adam

Weather looks like it will just be cold with light winds. 16 degrees at kickoff (Real Feel 9), then it will slowly drop to around 10 degrees by the end of the game, real feel about 5.

It has always been an excuse for the team, but not this year. You have to go all the way down to the Broncos to find a team with a better record but with only 128 games missed. Depth and coaching.

Road win, short week, in PHI, bad weather. A lot was against them.

This makes 9-3 even that much more amazing:

With Odunze out, more targets for Loveland and Burden.

Close, out with a foot injury, something that has been lingering for some time.

Injuries piling up around the league for teams the Bears still have to play. While Bears are finally getting healthier. Wyatt and Kraft gone for GB Maliek Collins, productive DT on IR for CLE Branch just lost for the season in DET, hurt last night. Probably a top 5 Safety in the NFL. Bosa and Warner aer both out for the year for SF. Not the same defense as in previous years.

That's crazy, I can't believe they won any games with that line.

I know there are a lot of variables in the schedules, but it feels like anytime you can get one of the South divisions, your schedule feels a little easier. The NFC North plays the NFC South and AFC East next year, so it looks like a more favorable schedule, even with a first place schedule: NFC South (TB, CAR, ATL, NO) AFC East (NE, BUF, MIA, NYJ) NFC East (PHI or DAL) NFC West (LAR or SEA) AFC South (JAX or IND)

In other roster related news, the Vikings traded a 4th rounder for Thielen who was just released today. So they got 8 receptions and 69 yards for a 4th rounder. Ouch. Overrated GM and HC there.

In this 5-game win streak, the Bears are now 1 of 4 teams since 2000 to have a 5-game win streak where they scored +140 points, had +950 rushing yards, and +10 Takeaways. Interestingly enough, all 4 teams started the season 2-2, all made the playoffs, and PHI won it last year. 2024 PHI 14-3, 10W (Started 2-2), won SB 2019 BAL 14-2, 12W (started 2-2), lost playoff game 2012 SEA 11-5, 5W (started 2-2), won playoff game They are also 1 of 5 teams since 2000 to win 9 out of 10 with +250 Pts, +1500 Rushing Yards, and +25 Takeaways. The last team since: 2015 CAR 15-1, 14W (lost SB) 2012 SEA 11-5, 5W, won playoff game 2009 NOR 13-3, 13W, Won SB 2000 DEN 11-5, 6W, lost playoff game These teams average a 13-3 record (since most occurred before 17 games). No team had fewer than 11 wins. All strong signs that this is not a fluke.

If definitely shows the odds are off, and GB should not be favored by 6/6.5. Can GB win by a TD or more, sure, but if the teams play like they have over the last month against each other, then CHI should have a slight edge. Kraft is still #2 in targets and has missed 4 games. It is now Doubs and Jacobs. Wyatt was their best DT. It feels like there will be some running lanes inside zone.

87 Yards Rushing on 23 carries won't take you very far in the playoffs. Especially considering the weather. It is trending towards playoff games in NE and DEN, in January.

Yeah for sure. It will be interesting to see if he gets a 2nd contract though. You can only give out so many of those on each side of the ball.

Yes, with the Conference AND Division Lead at stake. This becomes the biggest game for the Bears since 2018.