Why Do I Like the Chicago Bears This Week?
I.
Always.
Like.
THE.
Chicago.
Bears.
The State of the 49ers…
…is unstable.
The Niners have lost a majority of their elite talent, with more dropping each week. (They lost both their starting tailbacks in the Buffalo game.) Their quarterback is playing with a serious shoulder injury, and their coach looks exasperated on the sideline. They’ve lost three straight games, and their performance Monday night in Orchard Park was the performance of a club ready for a lost season to be over. (With the exception of Deebo Samuel, who might have had multiple kick return touchdowns on a normal playing surface.) Strange thing? They are ONLY two games back of the first place Seahawks. They’re not buried, even if they can taste the dirt.
This is an interesting matchup from a motivational standpoint. The Bears players wanted their coach gone. He’s gone. They wanted Thomas Brown to take over. He’s in charge. Will we see a Bears team with something to prove squaring off against a Niners team eager for a January flight to Mexico?
Thomas Brown Tweet of the Week
“The initial goal is to unify this football team.” — interim Bears coach Thomas Brown
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) December 2, 2024
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Christmas Song of the Week
Usually not a fan of modern Christmas music, but I quite like this one.
Three Bears I’m Keeping My Eyes On
- Rome Odunze. Thomas Brown will want to win games, understandably. Caleb Williams will want to keep progressing as a professional. But the organization needs to begin moving Odunze to the front of the target line, and with the Niners pass rush falling apart, this would be an ideal week to do so.
- Braxton Jones. I’ve noticed some debate on socials about what level player Brax is and here’s my two cents: I think he’s pretty good. But Jones needs to spend the last five weeks of the season reassuring Bears brass that the focus of their OL attention this off-season should be inside, not on the edges.
- Eric Washington. Will he call the defense any differently than Flus? Will opponents have a more difficult time converting on third and long? Will they be more aggressive when it comes to producing a pass rush? Washington is auditioning for the league over the final month. The identify of his defense will be interesting.
Tomorrow: Game Prediction!