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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2015 • CHICAGOFOOTBALL.COM

MORE THAN A RIVALRY GAME Hub Arkush: Bears are fighting for their playoff lives on Turkey Day 2

NFC NORTH REPORT

After tough loss to Packers, Vikings head to Atlanta for key matchup with playoff implications.

12

A MODEL FOR PACE

Green Bay is one of the most respected franchises in the NFL. How do they do it?

10

TAKE TWO

Is Bears vs. Packers rivalry overrated?

15

HELP ON THE WAY?

With Matt Forte’s likely return from a knee injury, can he and Jeremy Langford combine to outscore Rodgers, Packers?

More than rivalry on the line vs. Packers As the Bears prepared to meet the Denver Broncos last Sunday with a touch of playoff fever in the air around Chicago, it seemed like most of the teams in the NFL were tied with them at 4-5 and trying to separate themselves.

In reality, it was just a bit more than a third of the league – 11 teams sitting at 4-5. Looking back now, it seems like last Sunday might have been moving day.

Five of those 11 clubs – Indianapolis, Houston, Kansas City, Tampa Bay and Seattle – were able to climb to .500. In hindsight, it appears that all have been hotter than the rest and making their moves for a little while now.

Short of historic collapses, the Patriots, Broncos and Bengals will be AFC playoff teams this year. Little else in the junior circuit is clear.

If the playoffs were tomorrow, the Colts would hold a tiebreaker over the Texans for the AFC South crown and the Steelers

FROM THE EDITOR

By HUB

ARKUSH

harkush@chicagofootball.com @Hub_Arkush

would have a one-game lead over the Jets, Texans, Bills and Chiefs for one of two Wild Card spots.

What’s interesting is four of those five teams have been gaining steam under the radar for some time now.

For all the drama surrounding the Colts, they’ve actually won four of their last seven, and two of the three losses have been to the undefeated Patriots and Panthers.

Pittsburgh has won four of its last six. Houston has won three straight and four of its last five.

And Kansas City has now won four straight after a one-point loss to the Bears in a game it was leading comfortably when it lost Jamaal Charles for the season.

Only the Jets are struggling, having dropped four of their past five. They appear to be the longest shot to claim one of the three playoff spots these five clubs are fighting for.

The NFC playoff picture is slightly clearer. Carolina and Arizona look to be sure things, and the Packers and Vikings are going to be tough to catch with one winning the North – the Packers currently hold the tiebreaker – and the other a probable Wild Card.

The entire NFC East is alive for a division title, with the Giants holding a one-game lead and no team in the division a likely Wild Card contender.

Right now, the Vikings are a solid five seed at 7-3. Even

BY THE

despite Sunday’s loss to the Packers, the Vikings still are winners of five of their last six.

The Falcons would be the six seed at 6-4, but having dropped four straight, it’s hard to value them over Seattle and Tampa Bay. For all the talk of the Seahawks’ woes, they’ve actually won three of their past four.

The most interesting .500 club of all might be Lovie Smith’s Bucs, who’ve now won three of four, four of six and saw Jameis Winston explode Sunday with five touchdown passes and a 131.6 passer rating.

How do the Bears fit in all of this?

As losers of three of their past five, only the Jets are colder among potential playoff teams.

And the Bears, still tied with four other clubs at 4-6, would have to move past four more clubs to claim a Wild Card spot.

This much is clear. If the Bears don’t beat the Packers Thursday night, they can forget about the playoffs this year.

NUMB3RS

93-92-6

The Bears’ all-time record vs. Green Bay. If the favored Packers win the Thanksgiving Day matchup, the two teams will have the exact same number of wins through 192 games played.

23-33

Bears’ record at Lambeau Field dating to 1957, when it first opened under the name of City Stadium. It was renamed Lambeau Field in August 1965 in honor of Curly Lambeau, the Packers’ founder, player and long-time head coach.

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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ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, November 26, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

2

Walter Payton

1980

BEARS 23, LIONS 17 (OT)

In one of the craziest finishes in Thanksgiving football history, the Bears and Lions battled to a 17-17 tie at the end of regulation to set up the first ever overtime game on Thanksgiving. The overtime period

TEXANS 27, BEARS 23

This performance was memorable, but not in a good way for the Bears. The Dallas Texans were playing their only season and were not good, coming in at 0-9. This game was moved to Akron, Ohio, as the underscore to a high school game.

However, the Bears vastly underrated the winless Texans

D Dreaming g

1979

Football is a Thanksgiving tradition as much as turkey and pumpkin pie. Just like last year, the Bears will be featured on the holiday game slate, so today we present five of the most memorable Bears’ Thanksgiving performances.

Daily Herald file photo

and started their second-string players. The Bears found themselves overmatched and the Texans would go on to win the only game in their one-season existence.

BEARS 27, LIONS 24

The defending NFL champion Bears were struggling in 1964 as they came into the matchup at 4-7, but they had won their previous two games.

It was a tight contest all day

long as the Bears kept taking the lead but the Lions always stormed back to tie it up. The Bears had a slim lead going into the fourth quarter off of a Roger LeClerc field goal, and their fourth quarter defense stepped up to hold off another Lions rally and to give the Bears their final win of the season.

1977

bgartland@chicagofootball.com @BenG_Sports

didn’t last long, however, as Dave Williams took the opening kickoff at the five, broke free of the wedge and then tore down the sideline. Williams’ 95-yard return was a walk-off win for the Bears in one of the most memorable Thanksgiving games ever.

1964

BEN GARTLAND

1952

By

BEARS 31, LIONS 14

The Bears had not made the playoffs since 1963, but they

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Another poor performance rounds out the list as the 7-6 Bears, who had won four in a row and were six-point favorites, laid an egg against the 1-11 Lions. Walter Payton was held to just 54 yards rushing and the Bears turned the ball over three times while simultaneously being unable to capitalize on three Detroit turnovers. The surprising result stopped the winning streak in its tracks but the Bears did go on to win their last three games and make the playoffs.

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3 CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | Thursday, November 26, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com

Memorable Thanksgiving performances by the Bears

were in the midst of a winning streak that would send them to the divisional round. In this game against their division rival, the Lions, Walter Payton was the star. Payton rushed for 137 yards rushing and added 107 yards receiving with two touchdowns. It was his eightyard run in the fourth quarter that put the game away for the Bears, giving them a 17-point lead. Chicago went on to win their last six games of the season to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in 14 years.

GAME PREVIEW

ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, November 26, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

4

PACKERS

VS.

WK 12

BEARS

GAMEDAY: THURSDAY, NOV. 26, 2015 / LAMBEAU FIELD, GREEN BAY

By

KEVIN FISHBAIN

XXXX

kfishbain@chicagofootball.com @kfishbain

BEARS RUSHING OFFENSE vs PACKERS RUN DEFENSE

This is a matchup the Bears dominated in Week One, when Matt Forte ripped off 141 yards on 24 carries (5.9-yard average).

Forte could return Thursday night against a Packers team he has been very successful against.

A combination of Forte and a more-seasoned Jeremy Langford would provide Adam Gase with the weapons to run against Green Bay, which is allowing 4.3 yards a carry this season. However, the Packers are coming off back-to-back strong performances against the run, holding Adrian Peterson to 45 yards on 13 carries on Sunday, one week after they bottled up the Lions for 45 yards rushing. Illinois State’s Nate Palmer has emerged at inside linebacker along with Clay Matthews, who will play both inside and rush off the edge. Langford mustered only 25 yards in his 13 carries against Denver, as the Bears struggled to create running lanes. This will be a game to utilize the ball-control offense to keep Aaron Rodgers off the field, but can the Bears make plays on the ground Zach Miller against an improving Packers ‘D’ with a less-than-100 percent Forte? This is a close matchup, and the most important to giving he completed only 50 percent of the Bears a chance at the upset. his passes and was picked off by Matthews in the fourth quarter.

EDGE PACKERS Since returning from his injury, Cutler has been playing lights out. Even on Sunday, when his BEARS PASSING accuracy dipped to 54.5 percent OFFENSE vs PACKERS and he had two turnovers, it was Cutler’s legs and ability to PASS DEFENSE Luckily for Jay Cutler, it’s a extend the play and find receivshort week, which means only ers against Denver’s top-ranked a few days to discuss his strug- pass defense that kept the Bears gles against Dom Capers and at in the game. Green Bay’s secondLambeau Field. In Week One, ary is talented, and the ‘D’ as a

credit H. Rick Bamman –Shaw Media

whole has 11 picks this season.

Opposing quarterbacks have an 82.0 rating against the Packers, completing 59.1 percent of their passes. The Packers’ 29 sacks are tied for sixth-best in the league.

The stats, as well as Cutler’s history against the division rival, give the edge to Green Bay, but not so fast. In three of their past four games, the Packers have allowed more than 63-percent accuracy to the opposing quarterback. They have only three picks

in the past four games after nine in the first five.

ers rushed for 71 and 47 yards in losses to the Panthers and Lions, EDGE BEARS respectively. They’re catching a Bears run defense that couldn’t build off its impressive shutPACKERS RUSHING down of Todd Gurley, letting OFFENSE vs BEARS RUN one of the league’s worst run DEFENSE games to go off on Sunday. RonIs Eddie Lacy back? He had nie Hillman and C.J. Anderson 22 carries for 100 yards against combined for 33 carries for 161 a vaunted Vikings defense on yards, averaging 4.9 yards. The Sunday, his first time hitting the D-line got pushed back, and the century mark all season. In the outside linebackers struggled two previous games, the Pack- to set the edge. Green Bay will

THIS WEEK IN THE NFL

Aaron Rodgers

AP photo

run it out of the shotgun, a much different look than what the Broncos did at Soldier Field.

In Week One, Lacy had 85 yards but averaged 4.5 yards per carry against the Bears. This Bears defense is better, but coming off Sunday’s performance and playing on short rest on the road, it’s hard to give this matchup to Vic Fangio’s group.

EDGE PACKERS

PACKERS PASSING OFFENSE vs BEARS PASS DEFENSE

OK, this isn’t as simple as just saying “Aaron Rodgers” as it usually is, considering the issues Green Bay’s offense has had the past month. In Week One, Rodgers threw only five incomplete passes, tossing three touchdowns – including two on perfectly placed balls. The Bears sacked him zero times. Fangio will have a sound plan for Rodgers, and if the Bears’ corners made better plays on the ball in Week One, that would’ve been a different story. The pass rush was a positive against Brock Osweiler, sacking him five times, but Rodgers has better mobility and a much quicker release.

The biggest boost for the Bears in this game compared to Week One is Tracy Porter, who has been one of the Bears’ top defenders. Would Fangio use

Porter on Jones? How will the Bears handle Randall Cobb?

There are at least some options for Fangio, and maybe his press-man defense will give the Packers’ receivers problems like we saw in their losses. Like the previous matchup, this is closer than usual between the Bears and Rodgers, but he still is the most talented thrower in the league playing at home in prime time.

EDGE PACKERS

THURSDAY’S OVERALL EDGE

The biggest disparity between these two teams is in the red zone, where the Packers are converting 63.3 percent of their trips into touchdowns, whereas the Bears have had major issues capitalizing on offense, as evidenced in their loss to the Broncos, when they were one for four. As good as Adam Gase’s offense has looked between the 20’s, its 41.2 percent rate in the red zone isn’t going to be good enough in Lambeau against Rodgers. The Bears have a lot of confidence and have been competitive in seven consecutive games. This coaching staff should get that out of the players again, but the Packers got back on track with a huge win in Minnesota.

EDGE PACKERS

Top players

OFFENSE / QB Aaron Rodgers, RB Eddie Lacy, WR Randall Cobb, OGs Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang DEFENSE / DT Mike Daniels, ILB Clay Matthews, OLB Julius Peppers, CB Sam Shields and S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

Schemes

OFFENSE / Mike McCarthy’s scheme is predicated on balance, precision and timing. Rodgers benefited greatly from the resurgence of Lacy as a bellcow and James Jones as a consistent receiving threat. Although the plays are designed to get the ball out quickly, Rodgers is an off-schedule artist.

DEFENSE / Dom Capers utilizes a bevy of blitzes, coverages and sub packages.

Daniels and B.J. Raji can control the line.

Former first-round picks Datone Jones, getting more reps at outside ‘backer, and Nick Perry are finally playing like it. Now inside, Matthews is as impactful as ever.

Shields is fresh off arguably his best game.

Weaknesses

EAGLES @ LIONS

DOLPHINS @ JETS

11:30 a.m. Thursday, FOX

Noon Sunday, CBS

After Sanchez, run ‘D’ implode, Kelly’s Eagles infighting; Lions really fighting for Caldwell.

Winning the offseason again fool’s gold. Talented teams still missing pieces to challenge Patriots.

PANTHERS @ COWBOYS

VIKINGS @ FALCONS

3:30 p.m. Thursday, CBS

Noon Sunday, FOX

Undefeated Panthers cruise behind Cam’s career day; Cowboys 3-0 with Romo in saddle.

Vikings still aren’t quite ready for prime time. After third straight loss, Atlanta is fading quickly.

BEARS @ PACKERS

GIANTS @ REDSKINS

7:30 p.m. Thursday, NBC

Noon Sunday, FOX

Rivals have met 191 times. Bears have 93 wins, Packers 92. They’ve tied 6 times.

Is the NFC East worse than the AFC South? Big Blue the favorite – for now.

BILLS @ CHIEFS

RAIDERS @ TITANS

Noon Sunday, CBS

Noon Sunday, CBS

Chiefs have outscored foes 130-39 during four-game climb.

Young Raiders taking lumps; Tennessee in three-way tie with Chargers, Browns for first pick.

RAMS @ BENGALS Noon Sunday, FOX

CARDINALS @ 49ERS

The reality is St. Louis remains pretender, but the Bengals? Reeling after second straight prime-time loss.

3:05 p.m. Sunday, FOX

SAINTS @ TEXANS

Palmer’s Cardinals have seemingly endless weapons; 49ers headed nowhere, but what about Kap this offseason?

Noon Sunday, FOX

STEELERS @ SEAHAWKS

J.J. Watt, DeAndre Hopkins’ Texans nuking in AFC South.

3:25 p.m. Sunday, CBS

BUCCANEERS @ COLTS

Another fun NFC West/AFC North clash, this one likely lower scoring than Cincy-Arizona.

The WR corps has missed Jordy Nelson’s ability to consistently separate and threaten vertically. The club hasn’t gotten adequate tight end production since Jermichael Finley’s departure.

Rodgers has a way of offsetting his receivers’ struggles, but the passing game has lacked its usual efficiency.

Jameis and muscle hamster lead Bucs back to .500; Hasselbeck, D’Qwell Jackson keep Colts atop AFC South.

Last time they met

Noon Sunday, CBS

RAVENS @ BROWNS

Bye clearly didn’t energize 2-win Bolts; Jaguars in hunt, looking for third straight.

7:30 p.m. Monday, ESPN

09/13/2015: The Bears tallied a season-high 189 rushing yards and led at the break, but Rodgers helped Green Bay outscore Chicago 21-10 after intermission en route to a 31-23 win.

Noon Sunday, FOX

CHARGERS @ JAGUARS

PATRIOTS @ BRONCOS 7:30 p.m. Sunday, NBC Kubiak can’t go back to Manning now, can he? Denver ‘D’ offers tremendous test for Brady.

Who do the Ravens have left to lose? Browns undefeated in bye week.

CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | Thursday, November 26, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com

Mark Sanchez

5

ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, November 26, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

6

BEARS

VS.

PACKERS STAFF PREDICTIONS

Tuesday spread: Bears +8½

Hub

Kevin

Arthur

Nate

Bob

ChicagoFootball.com

ChicagoFootball.com

ChicagoFootball.com

ChicagoFootball.com

Daily Herald

Bears 20 Packers 30 The Packers may have gotten healthy too soon for wounded Bears to sneak into Lambeau and steal a win on short rest.

Bears 20 Packers 26 They won’t get blown out, but the Bears don’t have enough on offense to keep up with Rodgers.

Bears 16 Packers 31 The Bears make the trip this year at least but struggle to make it interesting.

Bears 17 Packers 28 Bears rely too much on preparation to beat a great team on a short week.

Bears 21 Packers 27 The Packers look like they’re back on track, but the Bears have shown they can keep it close.

Season Record: 4-6 Versus Spread: 6-3-1

Season Record: 4-6 Versus Spread: 5-4-1

Season Record: 3-7 Versus Spread: 5-3-2

Season Record: 5-5 Versus Spread: 8-1-1

Season Record: 6-4 Versus Spread: 8-1-1

Jon

Adam

Jay

Kyle

Wes

Northwest Herald

Chicago Sun-Times

Rockford Register-Star

Kankakee Daily Journal

Peoria Journal Star

Bears 20 Packers 28 Packers have plenty of motivation to win this one. Despite struggles, Green Bay knows how to beat Bears.

Bears 27 Packers 24 Crazy things can and will happen on Turkey Day. (My record stinks anyway.)

Bears 24 Packers 31 The Bears will put up a fight again, but will be just one point better than in their Week One loss.

Bears 14 Packers 24 The Bears aren’t talented enough to overcome all the injuries on a short week.

Bears 24 Packers 31 Chicago is a nice team, fighting well above its weight. Green Bay holds the belt.

Season Record: 5-5 Versus Spread: 6-3-1

Season Record: 3-7 Versus Spread: 4-4-2

Season Record: 7-3 Versus Spread: 7-2-1

Season Record: 4-6 Versus Spread: 4-5-1

Season Record: 3-7 Versus Spread: 6-3-1

ARKUSH

STYF

FISHBAIN

ARKUSH

JAHNS

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ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, November 26, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

8

Bears playing well despite large number of injuries

By ADAM

JAHNS

ajahns@suntimes.com @adamjahns

Players don’t like to make excuses, but the Bears have several good ones, and it should be OK for them to admit.

The Bears’ lengthy list of injured players is a viable reason for their struggles and their 4-6 record. At no point was that more clear this season than this past Sunday against the Broncos, a member of the NFL’s elite.

If receiver Alshon Jeffery, running back Matt Forte and safety Antrel Rolle are able to play against the Packers on Thanksgiving night, the game will be different. If they played against the Broncos, the Bears might have won.

The Broncos can’t load the

box on nearly every early down to stop the Bears’ ground game if Jeffery is healthy and active.

Broncos star receiver Demaryius Thomas might not break loose for a 48-yard catch-and-run for a score if it’s Rolle breaking down in the open field for a tackle instead of Chris Prosinski, a career special-teamer.

And there’s more.

If Pernell McPhee isn’t playing through a left knee injury, perhaps he does more to disrupt the Broncos’ offense instead of the one tackle he was credited. If tight end Martellus Bennett isn’t dealing with ailing ribs, perhaps he makes the contested throws that were sent his way.

Every team has injuries. The Packers lost standout receiver Jordy Nelson in August. But at this point in their evolution under general manager Ryan Pace,

THE WAY WE HEAR IT Is Goodell picking the wrong side again?

different offensive-line combinations this season, including three different centers for quarterback Jay Cutler to work with in 10 games. Jeffery has missed five games, Royal four and Rolle essentially 3 1/2.

Only three defensive players have started every game: defensive end Jarvis Jenkins, cornerback Kyle Fuller and safety Adrian Amos.

That the Bears were competitive against the Broncos and have been every week this season is a testament to how well Jay Cutler is playing and how well-coached they are on both sides of the ball.

H. Rick Bamman –Shaw Media “We’re missing some guys,” the Bears don’t have the depth Cutler said, “but that’s nothing or the overall talent level across new.”

But they could make a world the board to compensate for the caliber of players that they are of difference. The injury bug is the story of the Bears’ first seamissing every week.

The Bears have featured five son under coach John Fox.

Jay Cutler

The Bears’ defense has gone through plenty of changes since their season opener at Soldier Field against the Packers. Overall, they’ve proven to be a surprisingly capable group, despite what many say about their talent level.

One reason has been the play of veteran cornerback Tracy Porter, and he’s a player to watch Thursday night. Porter, who has broken up 10 passes this season, was sidelined by a hamstring injury in their first meeting.

Cutler has struggled in his career against the Packers, but Forte hasn’t. In 14 games against them, Forte has run for 1,017 yards and five touchdowns on 248 carries and caught 60 passes for 554 yards and another score.

BY HUB ARKUSH

enjoying the players you pick.”

According to Goodell, “Daily fantasy is different in the sense that Speaking at a fan forum in Minneapolis last weekend, Roger it’s essentially the player picks whatever players they want.

Goodell opined on the legality of “They do that independently, and Fantasy Football and daily fantasy it’s a matchup of those players. It in particular. really would be difficult to have Of fantasy in general, Goodell that remote influence we are says, “Season-long fantasy – many people probably play here in worried about than gambling in general. So I’m less troubled on this room – it’s for fun.

“It’s social. It’s an opportunity to that front. But I also want to make sure that, specifically our fans, enjoy the game, and we encourwhen you play something, I want age our kids to do it. They have clubs in school. It’s a way to con- to make sure there are proper nect people, and we think that’s a consumer protections. That’s important for us.” wonderful way.”

The operative phrase for the Goodell distinguished that from commissioner, of course, is, “It’s daily fantasy games, of which he said, “Daily fantasy’s taken a little not about making money.”

Really? Have any of you ever different approach. We want to participated in a season-long make sure we understand how it game in which there wasn’t a buywould be done. in and cash prizes available to the “We love people who are going winners? to engage in the game and have Does anyone play at Draft Kings fun with it. It’s not about making or Fan Duel for any reason other money. It’s about enjoying the than to win money? game and enjoying the team,

of Florida charging Fan Duel, Draft Kings, banks, credit card companies and 40 individuals with negligence, breach of contract and unjust enrichment and other violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. All this creates two significant issues for Goodell and the league.

The first is that investors in the Roger Goodell industry include Jerry Jones, RobAP photo ert Kraft and the parent company Why and how the commissioner of ESPN, to name a few. continues to make ridiculous The second is that if Fantasy is public proclamations on matters in fact gambling – and let’s face it extremely sensitive to the success folks, it’s really hard to argue that and future of the NFL is a source of it’s not – how can the NFL support consternation to many. it while continuing to battle tooth The issue here, of course, is that and nail against legalized betting the city of Las Vegas and state of on actual games?

New York have recently classiOnce again, multiple NFL insiders fied fantasy football as gambling and analysts are asking, has the requiring a license to run leagues commissioner really thought this in Vegas and making it illegal in one through?

New York.

Is Kelly nearing the There also is now a nationwide end in Philadelphia? class action lawsuit that’s been Just 10 games into his second filed in the Southern District court

season in Philadelphia, Chip Kelly is battling problems on multiple fronts. A number of our sources are suggesting a return to the college ranks for Kelly might not be far behind.

Kelly felt the need to give a vote of confidence to defensive coordinator Bill Davis with the locals screaming for his head after an embarrassing Eagles loss to the Buccaneers. Mark Sanchez and Darren Sproles were caught in a heated exchange on the sideline after a Sanchez pick six, and one anonymous teammate accused DeMarco Murray of not giving 100 percent for sliding rather than delivering a blow or taking a hit at the end of a play.

All of that is, of course, in addition to the Eagles 4-6 record following Kelly’s banishment of a number of popular Eagles players.

With nine Power 5 college jobs and counting open right now, there is plenty of smoke around these reports.

If you listen to sports talk radio much, you’ve heard this week that quarterback Jay Cutler is the Bears’ biggest problem.

He actually might be their MVP. Cutler’s 92.7 passer rating isn’t spectacular. It puts him 16th in the league, smack dab in the middle.

Cutler is 18th in passing yards (2,310) and tied for 10th in yards per pass play (7.6).

Among full-time starters with as many attempts, only Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Andy Dalton and Alex Smith have thrown fewer interceptions than Cutler’s 6.

Cutler’s current passer rating is 7 points higher than his career mark and 7.5 points over his combined passer rating in his seven years with the Bears. His previous best single-season passer rating was 89.2.

So far, this is Cutler’s best season. He’s done more with less this year than he ever has.

The Bears’ best offensive weapon, wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, has missed as many games as he’s played. The other starter, Eddie

OPINION

By BOB

LeGERE

rlegere@dailyherald.com @BobLeGere

Royal, has missed four games, including the last three.

There have been four different offensive line combinations. Only right tackle Kyle Long has started all 10 games at the same position, and he had never played there until the season opener. Cutler has taken snaps from three centers.

There isn’t as yet a statistic that measures the number of times a quarterback avoids the pass rush, buys time with his feet and completes a pass, but Cutler, at age 32, is also doing that better

than he ever has.

Sunday against the Broncos, who came in as the NFL’s best pass-rushing team, Cutler was sacked twice. But several other times he deftly sidestepped danger and even bolted the pocket three times for 29 yards on the ground.

He’s averaging 5.8 yards on 25 runs this year.

“When you have guys who are creative on the defensive line, especially on the edge,” right tackle Long said after the Broncos game, “you rely on Jay to be able to see things and see through some of the stunts or some of the games that they’re doing and extend the play with his feet. He’s done a great job of that all year.”

Coach John Fox has observed some noticeable growth in just the few months that he’s worked with Cutler.

“I’ve seen him grow,” Fox said.

“I’ve seen him be all-in from when we first came here in the off-season. He’s done a tremendous job.

I’ve never seen a guy work quite that hard. Buying into something and learning it ... it takes countless hours.

Jay Cutler

Mark Busch – Shaw Media

“It’s not just practice time or off-season conditioning time. He put a lot of extra time into it, and it’s always good to see people that worked really hard improve and reap the rewards of it.”

Offensive coordinator Adam Gase believes there are a number of reasons for Cutler’s improvement this year.

In addition to the six interceptions, Cutler also has lost three fumbles, a noticeable improvement over last season when he tossed 18 picks, tying for the NFL lead. He also lost six fumbles last season, giving him a league-high 24 turnovers.

“We’ve got the turnovers down,” Gase said. “We’ve got a long way to go, [but] think we’ve made some strides as far as our ball security in the pocket. I think a lot of it has been he’s getting the ball out quick. He’s been decisive.

There’s no hesitation.

“And he and [quarterbacks coach] Dowell [Loggains] have done a great job within practice being conscious about [ball security] and working on drills to make sure that we’re better in that area.”

That’s just one of many areas in which Cutler has improved this year.

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9 CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | Thursday, November 26, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com

‘Mediocre’ Jay Cutler might be the Bears’ MVP

10

ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, November 26, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

Packers GM Ted Thompson

SUSTAINED

SUCCESS Through 2 regimes, Green Bay has built an annual competitor, supplying a model for Ryan Pace

ARTHUR ARKUSH

The Bears have had three different general managers and four head coaches during this millennium. Success has been fleeting, but Perhaps it’s a distant memory new general manager Ryan Pace for Bears fans, but Bob Harlan re- has talked about his admiration members vividly when the Green of the Packers’ model and desire Bay Packers were where Chicago to emulate the formula that has has been too often over the past made Green Bay the NFC’s perentwo decades: mired in mediocrity. nial power over that same span.

From 1968, the year of Vince Lombardi’s retirement, through PRO FOOTBALL SPECIALIST 1991, when Ron Wolf began transIt was late on a Sunday night forming a franchise, Harlan, the in 1987 when Harlan, as assistant longtime CEO and chairman of the to then-president Robert Parins, Packers, recalls just four winning picked up a Raiders executive seasons and two playoff appear- from the airport. Ron Wolf was in ances. town interviewing for Green Bay’s The Packers cycled through front-office vacancy. four head coaches, each failing to It was almost midnight, and win more games than his prede- Wolf hadn’t had dinner. Harlan cessor. They desperately needed to took him to the only spot open find the guy who could return one in Green Bay, a Denny’s roughly of the NFL’s proudest franchises five blocks from Lambeau Field. to greatness.

There, Wolf shared with Harlan Sound familiar? his plan for building a scouting By

aarkush@chicagofootball.com @ArthurArkush

department and football staff, and Harlan explained the Packers’ unusual business structure: a 45-person board of directors and no owner.

The lack of autonomy, Harlan said, didn’t appeal to Wolf. He departed without the job but left a lasting impression on Harlan that would lead Wolf back to the Packers four years later, when Harlan would replace Tom Braatz with him as the Packers executive vice president and general manager.

“I was so impressed with him that evening, knew he had worked for Al Davis for over 20 years,” Harlan said. “… I just thought, ‘This is the kind of person we need to come in and take charge of this football operation. Just leave him alone, let him do his job.’ ”

IDENTIFYING THE LEADERS

Wolf reported for duty as Packers general manager for

Green Bay Packers chairman Bob Harlan the first time, in the press box of Atlanta Fulton County Stadium for Green Bay’s Week 14 meeting with the Falcons.

“I’m sitting in the press box on Sunday morning,” Harlan said. “Ron comes up, puts his briefcase down next to me and said, ‘I’m going to go down on the field and look at Atlanta’s backup quarterback. If his arm is still as strong as it was coming out of college, we’re going after him.’”

“So I took my flip card out real fast … and it was Brett Favre, the third-stringer at the time.

Ron comes back a half hour later … and he says, ‘We’re going to make a trade for Brett Favre.

Are you OK with that?’ I said, ‘Ron, I told you when I hired you, it’s your team to run. You have full authority. You do what you want.’”

That offseason, after sending a first-round pick to Atlanta for Favre in perhaps the NFL’s ultimate trade, Wolf hired Mike Holmgren.

“This is the man he wanted, and at the time, Mike Holmgren had six or seven other clubs chasing him,” Harlan says. “He was very popular as the offensive coordinator of the 49ers. He was the hot man in the NFL, and after he took the job, I asked him one day, ‘What made you choose Green Bay when you had so many other opportunities?’ He said, ‘Because Ron Wolf was here, and I knew he’d get me the players.’”

Reggie White would arrive in free agency one season later, and the Packers would bring the Lombardi trophy back home just two years thereafter.

Harlan thought his time with Wolf and Holmgren would last longer than nine seasons and one Super Bowl title, but after Holmgren resigned in 1998 to coach the Seahawks and Wolf suddenly retired in 2001, Harlan was again in search of someone to oversee the entire football operation.

“In both cases, they were absolutely right. I’m just a firm believer that you’ve got to get the general manager first and let him bring in the head coach.”

BUILDING THROUGH THE DRAFT

I’d had the chance to watch Ted grow for eight years as a scout under Ron. So I knew what I was going to get when I went after Ted Thompson.

— BOB HARLAN

“We took him, and it turned out to be a great move. … We’ve just been so fortunate to have these two quarterbacks for 24 years; it’s just been truly amazing.”

Thompson got his signal caller. He just needed his play caller and leader of men.

Like with Wolf and the coach he inherited, Lindy Infante, Thompson would try and make it work with Sherman, albeit knowing he’d need his own guy.

Mike McCarthy, then with the Saints, was one of “seven or eight” candidates Thompson interviewed but not the final candidate – that was Packers defensive co-

ordinator Jim Bates.

Thompson, Harlan explains, was impressed with Bates’ presentation but also leery about hiring the last candidate for fear of recency bias. Before making a decision, he spent the night walking the hallways of the team facility and sleeping a few hours.

In the morning, he called Harlan to inform him McCarthy was his choice.

“I like Jim, but there is a toughness about Mike, and I could see that we can work on the same page, and he said that’s important,” Harlan said.

Both men – Wolf and Thompson – were draft maestros. Wolf built Favre’s entire O-line and receiving corps and also landed defensive stars such as Darren Sharper and Doug Evans to supplement arguably the greatest free-agent signing ever in White.

Yet Thompson is an even stauncher believer in using the draft as almost a singular pipeline to roster construction. The biggest difference between the two men is Thompson’s reluctance to dip his toe into free-agent waters.

The Packers’ current roster configuration, incredibly, includes just eight players who began their careers outside Green Bay: Julius Peppers, John Kuhn, Letroy Guion, Brett Goode, Tim Masthay, Chris Banjo, Scott Tolzien and Josh Walker.

The other 45 players were either drafted or signed by the Packers as rookies.

In a quarterback-driven league, Harlan knows how fortunate the Packers are to have unrivaled continuity at the most important position in pro sports.

Yet, without similar stability and sound decisions within the front office, the quarterbacks never would’ve arrived.

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Mike Sherman was the Packers coach and general manager when Wolf left and it wasn’t going to work.

Harlan had just the guy. Ted Thompson had spent seven seasons under Wolf prior to following Holmgren to Seattle to build another Super Bowl contender.

“I’d had the chance to watch Ted grow for eight years as a scout under Ron,” Harlan says. “So I knew what I was going to get when I went after Ted Thompson. I just gave him the same job description that I gave Ron Wolf, that it’s your team to run, we will leave you alone, and both men have done a magnificent job.”

When it was Thompson’s turn to locate his quarterback, two Wolf drafting mantras – select the best available player, and you can never have too many quarterbacks – loomed large.

Harlan was in the Packers’ war room during the 2005 draft when Aaron Rodgers’ free fall commenced. Armed with the 24th overall pick and a 35-year-old Favre coming off another 30-plus touchdown and 4,000plus yard campaign, Thompson asked Harlan to step in the hallway.

Said Harlan: “[Ted] says, ‘If Aaron is there, Bob, I’m going to take him. I want you to know we are going to catch some heat because we’ve got Brett and Brett is playing well. And everybody is going to say, ‘When you’ve got a great quarterback like this, why in the world are you taking another quarterback in the first round?’

ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, November 26, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

12

NFC NORTH REPORT By

ARTHUR ARKUSH

aarkush@chicagofootball.com @ArthurArkush

EAGLES @ LIONS

Overview

They’re not a playoff team, but the Lions appear to be a prideful one after their defense again shut down one of the league’s more potent offenses to give Detroit its second straight victory since the front office housecleaning during the bye.

If it’s not Jim Caldwell, a new coach will inherit several defensive building blocks including NFC sack leader Ziggy Ansah and ascending No. 1 cornerback Darius Slay, who shut down rookie Amari Cooper. Even QB Matthew Stafford is showing encouraging signs after another efficient outing, the win over Oakland marking his first without a turnover. Caldwell’s path to continue impressing owner Martha Firestone Ford and new team president Rod Wood isn’t daunting: a Week 13 re-

mains broken, so keep an eye on Calvin Johnson battling Byron Maxwell and Eric Ebron – if he can hold onto the football – against safety Malcolm Jenkins.

By the numbers

Detroit has hosted a Thanksgiving game every year since 1945, going 35-38-2. The match with the Packers is Detroit’s only Lions are 0-1 vs. the Eagles on Turkey Day. remaining contest against an opponent with a winning record. Although the Lions appear committed to Caldwell, Chip VIKINGS @ FALCONS Kelly’s Eagles showed more fight on the sideline, where Mark Sanchez and Darren Sproles exchanged barbs, than on their Overview home field, where they were annihilated Minnesota’s blueprint

by Tampa Bay. is punishing opponents with Adrian Peterson and a fast and physical defense.

Matchup to watch No player has more to prove over the fi- But the Vikings had their nal six games than Stafford. After getting script flipped upside down torched by Jameis Winston – who tossed by the Packers, permitting five touchdowns to five different receiv- a season-high 30 points, Adrian ers while getting sacked only once – the struggling to assert Peter- Peterson Eagles must find ways to pressure him. son and losing their brief Can Stafford extend his turnover-free grasp on the division lead. play against an attacking Philly ‘D’ in the Teddy Bridgewater was top 10 in interceptions per pass attempt? subjected to perhaps his biggest beating The Eagles must stop the run first after of the season; the Vikings’ sophomore QB making Doug Martin (235 yards) resem- left the game briefly holding his left arm bled Jim Brown – literally. Martin came and shoulder. Bridgewater reportedly will up two yards short of Brown’s and Em- be fine, but Minnesota’s fragile grasp on a mitt Smith’s single-game record against wild card will be tested over the next three Philadelphia. Yet Detroit’s run game re- weeks, beginning with a visit to Atlanta,

where the NFC’s current No. 6 seed Falcons have dropped three straight. Minnesota is recovering from its first loss since Week Four and, like the Bears, still searching for its first victory against a team with a winning record.

Matchup to watch

The Vikings will be in trouble if top corner Xavier Rhodes continues struggling to keep up with the Joneses. Rhodes was the main culprit in James Jones’ Week 11 resurgence, and next he’ll get the NFL’s top receiver, Julio Jones, fresh off his third 100yard game and, unlike James, likely as fast as any player Rhodes will line up against from this season. Indeed, teams have been targeting Rhodes this season after avoiding the former first-rounder in 2014. Julie Jones has been targeted more than any other NFC receiver, and the Falcons creatively seek favorable matchups for him. That means slot corner Captain Munnerlyn and ageless Terence Newman also will factor into covering him, but this is the kind of matchup Rhodes was drafted for – and he’ll have to raise his game several notches to avoid becoming Julio’s latest victim.

By the numbers

After entering Week 11 with an NFL-low 57 penalties, Minnesota was flagged eight times for 110 yards. … Bridgewater has been sacked a combined 18 times in three losses and just 12 times in seven wins.

CARS815.com

FOOTBALL

With playoffs looming, it’s time to get serious J.C. TALON

team. The week before that, New Orleans let the offensively challenged Titans rack up 483 yards.

With bye weeks over and fan- And the week before that debatasy playoffs looming, it’s time to cle, Eli Manning connected on get serious about putting together six TD passes in New Orleans. If your best possible lineup. Week 12 there is ever a week to play your has no shortage of solid opportu- Texans, this is it. nities.

Must start: DeAndre Hopkins Solid play: Nick Novak, Texans MATCHUPS TO EXPLOIT D/ST Worth a look: Alfred Blue, Nate PACKERS (vs. BEARS) Washington 7:30 p.m. Thursday Last resort: Jonathan Grimes, Fashion choices aside, Green Ryan Griffin Bay got a huge win in Week 11.

Although they managed just 320 BUCCANEERS (@ COLTS) yards of total offense, the Packers Noon Sunday posted 30 points in the type of vicAlthough we don’t recomtory that can help a team recapmend overreacting to Tampa’s ture its mojo. The Packers tradi521-yard, 45-point performance in tionally steamroll the Bears, and Philadelphia, there is no doubt it’s typically worse when they the Bucs have improved. They play on national TV. Chicago’s have won three of their past defense is better than last year’s four games and their running joke, but it’s still not very good. attack is ranked 3rd in the NFL. th The Bears are ranked 14 in total The Colts counter with the NFL’s yards allowed, and have dropped 27th-ranked defense. Indy is beteight spots in the last month. ter against the run (No. 12), but Chicago is 22nd in points allowed they do give up 4 yards per carry per game (25.1) , and gives up 4.6 (No. 18). The Bucs prefer to run yards per rush. Only three teams the ball, but they might find more yield more yards per carry.

Must start: Aaron Rodgers, Ed- success inththe air. The Colts are ranked 29 in passing yards aldie Lacy lowed.

Solid play: James “Hoodie” Must start: Doug Martin Jones, Randall Cobb, Mason Solid play: Vincent Jackson, Crosby, Packers D/ST Mike Evans Worth a look: James Starks, Worth a look: Jameis Winston, Richard Rodgers Charles Sims, Connor Barth Last resort: Davante Adams Last resort: Adam Humphries, Cameron Brate, Bucs D/ST TEXANS (vs. SAINTS) Stay away: Austin SeferiNoon Sunday an-Jenkins* Wait, the Texans are bad, right? No, now they’re good.

And the Saints are good, right? JAGUARS (vs. CHARGERS) No, now they’re bad. Honestly, Noon Sunday The Chargers are ranked 24th in it’s hard to tell in this week-toweek NFL. What we do know, for yards allowed and are 26th against sure, is the Texans downed the the run. Jacksonville is 24 th in Bengals and Jets in consecutive points scored, averaging just 21.1 weeks. Both those teams have de- a game, but something like 24 or 27 fenses that are light years better is more likely in this game. If T.J. than the sorry Saints. We also Yeldon is healthy, he could be a know that, in their last game, top 10 or 15 fantasy back this week. the Saints gave up 510 yards to Denard Robinson got seven cara Kirk Cousins-led Washington ries and some goal line work last

By

ChicagoFootball.com fantasy football writer

week, but don’t read too much into that. Yeldon should get the bulk of the carries.

Must start: Allen Robinson Solid play: Yeldon, Allen Hurns, Julius Thomas Worth a look: Blake Bortles, Jason Myers Last resort: Denard Robinson, Bryan Walters Stay away: Jags D/ST

AP photo

Thompson.

TITANS (vs. RAIDERS)

Noon Sunday You heard it here first – load up on those Titans! Tennessee has scored 20 points just one time CARDINALS (@ 49ERS) since Week Three, but that was 3:05 p.m. Sunday against New Orleans. Oakland’s The 49ers have played a little 29th-ranked defense should make better the last couple of weeks, but Marcus Mariota, Delanie Walker, they remain one of the league’s and (perhaps) Antonio Andrews worst teams. San Fran’s defense worth considering. is 27th against both the run and the pass. Only the Patriots have MATCHUPS TO AVOID a more potent passing attack than Arizona. The biggest concern for BILLS (@ CHIEFS) Cardinals owners is a possible Noon Sunday letdown for Arizona after a big Kansas City’s defense is roundwin last week against Cincinnati. ing into form. After a rough start, Don’t overthink it. Carson Palmer they are ranked 7th overall and 4th & Co. should roll against an inferi- against the run. They have not or opponent. given up 20 points in a game since Must start: Palmer, Chris John- Week Four. Buffalo’s 21st-ranked son, Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals offense is a woeful 29th in passing D/ST yards.

Solid play: John Brown, ChanMust start: None dler Catanzaro Solid play: LeSean McCoy Worth a look: Michael Floyd*, Worth a look: Karlos Williams, J.J. Nelson (if no Floyd) Sammy Watkins, Bills D/ST Last resort: Andre Ellington, Last resort: Tyrod Taylor, Chris Johnson, Jaron Brown Charles Clay, Dan Carpenter Stay away: Darren Fells, JerStay away: Robert Woods, Chris maine Gresham Hogan

ALSO CONSIDER WASHINGTON (vs. GIANTS) Noon Sunday It would seem that Washington is awful on the road and against good teams. However, they’ve scored more than 30 points in their last two home games against New Orleans and Tampa Bay. The Giants come to town with the 31stranked defense, ahead of only the Saints. The Washington backfield is a mess. Matt Jones might get the bulk of the carries – despite his fumbling problems – due to injuries to Alfred Morris and Chris

DOLPHINS (@ JETS) Noon Sunday Last week, we recommended you avoid Houston against the Jets’ 5th-ranked defense. Of course, the Texans came through with a respectable 364 yards and 24 points. With that in mind, this still does not look like a good matchup for Miami. The Dolphins managed just 210 yards and nine first downs last week at home against Dallas. The Dolphins seem intent on working Jay Ajayi into the offense, and he is a hot fantasy pickup right now. It’s a bit of a shame, because Lamar Miller is playing

great football this season. Miller should continue to get the bulk of the carries, but this is a below-average matchup for him. The Jets are No. 3 versus the run.

Must start: None Solid play: Miller Worth a look: Ryan Tannehill, Jarvis Landry Last resort: Rishard Matthews, Jordan Cameron Stay away: Andrew Franks, Dolphins D/ST

49ERS (vs. CARDINALS) 3:05 p.m. Sunday In case you were considering stacking your lineup with 49ers, we’re here to talk you off the ledge. San Francisco is dead last in points scored and yards gained. Yeah, like those stats matter! New QB Blaine Gabbert has been utilizing the tight end recently, but even that fact is of little use to fantasy owners. The receptions have been divided between Garrett Celek and Vance McDonald. It will be a surprise if RB Carlos Hyde (foot) plays again this season.

Must start: None Solid play: None Worth a look: Anquan Boldin Last resort: Shaun Draughn, Celek, McDonald Stay away: Torrey Smith, Quinton Patton, Phil Dawson, 49ers D/ ST

ALSO BEWARE BEARS (@ PACKERS) 7:30 p.m. Thursday Green Bay’s defense looked pretty good in Minnesota. If Alshon Jeffery does not play, they are not likely to produce much.

With Jeffery, call this a tolerable, but still not great, matchup. * Check injury status

13 CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | Thursday, November 26, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com

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Jameis Winston

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ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, November 26, 2015

| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY

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Is the Bears-Packers rivalry overrated?

In this week’s edition of Take 2, Patrick Finley and Mark Potash take a look at the Bears’ rivalry game Thursday, and what it means:

FINLEY: Potsie, Jay Leno had David

Letterman, Kristin Cavallari had Lauren Conrad and the Bears have the Packers. When the NFL’s greatest rivalry renews Thursday – on Thanksgiving night, no less – the outcome will either fan or extinguish whatever playoff ember the Bears have smoldering. But John Fox’s first trip to Lambeau Field means more than that, doesn’t it? What impact would a good showing have for the Bears, both in the short term and big picture?

POTASH: The Bears-Packers rivalry is a little overrated, Pat. The only time it’s truly a factor – for the players and not just the fans – is when there’s actual enmity on both sides, like in the Mike Ditka-Forrest Gregg era when cheap-

shot artists like Ken Stills, Mark Lee and Charles Martin were disliked not only by the fans but the Bears players themselves. It’ll be a little bit of a measuring stick for Fox and the Bears – not only are the Packers still the class of the division, but it will be the first time Fox and coordinators Vic Fangio and Adam Gase have faced an opponent a second time this season. It would be a nice boost for the rebuild if the Bears could beat an opponent they are not expected to beat – and this game and the Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium on Dec. 20 are almost certainly their last chances to do that. But despite the Bears’ obvious improvement of late, don’t expect too much. It’ll be an emotional night with Brett Favre and Ron Wolf being honored, and emotion usually carries the day – or night – at Lambeau. Unless it’s 42-0 at halftime again, the rebuilding Bears figure to be on course when they return to Chicago.

15

Brett Favre AP file photo

POTASH: My “favorite” Favre moments? Let’s see ... there was the time Brian Urlacher intercepted Favre and returned it 85 yards for a touchdown to put the finishing touch on a 35-7 blowout in 2007 ... or the time Lance Briggs intercepted Favre and returned it 10 yards for a touchdown in a 24-17 win at Lambeau ... or the time Nathan Vasher intercepted Favre and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown to clinch a 19-7 win at Soldier Field 2005 ... or the time Barry Minter intercepted Favre and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown in 1999 – can’t quite remember who won that one.

Other than those, nothing really comes to mind, Pat.

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CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | Thursday, November 26, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com

TAKE TWO

FINLEY: Are you telling me K-Cav and LC lacked enmity, Potsie? Lovie Smith lost his last six games against the Packers, and Marc Trestman was 1-3, and that one win saw Aaron Rodgers’ collarbone make it only one series. (Thanks, Shea McClellin). Both were fired. There’s no better way to usher in a new era of Bears football than to beat the Packers in front of a national audience. I realize one loss won’t change the course of the Bears’ season, but I’d argue that a win would.

Were the Bears 5-6 with five games to play, you could dream of a playoff berth; the remaining games are against the 49ers, Redskins, Vikings, Buccaneers and Lions, after all. The Bears have two players, too, who might actually be fresh for a Thursday game: Matt Forte and Alshon Jeffery, who sat Sunday with injuries. Won’t they make a difference?

POTASH: Lovie and Trestman weren’t fired because they couldn’t beat the Packers. They were fired because they couldn’t make the playoffs. If they had made the playoffs and lost to the Packers, they’d still be here. A healthy Forte and Jeffery give them a better chance to win Thursday. And a victory over the Packers would give them a better chance to make the playoffs. I’m pretty sure the Bears will finish the season strong no matter what happens Thursday night.

FINLEY:: Before we go, Potsie, got a favorite Brett Favre moment?

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