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.500 IN REACH

The Bears can head into bye at 3-3 with win over hapless Lions 4

NIGHT AND DAY Hub Arkush: Huge difference between coaches John Fox and Marc Trestman 2

MONEY McPHEE

BOB LEGERE SAYS FREE AGENT SIGNEE EARNING HIS PAY 9

THE

CASE FOR GASE

First-year Bears offensive coordinator has learned from some of the best in the business 10

ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, October 15, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

2

Fox and Trestman are like night and day It is far too early to know with any certainty whether the 2015 Chicago Bears are any better than they were last year, but it is very clear that this group is much better coached and prepared on Sundays than they were in 2014.

Marc Trestman thought being a head coach in the NFL was worrying about what his players thought of each other and him, and tried to make everybody buddies by moving their lockers around to create new friendships.

He expected certain players to choose to lead.

John Fox is here to be the boss.

His coaches are his managers and his players are employees.

Asked earlier this week how he’s gotten his young backup wide receivers and offensive linemen to play so well, Fox said as far as he’s concerned, it’s just their jobs.

“Well, I mean, we train all week.

This game’s about doing what you’re trained to do. ... I think sometimes the mindset and the attitude that you have when you step in to a huddle in that situa-

FROM THE EDITOR

By HUB

ARKUSH

harkush@chicagofootball.com @Hub_Arkush

tion I think is critical, and I think they’ve done a good job with it and our staff ’s doing a great job of preparing guys even though they might be different guys each week, getting them ready so there’s a confidence level and you have to have that in those pressure moments.”

While Trestman tried to create a mindset in his players that didn’t always come naturally to them, much of which had little to do with

football, Fox’s message is just “do your job.”

I asked Fox how much of the Bears’ recent success is from the schemes his coaches – and particularly Vic Fangio – are coming up with and how much is a result of players winning individual matchups. He went right back to his mantra.

“All of the above. It’s a team game. ... Sometimes certain sides of the ball, certain position groups, certain players, get too much credit or blame depending on whether it’s going good or bad. This game is a team game. I think our guys understand that.”

When Kyle Long was asked to talk about how Hroniss Grasu, who is a close friend of Long’s, did in his first start vs. the Chiefs, Long made it clear it didn’t matter whether the game was his first or his 100th.

“As much as you like to say, ‘it’s Hroniss’ first start,’ I’m new at right tackle, Charles Leno is like 22 years old. You can look at any of those things, but at the end of the

John Fox

BY THE

NUMB3RS

96-69-5

The Bears all-time record vs. the Lions. The 96 wins are the most by Chicago against any NFL team.

2008 H. Rick Bamman –Shaw Media

day we’re in the NFL and we have a job to do. ... Just like I’d expect you guys to do your job regardless of the situation. Same could be said for us.”

Ironically, it is Fox’s approach rather than Trestman’s that has created an “all-for-one-and-one-forall” belief with this Bears team.

Tracy Porter wasn’t here with Trestman, but asked how the Bears pulled off their amazing comeback in Kansas City, Porter said, “We were playing together.

We were rallying behind each other. We were rallying behind the offense, rallying behind the special teams. And when you have a team that plays together and wants to play for each other, that’s all you can ask for.”

The last time the Lions started a season 0-5, which they are heading into their Week Six matchup versus the Bears. The Lions finished the 2008 season a record-setting 0-16.

0-4

The Bears’ record against the Lions the past two seasons.

Chicago Football Weekly is produced by Shaw Media, the Daily Herald Media Group and the Chicago Sun-Times in partnership with other Illinois daily newspapers.

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Coaches who’ve won Super Bowl but not with their first team By

BEN GARTLAND

bgartland@chicagofootball.com @BenG_Sports

Sometimes a head coach doesn’t find success on the first try. They’ll falter in their first job, be let go, then find success with a second team. With the Detroit Lions’ head coach Jim Caldwell on his second team and Bears’ head coach John Fox on his third facing off this weekend, we looked at head coaches who have earned the ultimate prize, but not with their original teams.

1. BILL BELICHICK It’s hard to associate Beli-

chick with any team other than the Patriots, but he was head coach of the Cleveland Browns from 1991-1995. He had one playoff appearance in 1994 but was fired in 1995, one week after it was announced the team would be moving to Baltimore.

He also was head coach of the New York Jets for one day in 1999 before turning his introduction as Jets coach into a surprise resignation. He soon became head coach of the Patriots, where he’s won four Super Bowls.

2. TOM COUGHLIN Coughlin was given the reigns of the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995 and led

5. JON GRUDEN them for eight seasons, going to the AFC Championship game AP photo twice. He was fired following the 2002 season when the Jaguars went 6-10. He was hired by the New York Giants a year later. In 11 seasons with the Giants, Coughlin has won two Super Bowls and made the playoffs five times.

3. TONY DUNGY Dungy was named head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1996 and turned them into a contending team, mak-

ing the playoffs each of his last three seasons but never making it to the Super Bowl, which ended up being the reason he was fired. He was quickly snapped up by the Indianapolis Colts, where he went to the playoffs in all seven seasons he was with them, including winning the Super Bowl in 2006.

4. PETE CARROLL Carroll spent three seasons with the New England Patriots from 1997-1999, replacing the legendary Bill Parcells. His

Gruden is an interesting case because he was never fired from the Oakland Raiders but was rather sent to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a trade that saw two first-round picks head back to Oakland. He spent three seasons (1998-2001) with Oakland, taking the Raiders to the playoffs in 2000 and 2001. Gruden made an immediate impact with the Buccaneers, taking them to the Super Bowl in 2002 and beating his former team in a 48-21 rout. He took the Buccaneers to the playoffs twice more before being fired in 2008.

3 CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | Thursday, October 15, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com

teams went to the playoffs twice but could never advance past the divisional round. He was fired after his 1999 team missed the playoffs. After a tenure at the University of Southern California that saw the Trojans win the 2005 BCS Championship and make seven straight BCS bowls, Carroll returned to the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks, where he won the 2014 Super Bowl and lost to Belichick’s Patriots in 2015.

Pete Carroll

GAME PREVIEWWK 6

ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, October 15, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

4

LIONS

VS.

BEARS

GAMEDAY: NOON SUNDAY, OCT. 18, 2015 / FORD FIELD, DETROIT By

KEVIN FISHBAIN

Jay Cutler

kfishbain@chicagofootball.com @kfishbain

BEARS RUSHING OFFENSE vs LIONS RUN DEFENSE

The Bears have failed to rush for 100 yards in three consecutive games, going for only 87 against the Chiefs. Still, that’s how they’re going to try to beat the Lions, at least to start. They are still averaging 4.1 yards a carry, a respectable amount.

Matt Forte may have a little extra motivation – last time he was in Detroit, he had five carries for six yards. During that 2014 season, the Lions led the league, allowing only 69.3 rushing yards a game. No Ndamukong Suh, no Nick Fairley, a not-100-percent DeAndre Levy (hip) and now Detroit is getting gashed for 126.6 yards a game on the ground at 4.3 a carry. Rookie Jeremy Langford, who has shown flashes, will be the No. 2 back after Jacquizz Rodgers’ injury, giving Adam Gase another option to attack Detroit’s run defense.

The Bears are feeling good after back-to-back wins, but they won’t abandon their staple of running the ball, and this is a matchup they should win. Arizona gained 187 yards in Detroit last week, averaging 7.5 yards a carry. game in a row playing as the EDGE BEARS team’s top target. Cutler could get Eddie Royal and/or Alshon Jeffery back this week. If eiBEARS PASSING ther or both are in the lineup, OFFENSE vs LIONS that definitely shifts the advantage to the Bears. Without PASS DEFENSE Even with a group of normal- them, it’ll be tough sledding, ly reserve wide receivers, Jay even against a Lions team that Cutler carved up the Chiefs’ only forced three incomplete defense on back-to-back touch- passes from Carson Palmer. down drives to lead last week’s Martellus Bennett will need comeback win. The protection a better game than he had did its job and Marquess Wil- a g a i n s t K a n s a s C i t y ( f o u r son had his second impressive catches on 11 targets). Detroit

H. Rick Bamman - Shaw Media

is 31st in the league, giving up 8.6 yards per pass attempt.

Opposing quarterbacks have a league-high 116.4 passer rating against the Lions and are completing 76.6 percent of passes.

Ziggy Ansah is off to a great start and Glover Quin is a solid safety with two interceptions already after leading the NFL in 2014 (seven). This may be the closest matchup, and with the uncertainty at receiver, we’ll call it a tie.

EDGE EVEN

LIONS RUSHING OFFENSE vs BEARS RUN DEFENSE

Chicago’s run defense statistically isn’t anything exciting – 118.8 yards allowed, 4.4 yards per carry. But the Bears have given up only one run of 20 yards or more. They’ve kept teams from breaking a run to daylight. Jamaal Charles generally was held in check last Sunday, and that came off the Bears’ best run defense performance against Oakland’s Lat-

avius Murray. Jeremiah Ratliff is back and Eddie Goldman keeps improving, though the run ‘D’ likely will be without Shea McClellin (knee). They get quite the break, though, playing by far the worst run offense in the league. Detroit is averaging 49 rushing yards a game at 2.8 yards a carry. It’s atrocious. The most rushing yards they’ve had in a game is 69 in Week One. Offensive line and running back injuries, play-calling and falling

Matthew Stafford

THIS WEEK IN THE NFL

AP photo

AP photo

behind all have been reasons for the demise of the Lions’ rushing attack. Rookie Ameer Abdullah, who looked like a stud in the preseason, was benched last week after fumbling twice and has only 132 rushing yards. The Bears have to be ready for him and keep Abdullah from getting outside the tackles and into the open field. But the Lions, based on what they’ve done through five games, present no real threat to beat any team on the ground.

EDGE BEARS

LIONS PASSING OFFENSE vs BEARS PASS DEFENSE

This is one of the stranger matchups we’ve had to break down. Looking at the lineups, it’s a no-brainer. Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate vs. Kyle Fuller, Tracy Porter and two rookie safeties? That’s definitely advantage Detroit.

However, Stafford has been awful and was pulled last Sunday for the first time in his NFL career. He has eight interceptions in five games.

Calvin Johnson has only one touchdown and is averaging 10.1 yards a catch, which is the lowest in his career by more than four yards. The offense hasn’t had the deep passing game that we’re accustomed to from Detroit.

The Bears aren’t giving up a lot of passing yards, but opposing QBs have been efficient with a rating of 105.8.

Tracy Porter’s emergence has helped the secondary, but Stafford has multiple weapons and will test the rookie safeties more so than Alex Smith or Derek Carr did. The Bears’ pass rush should get its chances to hit Stafford against a weak Lions O-line. Even though it hasn’t played like it, the Lions’ talent wins out in this part of the game.

EDGE LIONS

SUNDAY’S OVERALL EDGE

How much stock do you put into the emotion or confidence of a team? The Bears are riding high and have been for a couple weeks. The young players are stepping up with several starters sidelined and they are feeling more and more comfortable in Adam Gase’s offense and Vic Fangio’s defense. In Detroit, things are miserable.

Stafford was benched, the Lions just got crushed at home and playoffs are pretty much out of the question for the 0-5 team. The Lions still may have more talent on the gridiron, but they’re not playing like it, while the Bears are ascending.

EDGE BEARS

Top players

OFFENSE / QB Matthew Stafford, WRs Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate, RB Theo Riddick, LT Riley Reiff DEFENSE / DE Ezekiel Ansah, DT Haloti Ngata, WLB DeAndre Levy, CB Darius Slay, S Glover Quin

Schemes

OFFENSE / Benched last week, Stafford hasn’t driven the ball downfield, nor protected it or spun it with any consistency. Detroit’s abysmal O-line and NFL-worst run game (2.8 yards per carry) haven’t helped. Coordinator Joe Lombardi hasn’t established any rhythm or involved Johnson – whose last 100-yard game came against Chicago last Thanksgiving.

DEFENSE / Injuries and an anemic offense have marred Teryl Austin’s attacking 4-3: Ngata missed his first game as a Lion and Levy aggravated the hip that prolonged his debut for four games. Caraun Reid and rookie Gabe Wright made their first career starts Sunday, a far cry from Detroit fielding the NFL’s best interior duo in 2014.

Weaknesses Matt Forte has 438 rushing yards (4.3 YPC). Detroit has 245. With Joique Bell hobbled, Abdullah’s longest run since Week One is nine yards. He and fellow rookie Zach Zenner have had few lanes to exploit.

Last time they met

12/21/2014: Despite being plus2 in TO/TA differential, the Jimmy Clausen-led Bears managed just 3.7 yards per play in a 20-14 loss.

FALCONS @ SAINTS

TEXANS @ JAGUARS

7:25 p.m. Thursday, CBS Saints have lost six straight in Superdome; Falcons first 5-0 team ever with four fourth-quarter comebacks.

Noon Sunday, CBS Texans’ ‘D’ a total disaster; Bortles’ career day marred by shoulder injury, another Jags loss.

WASHINGTON @ JETS

DOLPHINS @ TITANS

Noon Sunday, FOX Washington ‘D’ admirable in OT loss to Atlanta; suspension over, Sheldon Richardson joins loaded D-line.

Noon Sunday, CBS Interim coach Dan Campbell wiping slate clean; Titans’ past two losses have been by a combined three points.

CARDINALS @ STEELERS

PANTHERS @ SEAHAWKS

Noon Sunday, FOX Bruce Arians returns to Pittsburgh with NFL’s No. 1 scoring outfit; Steelers’ pass rush heating up.

CHIEFS @ VIKINGS Noon Sunday, CBS Beginning life without J.C., 1-4 Chiefs will be immediately reminded of what franchise RB means to offense.

BENGALS @ BILLS Noon Sunday, CBS Signature win under belt, Bengals demand universal respect; Bills back in win column with rugged ‘D’.

BEARS @ LIONS Noon Sunday, FOX Detroit has won four straight in series, but NFC North foes heading in opposite directions.

3:05 p.m. Sunday, FOX Panthers exit bye with chance to avenge wild-card defeat to desperate Seahawks club with warts.

CHARGERS @ PACKERS 3:25 Sunday, CBS Rivers and Rodgers will battle for just second time in daunting challenge for Bolts on short rest.

RAVENS @ 49ERS 3:25 p.m. Sunday, CBS The Harbaugh bo… oh wait. Two 1-4 clubs in disarray, coming off crushing, last-second losses.

PATRIOTS @ COLTS 7:30 p.m. Sunday, ABC The footballs will be closely inspected, much like Andrew Luck’s shoulder this week.

GIANTS @ EAGLES BRONCOS @ BROWNS Noon Sunday, CBS McCown, not Manning, hottest QB on field, but can he riddle scorching Denver ‘D,’ without DeMarcus Ware for a few weeks?

7:30 p.m. Monday, ESPN Eli Manning pretty good in fourth quarter after all. Kelly offense shows pulse, albeit vs. Saints.

• The Cowboys, Raiders, Rams and Buccaneers are on bye weeks.

CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | Thursday, October 15, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com

Matt Ryan

5

ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, October 15, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

6

BEARS

VS.

LIONS STAFF PREDICTIONS

Thursday spread: Bears +3

Hub

Kevin

Arthur

Nate

Bob

ChicagoFootball.com

ChicagoFootball.com

ChicagoFootball.com

ChicagoFootball.com

Daily Herald

Bears 23 Lions 19 Lions are dangerous if they show up, but they haven’t shown up yet; and they can’t run the football.

Bears 26 Lions 20 Usually I ignore emotions, but the Bears are riding a wave of confidence, and the Lions are not.

Bears 27 Lions 17 Lions look like 2014 Bears. The more confident, better-coached club ends four-game drought vs. Detroit.

Bears 23 Lions 17 The Lions are a mess at QB and can’t run the ball. Sounds like the Chiefs in the second half last week.

Bears 23 Lions 20 Lions have the kind of problems we’ve come to expect from the Bears the past two years.

Season Record: 2-3 Versus Spread: 2-3

Season Record: 3-2 Versus Spread: 3-2

Season Record: 2-3 Versus Spread: 3-1-1

Season Record: 3-2 Versus Spread: 4-1

Season Record: 4-1 Versus Spread: 5-0

Jon

Adam

Jay

Kyle

Wes

Northwest Herald

Chicago Sun-Times

Rockford Register-Star

Kankakee Daily Journal

Peoria Journal Star

Bears 28 Lions 24 With Jay Cutler, this team isn’t the cellar dweller they are without him.

Bears 27 Lions 17 The Bears will send the hapless Lions further into oblivion; I have little faith that Detroit can turn things around.

Bears 26 Lions 21 I know, a 3-game win streak? Bears have found ways to win, while Lions have found ways to ... Not win.

Bears 27 Lions 17 The Bears are far from perfect, but the Lions are in complete freefall.

Bears 20 Lions 16 The Bears embody why you don’t bet on the NFL; but if you must, take Chicago over the listless Lions.

Season Record: 3-2 Versus Spread: 3-2

Season Record: 2-3 Versus Spread: 2-2-1

Season Record: 5-0 Versus Spread: 4-1

Season Record: 3-2 Versus Spread: 3-2

Season Record: 3-2 Versus Spread: 4-1

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8

Marquess Wilson more than filling Jeffery’s void

By ADAM

JAHNS

ajahns@suntimes.com @adamjahns

Who needs Alshon Jeffery?

OK, that’s a bit strong. But even though the Bears do miss his talents, they’ve won two games in dramatic, come-from-behind fashion without him.

And one reason is the emergence of Marquess Wilson.

The third-year receiver had 12 catches for 165 yards and a touchdown in the Bears’ wins over the Chiefs and Raiders.

The timing of Wilson’s production also is noteworthy. He had two catches during the Bears’

game-winning drive against the Raiders and hauled in a beautiful 22-yard touchdown catch in the final minutes against the Chiefs.

Quarterback Jay Cutler always has had a belief in Wilson, a standout during the past two training camps. But now, there’s a hard-earned trust. Cutler admitted that there’s a need to be hard on Wilson, whose maturity was a question mark when he was drafted in the seventh round out of Washington State in 2013.

“He’s growing up, and he kind of has to grow up,” Cutler said. “He doesn’t have a choice.

“I’m kind of hard on him during the week. Saturday we kind of love on him a little bit to get him ready for Sunday.”

The Bears need Wilson

THE WAY WE HEAR IT

For the past two weeks, Wilson has been the Bears’ No. 1 receiver.

“We’re all receivers,” Wilson said. “I’m not going to take anything away from my guy [Jeffery]. We’re expected to make those plays. I don’t think they were his spectacular catches.

They were just catches.”

– also is worth mentioning.

Lineman Eddie Goldman and safety Adrian Amos, two draft picks, also continue to improve and play well.

less than top talent?

And what about Bountygate?

In fairness to Payton, many around the league were less than shocked when its details were first released saying they’d run into similar situations with other teams throughout their careers.

But many also were outraged and questioned the character of a leader who would allow such a program to exist.

Payton signed a five-year, $38 million contract in January 2013 that commits him to the Saints through the 2017 season. He said just the other day that he loves it in New Orleans and has no desire to move.

But those are the famous last words of every nomadic coach just before he moves on. With Brees’ time in the league coming to an end, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Payton – if offered a chance to coach, shall we say, Andrew Luck – pull the trigger.

What makes Payton, who was born in California but raised in Naperville and groomed for the

NFL at Eastern Illinois, a better option than Pagano is an open question right now at best.

Kyle Long’s ability to learn and improve on the fly might be his biggest asset in his move to right tackle. He was considerably better against Chiefs General manager Ryan Pace’s rusher Justin Houston than he offseason continues to look good, was against the Raiders’ Khalil especially for a defense that now Mack a week earlier. ranks fourth in total yards.

As they say, he passed the eye Outside linebacker Pernell test.

McPhee’s impact on and off the Press-box statisticians had field has been exceptional. But Mack down for one sack, four the strong play of end Jarvis tackles, one tackle for loss and Jenkins, outside linebacker Sam one quarterback hit. Houston Acho and cornerback Tracy was credited with just two Porter – three one-year signings tackles.

BY HUB ARKUSH

Why would Sean Payton be in demand?

Rumors are circulating everywhere that the Miami Dolphins could make a play for Sean Payton at the end of this season rather than sticking with interim head coach Dan Campbell, and that Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, currently embroiled in a messy relationship with his own head coach, Chuck Pagano, could make a run at Payton as well.

The question I’m hearing from other coaches and front office folks around the league is, why?

There is no question Payton is regarded as one of the more knowledgeable and innovative offensive coaches in the NFL, and he does have a Super Bowl ring.

But if he’s so good why are the Saints so bad right now, and how does Payton seemingly get a pass on Bountygate?

The Saints are 8-13 dating back to the end of the 2013 season and haven’t been competitive on defense for some time.

Payton did follow his 2009

to continue what he’s doing.

Jeffery’s hamstring injury is problematic, and Eddie Royal is working his way back after getting his ankle twisted against the Raiders.

Coach John Fox said he sees an improvement in Wilson’s swagger since the win over the Raiders.

“That wasn’t really a line when I was growing up; I’ve kind of learned that word,” Fox said. “But you can see that confidence, that swagger, just that belief in themselves. That’s contagious.”

It will be interesting to see if Wilson’s emergence affects Jeffery’s long-term future with the Bears, especially if Jeffery misses more time. Kevin White isn’t going anywhere, and Royal is signed through 2017.

Sean Payton H. Rick Bamman – Shaw Media

Super Bowl season with 11-5 and 13-3 records before sitting out 2012 under suspension.

But that 2010 team went to Seattle as a wild card and got beat by the 7-9 Seahawks. And in 2011, the Saints lost in the divisional round despite going 13-3 that season.

There is no question that Payton and Drew Brees have been a great match, but Payton’s defense currently ranks 32nd in

the NFL and was 31st last year.

The Saints’ defensive struggles began in 2011 when they were just 24th in the league despite going 13-3. New Orleans was 32nd in the league on defense in 2012 with Payton away from the team.

New Orleans’ defense did spike to 4th in the NFL in 2013 with Payton’s return and the hiring of Rob Ryan, but most of Ryan’s press clippings last year and this season have been for getting caught on camera arguing with Payton on the sidelines.

Is the Saints’ decline all the fault of general manager Mickey Loomis, mentor to Bears GM Ryan Pace, for failing to provide sufficient talent in recent seasons.

Or is Payton a classic example of a coach who can shine with superior talent like Brees, Marques Colston and the slew of All Pro offensive linemen Loomis supplied between 2008 and 2011 – Jamaal Brown, Jermon Bushrod, Khari Evans, Carl Nicks, Ben Grubbs – but who struggles with

How serious is NFL’s officiating problem?

One week after the NFL saw the Seattle Seahawks given a win they didn’t deserve when the back judge in their game against the Lions failed to flag the ‘Hawks for illegally batting a ball out of the end zone and gave Seattle the ball on its own 20 instead of giving it back to Detroit at the Seattle one-yard line with three downs to win the game, and Cleveland’s Tramon Williams was incorrectly flagged for being offsides on a San Diego Chargers 39-yard field goal attempt to win the game that went wide, allowing the Chargers to try again from 34 yards out and win the game, NFL officials made another serious mistake on Monday.

The league has acknowledged that the side judge in the Steelers 24-20 win over San Diego incorrectly allowed 18 seconds to be

NFL history is colorfully sprinkled with horrible tales of free-agent busts.

Millions of words have been written just on the idiotic signings by Washington. Every discussion on the topic should begin with Washington’s ill-fated signing of Albert Haynesworth in 2009. Daniel Snyder gave Haynesworth a seven-year contract worth $100 million that included $41 million in guaranteed money.

What Snyder got for his nine-figure deal was a miserable, lazy, unmotivated blob who had a problem with authority. In his final two years with the Tennessee Titans, Haynesworth had been an elite run-stuffer who also had 14 ½ sacks and was an All-Pro pick both years. In two seasons and 20 games with Washington, he had 6 ½ sacks. In his final season with the team in 2010, he had 13 tackles in eight games.

Long story short, Haynesworth was traded after

OPINION

By BOB

two years for a fifth-round draft pick from the New England Patriots, where he also was a bag of hot garbage. Years later, he blamed coach Mike Shanahan for his problems in Washington.

But this story is about a well-publicized, big-money free-agent signing that already

THE WAY WE HEAR IT

But McPhee’s value to a young team trying to rebuild on the fly is measured by far more than numbers. His infectious style of leadership has even rubbed off on the offense.

“I came to the sideline, and we were down 17-3,” Long said. “[McPhee] grabbed me and looked me in my eyes and said, ‘We gonna get this ball back. You just get your boys ready.’”

So Long did as he was told.

“I was like, ‘You heard the man. Get ready guys. Stay loose.

Pernell is going to get the ball back.’ And sure enough,” Long said.

Fox credited the blocked field goal as a turning point.

“There’s all kinds of ebbs and flows in games and shifts in momentum,” he said. “That was a big one that stands out.”

But, as with almost every free agent, there were risks aside from the financial ones that came with McPhee. And, because he was the first big-name signing of

the Pace-Fox era, his success or failure would be magnified.

The 6-foot-3, 275-pound McPhee seemed on the surface to be an ascending player, coming off a career-best 7 ½ sacks in his fourth NFL season, and he was only 26 years old. But he had started just six games in four years with the Ravens, none in the previous two, and he had a total of just 3 ½ sacks in the two seasons before his breakout.

Skeptics wondered how much of McPhee’s production was the result of opponents paying more attention to teammates Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs.

How would McPhee handle the attention when opponents could identify him as the main man on the Bears’ defense?

The answer is: Just fine.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid was asked last week what impressed him about McPhee and said, “Big. Strong. Relentless. He’s going to keep coming at you.”

Count on it.

BY HUB ARKUSH

run off the clock on the Steelers final game-winning drive that concluded with a Le’veon Bell touchdown with no time on the clock.

This error most likely didn’t affect the outcome of the game, but there is no certainty in that. And it is still an obvious mistake that had nothing to do with judgment. It was simply a failure by the official in question to do his job.

Commissioner Roger Goodell and his fellow owners spend a great deal of time talking about their priority to protect the integrity of the game, but many players, coaches and owners around the league are becoming more and more frustrated by the quality of the officiating and concerned about what is being done to make it better.

It can’t be a good thing for the NFL when each weekend’s games are being followed by official acknowledgements from the league office about mistakes that were made by officials.

Arizona, Buffalo starting to play catch up?

LeGERE

rlegere@dailyherald.com @BobLeGere

looks like a bargain – the Bears’ five-year, $38.75 million deal for Pernell McPhee. It was by far the Bears’ biggest offseason acquisition and the first for new general manager Ryan Pace, who signed McPhee on March 11, two months and three days after he was hired.

After five weeks, McPhee already has had an impact in all three phases of coach John Fox’s team. He’s tied for the team lead with three sacks, leads with seven quarterback pressures, and is third with 26 tackles, according to league statistics.

In the Bears’ 18-17 victory over the Chiefs on Sunday, McPhee blocked what should have been a gimme FG, a 27-yarder midway through the third quarter that would have given the Chiefs a 20-3 lead. It was the first blocked field goal of McPhee’s career.

After that, the closest Kansas City came to scoring was a Hail Mary, 66-yard FG try that wasn’t even close.

It’s beginning to look more and more like the NFL’s elite – which currently includes Green Bay, New England, Cincinnati, Denver,

stone, signing backup quarterback Josh Johnson to be their third man up after it was reported that starter Tyrod Taylor has a sprained MCL. The Bills drafted EJ Manuel to be their quarterback of the future just two-plus seasons ago and he will start in Taylor’s place should Taylor be unable to go, but one of the things Buffalo was checking on potential backup quarterbacks was if their passports were up to date.

The Bills will travel to London to take on the Jaguars next week after hosting Cincinnati this Sunday. The passport checking H. Rick Bamman – Shaw Media might signal Rex Ryan is preparing to go Line judge Sarah Thomas talks with field judge Rick Patterson during the Saints and Titans several weeks without Taylor.

NFL preseason game. Thomas is the first full-time female official in NFL history.

The signing of Johnson also could create uniting him with Bruce Arians, who was his a problem for the Indianapolis Colts, who Atlanta and Carolina – may not be losing games any time soon, so some of the clubs head coach in his final year in Indianapolis had signed Johnson at the beginning of the when Arians filled in on an interim basis for week after each of their last two games and in the group behind them are starting to Chuck Pagano. make moves to try and play catch up. released him after those games, keeping him Freeney hasn’t notched double digit sacks on hand strictly as an emergency option due The Arizona Cardinals have been almost since 2010 when he had 10. He also has as good at 4-1 this year, but one glaring to the injury to Andrew Luck and illness of struggled to stay healthy in two seasons in weakness has been the Cards’ inability to Matt Hasselbeck. pressure quarterbacks with just eight sacks San Diego since leaving the Colts, but we’re Johnson is now no longer available to told that Arians believes he can get some in five games.

Indianapolis should Luck’s shoulder not be push out of Freeney by spotting him in as Tuesday, Arizona took steps to remedy healed or Hasselbeck’s bacterial infection strictly a nickel pass rusher. that issue by signing 13-year veteran and flare up again, and the Bills and Colts are The Buffalo Bills killed two birds with one former NFL sack leader Dwight Freeney, recurrently tied in the standings at 3-2.

9 CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | Thursday, October 15, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com

Bears getting their money’s worth with McPhee

ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, October 15, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

10

Lifelong LEARNER

Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase has learned from some of the game’s best, but he’s still looking for better ARTHUR ARKUSH By

A

s one of few people qualified to discuss Adam Gase the high school wide receiver and Adam Gase the burgeoning coach, Ryan Van Dyke’s opinions of Gase in the two roles differ greatly.

Van Dyke, Gase’s high school quarterback in Marshall, Mich., also played at Michigan State, where Gase, now in his first season as Bears offensive coordinator, was getting his first taste of teaching as a graduate assistant under Nick Saban.

“Talent-wise, he was average,” Van Dyke says of Gase the receiver. “He tried so hard. He was always working on drills and would break out stats after games so the coach had them the next morning.”

When the pair reunited at Michigan State, Van Dyke recalls all-nighters spent talking X’s and O’s with Gase and enlisting him for help with his throwing motion.

“He didn’t act like he was coaching me; he was just on my side,” Van Dyke says.

The path for the 37-year-old Gase, from East Lansing, to the Bears this offseason included another collegiate stop at Louisiana State University with Saban, then onto the Detroit Lions for five seasons, before one year spent as the 49ers’ offensive assistant in 2007 preceded his record-breaking stint with the Broncos.

From Van Dyke to his first NFL passer, Jon Kitna, to Peyton Manning to Jay Cutler, all of the quarterbacks share a similar sentiment on Gase: he has their backs.

Perhaps it’s because Gase could only be so good at catching passes that he’s dedicated his life to helping design them.

And with consecutive, fourth quarter, game-winning drives the past two weeks – the first time he’s accomplished that feat since his inaugural year in Chicago – Cutler is thrilled to have Gase.

“It makes a difference. He gets you through the game, he talks to you. It’s an enjoyable experience,” Cutler, on his fifth coordinator in seven seasons in Chicago, says days before the

second comeback and one of his finest moments with the Bears.

With a rash of injuries on the offensive side of the ball, including to Cutler, evaluating the Bears’ early offensive returns under Gase is not as easy as just looking at quarterback production and offensive numbers.

It’s more telling to note how Gase builds weekly game plans tailored

H. Rick Bamman – Shaw Media

Chicago Bears’ offensive coordinator Adam Gase and quarterback Jay Cutler talk on the sideline following practice June 16 during the first mini camp at Halas Hall in Lake Forest.

AP file photo

In 2006, shortly after joining the Lions, Kitna remembers Gase, recently shifted from the scouting department to offensive assistant, carrying out an assignment from offensive coordinator Mike Martz.

Gase was instructed to give Kitna and fellow QB Dan Orlovsky a test on the plays – all 180 of them – they’d learned during the first week of camp.

“I remember Adam sitting in there and saying, ‘Hey, we just got to trust [Martz].

He’s been where we all want to go. Mike’s done everything that everyone of us in this room wants to do, so we’ve got to trust him.’ We think it’s crazy. I’m trying to get home. We started at like 9 a.m. Finally, at like 2, I’m done, so I left. I know Dan was there with Adam until like 11 at night doing that test.

“It was crazy, but it was one of those things that bonded us. We’d ask him questions and he’d say, ‘I’m not even sure on that.’ We were kind of all learning together. I really appreciated that. I just loved our time there.”

Gase’s first pupil once he became a quarterbacks coach in 2007, Kitna was nearly six years Gase’s senior and wielded more experience in the scheme than his young coach, having spent time under Martz disciple Ken Zampese in Cincinnati.

It’s no wonder, then, that Kitna calls Gase a “lifelong learner” – the two men, in many ways, were in the bunker together. Kitna told Gase he was “one of the best I’ve been around” because Gase wasn’t afraid to admit he didn’t know it all.

“I just kind of kept falling into being around the right people,” says Gase, who credits his father, Art, for his constant desire to learn. “To get an opportunity to be with a Nick Saban and the coaching staff that he had with him during my time at Michigan State. All of the sudden I’m with Steve Mariucci and the guys that he had.

“We didn’t have success in Detroit, but I’m like, ‘Wow, I’m learning from some great guys.’ Being around Dick Jauron,

Gase speaks with the media after rookie practice May 8.

H. Rick Bamman – Shaw Media

I think he’s smart and he’s good under pressure. Meaning he’s a good play-caller. I think he’s creative. Very, very hard worker. He prepares his staff and the players very well. … He is our offensive coordinator. But I also think he’s a tremendous coach.

— JOHN FOX ON ADAM GASE

Rod Marinelli, Mike Martz comes in, Mike Nolan… it was just like non-stop.

Then I get with Fox and [Josh] McDaniels and all those other guys. It’s like, if you don’t take it in, you’re really doing yourself a disservice.”

Peyton Manning has said he and Adam Gase are similar thinkers – they’re always searching for new and improved

ways to move the football and score touchdowns.

In 2013, Gase’s first-ever time calling plays after overseeing the Broncos quarterback and receivers the previous four seasons, they succeeded.

The offense set an NFL record for points (606) and Manning authored his best statistical season, culminating in his fifth MVP award and Denver’s advancing to Super Bowl XLVII. “Hopefully, at some point, I helped [Peyton], whether it was putting in a different scheme or talking coverage with him in a different way than he’s talked it before,” Gase says when asked the role he played for the NFL’s only five-time MVP. Manning wouldn’t have stumped for Gase as an NFL head coach if he hadn’t helped the legendary quarterback, whether it was exchanging texts at all hours of the night or rebuilding an offense on the fly in 2014 after Manning suffered a torn quadriceps that impaired his throwing ability.

In fact, Manning conferred with clubs interested in interviewing Gase earlier this year, the second straight year in which his services were in demand.

With Denver in the midst of a Super Bowl run two years ago, Gase opted not to interview, but this offseason he sat down with no less than four clubs – the 49ers, Falcons, Bears and Bills – about their head coaching vacancies.

He reportedly was the frontrunner

in San Francisco prior to the Niners’ decision to remain in house with Jim Tomsula and Gase’s to follow Fox to Chicago.

When Cutler took his pre-draft visit to the Lions in 2006, it was Gase who picked him up from the airport.

“I guess I just kind of gravitated [to him].

I liked the guy,” Gase recalls. “I remembered spending time with him. … He was tough. Obviously he had the physical abilities.”

When Gase arrived in Denver in 2009 as wide receivers coach, Cutler was there, albeit with one foot out the door toward Chicago thanks to a falling out between Cutler and Josh McDaniels.

Gravitational pulls aside, Gase is onto helping his latest quarterback in Cutler.

And like Manning, Cutler has a chance to aid – rather, cement – Gase’s quest for a head-coaching position by sustaining the level of success they’ve enjoyed the past two weeks.

“All I have to do is figure out how to call the right plays on Sunday,” Gase says modestly.

Of course, it’s much more than that.

“Where he’s been, having worked alongside Manning, Cutler, I think those guys probably felt like he wasn’t their coach – he was helping them,” Van Dyke says. “I think some people just have a knack for being really good at that. He’s like a partner and I think that’s one of the reasons he’s been so successful.”

11 CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | Thursday, October 15, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com

to his personnel’s strengths. Whether it’s installing some zone read with Cutler against Arizona or relying primarily on run-heavy formations when Jimmy Clausen was forced into action, they illustrate both Gase’s foresight and flexibility as a play-caller.

Gase has “all the things you look for,” John Fox, who’s built a reputation for grooming future NFL coaches, says when asked what stands out about his latest fast riser. “I think he’s smart and he’s good under pressure. Meaning he’s a good play-caller. I think he’s creative.

Very, very hard worker. He prepares his staff and the players very well. … He is our offensive coordinator. But I also think he’s a tremendous coach.”

ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, October 15, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

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NFC NORTH REPORT Packers, Vikings host AFC West foes CHARGERS @ PACKERS

Overview

As Aaron Rodgers embarks on a new interception-less streak at Lambeau Field, the Packers’ defense has its own streak going following a 24-10 win over the scrappy Rams: they’re the NFL’s only defense to record an interception in five consecutive games. Dom Capers’ group doubled its interception total against St. Louis, as second-rounder Quinten Rollins broke out with a pair in his best game yet. For all of the offseason hand-wringing over the young, rebuilt secondary, it’s been one of the team’s greatest assets – and its leader, Morgan Burnett, has been active for only one game because of a calf injury. With youngsters like Rollins and Randall contributing alongside veterans Sam Shields and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, and with a vicious pass rush whose 20 sacks trail only the

By the numbers

The Packers have dominated the series, taking nine of 10. In Rodgers’ only meeting with the Bolts, a 45-38 shootout victory in San Diego in 2011, he tossed four touchdowns and recorded a 145.8 passer rating. … James Jones’ fifth touchdown, a 65-yard catch-and-run, puts him on pace to break his personal best of 14, which paced the NFL in 2012. Jones is on track for 1,260 yards. His previous high was 817, in 2013.

Broncos working in concert, Green Bay is playing some of its best defense of the CHIEFS @ VIKINGS Dom Capers era. Following their shocking, last-second loss to Pittsburgh on Monday night, the Chargers must regroup and travel on short rest to Lambeau, where the Overview Minnesota emerges from the early open Packers have won 12 straight. Worse, their date with the NFL’s No. 2 ground game O-line is running out of bodies. and sixth-ranked scoring ‘D.’ Aside from failing to show up in San Francisco to open Matchup to watch the season, the Vikings should be pleased Another week, another rookie RB to with their progress following a difficult challenge Green Bay’s run defense. The opening slate. Though a Week Four bye is Packers allowed a season-high 191 rushing earlier than most teams prefer, it came on yards to the Rams – with 159 supplied by the heels of a slugfest defeat in Denver and the 10th overall pick, Todd Gurley. Select- should help QB Teddy Bridgewater mend ed five spots later, Melvin Gordon returns after being sacked 13 times, including sevto his home state hoping to spark a Bolts en by the Broncos. They hope the extra run game that’s short-circuited behind a rest also will benefit a banged-up WR corps subpar and substitute-heavy O-line. Like – Mike Wallace (knee), Charles Johnson San Diego, the Packers might be short- (ribs) and Jarius Wright (hand) – and safehanded in their efforts with NT B.J. Raji ty Andrew Sendejo, who was held out last (groin) and OLB Nick Perry (shoulder) the game with a knee issue. As for Bridgewalatest additions to a growing injury list. ter, his numbers – two touchdowns, three

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Since being rushed into the lineup following Phil Loadholt’s season-ending Achilles tear, fourth-rounder T.J. Clemmings has been unable to secure the right edge in pass protection. It doesn’t help he’s going from Von Miller in Week Four to Justin Houston, the reigning NFL sack leader, who’s been blanked in three consecutive outings. Tamba Hali will present a difficult challenge for LT Matt Kalil, but the Vikings can only give their tackles so much help from backs and tight ends – much of it likely reserved for the ultra raw Clemmings on Sunday.

By the numbers

The Vikings are 7-6 coming off the bye since 2013. In their first season under Mike Zimmer, they resumed work by falling 21-13 in Chicago. … Adrian Peterson is averaging 5.0 yards per carry, the second-best of his career, and is on pace for 1,488 rushing yards – which he’s topped just twice.

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FOOTBALL Week Six looks to be a low-scoring affair By

J.C. TALON

ChicagoFootball.com fantasy football writer

In a season full of surprises, the biggest shocker thus far has been the emergence of Andy Dalton. In standard formats, he is fantasy’s top scorer through five weeks. (Tom Brady is averaging more points per game.)

If you’ve been sitting Dalton behind a better-known commodity (say, Manning, Peyton), it’s probably time to make the switch.

Unfortunately for Dalton owners, he faces another tough defense (at Buffalo) in Week Six. There would seem to be the potential for quite a few low-scoring contests. In fact, if we are to believe the betting lines, we could be looking at the most offensively challenged week of the season. With high point totals at a premium, fantasy owners will want to be especially careful selecting their lineups this week.

MATCHUPS TO EXPLOIT FALCONS (@ SAINTS) 7:30 p.m. Thursday Thursday night matchups are a bit risky fantasy-wise, especially if you have a banged-up player – like Julio Jones – who needs a full week of rest. With that in mind, Falcons owners should probably roll the dice in this game anyway. After five weeks, the Saints are giving up a league-worst 409 total yards per game. They are particularly ineffective at stopping the run, which should mean a big day for Devonta Freeman. The over/under in this game is 51. Only the New England at Indy game is set higher.

Must start: Freeman, Jones* Solid play: Matt Ryan, Matt Bryant Worth a look: Leonard Hankerson, Jacob Tamme Last resort: Tevin Coleman,

Falcons D/ST Stay away: Roddy White

TITANS (vs. DOLPHINS) Noon Sunday The Miami defense is ranked No. 29, giving up 399 yards and more than 25 points per game.

The wild card in this game is the fact that it is Miami’s first game under interim coach Dan Campbell. Assuming he didn’t solve the mystery of what ails the Dolphins’ defense in just two weeks, Tennessee should have offensive success in this game.

Marcus Mariota is not yet a surefire fantasy starter, but he has a chance to be a top-five QB this week. The Titans’ running game sputtered last week against Buffalo, but the Bills are No. 3 against the run and the Dolphins are ranked dead last in that category. Some Tennessee back could have a good day, although it’s not clear which one it might be.

Solid play: Mariota Worth a look: Antonio Andrews, Bishop Sankey, Kendall Wright, Delanie Walker, Ryan Succop, Titans D/ST Last resort: Justin Hunter Stay away: Dexter McCluster

PACKERS (vs. CHARGERS) 3:25 p.m. Sunday In our first of two chip shots, we’re recommending Green Bay at home against a San Diego team coming off a brutal loss on a short week. Facing an average defense, look for Aaron Rodgers and Eddie Lacy to rebound from their subpar performances in Week Five.

Must start: Rodgers, Lacy, Randall Cobb Solid play: James Jones, Mason Crosby, Packers D/ST Worth a look: Ty Montgomery, Richard Rodgers Last resort: James Starks

PATRIOTS (@ COLTS)

7:25 p.m. Sunday

In a game with the week’s highest over/under (around 55), the Pats are another “uh, duh” recommendation. The Colts’ defense has yielded more yards than all but four other NFL teams. The Patriots’ offense is ranked first in yards and passing yards per game. For the first time this season, we are recommending four “must starts” from one offense.

Must start: Brady, Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski, Stephen Gostkowski Solid play: Dion Lewis, LeGarrette Blount Worth a look: Patriots D/ST Last resort: Danny Amendola, Aaron Dobson

his team’s yardage.

The Vikings’ defense ranks 12th in passing yardage, but they are just 26 th against the run.

This would have been a decent matchup for Charles. KC will use a committee approach to replace Charles. Knile Davis is a 225-pound north/south runner.

Charcandrick West is closer in size (5-9, 203) to Charles, and may offer more upside spark than Davis.

Solid play: Travis Kelce Worth a look: West, Jeremy Maclin, Chiefs D/ST ALSO CONSIDER Last resort: Alex Smith, Knile Davis, Cairo Santos BEARS (@ LIONS) Stay away: De’Anthony ThomNoon Sunday as This likely will be a low-scoring game. The current over/ under is hovering around 43. WASHINGTON (@ JETS) However, if Alshon Jeffery plays Noon Sunday Washington is somehow (and that’s a big “if”), the Bears’ ranked 11 th in offensive yards, offense could do well. The Lith ons are starting to look like this but they are 25 in points scored, averaging just 19.4 per game. year’s biggest train wreck.

The Jets’ defense is ranked 2nd in total yards allowed, 2 nd in RAVENS (@ 49ERS) passing yards, and 8th in rushing 3:25 p.m. Sunday After five weeks, only New yards. Matt Jones was the big Orleans is giving up more yards waiver pickup after Week One, than the 49ers. The Ravens are but in his last two games he has 1-4, but they put up a respectable produced 31 total rushing yards and is averaging just 1.7 yards 360 yards per game on offense. per carry. Keep an eye on the injury status of DeSean Jackson MATCHUPS TO AVOID and Jordan Reed. If both play, Washington could score around 20 points.

CHIEFS (@ VIKINGS) Worth a look: Jackson*, Reed*, Noon Sunday Kansas City was enjoying Washington D/ST Last resort: Alfred Morris, limited offensive success before Jamaal Charles went down with Pierre Garcon Stay away: Matt Jones* an ACL injury. The Chiefs will have to make a big adjustment; Jamaal Charles accounted for PANTHERS (@ SEAHAWKS) 32 percent of their offensive 3:05 p.m. Sunday production over the past three The over/under in this game seasons. Only Matt Forte of the is a paltry 41. Seattle’s defense is Bears boasts a larger portion of ranked 5th in yards allowed and

AP photo

Carolina’s defense is 10 th. Because Carolina’s offense is so one-dimensional, this looks to be a particularly tough matchup for them. If you have Cam Newton, he’s probably your starter.

Your best hope is that he scores at least one TD on the ground and doesn’t turn the ball over.

In a standard scoring format, he could be good for something like 15 to 18 points. A monster day seems unlikely.

Fun stat: the third-leading receiver on the Panthers (Corey Brown) has a grand total of six receptions this year.

Solid play: Newton, Panthers D/ST Worth a look: Greg Olsen Last resort: Jonathan Stewart, Tedd Ginn Stay away: Brown, Devin Funchess, Graham Gano

ALSO BEWARE BROWNS (vs. BRONCOS) Noon Sunday Cleveland’s offense and the play of QB Josh McCown have been a pleasant surprise lately.

They’ll get a real test this week when Denver’s No. 1 ranked defense comes to town.

SEAHAWKS (vs. PANTHERS) 3:05 p.m. Sunday The talk that the Seahawks need to get Jimmy Graham more involved in their passing game is starting to wear thin. Through five games, he barely has 200 receiving yards. For whatever reason, it’s not working, and you might need to explore a different option at TE. Seattle would get a boost if Marshawn Lynch returns from injury. *Check injury status

13 CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | Thursday, October 15, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com

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PATRICK FINLEY

MARK POTASH

Can Bears fans cancel their draft parties?

In this week’s edition of Take 2, Patrick Finley and Mark Potash discuss whether winning two straight games changes the perception of a Bears’ season presumed doomed after Week Three:

FINLEY: Potsie, it looks like we can cancel the draft party. (Too bad, too: I bought all these snacks). The team that picked No. 1 last year, the Buccaneers, had two wins; the Bears have two through five games and a winless Lions team to play on Sunday. My question: Have your expectations for the season changed? Should they?

POTASH: First of all, it’s good that it looks like Bears fans can cancel the draft party, because the Bears’ progress is real. It’s not like they

won a couple of meaningless Week 16-17 games against teams that aren’t interested to bump themselves out of the No. 1 pick. That said, they haven’t done much more than win winnable games against beatable opponents. I’m not about to adjust my 7-9 prediction yet. These “work-in-progress” seasons rarely go in a straight incline. Until they get healthy on offense and beat a playoff-bound team, I’ll stick with my original analysis of the Bears season – they’ll be better at the end than they are at the beginning.

FINLEY: The players undoubtedly believe in John Fox and his staff; each comment about this season’s motivations makes last year look worse.

The players think they’ll get better, and I do, too, provided that hamstring

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train-wreck 49ers). As the Bears get healthier and gain more confidence, is it reasonable to expect more than a “work-in-progress” team?

POTASH: Playoffs? Are you talking playoffs, Pat? With this coaching staff, this schedule, a healthy Jay Cutler and the mediocrity of the NFL, anything is possible, my friend – the 2-2 Vikings currently hold the No. 6 playoff spot in the NFC. There will be some backwards steps, but consider this: Fox’s first team in Denver (2011) won seven of eight after the bye and made the playoffs; his first team in Carolina (2002) won four of its last five to set itself up for a run to the Super Bowl the following year. My advice? Until further notice, keep your eye on the big picture.

FINLEY: I never said the P-word. How about playing relevant games after Thanksgiving? The Broncos team you mention started 1-4, while the 2002 Panthers went from Sept. 23 to Dec. 1 without winning a game. The point is, momentum ebbs and flows during a long football season. Speaking of which: win Sunday, and the Bears will have their first three-game winning streak since the first games of the Marc Trestman era. Remember how well that started?

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TAKE TWO

strains stop being contagious. Still, Potsie, the teams they beat are bad ones. The Raiders and Chiefs were each a single third-down conversion from a victory. Does that diminish the Bears’ win? Or is it the opposite – that the Bears would have lost such a game last year?

POTASH: Never underestimate the mediocrity of the NFL. Only two of the Bears’ final 11 opponents have winning records – the unbeaten Broncos and Packers. The other nine opponents are a combined 13-30 today. (And John Fox’s intimate knowledge of the Broncos won’t hurt his preparation for that game.) The Bears have a lot of winnable games remaining on their schedule, and they’ve proven the past two weeks that they can win winnable games, with Jay Cutler making the difference. I think that’s how you win in the NFL. The Bears – regardless of what level they’re at – seem to be on the right track.

FINLEY: That’s also how the NFL is designed. The Bears are playing a last-place schedule because the league wants every team, at the start of the season, to be plausible contenders. We haven’t reached that part of the schedule yet – see you in December, Washington and the Buccaneers (and the

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Rick Hauser

Sales Manager

Brett Simpson

Carl Buehler Chad Conderman Jamie Curia

Rusty Baker Adam ChapmanChase VanHolten Josh Vannoy Tanner Dornacher Dave Kipping

Steve Davis

Business Manager Sales Professional Sales Professional Sales Professional Sales Professional Sales Professional Sales Professional Sales Professional Sales Professional Sales Professional Sales Professional

*Prices do not include tax, title, license or doc fees. Residency restrictions apply. See dealer for details. Must take retail delivery by 10/31/2015. Photos for illustration purposes only. Dealer not liable for errors.

TRUNK-OR-TREAT @ KEN NELSON AUTO GROUP - 10.28.15 - 5:30-7PM