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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015 CHICAGOFOOTBALL.COM
GRADING PACE, FOX
THE LIST
Hub Arkush: Bears GM, coach earn at least a B, maybe B+
What were the Bears’ top plays of 2015? We narrow them down to five.
2
3
LIONS GAME PREVIEW
Who has the edge when the Bears host Detroit on Sunday?
TAKE 2
Patrick Finley and Arthur Arkush discuss the Bears’ 2015 accomplishments
4
15
LOOKING BACK Chicago Football ranks the 10 most significant moments for the Bears in 2015
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ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, December 31, 2015
| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
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Pace, Fox grade a B to B+ on season
With their first NFL seasons in Chicago coming to an end this Sunday, it’s report card time for the Bears’ rookie brain trust, Ryan Pace and John Fox. The new era kicked off with Fox securing two of the most sought-after coordinators in the NFL, Adam Gase for his offense and Vic Fangio for the defense. That was A+ work. Pace waited almost two full months before he decided whether Jay Cutler would still be here, now think about this: For the first time since 1986, the Bears will start next season seemingly set at quarterback with a potential Pro Bowler. Still, their team was doomed if together Pace and Fox couldn’t effect a sea change in their locker room. Pace got it by getting Brandon Marshall out of town as quickly as possible. There were other, more subtle moves, but that was the big one. When they secured Fangio, Pace and Fox knew that meant a switch from the old 4-3, Tampa-Two schemes of Lovie Smith and Mel Tucker to the 3-4. That meant completely re-tooling their defensive personnel.
FROM THE EDITOR
By HUB
ARKUSH
harkush@chicagofootball.com @Hub_Arkush
Pace moved quickly to add Pernell McPhee, Jarvis Jenkins, Sam Acho, Tracy Porter and Alan Ball in veteran free agency and, while all could also be replaced in the next year or two, the Bears could not have played the 3-4 this year without them. It also is possible that McPhee and Porter are keepers with Pro Bowl potential in front of them. We don’t judge college drafts for at least two seasons, usually three, but when four of your six picks become regular rookie starters and important contributors, and you have three more undrafted rookie free agents in John Timu, Jonathan Anderson and
Bryce Callahan starting by year’s end, the promise is great. Ryan Pace’s first draft has the potential to be the Bears’ best since the 2003 lottery that brought Charles Tillman, Lance Briggs, Rex Grossman, Bobby Wade, Justin Gage, Ian Scott and Todd Johnson to town. The Bears had 12 picks that year, not the six they had this year. Finally, there is the actual coaching that’s been done on the field, from Bourbonnais through this coming weekend, and the culture change Pace and Fox have tried to effect so far. There can’t be a soul in town who didn’t know the Bears had to be completely rebuilt after the Phil Emery/ Marc Trestman fiasco. The Bears could have been successful this year even had they not matched or surpassed last season’s five-win disaster, but that they got win number six with a week to play was huge. When they kick off against the Lions Sunday, there will be only 19 players on the active roster who were here last year and six more on injured reserve. Bringing in 34 new players with the majority of them being other
teams’ castoffs and undrafted free agents and still winning six or seven games is an excellent job by both GM and head coach. Injuries have made things difficult at times, but they are a part of the game. The Bears are clearly better today than they were when Pace and Fox got here – at quarterback, running back, tight end, outside linebacker and in the secondary. Issues on the offensive line involve talent and coaching, as does the defensive line. Wide receiver is an incomplete and inside linebacker is clearly as much or more a talent issue as it is coaching. The year was not perfect. The dynamic duo botched their initial handling of the Kevin White injury and their public response to the Jeremiah Ratliff fiasco. Special teams have been poor at best, and Fox is badly in need of some offseason classes in clock management and redzone offense. But at the end of the day – or season one, as the case may be – Pace and Fox have had themselves a B to a B+ kind of year. Considering what they started with, that is music to the ears of Bears nation.
BY THE
NUMB3RS
8,526 Career rushing yards for Matt Forte in his eight seasons as a Bear through this past Sunday, second all-time to Walter Payton.
484-4,082 Career catches, receiving yards for Forte, also second to Payton among Bears running backs all-time.
63 Combined rushing and receiving TDs for Forte through Sunday, third-most among all Bears. Forte is a free agent after Sunday’s game vs. the Lions. 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.
3. LANGFORD’S 83-YARD TD
Top five Chicago Bears plays of the 2015 season By
NATE ATKINS
natkins@chicagofootball.com @NateAtkinsCF
The first season under new head coach John Fox and general manager Ryan Pace hasn’t been one to remember for its wins, but every season has its moments. Here are the most impressive plays from this Bears season, presented in countdown form: Best of the Rest: Jeremy Langford’s diving catch vs. the Chargers, Chris Prosinski’s TD-saving tackle through two linemen vs. the Packers, Jay Cutler’s TD rumble vs. the Vikings.
5. MCPHEE’S BLOCKED FG Once in a while, you see a
non-scoring play unfold and just know you’ll look back on it later for the way it changed the game. This was one of those. The Bears trailed the Chiefs 17-3 in the second half when Kansas City went to add to the lead with a chipshot 26-yard field goal. Easy money, except Pernell McPhee fired inside through his blocker and right into the ball, setting the sideline on fire. It’s the closest Kansas City would come to scoring in the second half as the Bears clawed back for an 18-17 win.
4. JEFFERY’S JUMP-BALL TD This play won’t win in significance, tucked away in a 23-20 loss to the Vikings, but it contained as much athleticism as
Zach Miller AP photo
any. With the first half winding down and the Bears trailing by seven, Jay Cutler stepped back and uncorked a 21-yard fade to a spot in the back left corner of the end zone where only a player of Alshon Jeffery’s caliber could make a play. That’s what No. 17 did, high-pointing the ball over Xavier Rhodes and then stomping both feet in bounds as he fell. The touchdown pass tied Cutler with Sid Luckman for the most
No Bears win was more complete than the 37-13 road drubbing of the Rams, and no play was more illustrative of that than this screen pass. Adam Gase drew up the perfect play call against St. Louis’ heavy pressure, and by the time Jeremy Langford caught the screen, he had three linemen charging downfield. Matt Slauson cleared the middle, Alshon Jeffery sealed the edge, and Langford turned on the burners to take it the distance. It was total team execution at its finest.
2. CUTLER-TO-WILSON TD This rocket throw vs. the Chiefs was the best of Jay Cutler’s best season, the one that took his teeter-totter ability as a risk-taking gunslinger and channeled it for good. Facing quick pressure on a blitz, Cut-
STAY CONNECTED WHEREVER YOU ARE!
ler just heaved a ball off his back foot into double coverage, all the steps that make you scream “No!” but this time, you finished screaming “Yes!” Marquess Wilson wasn’t even out of his break on the flag route when Cutler let it rip, but the ball fell into his hands like a baby from the sky, perfectly in stride for a fourth-quarter touchdown that would help complete Chicago’s 18-17 come-from-behind win over the Chiefs.
1. MILLER’S ONE-HANDED TD If you want to find the play that resurrected Zach Miller’s career – and, in turn, might have ended Martellus Bennett’s in Chicago – look no further than this catch on 2nd-and-10 from the Chargers’ 25 with the Bears trailing by five with just more than three minutes remaining. After Miller broke free on a seam, Cutler fired a scorcher. Miller barely had time to see the ball, let alone bat it down with his right hand and then catch with his left for the go-ahead score of the 22-19 win. Whether you’re ranking Bears plays on significance or skill, this one will win every time.
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scoring passes in Bears history, and when you hear the quarterback describe that uncanny faith in throwing to Jeffery in any man-on-man situation, know he’s referring to this play.
GAME PREVIEW
ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, December 31, 2015
| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
4
LIONS
VS.
WK 17
BEARS
GAMEDAY: NOON SUNDAY, JAN. 3 / SOLDIER FIELD, CHICAGO
By
KEVIN FISHBAIN
Matt Forte
kfishbain@chicagofootball.com @kfishbain
BEARS RUSHING OFFENSE vs LIONS DEFENSE
RUN
A much less-imposing run defense in 2015 than 2014, the Lions held Matt Forte to 69 yards on 24 carries in Week Six, a 2.9-yard average. In five of their last seven games, the Lions have held opponents to less than 70 rushing yards – however, this is also a group that has given up 187, 199, 203 and 206 rushing yards in games. Forte, Jeremy Langford and Ka’Deem Carey combined for the Bears’ second-best rushing output of the season against a formidable Bucs defense on Sunday, and they should bring that three-back attack to Soldier Field, assuming Forte’s back is healthy. Despite the struggles in Detroit, this is a matchup the Bears will focus on winning, considering the deficiencies in the passing game. Detroit has Haloti Ngata and Stephen Tulloch clogging the middle of the defense, where opponents average only 2.75 yards a carry, so look for the Bears to get Langford and Forte outside the tackles, where Detroit struggles. Remember – the last time these two teams played, Langford had only two carries and Carey had yet to tote the rock all sea- er-2 defense. He did it efficientson. This is a different rushing ly, with zero turnovers and a attack, and one that can build 74-percent completion rate. off its performance in Tampa. He’ll probably have to rely on EDGE BEARS those quick sideline passes and slants again vs. Detroit. Opposing quarterbacks have a 101.8 BEARS PASSING rating against the Lions this OFFENSE vs LIONS PASS season with 25 touchdowns and six interceptions. Cutler threw DEFENSE Without Alshon Jeffery, Jay for 353 yards in Detroit, but 147 Cutler had to turn the Bears’ of those went to Jeffery. Daripassing game into a horizontal us Slay is the Lions’ top corner, one against Lovie Smith’s Cov- and they have Ziggy Ansah to
Kyle Grillot – Shaw Media
disrupt the passer rushing off the edge, but their pass defense has been inconsistent. Once a strength for the Bears, the passing game is missing too many key pieces to dominate a game, even the way Cutler has played this season. This matchup is close, but we lean toward Detroit knowing that the Bears won’t win this one through the air, they’ll just go to it when they need it.
EDGE LIONS
LIONS RUSHING OFFENSE vs BEARS RUN DEFENSE
Detroit enters the season finale 31st in the league in rushing at 84.5 yards a game. However, the Lions’ best rushing performance of the season came against the Bears, when they had 155 yards – though 30 came on a fake punt. Still, Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick were able to move the chains. The Bears are coming off an impres-
sive game against the run, holding Doug Martin to 49 yards on 17 carries, thanks in part to inside linebackers John Timu and recently benched Christian Jones, plus Eddie Goldman up front. Goldman may be out with an ankle injury, but Timu has played well in two straight weeks, as the Bears put it all together against the league’s two most productive running backs. It’s worth noting that the Lions have gone for more than 100
Matthew Stafford
THIS WEEK IN THE NFL Noon Sunday, CBS Houston is one Brandon Weeden-led win away from a home playoff game. Jacksonville is one defense away from contention.
STEELERS @ BROWNS Noon Sunday, CBS The Steelers need to win, then hope Rex’s Bills beat the Jets. Johnny Manziel needs an invisible cloak.
JETS @ BILLS Noon Sunday, CBS Beat their former coach and Jets are in. Beating former team would be Rex’s Super Bowl.
PATRIOTS @ DOLPHINS
Aaron Rodgers
Noon Sunday, CBS AP photo
yards on the ground in five of their past six games, but even with young players in the front seven, and a poor outing in Detroit, Vic Fangio should have his group in position to get the advantage.
EDGE BEARS
LIONS PASSING OFFENSE vs BEARS PASS DEFENSE
Matthew Stafford has been rolling. In his past five games, he has thrown 14 touchdowns to only one interception while completing 72.4 percent of his passes. That’s even more impressive given that Calvin Johnson hasn’t been dominant in the past four games (11 catches, two touchdowns), although Golden Tate has (34 catches and five scores in last five games). Eric Ebron and Theo Riddick also have been key for Detroit’s aerial attack, and we know how much the Bears have struggled covering the middle of the field. Harold Jones-Quartey still remembers losing a jump ball to Megatron in overtime in Week Six, which he believes cost him his starting job. He got it back and made an interception in Tampa, but an undrafted rookie out of Findlay College shouldn’t be the key to a secondary. Tracy Porter has given up a few big plays of late, but overall has been
the best cover corner, and we haven’t heard from Kyle Fuller much, which is probably a good thing. Unless the pass rush dominates – which it can against Detroit, as the Lions have allowed Stafford to be sacked 40 times – this is where the Lions will score their points.
EDGE LIONS
SUNDAY’S OVERALL EDGE
Well, it all comes down to this, a battle for third place in the NFC North. It’s hard to swing the home-field advantage to the Bears considering they are one of three teams with only one home win this season. The special teams have been a struggle all year, though Robbie Gould is in a groove. The Lions actually have the league’s best redzone offense, which could be key against a Bears offense that lacks the firepower to put up a lot of points. The Lions have the talent, but will intangibles be a factor in Week 17? Give Detroit credit for how they’ve played for Jim Caldwell. The young Bears will put forth effort, too, in this ‘job interview,’ but all year we use this space to judge the edge on the field, and that goes to Detroit.
EDGE LIONS
Even after #coinflipgate loss, Patriots still AFC’s No. 1 seed with victory over lowly Dolphins.
TITANS @ COLTS
Top players
OFFENSE / QB Matthew Stafford, RB Ameer Abdullah, WRs Golden Tate and Calvin Johnson, RG Larry Warford DEFENSE / NT Haloti Ngata, DE Ezekiel Ansah, MLB Stephen Tulloch, CB Darius Slay, S Glover Quin
Schemes
OFFENSE / Interim coordinator Jim Bob Cooter has overseen the flourishing of Matthew Stafford in the second half of the season. He’s been better protected, both by a run game and improved O-line, and better at protecting the football. Johnson, with his size, and Tate, with his power and suddenness post-catch, remain Stafford’s top targets. Theo Riddick is a dangerous short and intermediate weapon. DEFENSE / After getting shredded in the first half a week ago, Detroit’s run ‘D’ slammed the door on the Niners, continuing its strong turnaround of late, keyed by Ngata and Ansah. Slay had a tough game but has been vastly improved in his second season. Quin is solid along the last line of defense. Coordinator Teryl Austin’s scheme is adaptable and multiple.
Weaknesses It’s still running the football, and particularly up the gut. Detroit is just 31st in the NFL, though it’s made gains under Cooter with Abdullah in a leading role.
Last time they met
10/18/2015: The Bears dropped a wild one in overtime, 37-34, as Detroit overcame three turnovers and two squandered leads in the final three minutes to prevail.
Noon Sunday, CBS Colts need most help to get in 2015 playoffs, Titans need most help to get in 2016 playoff conversation.
RAVENS @ BENGALS
AP photo
the GM, Tom Coughlin the coach in epitome of disappointment NFC East contest.
BUCCANEERS @ PANTHERS 3:25 p.m. Sunday, FOX Win over Tampa or Arizona loss in Seattle clinches Carolina home-field throughout. Lovie’s bunch riding 3-game losing streak.
Noon Sunday, FOX
RAIDERS @ CHIEFS
Bengals suddenly staring at possibility of playing wild-card weekend with No. 3 QB. Ravens feel better about No. 2 after Mallett-led upset over Pittsburgh.
3:25 p.m. Sunday, FOX Kansas City still in play for AFC West crown; Oakland can record first .500 record since 2011.
WASHINGTON @ COWBOYS
3:25 Sunday, CBS
Noon Sunday, FOX Washington is locked into No. 4 seed; is Dallas handcuffed to Jason GarreTt in 2016?
SAINTS @ FALCONS Noon Sunday, FOX Could Drew Brees be playing his last game with Saints? Could Julio corral 17 catches, 243 yards to surpass Marvin, Calvin?
LIONS @ BEARS Noon Sunday, FOX Lions look to complete 6-2 second half for embattled Caldwell; Chicago tries to avoid first 1-win home record since 1973.
EAGLES @ GIANTS Noon Sunday, FOX Perhaps the end for Chip Kelly
RAMS @ 49ERS Would 8-8 finish make Jeff Fisher safe? Jim Tomsula reportedly will be back in 2016, somehow.
CHARGERS @ BRONCOS 3:25 Sunday, CBS Big-time second half from Osweiler, ‘D’ propels Denver to postseason; can San Diego play spoiler, help Chiefs leapfrog Broncos in division?
SEAHAWKS @ CARDINALS 3:25 Sunday, FOX Arizona could be NFL’s team to beat with win. Seattle couldn’t stop Carson Palmer in first meeting.
VIKINGS @ PACKERS 7:30 p.m. Sunday, NBC The Vikings finally appear ready to challenge Packers for NFC North superiority… but we said same thing five weeks ago.
CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | Thursday, December 31, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com
JAGUARS @ TEXANS
5
ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, December 31, 2015
| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
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BEARS
VS.
LIONS STAFF PREDICTIONS
Wednesday spread: Bears -1
Hub
Kevin
Arthur
Nate
Bob
ChicagoFootball.com
ChicagoFootball.com
ChicagoFootball.com
ChicagoFootball.com
Daily Herald
Bears 26 Lions 24 The Bears have taken some nice first steps in the rebuilding plan; avoiding 1-7 at home would be a huge one!
Bears 30 Lions 32 Hard to believe Bears would win only one game at home, but Detroit’s offense is rolling.
Bears 24 Lions 21 Bears need second win at home, in division, to truly show progress ... and they get it.
Bears 27 Lions 23 Momentum carries this time, for one final game. You better believe Matt Forte will run hard.
Bears 27 Lions 31 Lions QB Matthew Stafford has been hot lately, and the Bears might not be able to keep pace.
Season Record: 5-10 Versus Spread: 7-7-1
Season Record: 4-11 Versus Spread: 6-8-1
Season Record: 4-11 Versus Spread: 5-7-3
Season Record: 6-9 Versus Spread: 8-6-1
Season Record: 7-8 Versus Spread: 10-4-1
Jon
Adam
Jay
Kyle
Wes
Northwest Herald
Chicago Sun-Times
Rockford Register-Star
Kankakee Daily Journal
Peoria Journal Star
Bears 24 Lions 21 Fitting end if Robbie Gould gets game-winning kick and Bears get meaningless win.
Bears 27 Lions 24 The Bears avoid double-digit losses with an elusive win on their home field. QB Jay Cutler has his best game yet.
Bears 24 Lions 21 One more chance for Fox’s Bears to finish on high note. They will.
Bears 17 Lions 27 The Bears’ secondary will have a tougher assignment containing Matthew Stafford.
Bears 27 Lions 24 Got this team pegged -- just in time for the season to end. For Chicago, it’s on a good note.
Season Record: 6-9 Versus Spread: 8-6-1
Season Record: 5-10 Versus Spread: 5-7-3
Season Record: 8-7 Versus Spread: 8-6-1
Season Record: 6-9 Versus Spread: 6-8-1
Season Record: 4-11 Versus Spread: 8-6-1
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ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, December 31, 2015
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8
Ka’Deem Carey earns confidence of the coaching staff By ADAM
JAHNS
ajahns@suntimes.com @adamjahns
It’s the final week of the season, and it’s been seemingly forgotten that running back Ka’Deem Carey could have been dancing like Michael Jackson for another team in 2015. When training camp opened, Carey was the fourth back behind Matt Forte, Jacquizz Rodgers and Jeremy Langford. Carey was very much on the roster bubble, competing with Senorise Perry for a roster spot. And Perry seemingly had the edge as a proven special-teamer. Carey was a fourth-round pick in 2014, but the Bears’ new brass was never opposed to saying goodbye to recent draft selections. Just look at what happened with
linebacker Jon Bostic and safety Brock Vereen. It wasn’t until Perry injured his foot in the Bears’ third preseason game against the Bengals and was placed on season-ending injured reserve that Carey’s chances to make the team improved. Now, the Bears say they’re big fans of Carey, that they just wanted to see what he could do given the chance. But that chance only happened after Rodgers was placed on IR after five games. Carey was a healthy scratch in four of the first seven weeks. Carey’s situation is different now. He’s found a place on special teams, particularly on kickoff returns. He has seemingly earned the confidence of the coaching staff, getting six carries on the Bears’ final possession against the Buccaneers. Carey’s hard-nosed, straight-line style has received compliments from all. “I know when Ka’deem is in
Ka’Deem Carey
AP photo
because I hear his runs,” right tackle Kyle Long said. “I can hear the shoulder pads get rocked on the second level, and that’s him doing the rocking of someone else’s shoulder pads.” Carey’s emergence – highlighted by his two touchdowns in the win over the Bucs – is often cited as part of the reasoning to allow Forte to leave in free agency. But all the above is also worth noting when considering what the
Bears are going to do with their backfield. Has Carey done enough to be considered a sure thing for 2016? Remember, he didn’t start the 2015 season that way.
Are folks done running kicker Robbie Gould out of town yet? Gould’s missed field goals in the losses to the 49ers and Redskins
remain inexcusable, but he has rebounded from them, as expected. Gould made four field goals in Tampa, Fla., and is now two successful kicks away from breaking his own team record of 32 field goals from 2006. His 31 field goals this season are the third most in the NFL this year.
The Bears’ 2015 schedule turned out to be a tough one in the end. They played nine games against winning teams, which is tied for the most in the league. So what does 2016 hold? The Bears appear to be lucky with the NFC East and AFC South on the schedule. There always will be surprisingly good teams, but those divisions currently have one winning team each. And with games on Sunday, the Texans and Redskins could each finish the season at 8-8.
With the Bears protecting a lead Sunday in Tampa, eight-year veteran running back Matt Forte was on the sidelines as rookie Jeremy Langford and second-year man Ka’Deem Carey got the calls in a save situation. Did that represent a changing of the guard? Or was it a back injury that made Forte a mere spectator with the game on the line? Maybe both. The 30-year-old Forte has one game left on a four-year, $30.4 million contract, and his next deal won’t be anything close to that lucrative. He knows it, and the Bears know it. The key question for both sides is this: How much is he worth to the team going forward, taking into consideration that Langford and Carey have shown they can get the job done and they make about 10 percent of what Forte made this year? Langford, this year’s fourthround pick, is under contract for three more years at an average base salary of $615,000 a year.
OPINION
By BOB
LeGERE
rlegere@dailyherald.com @BobLeGere
His cap hit averages $751,000, including the prorated portion of his $544,000 signing bonus. Carey, last year’s fourth-rounder, will make an average of $645,000 in base salary in the two years remaining on his rookie deal. His cap number averages $755,000 when the prorated portion of his $443,000 signing bonus is factored in. When Forte hits free agency in March, he would be justified in expecting a deal at least as good
as the three-year, $12 million contract that Frank Gore got from the Indianapolis Colts last offseason. That deal included $6.5 million in guaranteed money. Forte is a better all-around running back than Gore and twoand-a-half years younger. Their numbers are very close this year with an edge going to Forte because he has the higher average yards per carry, 4.1 to 3.7, and better average yards per reception, 8.7 to 7.9. Both players have been exceptionally durable throughout their careers. Last Sunday, Forte became the fifth player in NFL history with eight seasons of 800 rushing yards and 300 receiving yards. The others are LaDainian Tomlinson and Ricky Watters, who both did it nine times, and Hall of Famers Walter Payton and Marshall Faulk who, like Forte, did it eight times. There’s a good chance some team will pay Forte something close to what Gore got. But will it be the Bears? Forte is worth that much money. But can a team
H. Rick Bamman – Shaw Media
with glaring needs at nearly every other position afford to spend that much when it has solid depth at running back, even without Forte? In the three weeks (Games 8-10) that Forte missed with a sprained knee, the Bears averaged 116 rushing yards, which is exactly their per-game average for the season. But given the attrition level at running back, re-signing Forte would provide valuable peace of mind in case of injuries. Also,
coach John Fox has a history of utilizing two and sometimes three runnings backs. Langford and Carey both have shown production this year to go with potential, and they have earned Fox’s trust. “We’ve had a stable of [running backs] this season,” Fox said. “The names have changed, but all in all, we’re pretty comfortable with all three of them. I think Ka’Deem’s showed he’s worthy.” Still, Forte’s long record of versatility and durability is invaluable. On Sunday, the Bears ran several plays with two running backs on the field, which they had done to a lesser extent in earlier games. “Anytime you have two backs in there,” Fox said, “there’s a little bit of misdirection and uncertainty on which back’s getting the ball.” If that’s a trend they’re considering for the future, it makes sense to have three capable running backs. And, despite being 30, Forte is much more then capable.
9 CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | Thursday, December 31, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com
Sunday shouldn’t be Matt Forte’s last game with Bears
ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, December 31, 2015
| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
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Bears QB Jay Cutler looks up field as he moves out of the pocket in the first half of a Dec. 13 game between Chicago and Washington at Soldier Field. H. Rick Bamman – Shaw Media
10 MOST SIGNIFICANT CHICAGO BEARS STORIES OF THE PAST YEAR By
KEVIN FISHBAIN
kfishbain@chicagofootball.com @kfishbain
O
ne year and two days ago, the Bears cleaned house, firing Phil Emery and Marc Trestman. The franchise entered the 2015 calendar year without a GM, head coach or direction. As the season and year come to a close, there were certainly enough bright spots and important moments to see that the organization is on the right track. On the field, there were more negatives than positives, and the Bears couldn’t avoid off-the-field news, including injuries, controversial signings, releases and high-profile trades. We look back at the top 10 most significant storylines of the 2015 calendar year for the Bears. These aren’t necessarily the best moments, but the news that had ripple effects, good or bad, for the franchise.
BEARS OVERHAUL LEADERSHIP, HIRE RYAN PACE AND JOHN FOX
1
The McCaskey family went to different ends of the spectrum to ring in 2015 and find the long-term decision-makers for the Bears. When it seemed set that they would hire former scout Chris Ballard, they instead chose 37-year-old Ryan Pace, maybe the least known of the top candidates, to take over a team that was filled with bad contracts and ugly drafts. As the head-coaching interviews began, the coup happened. The Broncos parted ways with John Fox, paving the way for the Bears to make their most signature head-coaching hire in history.
2
KEVIN WHITE DRAFTED, BUT DOESN’T PLAY
The most important draft pick of Pace’s time in Chicago never took a snap. Kevin White was the sevBears’ highest draft pick in 10 years, selected seventh overall to be a dynamic weapon for the offense. He mysteriously missed minicamp and then it was announced at the start of training camp that he was dealing with a shin injury. Shin injury became stress fracture, and on Aug. 15, Pace announced that White had a setback and had to have surgery. The White story didn’t end there. His return to the practice field in November and early December brought hope he could potentially see the field as a
rookie, and show the fans what his teammates had seen. Instead, he spent his first NFL season on the physically-unable-to-perform list.
VIC FANGIO, ADAM GASE ADDED AS COORDINATORS
3
Wherever he’s been, Fox always has had well-re well-re-avail garded lieutenants, and he hired the best ones available to run his units. Fangio took over a defense, made the drastic shift to a 3-4 – a franchise first – and helped that group play a key role in wins with a conglomerate of rookies and street free agents. Gase, a candidate for several head-coaching jobs, managed an offense riddled by injuries and got Jay Cutler to cut down his turnovers. Gase’s work with Cutler has put him square in the conversation for a 2016 head-coaching job.
4
PACE TRADES BRANDON MARSHALL, JARED ALLEN
The biggest transaction Pace made was trading Marshall, a clear sign that he was in charge. No matter Marshall’s talent, the organization made a significant decision that he did not fit what they wanted inside Halas Hall. Pace made several trades in his first season, mainly minor ones, but he sent ripple effects through the locker room when he traded Allen to the Panthers.
5
ALSHON JEFFERY’S INJURY SAGA
Jeffery wasn’t spotted during the Bears’ preseason opener, and we learned after that he suffered a calf injury in a walkthrough, thus beginning a season where Jeffery was a mainstay on the injury report. The calf injury kept him out of the preseason, a hamstring injury forced him to miss four games, a groin and shoulder injury kept him sidelined against Denver and he got another hamstring injury in Minnesota, which made him inactive yet again. Jeffery missed six games heading into the season finale. When healthy, he was a star, proving he can be a No. 1 receiver in this league, but he likely cost himself a chance at a massive, longterm contract by spending too much time in the trainer’s room. The Jeffery decision appears to be the first big one for Pace in 2016.
6
BEARS SIGN RAY MCDONALD, THEN CUT RAY MCDONALD
George McCaskey put his faith in Pace, who in turn put his faith in Fangio, who vouched for Ray McDonald, set to be a starter at a position of need for the Bears – five-technique – but who arrived Chicago coming off multiple arrests. The signing was widely criticized, and McDonald’s arrest
AP photo
on Memorial Day and subsequent release concluded the worst decision made by the new Bears front office.
7
BEARS BEAT THE PACKERS … AND THEN LOSE TO THE 49ERS
On the field, two games resonated as key moments that defined the season – a high point and a low point separated by 10 days. The “best” moment of the 2015 calendar year came on Thanksgiving, when the Bears stunned the country with a 17-13 win in a driving rainstorm in Green Bay, the night the Packers honored Brett Favre. The win capped off a three-win November and sent Bears fans into a frenzy that playoffs were an option with an “easy” December schedule. However, hosting the 49ers in their next game, the offense had one of its worst performances, yet gave Robbie Gould an opportunity to win an ugly game with a 36-yard field goal. He missed it, wide left, his second miss of the game, and the Bears lost in overtime. They’d lose the next two, guaranteeing another losing season.
8
PACE, FOX, GASE COMMIT TO CUTLER, WHO HAS CAREER YEAR
The new brass made Cutler sweat it out, but in March, Pace announced that Cutler would be the starting quarterback, and his decision-making thrived under Gase’s tutelage. Cutler himself deserves a ton of credit for engineering an offense with mov-
ing parts all around, with injuries to White, Jeffery, Martellus Bennett, Eddie Royal, Marquess Wilson and Matt Forte. He did it all behind several different offensive line combinations.
9
JEREMIAH RATLIFF RELEASED
An ugly and potentially dangerous situation occurred at the Bears’ facility in late October that resulted in Ratliff’s release and lots of questions for John Fox, Ryan Pace and the rest of the organization after a police report detailed a chaotic scene. Ratliff, expected to be a foundation piece for the 3-4 defense, battled injuries, was suspended for the first three games and then reportedly was not fit to be at the facility, leading to disturbing quotes in the police report.
10
PERNELL MCPHEE SIGNED, BECOMES LEADER OF ‘D’
The biggest signing of Pace’s first off off-season, Pernell McPhee, made an instant impact both on and off the field. He has become the vocal leader of the defense and made a big impact with five sacks in the first seven games, but a lingering knee injury that limited McPhee and kept him out of two games has led to questions about his longterm durability. There’s no doubt that when healthy, McPhee was the difference-maker the Bears paid for, and even when not at 100 percent, an important voice in the locker room.
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The somewhat mutual move, which was followed up by trading Jon Bostic to New England, again illustrated Pace’s no-fear attitude with building his team.
Pernell McPhee
ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, December 31, 2015
| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
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NFC NORTH REPORT By
ARTHUR ARKUSH
aarkush@chicagofootball.com @ArthurArkush
VIKINGS @ PACKERS
Overview
On Sunday, the Vikings complete the trifecta: since 2013, each of Green Bay’s divisional foes will have collided with the defending champion in Week 17 with the NFC North title on the line. For the third consecutive year, the Packers are favored to successfully defend their crown, though the circumstances that have led Green Bay and Minnesota here beg the question: Is this year different? Both clubs are 10-5. Minnesota has outscored its opponents by a combined 56 points (compared to 52 for Green Bay, by far the slimmest point differential between any top teams within the eight divisions). Each club is 3-2 since Green
crystalized. Minnesota has had the ball and a chance to tie in the final minutes on the road against Super Bowl contenders Denver and Arizona, but also failed to show up for home litmus tests against Green Bay and Seattle. Will Green Bay secure its fifth consecutive division belt and ninth overall, Bay’s 30-13 win in Minnesota. But only or will the new kids on the block earn one team – the Vikings – is playing their third overall and first under Mike its best football of the season, having Zimmer? totaled 87 points in consecutive blowouts, albeit against sub-.500 opponents, Matchups to watch Adrian Peterson vs. Green Bay run ‘D:’ whereas the Packers are coming off Closing in on his third rushing title, their most lopsided defeat of the Aaron Peterson opposes a unit just 21st in the Rodgers era. It would be easy to chalk the Packers’ NFL on the ground but having held him resounding loss in Arizona last Sunday to 45 yards on 13 carries (3.5) in Novemup to a road team running into a home ber. The Packers had nose guard B.J. buzz-saw, but the visiting Vikings took Raji (concussion, check status) the first the Cardinals to the brink one week ear- time around, however, and were comlier without their top four players on ing off their stoutest game of the year. Over the past four games, they’ve yielddefense It’d be just as simple to look at Min- ed more than five yards per carry. Peternesota’s consistent failings against Rod- son got back on track Sunday after three gers’ Packers – 4-11 including the thor- quiet games. Minnesota will ride their ough Week 11 beating in which Green horse as much as he can handle. Bay snapped a three-game slide – but Packers WRs vs. Vikings DBs: this version of Rodgers is a far cry from The struggling Packers pass catchthe one whose 116.5 passer rating is his ers hauled in just 16 of 34 targets for best against any divisional opponent. The Packers stormed out to a 6-0 start 212 yards – Rodgers’ lowest completion including wins against fellow postsea- percentage of 2015 – in the first meetson invitees Seattle and Kansas City be- ing against plenty of zone looks. They fore their unusual offensive struggles can expect to see a more aggressive
plan this time by Zimmer’s corners, Xavier Rhodes, Terence Newman and nickel Captain Munnerlyn. That could spell trouble for Rodgers, sacked a season-high eight times behind an O-line without both starting tackles (LT David Bakhtiari, ankle, check status; RT Bryan Bulaga, knee, check status) a week ago and lacking synergy and trust in Davante Adams and Co. all season.
Teddy Bridgewater vs. Packers pass ‘D’: Seven of Bridgewater’s 17 total touchdowns have come in the past three weeks, when he’s completed 57-of-81 (70.3 percent) without a pick. He played well in the first matchup but was sacked six times. Can Bridgewater’s top targets, Stefon Diggs and Kyle Rudolph, give him opportunities to attack downfield? The Packers’ young CB stable could get a boost with the return of top CB Sam Shields (concussion). Julius Peppers, Mike Daniels and Co. must again harass Bridgewater if the game is put in his hands.
By the numbers
Green Bay is averaging 24.7 points at Lambeau, down from a franchise record 39.8 last season. … Peterson averages 112.9 rushing yards (5.37 per carry) versus Green Bay, the most against division opponents.
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FANTASY FOOTBALL
13
By
J.C. TALON
Antonio Brown
ChicagoFootball.com fantasy football writer
Most Valuable Player: Cam Newton
Most leagues ended their fantasy seasons in Week 16. For the true diehard leagues that play on through the fantasy wasteland of Week 17, we offer an abbreviated look at favorable and unfavorable matchups. For those of you celebrating a championship or looking ahead to next year, we’ve included a fantasy awards segment. On to Week 17….
Biggest Surprise: Allen Robinson Biggest Bust: Eddie Lacy Most promising rookie: Todd Gurley
MATCHUPS TO EXPLOIT PATRIOTS (@ DOLPHINS) Noon Sunday Before we start, let’s get something straight: There was nothing wrong with the Patriots electing to start last week’s OT on defense. The problem was they should have declared a side of the field to defend. By declaring they wanted to kick, the Jets got the ball and the wind. New England needs this game to be the AFC’s top seed. Dan Campbell’s tough-guy act has worn thin and this is likely his last game as coach. Miami’s defense is 27th in yards allowed. We are assuming that Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola will not play, but both receivers are worth a look if they are active. Must start: Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Stephen Gostkowski Solid play: Patriots D/ST Worth a look: Brandon Bolden, James White, Brandon LaFell Last resort: Steven Jackson, Keshawn Martin
STEELERS (@ BROWNS) Noon Sunday Many a fantasy season was crushed by Pittsburgh’s pathetic performance in Baltimore last Sunday. Still, matchups don’t get much better than this one. Must start: Ben Roethlisberger, DeAngelo Williams, Antonio Brown
FANTASY AWARDS
AP photo
Solid play: Stewart*, Ted Ginn*, Panthers D/ST Worth a look: Cameron ArWorth a look: Heath Miller, tis-Payne (if no Stewart) Steelers D/ST Last resort: Fozzy Whitaker Last resort: Markus Wheaton (if no Stewart), Devin Funchess (worth a look if no Ginn) GIANTS (vs. EAGLES) Noon Sunday This is a great matchup for ALSO CONSIDER both offenses. Philadelphia’s defense is ranked 30th and the Giants SAINTS (@ FALCONS) Noon Sunday are dead last. Drew Brees is ending the seaMust start: Odell Beckham, Jr., Solid play: Eli Manning, Rashad son on a roll. Jennings, Jordan Matthews, Zach CHIEFS (vs. RAIDERS) Ertz, Josh Brown Worth a look: Sam Bradford, 3:25 p.m. Sunday Kansas City tends to start Ryan Mathews, DeMarco Murray, games fast and then coast to the Will Tye, Caleb Sturgis finish. If its offense were ever goLast resort: Rueben Randle Stay away: Giants D/ST, Eagles ing to put together four quarters, this would be the game. D/ST Solid play: Martavis Bryant,
Chris Boswell
PANTHERS (vs. BUCCANEERS) 3:25 p.m. Sunday Because Arizona also plays at 3:25, Carolina will have to assume that they need this game for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Tampa’s defense is mediocre. Monitor the status of Jonathan Stewart. Must start: Cam Newton, Greg Olsen, Graham Gano
MATCHUPS TO AVOID
Solid play: Karlos Williams, Sammy Watkins Worth a look: Tyrod Taylor, Mike Gillislee Last resort: Robert Woods, Charles Clay, Dan Carpenter, Bills D/ST JAGUARS (@ TEXANS)
Noon Sunday It would be hard to sit Blake Bortles and impossible to sit Allen Robinson, but this is a tough matchup for Jacksonville. Houston’s defense has vaulted all the way to No. 3 in yards allowed. Must start: Allen Robinson Solid play: Allen Hurns Worth a look: Bortles, Julius Thomas Last resort: Denard Robinson Stay away: Jaguars D/ST
CHARGERS (@ BRONCOS)
Dream Team: QB: Newton RB: Devonta Freeman, Adrian Peterson WR: Odell Beckham, Antonio Brown TE: Rob Gronkowski Flex: Julio Jones, Allen Robinson (tie) PK: Stephen Gostkowski D/ST: Broncos, Cardinals (tie) All-Bust Team (not injury-related): QB: Aaron Rodgers RB: Eddie Lacy, DeMarco Murray WR: Randall Cobb, T.Y. Hilton TE: Jason Witten PK: Dan Bailey D/ST: Dolphins All-Injury Team: QB: Andrew Luck RB: Jamaal Charles, Marshawn Lynch WR: Alshon Jeffery, Dez Bryant TE: Jimmy Graham Flex: Le’Veon Bell PK: Matt Bryant
3:25 p.m. Sunday No one could blame the Chargers if they are focused on getting BILLS (vs. JETS) back to San Diego and breaking Gates Noon Sunday Rex Ryan won the “It’s All out the golf clubs. Last resort: Donald Brown, Must start: None About Me” Bowl in Week 10 Ladarius Green, Josh Lambo Solid play: None against the Jets. Since then, his Stay away: Chargers D/ST Worth a look: Philip Rivers, team has gone 2-4 and has been Danny Woodhead, Dontrelle Ineliminated from the playoffs. Must start: None *Check injury status man, Malcom Floyd, Antonio
CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | Thursday, December 31, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com
Matchups to exploit, avoid for those leagues still playing into Week 17
14
ChicagoFootball.com • Thursday, December 31, 2015
| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
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PATRICK FINLEY
ARTHUR ARKUSH
What have the 2015 Bears accomplished? With the 2015 season wrapping up for the Bears this weekend, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times and Arthur Arkush of ChicagoFootball.com discuss the team’s accomplishments.
FINLEY: The Bears have one game left,
Arthur, and it means little – except for, perhaps, an emotional moment for Matt Forte, a battle to avoid last place in the NFC North and, inversely, for draft position. Before we look forward, though, let’s look back: What have the Bears accomplished this season? And has it been enough? ARKUSH: The 1973 Bears beg to differ about this last game being meaningless, Patrick, as they were the last group to complete a season with just one home win, something John Fox’s club hopes to avoid Sunday. But that obviously wouldn’t qualify as an accomplishment either way, so how about beginning with what many thought was impossible – coaching the
recklessness out of Jay Cutler, whose 93.2 QB rating is more than three points higher than his previous best. What’s keyed his growth? Chicago’s newfound identity as a patient, take-only-what-opponents-give mindset. Cutler has proven he can drive that ship, and entering 2016 feeling comfortable at QB is more than many teams can say they’ve achieved, right? FINLEY: Unless Adam Gase departs, sure. I see the Bears offensive coordinator as a future head coach, somewhere. Perhaps the Bears’ post-Turkey Day slump (I blame tryptophan) will keep him around for another season. That would certainly help Cutler, who I’m sure is aware of the irony that his growth might actually cost him a coordinator. Beyond the quarterback, I think the Bears accomplished a return to normalcy after last year’s Telenovela-worthy season. John Fox was that guy at the hotel room party who answers the door, talks to security and keeps the room from
Kevin White
H. Rick Bamman – Shaw Media
anyway. Since you already alluded to it, let’s finish with the question Bears fans fear most: can their club avoid a drop-off in 2016 if it has two new coordinators and systems? If not, won’t we be having this same discussion next year? FINLEY: I can’t imagine they’ll lose both Gase and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. But if the Bears do, their replacements would be wise to keep the schemes – not just for the sake of stability, but because they proved successful this season. Don’t underestimate the benefits of another talent upgrade. The Bears will be adding two No. 1 draft picks – hello, Kevin White – who should be able to execute better, anyway.
GOING ON VACATION? Keep in touch with the news of the Sauk Valley
15 CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | Thursday, December 31, 2015 • ChicagoFootball.com
TAKE TWO
getting another noise complaint. There’s real value there, but behaving like a normal team is hardly an achievement. How about the defense, Arthur? ARKUSH: Believe it or not, Bears fans will see another up-and-coming coordinator Sunday with a similar skin on his wall, so all might not be lost if Gase departs. And where has Fox been when I’ve needed him in my hotel party past? As for the Bears’ defense, I think they’ve established some outside linebacker depth and found a fixture at nose – though let’s hope Eddie Goldman’s recent ankle injury doesn’t linger into the offseason. Rewarding Tracy Porter for his resurgent campaign also would push cornerback slightly down the shopping list and help young guys who aren’t going anywhere, Kyle Fuller and Adrian Amos. Did you see anything from Chicago’s Week 16 craze of UDFA success to think there might be other jars on the shelf? FINLEY: That’s really hard to tell. The NFL graveyard is littered with players who impressed in short spurts late in the season. Put it this way, Arthur: the Bears can’t enter this offseason trusting John Timu, Harold Jones-Quartey or Jonathan Anderson. They need to upgrade those starting positions and let their cheap, undrafted rookies fight for spots at the bottom of the roster. I’m trying to think of an offensive equivalent; does anyone come close? ARKUSH: Not really, but I think we’d agree the defense needs more of those types
| CHICAGO FOOTBALL WEEKLY
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