 29 yard TD in the second and a deep throw for 81 yards as the Bears mounted a miracle comeback in the fourth.

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(7-3) Chicago Bears at
(6-4) Oakland Raiders

If Lovie Smith’s team is going to get their sixth straight win, Hanie will have to come out and prove early that he’s a threat to throw down the field. He doesn’t have nearly the arm strength that Cutler does (but who does, honestly), but he can get it deep when necessary. Chicago’s offense has been so successful this year because the idea of Jay going deep has loosened the defense for Matt Forte up front. With better offensive line protection, Hanie has to let his receivers take advantage of a soft set of Raider corners. Stanford Routt and Chris Johnson may have been in the league for several years, but that doesn’t mean they’re any good. Mike Martz has to jump on the Raiders in the first half and then rely on Forte to close this one out. Get a decent lead for this defense and they’ll get you a win. Just avoid taking heavy hits from a Raider defensive front that only needs to rush four to get to the quarterback. Richard Seymour will be coming on every play.

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After a few days of attempting to drown myself in a (surprisingly deep) pool of my own tears, I figured it was time to comment on the impending thumb surgery of Jay Cutler and what it means for the Bears in 2011.

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But then the scoring came in bunches as the Chicago Bears held off the San Diego Chargers on Sunday afternoon, increasing their winning streak to five games despite numerous comeback attempts.

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Riding high with four straight wins, the Chicago Bears welcome in the San Diego Chargers, who are sweeping the floors of the AFC West thanks to four straight losses. Can the Bears force more Philip Rivers turnovers in front of their home crowd today? Or will the Chargers begin their annual late-season winning streak? It’s time for another Gameday Preview!

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Well that was easy. The Chicago Bears wasted no time it laying the wood to the Detroit Lions, paying them back for the Monday night loss earlier in the season and notching their fourth win in a row. The Lions were sloppy with the ball on offense and committed costly penalties of which the Bears were more than happy to take advantage. It was a defensive demolishing from Lovie Smith’s crew, who went to man coverage and shut the Lions down.

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’s break down this incredibly important contest.

 

(6-2) Detroit Lions at
(5-3) Chicago Bears

A lot could be made of Chris Harris’ impact on the Detroit Lions since they claimed him off of waivers, but his impact was probably more significant in preparation and film study than it will be on the field. There was a reason the Bears let him go. He just wasn’t making plays anymore. In their first match-up, the Lion front four made plenty of noise against a developing Bear offensive line. It should be much more of an even playing field today after the improvements that have been made on the line and in the game-planning. Chicago will excel on offense if they can keep Matt Forte on the outside and in space. Detroit’s linebackers are suspect at best in their run defense, so Forte and Marion Barber have to figure heavily in the offensive scheme, regardless of the elements. Ndamukong Suh has been getting a lot of hype this season, but his production has tailed off, especially in his run defense. Expect Barber to run right at Suh just to test his resolve and football acumen. On the outside, all I know is that Earl Bennett needs to be out there as much as possible after the production he showed last week. Devin Hester is active for the Bears, so special teams figures to be its typical explosive self. Cutler has to continue making excellent reads and finding the open man, whoever that may be. Jay’s run of exceptional games has him right knocking at the “elite quarterback” door, so another clutch performance in a big-time environment is just what the pundit ordered.

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Bears picked up their fifth win in eight games, dropping the Eagles on their home turf.

(5-3) Chicago Bears 30
(3-5) Philadelphia Eagles 24

On the opening Bears drive (79 yards in all) it was cleat Matt Forte would be a key cog in the offensive wheel. 45 yards on his first three carries essentially locked in play-action passes as a viable option for the rest of the night. The first of many third down conversions by Bennett and helpful carries from Marion Barber put Cutler in position to heave it to Matt Spaeth for Chicago’s first score and their second opening drive TD this season.

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After resting on their collective butts during a much-needed bye week, the Chicago Bears head out to the City of Brotherly Love to take on Michael Vick and the surging Philadelphia Eagles. Can Lovie Smith’s defense repeat last year’s impressive performance against Vick and take their winning streak to a whopping three games? Let’s break this one down.

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arly and played enough defense to keep the Bucs from completing the comeback late.

 

(4-3) Chicago Bears 24
(4-3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 18

After swapping punts with the Bucs, the Bears wasted no time in getting Matt Forte going. Handing it off several times on the drive, Forte got a key outside block from Matt Spaeth on his 32-yard score, putting the Bears ahead for good. But the game wasn’t without its negatives, positives, and plain old “what the FUCK was that” moments.

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Let’s analyze this shiz yo!

 

(3-3) Chicago Bears at
(4-2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

As the Bucs still bore the ever-long piss out of me, I’m not going to get into TREMENDOUS detail. Their offense has a few decent pieces, starting with quarterback Josh Freeman. Freeman’s been touted as one of the best up-and-coming quarterbacks in the league, but I’m not sold. I think he’s overrated, but he doesn’t have the supporting cast to prove me wrong. Running back LeGarrette Blount will be inactive today, leaving Earnest Graham with the bulk of the carries, Good lucking running today Tampa! As far as receivers go, tight end Kellen Winslow is probably their most talented, but Arrelious Benn is probably the wide-out to keep your eye on deep. There isn’t a lot of danger from that unit though. Tampa’s offensive line is… okay? But Chicago should be able to get to Freeman on more than one occasion.

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ster continued to lay claim to his “Greatest Return Man of All Time” status.

(3-3) Chicago Bears 39
(1-5) Minnesota Vikings 10

Before anyone else, Chicago’s defense really made its stand against Adrian Peterson. Lovie Smith stacked the box against the Vikings on first and second down, holding Peterson to only 39 yards on 12 carries. That forced the ball in Donovan McNabb’s hands, where it consistently landed short of the receiver or the first down marker, either way it didn’t matter to the Bears. They just want to get off the field. Minnesota’s offense never found its spark, though back-up Christian Ponder did relieve McNabb in the second half. That was after the Bears knocked McNabb around, sacking the veteran five times on the night. Julius Peppers notched two sacks of his own and dominated Charles Johnson throughout the game, bad knee and all.

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After their embarrassing, penalty-plagued Monday nighter, the Chicago Bears are in primetime in a divisional match-up for the second straight week, this time taking the Sunday Night Football stage against Minnesota. At risk of falling in last place in the NFC North, the Bears can’t afford to lose.

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o;m hesitant to get started, but let’s get to the breakdown.(5-0) Detroit Lions 24
(2-3) Chicago Bears 13

First and foremost, everyone can get the HELL OFF of Jay Cutler’s back. If any game during his tenure in Chicago illustrates what he can do for this team, it was this one. With only Matt Forte and a rookie wide-out, Jay managed to put points on the board when the rest of the offense took the night off or false-started in their pants. Cutler kept plays alive, made accurate throws and good decisions, and stood in the pocket and took solid shots to the chin all night. They were several drives that took up chunks of clock that only continued because Cutler willed it. If you’re still hating him, you’re part of the problem. ‘Cause Jay sure the hell isn’t. I’m done with all the unwarranted complaints about his body language and his demeanor. He gets his ass kicked every week and never moans or complains. He takes his beating like a man and tries to win every single time he steps on the field.

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In their way, Lovie Smith’s Chicago Bears, who are fighting to get back into the division hunt. Inconsistency has been the term du jour when describing these Bears, who finally got their running game going in week four… but managed to give up over 500 yards of offense to the Panthers. Can they put it all together tonight? Let’s break down the match-ups in this latest Gameday Preview.

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Well it was way too close for comfort, but I’ll take it. The Chicago Bears got help in the form of Devin Hester and D.J. Moore touchdowns to beat the Carolina Panthers 34-29 Sunday afternoon.

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f the Bears have what it takes to put the Panthers down.

(1-2) Carolina Panthers at
(1-2) Chicago Bears

So any football fan has heard of Cam Newton for one reason or another. The reason you’re hearing about him now? His two 400 yard performances (in losing efforts) to begin the year followed by his first win as a starting QB. With a bit more film out there for teams to scout, Newton will start to see defenses wise up to his tendencies, even if they can’t plan to combat his immense abilities. Also, the dude’s pretty big. He’s essentially a quarterback in a defensive end’s body. Chicago will rely heavily on its cover-two scheme, expecting Newton to make a mistake or two along the way that will lead to turnovers.

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both sides, with penalties and turnovers a’plenty.

(3-0) Green Bay Packers 27
(1-2) Chicago Bears 17

After being rocked by New Orleans, Cutler enjoyed a leisurely, sack-free first half against the Packers, in which he heated up and began to find holes in the defensive schemes, keeping it within reach at 17-10 at halftime. Unfortunately, Jay’s two interceptions off-set the two Packer turnovers. Cutler became more skittish and off-target with his throws as the game drew on, often over-throwing his receivers. They didn’t help matters either. Roy Williams was involved in several negative plays as he was the target on both of Cutler’s interceptions, but those looked to be mostly on Jay. He did however drop a sure touchdown at the goal line which was forgotten thanks to the Dane Sanzenbacher score on the next play. Knox dropped a few passes and Hester couldn’t get enough separation, leaving Sanzenbacher to be on the receiving end of most of Jay’s throws.

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Nearly eight months removed from their collapse in the NFC Championship game, the Chicago Bears get a shot at (way less significant) revenge on Sunday when they welcome in the Green Bay Packers to Soldier Field. There’s no need to delve into the importance of this historic NFL rivalry, so let’s get right into the match-up’s created by the current rosters.

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Oh what a let-down that was. In their second game, the Chicago Bears managed to flat-line against the Saints, getting their quarterback Jay-Roughed in the process. Chicago’s offense held serve with the high-powered offense for about a half, and then Sean Payton let loose the entire playbook, taking the Bear defense to school like a game of Madden.

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Following the much-heralded destruction of the Atlanta Falcons in week one, the Chicago Bears fly down to Louisiana to take on the New Orleans Saints. Many analysts have mentioned the Bears’ recent success against the Saints, but all of those contests have been in Chicago and typically in less than stellar conditions. This Sunday the Bears will be in the Superdome, where the Saints will clearly have the advantage. But do they have the advantage on the field? Let the dissection begin!

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It was a complete victory at Soldier Field Sunday afternoon as the Bears dominated the visiting Atlanta Falcons 30 to 12. In a game where the Bears were underdogs, they sent an early message to the rest of the NFC, intimating that they will not be overlooked. Chicago took the NFC’s best team in 2010 and made them look sloppy and unpracticed.

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After lockouts, crazy free agency preseason games and everything else, the Chicago Bears are taking to Solider Field today for regular season action. They’re welcoming in the Atlanta Falcons, whose 13-3 record was the best in the NFC during 2010. Let’s get to some match-ups, shall we?

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Now that I’ve broken down the team piece by piece ( offense, defense and special teams), it’s time for the predictions. This year I decided to analyze the schedule and put my predictions out there. Obviously it means little having barely seen the team, but it’s still fun to talk about. Here’s the schedule and a quick thought on each game:Week 1 vs. Atlanta

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Be back here later for the final record prediction for the 2011 Chicago Bears season!

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nding the lockout, Jay Cutler, players unhappy with their contracts, new faces and crappy turf, the Chicago Bears are finally ready to take the field for regular season action. Before that happens, let’s preview each aspect of the team, starting with the offense.

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? Can Donovan McNabb get the Vikings to the playoffs? This divisional preview is all Black and Blue!Chicago Bears

If you want an in-depth preview of the Chicago Bears, check back soon. I’ll break down every facet of the Bears down and give my official record in a multi-part blog posting before their opener against Atlanta.

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With teams trimming down their rosters to 53 this week, you knew there would be plenty of movement on the free agent front and a few surprises along the way. Even the Bears got themselves in the headlines for some key releases and one surprising but welcome addition.

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And that’s a wrap folks! In their fourth and final preseason outing, the Bears took care of the Cleveland Browns 24-14. Taking their last looks at their roster before trimming it down, the Bear coaching staff has their work cut out for them. Here are my thoughts from tonight’s (still meaningless) win.

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With rosters being trimmed to 53 (down from 80) this week, there are quite a few Chicago Bears who will be fighting for their job on Thursday night. Let’s get to the storylines you should watch for as the Browns come into Solider Field for the last preseason game of 2011.

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In the last major week of preseason action for Chicago Bear starters, the signs of progress were clear. Even in a 14-13 loss to the Chris Johnson-less Titans, Bear fans finally saw a glimmer of hope for the coming season. Here are my takeaways from Saturday’s exhibition:

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eseason game, which the media long ago dubbed the “dress rehearsal” for every team, the Chicago Bears have to show fans a small glimpse of the team that made it to the NFC title game last year. Wait, no it shouldn’t. That team wasn’t actually that great. What the Bears NEED to do tonight in Tennessee is show how far they’ve come with the new pieces they have in place and what this season could potentially resemble. Here’s what I’ll be looking for from tonight’s match-up with the Tennessee Titans.

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After both defenses traded three-and-outs early, the Giants finally found their way on the scoreboard in a 41-6 win over the Bears in preseason action Monday night. For you Bear fans that aren’t throwing your computers away in despair, here’s what I took away from this (meaningless) loss.

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After the sack-fest that ensued against the Bills last weekend, Lovie Smith’s Chicago Bears head to the Meadowlands, the site of last year’s memorable sack bonanza. We’re certainly going to see the starters in action for a longer stretch, but we shouldn’t see the heavy-hitters go late into the second quarter. That being said, here are the storylines to watch in game two of the Bears’ preseason schedule.

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The Chicago Bears finally saw game action for the first time since the NFC Championship. In Saturday night’s preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills, you would have missed each team’s key starters if you happened to blink. However, fans did get a solid look at the starting five offensive linemen as well as some key back-up battles. Here’s what I learned from Saturday night’s 10-3 win over Buffalo.-Chester Taylor is not in the long-term (or even short-term) plan for this team.

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With the 2010 NFL season far in the rearview mirror, the Chicago Bears open up the 2011 preseason Saturday night against the Buffalo Bills. With a nonexistent offseason and only a short training camp stay so far, these exhibition games will hold more significance than any in recent memory.  However, thanks to Comic-Con, I’ll just outlay an abbreviated overview of what to look out for in tonight’s match-up.Offensive Line: The Starting Five

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With free agency speeding along at a fast and furious pace, it’s an endurance test to even stay on top of all the roster moves made by one team, much less the entire league. Despite that, I’m all ready to analyze the Bears’ flurry of transactions thus far.Trades: Greg Olsen to Carolina for a 3rd round pick

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