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The Bears return home to face the Tennessee Titans SINCE 1967

THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 24, 2016

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Holes all over

Bears mounting injuries, suspensions, leave holes on both sides of the ball

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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

1 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 2 DALLAS COWBOYS 3 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 4 OAKLAND RAIDERS 5 DENVER BRONCOS 6 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 7 HOUSTON TEXANS 8 ATLANTA FALCONS 9 PITTSBURGH STEELERS 10 NEW YORK GIANTS 11 DETROIT LIONS 12 WASHINGTON 13 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 14 MIAMI DOLPHINS 15 BALTIMORE RAVENS 16 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 17 BUFFALO BILLS 18 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 19 GREEN BAY PACKERS 20 CAROLINA PANTHERS 21 TENNESSEE TITANS 22 ARIZONA CARDINALS 23 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 24 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 25 CINCINNATI BENGALS 26 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 27 LOS ANGELES RAMS 28 NEW YORK JETS 29 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 30 CHICAGO BEARS 31 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 32 CLEVELAND BROWNS

Only question is do they have enough offense Only question is do they have enough defense Really hard to split 1, 2 and 3

Couple questions to answer but so far so good Can they find enough points to climb higher?

Assuming the Bucs were a blip on the schedule A quarterback away from being interesting Can score with anybody, but can they stop them?

Steelers can’t afford to stumble again

Winning all the close ones, playoff spot close Getting hard not to start believing

Passing almost every test; Cousins will get paid Got a must-win, but will it start a streak?

Power Rankings Welcome to our ProFootballWeekly.com NFL Week 12 Power Rankings

Please keep in mind as you read them they have nothing to do with who we think will be in the playoffs and Super Bowl, nor do they necessarily indicate who we think the best teams in the league are. These rankings are based on each team’s performance in the first 11 weeks of the season, players lost to injury, players expected to return soon and next few teams on the schedule.

AP PHOTO

Couldn’t be hotter, but need a quality win No shame losing at Dallas, how do they respond?

Have won 3 of 4 in tough part of schedule Won’t go away, will they?

Lost 3 of 4, but Dal, NYG, Atl, Sea are 29-10-1 4 straight losses and next 3 tougher: Phi, Hou, Sea Won 3 of 4, 2 games behind Falcons, 6 to play Getting better, but can’t handle Colts

Plenty of defense, but finding ways to lose Tough to beat when Rivers protects the ball Big win over Chiefs, need to string a couple more May be biggest disappointment in the league Getting better, but still need to find a defense All that time to get ready, Goff didn’t show much Nothing much left to hang their hats on

Stuck in the mud or maybe it’s quicksand Close to turning corner or closer to starting over

Dez Bryant scored twice in Dallas’ victory over Baltimore.

The 9-1 Cowboys remain in the second spot of our rankings.

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

Kaepernick getting better but can’t do it alone If there’s progress, it’s sure hard to see

W

ell folks, the circus is back in town – no, not the one at the United Center that sends the Blackhawks and Bulls packing every year, the clown show at Halas Hall – and at this point it seems more than fair to wonder whether this whole season needs to just be written off to bad luck or if there are Bears who should be blamed for this mess.

Let’s start with screw-ups Alshon Jeffery and Jerrell Freeman, both currently serving four-game, league-mandated suspensions for having banned substances of the performance enhancing drug variety in their systems.

If you had asked me a couple of weeks ago to find the two most likely cheaters in the Bears locker room, Freeman and Jeffery would have been at or very near the bottom of my list.

These two weren’t trying to cheat the system, but I’m not sure innocent is the best descriptor either.

Careless seems to fit much better.

As you’ve now heard repeatedly in

the last week, there is and Jeffery, and part a wealth of informaof the landscape in totion and assistance day’s NFL. available to these But what about the players to help them calamitous string of avoid these mistakes. injuries these Bears But with two screwhave suffered and conups in two weeks, tinued to suffer – as we does this say anywent to press we waitthing about the Bears ed on news of a second organization? potentially serious A quick survey of injury for Jay Cutler the league suggests – nearing a potential not. The Bears are epidemic. one of 21 NFL teams Are the Bears doing HUB ARKUSH harkush@ProFootballWeekly.com to have a player or all they can to keep @Hub_Arkush player(s) fail a drug their guys healthy? test this season and Common sense sugalmost every one of these goofballs gests the team also deserves a pass claim innocent mistakes. on this one as injuries continue to Please note goofball can be a snarky mount around the league. We ask term of endearment. Cheater is not. ourselves, what can the team do to Only Miami, the Jets, Bengals, Texlimit concussions, broken bones and ans, Raiders, Saints, Bucs, Vikings, torn muscles? But the stats are less Seahawks, Cardinals and Rams have clear here. The Bears do seem to be not lost a player to a failed drug test in worse shape than most and there this season. is a piece of recent Bears history we If the Bears are to blame, so are two shouldn’t ignore. thirds of the league.

Scott Berchtold is an old friend I think this one is just bad luck, who’s been with the Buffalo Bills for poor directions followed by Freeman over 25 years. He called me shortly

TELEGRAPH

after the 2003 season to tell me the Bears had just hired the best strength and conditioning guy in the NFL, Rusty Jones, who was leaving Buffalo after 20 seasons.

Over the next eight seasons from 2004-2011, the Bears were annually one of or the healthiest team in the league. Brian Urlacher recently told me Jones was “the best he ever worked with or saw” and that Jones definitely “made a big difference keeping him healthy.” Since Jones left in 2012, the Bears have annually been one of the most beat up teams in the league.

The Bears doctors are great, they fix their guys up after they’re hurt.

And I’m not pointing fingers at the current training staff, including Jason George, the head guy, or his assistants Rick Perry and Pierre Ngo. There are injuries all over the league and they may be great too.

What I am saying though is Jones’ impact was clear and it may be time the Bears went back to school just to make sure they’re doing all they can to keep these guys healthy.

Bad luck can’t be the cause of all the Bears problems.

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Bad luck can’t be causing all the Bears’ problems

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Bears rushing offense vs Titans run defense We don’t apologize for reading like a broken record, because that’s what the Bears have become, but here we go again: Jordan Howard ran it well in the first half against the Giants, and then the run game stalled after halftime. He averaged 6.0 yards a pop in the first half and had five carries for five yards in the second. This season, the Bears’ average yards per carry drops by 1.2 yards after halftime. The run game will take another hit if Josh Sitton can’t go because of his ankle injury, though Ted Larsen and Eric Kush have proven to

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Inside linebacker Avery Williamson is the team’s top tackler. Tennessee has allowed more than 81 rushing yards only once in its past seven games, but we’ll still give the Bears the slight nod.

EDGE be fine replacements. For the season, the Bears rank ninth in the NFL in yards per carry and have found success with the zone rushing attack. Howard has shown good patience and vision, and will face a Titans defense that is in the middle of the league vs. the run, but is coming off a solid perfor-

u BEARS

Bears passing offense vs Titans pass defense Not that Jay Cutler is the type to garner tons of sympathy, but he is without his top three weapons (Alshon Jeffery, Kevin White and Zach Miller),

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11:30 a.m. Thursday, CBS NFC North co-leaders have bad habits of playing with fire, but one will be alone in first place in time for Turkey dinner.

WASHINGTON AT COWBOYS

3:30 p.m. Thursday, FOX Two places we can likely rule out Tony Romo for in 2017 are Washington and Dallas, as Kirk Cousins and Dak Prescott have done everything asked of them and more.

STEELERS AT COLTS

7:30 p.m. Thursday, NBC Big Ben’s Steelers have outscored Colts 96-44 in consecutive wins from 2014-15; Fast starts a good look for Luck and the Colts.

CARDINALS AT FALCONS

12:00 p.m. Sunday, FOX Would Arizona, whose season and quarterback are toast, make sense for Romo? Julio has had Patrick Peterson’s number but this is appointment viewing.

BENGALS AT RAVENS

12:00 p.m. Sunday, CBS Bad to worse for Bengals with A.J. Green and Gio Bernard both potentially done for year; Baltimore finally found a run game and oddly abandoned it in one half vs. Dallas.

JAGUARS AT BILLS

12:00 p.m. Sunday, CBS Gus Bradley the new Jeff Fisher? Buffalo’s grasp on playoff viability as loose as LeSean McCoy with a dislocated thumb.

DeMarco Murray not to mention he could be missing three starters on the O-line against a Titans front that can get after the quarterback. The Bears’ pass protection broke down in the second half vs. the Giants, and Tennessee features veteran edge rushers Brian Orakpo (nine sacks, 14 QB hits) and Derrick Morgan (eight sacks, 19 QB hits), as well as Jurrell Casey, who has 14 QB hits from the interior. The Titans have a veteran secondary that isn’t stellar against the pass, but gets the job done. Without his big playmakers or a ton of time, Cutler, whose status for Sunday’s game as of press time is uncertain due to a reported shoulder injury, only made one big play down the field vs. the Giants on a pretty fade to Marquess Wilson. If Matt Barkley starts, this is almost a no-contest situation for the Bears’ passing game.

EDGE

u TITANS

Titans rushing offense vs Bears run defense This is our strength vs. strength matchup, but if the Bears are without Eddie Goldman, it’s going to be tough to stop the Titans’ two-headed rushing attack of DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry. The Titans are fourth in the NFL averaging 4.7 yards per carry behind a blue-chip offensive line that features first-round picks at the tackle spots. They are best running behind Taylor Lewan (6.9 yards per carry over left tackle).

Murray has 1,000 rushing yards this season, but was held to 3.3 a touch vs. a mediocre Colts team last Sunday. Jerrell Freeman and Danny Trevathan were very good late against the Giants’ run game, but they don’t have an effective nose tackle in front of them if Goldman can’t go. This is Tennessee’s bread-and-butter, Mike Mularkey’s “exotic smashmouth” offense that we mocked in the offseason, but it is a style that has actually worked. If Goldman is in, this will be close, but the Titans still have the upper hand.

EDGE

AP PHOTOS

Eddie Goldman

u TITANS

Titans passing offense vs Bears pass defense Will Bears fans spend Sunday afternoon wishing their team had in fact traded up for Marcus Mariota, a move GM Ryan Pace reportedly considered? Last year’s No. 2 pick has 23 touchdowns and eight picks this season, completing 64.2 percent of his passes. He is athletic enough to move the pocket and beat teams downfield that cheat up. The Bears’ pass rush is 12th in the league in sacks per pass attempt, but it had zero against the Giants. Tennessee is seventh in sacks allowed. The Bears are best defending receivers on the outside with Tracy Porter, but have struggled defending the middle of the field, and the Titans’ leading receiver is tight end Delanie Walker, who will challenge Chicago’s young safeties. Rishard Matthews is coming on strong (122 yards vs. Indianapolis) along with rookie Tajae Sharpe. The Bears may be without Leonard Floyd and cornerback Cre’Von LeBlanc, hurting the pass ‘D’.

EDGE

u TITANS

Sunday’s overall edge If the Bears are to get a big play in special teams, this is the game to do it. Deonte Thompson finally had some openings and nice returns against the Giants, and the Titans are 27th in kickoff-return coverage. All the other special situations go the way of Tennessee, though.

They are the best red-zone offense in the NFL, scoring touchdowns on 75 percent of their possessions. They score 25.5 points per game compared to the Bears’ 15.7. Tennessee is fifth in third-down offense, while the Bears are 30th.

The Titans do give up points (25.0 per game), but have a lot more to play for to stay in contention in the AFC South.

EDGE

u TITANS

TITANS AT BEARS

12:00 p.m. Sunday, CBS The one thing, and it’s a big one, separating the rebuilding progress of these two clubs is Tennessee has its franchise QB.

GIANTS AT BROWNS

12:00 p.m. Sunday, FOX G-Men have their longest winning streak since Super Bowl season; Cleveland has ... the Cavaliers and Indians.

CHARGERS AT TEXANS

12:00 p.m. Sunday, FOX Few teams can play out the string more interestingly than these Chargers; did the Texans tell Brock Osweiler to drink the water in Mexico?

49ERS AT DOLPHINS

12:00 p.m. Sunday, FOX Colin Kaepernick’s improvements easily fly under radar in Niners’ disastrous season; Ryan Tannehill took a step back last week but delivered in clutch for ‘Phins’ fifth straight.

RAMS AT SAINTS

12:00 p.m. Sunday, FOX It wasn’t a winning performance in Goff’s debut, but could’ve been worse; New Orleans’ special teams likely can’t be worse.

SEAHAWKS AT BUCCANEERS

3:05 p.m. Sunday, FOX It feels like Seattle, nicked up but yet to let down, might finally be due for one in tough road trip – can suddenly hot Bucs oblige?

PATRIOTS AT JETS

3:25 p.m. Sunday, CBS No Rob Gronkowski, barely any Martellus Bennett, still no problem for Pats; what’s the point in playing Fitzpatrick, Todd Bowles?

PANTHERS AT RAIDERS

3:25 p.m. Sunday, CBS The image of Luke Kuechly concussed and grasping for air still overshadows ugly Panthers win over Saints; Raiders can’t afford a letdown after short week and Mexico visit.

CHIEFS AT BRONCOS

7:30 p.m. Sunday, NBC Kansas City’s home hiccup vs. Bucs just that or harbinger of more struggles ahead? Another clunker from Siemian should amplify calls for Lynch.

PACKERS @ EAGLES

7:30 p.m. Monday, ESPN Unlike the offense, doesn’t take a rocket scientist to diagnose staggering defensive issues. Carson Wentz is falling and Nelson Agholor is only going to keep him down.

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

VIKINGS AT LIONS

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

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BEARS 17 TITANS 27

BEARS 12 TITANS 26

BEARS 21 TITANS 26

BEARS 17 TITANS 30

BEARS 20 TITANS 23

I’m not sure I could justify picking the Bears over the Browns at this point. I’d need some PEDs.

Tennessee is a lot healthier and has a lot more to play for then a bruised, battered and bad Bears team.

The talent gap isn’t that wide at most positions, but Mariota vs. Barkley? Well, this isn’t the Pac-12.

Week 17 can’t come soon enough for an injury-ravaged Bears team that lacked depth to begin with.

The Bears will play it tight but who the heck will be playing for them?

SEASON RECORD: 6-4 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 5-5

SEASON RECORD: 6-4 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 4-6

SEASON RECORD: 6-4 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 5-4-1

SEASON RECORD: 5-5 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 4-6

SEASON RECORD: 5-5 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 2-7-1

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BEARS 17 TITANS 24

BEARS 20 TITANS 25

BEARS 26 TITANS 24

BEARS 10 TITANS 24

BEARS 17 TITANS 27

This is a Tennessee team showing a lot more promise of late than the Bears. I guess that fits a lot of teams, though.

The Titans need this to keep hope alive in the AFC South.

That’s more than the Bears have to play for at this point.

Titans get off to bad starts on the road and rank 29th in run defense. Can Bears make enough plays?

Bears too banged/doped up, not deep enough to beat a Titans team on the rise, competing in their division.

The injuries are too numerous for the Bears to keep up with a young and explosive Tennessee squad.

SEASON RECORD: 8-2 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 6-4

SEASON RECORD: 4-6 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 3-7

SEASON RECORD: 4-6 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 3-7

SEASON RECORD: 6-4 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 5-5

SEASON RECORD: 8-2 SEASON VS. SPREAD: 5-5

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Bears wasting Trevathan’s efforts in lost season

D

anny Trevathan said early in the second half of last Sunday’s 22-16 loss to the Giants that he and fellow inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman “started feeling it.”

As the undermanned offense sputtered for the 2-8 Bears, Ryan Pace could see what has worked for this team. Or, another way to put it – what’s been wasted.

Trevathan and Freeman helped the Bears stay in it on Sunday. They combined for 21 tackles. They shut down the Giants’ rushing attack in the fourth quarter, holding them to 24 yards on nine carries (2.7 yards per carry) and only one first down.

Over and over again, they gave Jay Cutler and company a chance.

Of course, without Alshon Jeffery, Zach Miller, Kevin White, Kyle Long, Josh Sitton and Bobby Massie, it wasn’t easy to rally against a defense like New York’s.

But that loss can’t be pinned on the inside linebackers, and neither can this season.

Of Trevathan’s 11 tackles, six

of them went for two, few free agents show a one or zero yards. He foundation. The team had two stops for three just has to be healthy yards, and both of and get consistent play those were on passing from the quarterback plays. His instincts spot. Easier said than shined as he flew to done. the ball.

Two asterisks loom “We started feeling large, though, for the it like midway third inside linebacker duo, quarter, and it just Pace’s big offseason carried over to the free-agent additions fourth,” Trevathan that dramatically upKEVIN FISHBAIN said. “Once we get it graded the position: kfishbain@shawmedia.com going, we’re going.”

Freeman’s PEDs sus@kfishbain Those run stuffs, pension, and the fact though, didn’t matter. that neither player has The Bears lost, again. They’re 2-8 a takeaway for a Bears defense that with an injured reserve list longer is second-to-last in the NFL in takethan their list of bright spots, but aways. at least the veteran personnel adTrevathan isn’t used to this as a pro. He joined Chicago after four ditions this season have worked consecutive postseason berths and out, it seems. Last year’s haul of a Super Bowl title as a member of Pernell McPhee, Eddie Royal and the Broncos. But he has spoken beAntrel Rolle was marred by injury.

This year’s group featured the leadfore about the adversity he faced in college at the University of Kening tackler, Freeman, Trevathan, Akiem Hicks (four sacks, eight QB tucky. hits) and Bobby Massie, who has Now with his inside ‘backer struggled at times at right tackle. mate suspended for the next four Pace isn’t going to hit on everygames, Trevathan can work with rookie Nick Kwiatkoski and help one, but his first two drafts and a

keep the best-performing group for the Bears, the front seven, playing at a high level in games that don’t matter for a team that can’t seem to catch a break.

“I don’t believe in letting myself down,” Trevathan said. “I know it looks like that to the outside world, but I’m humble inside and I’m hungry. I know what it takes. I’ve just got to get it on one page and keep it rolling for the whole season.”

Freeman’s ban takes away a positive for the next month, but Trevathan can still play at a higher level if he can force a turnover or two. Only 26, he figures to be a key part of this defense for a few seasons. Just like Pace can revel in the successes of Jordan Howard, Cody Whitehair, Leonard Floyd and other young players to find hope for 2017, he can enjoy Trevathan’s contributions, even if it’s grasping for anything in a lost season.

“I feel like a couple of [losses] were kind of close. You hate to lose any game. I hate losing, it’s a bad taste in my mouth, period,” Trevathan said. “But great teams stack wins, and that’s what we have to do to build that confidence.”

Bears ‘D’ can’t back up words with action

B

ears emotional leader Pernell McPhee vowed “We gonna tear their ass up,” when he was asked about the Giants and quarterback Eli Manning prior to Sunday’s game.

And why not? The previous week, McPhee’s teammates seemed disinterested in a 36-10 trouncing by a mediocre Tampa Bay team. So why not try to light a fire under a 2-7 team that no longer had any realistic chance at the playoffs?

Teammates usually feed off McPhee’s passion and energy – and a football team without either is doomed. But there were a couple glaring problems with McPhee’s motivational ploy. Neither he nor any of the Bears’ defenders got to Manning, who threw 36 passes, completing 21 for 227 yards without being sacked.

Manning tossed 2 TD passes and finished with a 95.5 passer rating.

McPhee was a ghost against the Giants, invisible for most of the day.

He was credited with one tackle and had one of the Bears’ four hits on

Manning – but after he cently by PED suspendelivered the ball. sions.

“He did a great job Bears coach John of getting the ball out Fox had no problem fast,” McPhee said with the fiery team when asked about the captain popping off Bears’ lack of sacks. during the week.

“He did a great job of “Pernell’s a passionmixing up his play-callate guy,” Fox said. ing. I think we came in “I don’t really follow prepared and ready to much of the media as rush. It’s just we nevfar as what’s said and er got him behind the what’s not said, but chains.” whatever it was, I’m BOB LeGERE sure it was probably The Bears fell for rlegere@dailyherald.com aggressive and posithe eighth time in 10 @BobLeGere tive.” games, but they at least were competitive That kind of attion the road against a better team. tude could be in short supply as the It was as close as the Bears have Bears limp down the backstretch of come to a victory as visitors this a season with little to play for othseason. er than pride. The Bears finished against the Giants with backups “I’m always trying to fire up my at three of five offensive line positeammates,” McPhee said. “I was tions. And quarterback Jay Cutler saying what I felt at the time. That’s is awaiting further evaluation of a what I felt. Obviously, we didn’t do shoulder injury that could be seriit. It is what it is.” ous.

And although McPhee’s tactic Whoever is under center for the failed, it’s still a worthwhile apBears, he’ll be without tight end proach for a team that has been Zach Miller (fractured foot) for the decimated by injuries, and more re-

remainder of the season and Pro Bowl wide receiver Alshon Jeffery for three more games because of his suspension for using banned performance-enhancing drugs.

Between Miller and Jeffery, they have accounted for 39.4 percent of the Bears’ receptions, 40.2 percent of their receiving yards and half of their receiving touchdowns.

It’s almost as bad on defense, especially on the line, where C.J. Wilson was signed Tuesday and played significant snaps on Sunday. Wilson was credited with two quarterback hits, one more than McPhee, and he had three tackles, two more than McPhee.

Against the Giants, the Bears were without three key linemen: starting nose tackle Eddie Goldman, who has missed seven of 10 games with a high-ankle sprain, and Mitch Unrein (back). Will Sutton went on injured reserve last week with an ankle injury. So any fiery words from anyone still healthy enough to suit up would probably be appreciated.

If they can back up the words with actions, even better.

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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY |

Injuries continue to mount, byes nearing end J.C. TALON

F By

Fantasy writer | ProFootballWeekly.com

antasy owners can almost say goodbye to bye weeks, but we still have to contend with a never-ending stream of injuries. In Week 10, Giovani Bernard was lost for the season with an ACL injury.

Zach Miller (foot) is done for 2016, and C.J. Prosise (scapula) will likely miss the rest of the regular season.

A.J. Green will miss at least a couple of weeks with a hamstring injury. Andrew Luck is in the concussion protocol.

LeSean McCoy suffered a dislocated thumb, but should be able to go this week. Someone is going to run all over the Packers on Monday night, but it might not be Ryan AP PHOTO Mathews (knee). In the C.J. Prosise “does anyone care” file, Jay Cutler (shoulder) and Cody Kessler (concussion) are out indefinitely. Ryan Fitzpatrick (MCL), however, will go for the Jets. So we’ve got that going for us.

On to Week 12 …

MATCHUPS TO EXPLOIT Dallas Cowboys

OPPONENT: VS WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, 3:30 Dallas is producing 413 yards and 28.5 points per game. Washington counters with a below average 23rd-ranked defense. With Dez Bryant relatively healthy, the Cowboys offense is at full strength and on a roll. The Pokes have not lost since Week 1. During their current nine-game streak, they’ve scored a minimum of 24 points in each game, and were held under 27 just once. Washington also has a very good offense and should keep this game close.

The odds makers are thinking shootout: the over/ under is hovering around 50.

MUST START: Ezekiel Elliott, Bryant, Dan Bailey SOLID PLAY: Dak Prescott, Cole Beasley, Jason Witten WORTH A LOOK: none LAST RESORT: Cowboys D/ST STAY AWAY: Alfred Morris

Pittsburgh Steelers

OPPONENT: AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS, THURSDAY, 7:30 And speaking of over/under, this game (around 54) is projected to be the highest-scoring game of the week. Only three teams (49ers, Browns, Raiders) are giving up more yards than the Colts. Pittsburgh’s 22nd-ranked defense isn’t a whole heck of a lot better, so a boatload of points would surprise no one. Indy’s defense is dead last against the pass, so Big Ben joins Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell as a top play. Assuming this game shakes out as expected, you can bet at least one other Steeler will emerge with a strong fantasy performance. Eli Rogers is the most likely candidate. Jesse James had

just one catch and Ladarius Green had no catches on two targets and a drop last week in Cleveland. In the climate-controlled confines in Indianapolis, and facing a better offense (provided Luck is able to go), we expect more passing attempts from Pittsburgh.

MUST START: Roethlisberger, Bell, Brown SOLID PLAY: Chris Boswell WORTH A LOOK: Rogers, James LAST RESORT: Green, Cobi Hamilton STAY AWAY: Steelers D/ST (if Luck is active)

Arizona Cardinals

OPPONENT: AT ATLANTA FALCONS, SUNDAY, NOON To put it mildly, 2016 has not been a good year for the Cardinals. Considered one of the more explosive offenses coming into the season, Arizona is 18th in points scored, 11th in passing yards and 13th in rushing yards. They are 4-5-1 overall and just 1-3 on the road. Arizona has just two home games left this season. To make matters worse, head coach Bruce Arians was hospitalized with chest pains last Sunday after a 30-24 loss in Minnesota. But, hey, let’s look on the bright side: Although they might not win this game, the Cards should have a chance for decent fantasy numbers.

The Falcons are giving up 28.3 points per game and are ranked 28th in total defense. Atlanta has been inconsistent defensively and the over/under in this game is around 51. Fantasy owners can’t really count on any Cardinals wideout other than Larry Fitzgerald. John Brown is still battling back from health issues. J.J. Nelson caught one ball for zero yards against Minnesota and has three catches in the past two games. Michael Floyd might be the best bet after Fitzgerald, but he is only marginally more valuable than Brown or Nelson.

MUST START: David Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald SOLID PLAY: Chandler Catanzaro WORTH A LOOK: Michael Floyd LAST RESORT: Andre Ellington, Jermaine Gresham, Brown, Nelson

Seattle Seahawks

OPPONENT: AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, SUNDAY, 3:05 With C.J. Prosise out, Thomas Rawls could be in position for a pretty good day. In his first game back from injury, he posted 57 yards on 14 carries against a pretty good Eagles ‘D’. Tampa’s defense is ranked 26th overall and gives up 115 rushing yards per game. This is also an above average matchup for Russell Wilson. Tampa is 25th in passing yards allowed.

MUST START: Wilson, Doug Baldwin, Jimmy Graham SOLID PLAY: Rawls, Stephen Hauschka, Seahawks D/ST WORTH A LOOK: None LAST RESORT: Troymaine Pope, Tyler Lockett, Jermaine Kearse

ALSO CONSIDER New York Giants

OPPONENT: AT CLEVELAND BROWNS, SUNDAY, NOON New York should roll against the Browns and their 31st-ranked defense. Pittsburgh scored 24 points in Cleveland last week and that represents the lowest scoring total for any Cleveland opponent this season. The Browns will be playing at home for

the fourth time in five weeks. Not sure that means anything, but it is a weird schedule quirk.

Philadelphia Eagles

OPPONENT: VS GREEN BAY PACKERS, MONDAY, 7:30 The Eagles are not an offensive juggernaut, but Green Bay is in free fall. Since beating the Bears in Week 7, the Packers have lost four straight and have yielded 33, 31, 47 and 42 points, respectively.

MATCHUPS TO AVOID Cincinnati Bengals

OPPONENT: AT BALTIMORE RAVENS, SUNDAY, NOON After facing the high-powered Cowboys, Baltimore’s defense has slipped from the top spot in the defensive rankings. Don’t be surprised if the Ravens are back on top after this contest. The already sputtering Bengals offense lost two of their main weapons in Week 11 when A.J. Green and Giovani Bernard suffered significant injuries. The absence of Bernard might increase the overall value of Jeremy Hill, but probably not this week. The Ravens remain tops versus the run, giving up just 3.4 yards per carry and 76 yards per game. Tyler Boyd will be a popular pickup. The rookie caught six passes for 54 yards and a TD after Green went down with a hamstring injury.

MUST START: None SOLID PLAY: Tyler Eifert WORTH A LOOK: Hill, Boyd, Bengals D/ST LAST RESORT: Andy Dalton, Brandon LaFell STAY AWAY: Mike Nugent

New York Jets

OPPONENT: VS NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS, SUNDAY, 3:25 Coach Todd Bowles is starting Fitzpatrick reportedly because he feels he’ll lose the locker room if he turns to second-year QB Bryce Petty. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for either QB, or the coach … or the team, for that matter.

MUST START: None SOLID PLAY: Matt Forte, Brandon Marshall WORTH A LOOK: Quincy Enunwa LAST RESORT: Bilal Powell, Robby Anderson STAY AWAY: Nick Folk, Jets D/ST

Kansas City Chiefs

OPPONENT: AT DENVER BRONCOS, SUNDAY, 7:30 Though the Chiefs tend to play well against Denver, they have not scored more than 20 points since Week 8 in Indy. Jeremy Maclin has missed the past two weeks with a groin injury and Charcandrick West (concussion symptoms) and Tyreek Hill (knee) were injured in last week’s loss to Tampa Bay. MUST START: None SOLID PLAY: Travis Kelce WORTH A LOOK: Spencer Ware, Maclin* (if active), Hill* (if active and no Maclin), Chiefs D/ST LAST RESORT: Hill* (if Maclin active) STAY AWAY: Cairo Santos

ALSO BEWARE Detroit Lions

OPPONENT: VS MINNESOTA VIKINGS, THURSDAY, 11:30 Detroit did absolutely nothing against Jacksonville last week. It won’t get any easier facing a Vikings team that gives up just 17.6 points per game.

* — Check injury status

By JOHN

SAHLY

L

jsahly@shawmedia.com

ast Friday, the two biggest companies in daily fantasy sports – DraftKings and FanDuel – announced they would merge into one organization.

The financial terms were not disclosed, though multiple reports say it will be a 50/50 split or close to it for the two DFS giants.

The two rival companies have grown in scale immensely as investors and sponsorships (including 28 of the 32 NFL teams) brought in millions of dollars. But with that growth has come increased scrutiny in the form of state and federal inquiries and legislation, and controversy with a DraftKings employee winning $350,000 on FanDuel in one 2015 contest, sparking what were ultimately unfounded accusations of insider trading. The two companies also spent hundreds of millions on advertising, with almost inescapable commercials at the start of the 2015 NFL season.

New York temporarily forced

out both DFS companies, while Alabama, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Mississippi and Texas all issued rulings that DFS violated state gambling laws. Illinois’ was a non-binding advisory opinion from Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and litigation is pending. The state House has considered a bill to legalize and regulate the industry.

With those legal issues, FanDuel and DraftKings have faced ever-increasing legal fees in order to keep their business alive. The Associated Press reported the merger had been rumored for months, and faces regulatory approval.

So what does it all mean for the

average daily fantasy sports player?

In short, not much. At least not yet.

The merger announcement did not include much information on what this means going forward for players. The merged company does not have a new name. The two companies are retaining their respective headquarters – DraftKings is in Boston while FanDuel is in New York.

Operations and platforms aren’t undergoing any immediate changes, either.

Both sites will also remain operational through the end of the 2017

NFL season.

“The main thing is that, in the near future, things are not going to change much or at all,” Saahil Sud, a 27-year-old Bostonian widely considered the game’s leading player, said to The Associated Press. “Given turmoil over [the] past year, having business as usual is somewhat reassuring. But it’s too early to tell. I’m definitely not going to overreact. I’m just going to continue doing what I’m doing.”

As to what the new brand from this unnamed company will look like – even bigger contests? A new player rewards program? A higher rake? Stay tuned.

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

DFS: DraftKings, FanDuel to merge. What does it mean?

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

By

ARTHUR ARKUSH OVERVIEW

Leading up to a Thanksgiving battle for first place in the NFC North, these 6-4 teams likely spent some time this week being thankful for their defense and special teams – at least for one week. In one-score victories over the Cardinals and Jaguars, respectively, the Vikings and Lions each received a defensive and special teams touchdown to bail out largely stagnant offenses. Danielle Hunter and Brian Robison spearheaded a resurgent Minnesota pass rush, battering Carson Palmer relentlessly for four sacks and 15 QB hits after totaling three and 18 combined during its four-game tumble. The Lions forced three turnovers – including a Rafael Bush pick-six – after entering Week 11 with just seven takeaways, the fewest in the NFL. That made life easier on Matthew Stafford, who made enough plays late to notch his franchise-record sixth game-winning drive this season (yes, the Lions have won all six games by one score after trailing in the fourth quarter). TE Eric Ebron and RB Theo Riddick continue to pick up the receiving slack for Detroit’s slumping wideouts, while Ezekiel Ansah looked fresh coming off the bye with four QB hits in his best 2016 performance. Vikings WR-RS Cordarrelle Patterson sparked Minnesota

with 53 receiving yards in addition to his fifth career kickoff-return score, a 104-yard explosion on the heels of Xavier Rhodes’ 100-yard pick-six.

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Sam Bradford’s Vikings thought they had Detroit beat in Week 9 after completing a 79-yard touchdown drive to take a 16-13 lead with just 23 seconds remaining.

Then, Stafford found Andre Roberts over the middle to set up Matt Prater for the 58yard equalizer as time expired, before hitting Golden Tate on third-and-long in overtime, and the rest is history. Stefon Diggs began a historic two-game stretch that day – Pat Shurmur’s first as interim play caller – with his first of consecutive 13-catch outings. Detroit has since welcomed back No. 1 CB Darius Slay, who along with nickel Quandre Diggs will have the assignment of slowing the Vikings’ best playmaker.

With Minnesota still historically futile on the ground, averaging just 2.7 yards per tote, Shurmur has used Diggs and a quick passing game as an extension of the run game. That style has riddled the Lions, who are permitting the NFL’s highest passer rating (108.5) and completion percentage (73.0).

OVERVIEW

In their past 16 regular season games, the Packers are 7-9.

During its current four-game losing streak, Dom Capers’ defense has yielded 153 points, an average of more than 38 per defeat. Still think Aaron Rodgers is the problem? Sure, he’s missing throws he hasn’t in the past and needlessly escaping pockets he’d normally hang in longer, but, simply put, the Packers have essentially run out of bodies at cornerback, inside linebacker and running back. In Sunday night’s loss to Washington, 42-24, Capers’ unit ceded more than 500 yards and 8.3 yards per play. Kirk Cousins outplayed Rodgers, just as Marcus Mariota did a week earlier, but it’s fair to wonder whether Jay Cutler might do the same in the Packers’ current state. Yet if Carson Wentz, coming off his third multi-turnover game in the past five outings, picks apart the Packers’ secondary Monday night, all bets are off – especially Green

Bay recovering in time to clinch an eighth consecutive postseason berth.

MATCHUP TO WATCH Wentz’s 72.4 passer rating over the past six games, a span in which Philadelphia is 2-4, is the worst in the NFL. That’s a huge, and desperately needed, step down in class for the Packers’ bloodied defense after losing to Matt Ryan, Andrew Luck, Mariota and Cousins. Though Clay Matthews returned from a threegame layoff just as Nick Perry suffered an injury, and Demetri Goodson became the latest corner to fall, Green Bay should have enough ammunition against one of the NFL’s more lackluster skill groups, an offense that hasn’t topped 24 points since Week 3.

An angry and recently ineffective Matthews against an aging but still formidable Jason Peters is a matchup to monitor – assuming ILB injuries don’t force Matthews back to the interior.

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Minnesota Is Not Out Of The Woods Yet

T

he Vikings’ 30-24 victory over the Cardinals Sunday snapped a four-game losing streak and kept them tied with the Lions for first place in the NFC North while opening up a two-game lead over the Packers. But the Way We Hear It, the Vikings still have an awful lot to fix before they can be considered a legitimate contender again.

Minnesota’s offensive woes have been well-documented, but with almost half of the Vikings’ points against Arizona coming on a 104- Norv Turner and Mike Zimmer yard Cordarrelle Patterson kickoff sophical issues with head coach Mike Zimmer that return and a 100-yard Xavier Rhodes interception went back almost a year regarding exactly what return, it’s not as if the Vikes really answered any the best strategy is to overcome deficits on the ofquestions on offense. fensive line.

In fact, nothing’s improved at all since the someWhile Zimmer, Turner and offensive line coach what surprising resignation of offensive coordinaTony Sparano all shared a link to the Cowboys, tor Norv Turner almost three weeks ago. The 20 Turner is a Jimmy Johnson guy, while Zimmer, points against Washington included a touchdown Sparano and interim offensive coordinator Pat on a 33-yard drive following a fumble recovery, and Shurmur all share ties to Bill Parcells.

17 points against the Cardinals came on a 44-yard We hear it was Parcells’ influence causing ZimTD drive following a 23-yard Marcus Sherels punt mer to prefer five- and seven-step drops to try and return. make plays down the field that Turner believed According to our sources, Turner left over philo-

were impossible given the holes in the O-line.

Turner has moved on somewhat amicably and the offensive woes remain with Sparano and Shurmur, but that may not be the biggest problem the Vikings face.

When Minnesota hit 5-0, some were looking for comparisons of the Vikings defense to the great defenses of all time.

Through its first five games, Minnesota allowed 12.6 points per game.

In the last six, it has given up 22.6.

Through the first five weeks, the Vikings had 19 QB sacks and 10 takeaways. Over the past five weeks, they have another 10 takeaways but just seven QB sacks.

Most notably, the Vikings defense seemed to disappear in the second half of a huge upset loss at Chicago AP PHOTO on Monday night and again a week later in overtime versus the Lions.

Minnesota has lost a few starters to injury on defense, but by current league standards they’ve actually been fairly healthy.

Offensively, Minnesota was scoring 23.8 points a game when it was 5-0 and has scored 17.2 while going 1-4 since.

A report early this week trumpeted the possible return of Adrian Peterson as soon as a Christmas Eve trip to Lambeau Field to play the Packers, which would most likely help the offense. But the way we’re hearing it, the defense is actually a greater puzzle right now and just as big an issue.

Changes Coming In L.A. With Or Without Fisher

T

here are few more buttoned-down owners in the NFL than Stan Kroenke, and most of our sources are having a very hard time getting any real sense of what the futures of head coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead will be.

But what little we are hearing is that Fisher will most likely be out at the end of the season.

How bad has it gotten under Fisher?

This marks the fourth straight season under Fisher in which the Rams are 4-6. Fisher’s Hard Knocks proclamation that any more “7-9 Bullsh*t” won’t cut it seems safe. With games remaining at New Orleans, New England and Seattle, and home games with Atlanta, San Francisco and Arizona, The Rams, we think, will be hard-pressed to find more than two more wins on the schedule.

And it gets much worse than that.

Fisher’s all-time 173-162-1 record ties him with Tom Landry for the second-most losses in NFL head-coaches’ history, but Landry has 250 wins and six ties.

Fisher needs just four more losses to break Dan Reeves’ all-time record of 165 losses, and Reeves has 190 wins.

Of the 20 least winning coaches in NFL history,

only Weeb Ewbank and Norv Turner have lower winning percentages, and Ewbank has 33 fewer losses and Turner has 40 less.

Fisher’s limitations are obvious: he’s a Buddy Ryan disciple who is a very good defensive coach but who doesn’t appear to have a clue on offense.

Strangely, Snead seems to suffer the same flaws as his head coach.

Snead’s picks on defense of Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, Janoris Jenkins, Alec Ogletree, Trumaine Johnson, Aaron Donald and Lamarcus Joyner have been impressive.

Offensive choices including Greg Robinson, Isaiah Pead, Brian Quick, Tavon Austin and Rob Havenstein are not so great.

Todd Gurley looked like a home run last year, but he has disappeared as a sophomore. With Jared Goff it’s too soon to tell. Snead took him because he was allegedly the most ready-to-go of the top QBs, but it took him 11 weeks to get on the field and be every bit as mediocre in his first start as Case Keenum.

Is it a blind spot for Snead, or that Fisher doesn’t know what to do with the offensive picks he’s been given?

Since Fisher was involved in the hiring of Snead, the Rams have a general manager who’s never hired

a head coach. Based on the brilliance of the RGIII trade and his defensive picks, it’s possible Fisher goes and Snead gets a chance to stay and pick his own coach.

The conventional wisdom is both will be let go at the end of the year, but here is something we are hearing from very good sources close to Fisher: Whether it’s part of a AP PHOTO campaign to get a con- Jeff Fisher tract extension or an actual epiphany, Fisher has decided if he is retained he will bring in a new, veteran offensive coordinator with a free hand to develop Goff and run the offense.

We’re also hearing that this year’s castoffs – Greg Roman, Turner and Greg Olson – could all be candidates, with Turner a heavy favorite right now to get the job.

The question is, do Fisher and/or Snead get the chance to make the move they clearly should have made some time ago?

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

Vikings offense hasn’t improved and defense has regressed

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

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What do Chicago Bears fans have to be thankful for this season?

NATE ATKINS KEVIN FISHBAIN luva caveat – he has a chance to rush for more yards than Matt Forte did in all but two seasons as a Bear. That’s amazing, particularly given the fact the Bears’ offensive line has shuffled between eight different guys in the past month or so. He and outside linebacker Leonard Floyd deserve votes on somebody’s rookie of the year ballot, right?

Fishbain: Poor Howard, he just had to enter the NFL the same year as Ezekiel Elliott, the obvious choice for rookie honors. Floyd will need to rack up a few more sacks and maybe a turnover down the stretch (assuming, of course, he can recover quickly from

a scary neck injury) to stay in the DROY race with Joey Bosa. Sticking with the rookies, because Bears fans have to be thankful that 2017 will be better than this season, Cody Whitehair has quietly been pretty good at center. I imagine he’s a fan of Thanksgiving dinner.

Finley: And he was put in a horrible spot to start the season, learning center during the week leading up to the opener after the Bears signed Josh Sitton. After Whitehair, though, the Bears’ list of exciting, healthy contributors – Willie Young? The punter? – starts to look as thin as bad gravy. So here’s pre-

cisely who the Bears should be thankful for: Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Hendricks (but maybe not David Ross, who gets enough attention). Because in a lot of Chicagoans’ minds, and understandably so, the football season really didn’t start until the Cubs’ ended. And by then, it was Week 9.

Fishbain: The loudest cheer at Soldier Field this season may have been when they played ‘Go Cubs Go’ after the Bears upset the Vikings. They also can be thankful that there are only six games left, and the healthy players should be very thankful for that considering how many Bears are on

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PATRICK FINLEY FINLEY PATRICK

injured reserve. We should wrap this up with some pumpkin pie, but I’m trying to find something that is dessert-worthy. Maybe that the Bears will be in position to draft the quarterback of the future?

Finley: The Bears haven’t drafted in the top three since 1972 so, depending on how your mind works, this year’s bottoming out is either the smartest thing they could do – or the low point of a broken promise to be competitive.

It’s probably both. Bears fans dreaming of their next quarterback on the couch after dinner – thanks, tryptophan!

– need to remember that drafting one is no sure thing.

Here’s a list of first-round quarterbacks taken outside the top two picks in the past five years: Paxton Lynch, Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater, EJ Manuel, Ryan Tannehill and Brandon Weeden. Is there one keeper in there? Sorry to be a bummer, Kev, when you asked for something sweet.

But during this season, it feels appropriate.

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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

I

n this week’s edition of ‘Take 2,’ Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times and Kevin Fishbain of Pro Football Weekly give Bears fans some things to be thankful for this holiday season.

Fishbain: Well, Patrick, the holiday season is here and the Bears, like the last two Thanksgivings, don’t have much to be thankful for, do they? But this is a wonderful time to share with family and friends, watch football, eat food and do some cyber shopping. Let’s warm the hearts and souls of Bears fans with things to be thankful for this weekend. How about Jordan Howard? I know he was ineffective in the second half Sunday, but Bears fans have to be thrilled about a fifth-round rookie having a legit shot to rush for 1,000 yards. Plus with Jeremy Langford as a backup, that position is set for a while.

Thanks, Ryan Pace!

Finley: Howard is the brightest spot on a dull team, for sure. Health permitting – and on this team, that’s a hel-

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016

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