ESPN’s FPI gives the Bears just . Hence, I’m doing my best to enjoy that Southern Illinois University Carbondale (my alma mater) is hosting a postseason football game.
SIU has a fun history of pro players. The Salukis have had 32 players drafted and 43 make it to the NFL. Two-time Super Bowl champion Brandon Jacobs might be the most recognizable Saluki. Although, Bart Scott could lay a claim to that title. After all, there is a good chance you’ve used the “Can’t Wait!” meme or .gif. The Bears have drafted only one Saluki, — who played 68 games (39 starts) in Chicago from 1972-78. This means he got to block for Walter Payton during his rookie year. That is a fun connection to make.
Anyway, history is cool. But I’d like for the Salukis to make some new history. And to day seems like a good day to start it.
Sometimes, a high school teacher’s “newspapers aren’t made to sell news, they’re made to sell newspapers” line pops up in my brain. Today is one of those days:
To be clear, I’m not taking a dig at newspapers. As someone who worked at four of them, I know how the sausage is made. I understand (conceptually) how this came together. And I was taught as a journalism student how to use images, headlines, fonts, and white space to send a message. That is precisely what the Sun-Times sports front does with what is happening above. To that extent, this is a job well done because it’s got us talking about it. You’ve just gotta tip your cap.
Anyway, about how Bears quarterback Justin Fields needs to get it down the stretch in games. That sentiment might garner a few mega-eye rolls from fans. But I’ll say this in Potash’s defense: He isn’t totally wrong. Fields does need to make things happen late in games. If he does, then it’ll help our evaluation of him as we near the end of the year. HOWEVER, the Bears need to give him those opportunities. You can’t grade what’s not given to you. Fields threw just ONE pass in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss. And Tyler Scott misjudged it:
Simply put, two things can be true at once: We need to see Justin Fields perform down the stretch. That should be part of the evaluation process that will take place over the final six games of the regular season. Simultaneously, it is true that the Bears have to do better by Fields. Put him in positions to succeed. Allow him to throw the dang ball.
Josh Schrock () shares a quote from Bears Offensive Coordinator Luke Getsy, who weighs in on Fields’ deep throw:
“I think that’s all part of your growth and when you’re going through those types of situations, you always want to factor in who people are, that’s always matchups are always kind of a starting point of our week, when you’re putting your plan together. But the cool part about it was just the way that he processed it, the way he communicated, the way that he talked about why he did what he did and what he saw. — that’s all real growth and stuff like that. And he made a good throw. His feet need to be cleaned up a little bit on that one, in that moment, it kind of felt, the left side that he kind of had to take a little extra hitch, but at the same time, he was seeing everything clearly and made a good throw, too.”
I like that Getsy acknowledged that Fields is growing. And that Fields communicated well, saw the matchup, and let it rip. I don’t love that the mechanical stuff at the end gets thrown in there and it comes off as a dig on Fields. Not cool, man.
Dan Wiederer () explores if the Bears were too conservative down the stretch and sorts through Getsy’s thought process during the Lions loss. These are teachable moments for this Bears team. It’s just that I’m tired of learning these lessons in defeat. Then again, it all helps the Bears’ draft position.
Speaking of which, this is how things were looking on the draft front after the Bears’ loss last week:
The Bears’ odds of getting the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft are at a season-high. We can take that as good news, right?
BN NFL: NFL Draft Order Update, First-round Mock, More
The Dolphins beat the Jets in the first-ever Black Friday game. If you missed it, don’t feel too bad. It likely won’t be the last. Richard Deitsch () writes that there could be more coming in the future.
A Bears injury report update : Center Lucas Patrick was back at practice after missing the first session of the week with a back injury. Dan Feeney played a season-high 40 snaps on offense last week and figures to be the next-man-up if Patrick can’t go this week. This means that Cody Whitehair is exclusively a backup guard. That is a bummer. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
The Washington Commanders fired Defensive Coordinator Jack Del Rio and Defensive Backs Coach Brent Vieselmeyer with Head Coach Ron Rivers releasing this statement:
It sure sounds like Montez Sweat got out at the right time. Although, the Bears *DO* have problems of their own.
I can’t even imagine Bears Head Coach Matt Eberflus whipping up a statement like this without mucking it up.
Could the Cubs be a surprise participant in the Josh Hader free-agent sweepstakes? Stay tuned. (BN Cubs)
The Bulls are close to the beginning of their tank movement than they are to the end of it. (BN Bulls)
Tab has three stars and key takeaways from a Blackhawks overtime win against the Maple Leafs.
