Why Do I Like the Chicago Bears this Week?
I.
Always.
Like.
THE.
Chicago.
Bears.
Secret…BAGENT Man!
Here’s how I am choosing to treat the Justin Fields injury: it’s a relief. The Justin Fields conversation was growing more tedious by the day. Tyson Bagent provides three opportunities.
First, he could be a long-term backup option for this organization. Those guys are invaluable.
Second, it will be interesting to see how the offense runs when run correctly. There was a noticeable difference, a flow, when Bagent entered the game Sunday. He was limited, of course, by his physical abilities, but the offense moved the ball with more cohesion after Fields exited. The ball was out quick, on-time, in the hands of playmakers. Let’s see if that continues.
Third, the longshot: what if he’s good? What if he goes out Sunday and puts up a 27-38, 310, 2? I know, I know, he’s an undrafted free agent, Jeff! But don’t we have enough evidence to prove NFL franchises are clueless when it comes to evaluating college quarterbacks? And is being an UDFA really all that different than being Mr. Irrelevant, like the fella in San Francisco?
The Sun-Times caught hell for their cover, but Bagent makes Sunday’s game against the Raiders more fun for this aging Bears blogger. My story is written on Fields.
Top Ten Cats in Cinema
(10) The Siamese Cats, Lady and the Tramp (1955)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG5mOd8Ubsk?si=ASFeSyxjwQWdcCxK]
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(9) All 52 Cats of Grey Gardens, Grey Gardens (1975)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq8ZlNCEW4w?si=oPkEr3MstqqbKzi0]
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(8) The one on Marlon Brando’s Lap, The Godfather (1972)
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(7) Blofeld’s Cat, From Russia with Love (1963)
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(6) Cheshire Cat – played by Telly Savalas, Alice in Wonderland (1985)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKbCoeoh4mM?si=LzBiuXimDh4gVW35]
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(5) Thomas O’Malley, The Artistocats (1970)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haixN2bO5fI?si=RDCJ59jxUjayor_k]
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(4) Oliver, Oliver & Company (1988)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb7kJ-j_dKA?si=smx1PFmatXF-iUVi]
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(3) Garfield, Garfield’s Thanksgiving (1989)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhMkrudxLXQ?si=0PymUEWJDk4Rz81C]
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(2) The Cat, Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
A cat so interesting it has caused the brilliant Dana Stevens, who wrote an essential book on Buster Keaton, to pen think pieces for The Atlantic about it.
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(1) The Orange Guy, The Long Goodbye (1973)
Is this the best sentence ever found on the internet, re: The Long Goodbye? “Another website claims the cat was played by a feline thespian named Chauncey Scratchet.”
Stats of the Week
- Rushing.
- Offense: Bears 7th (136 per), Raiders 31st (73.5)
- Defense: Bears 8th (89.5), Raiders 20th (121.7)
- If this game is played on the ground, the Bears have a significant advantage on both sides of the ball.
- The Bears are 1-5, with a point differential of -48, and a turnover differential of -6. The Raiders are 3-2 somehow, with a point differential of -31, and a turnover differential of -7. These teams are not dissimilar. They are both bad. But the Raiders pulled out wins over the even worse Broncos and Patriots.
- Josh Jacobs has a 2.9 yards per carry average this season. He averaged 4.9 a season ago, when he was the best back in the sport. Jacobs isn’t getting the same push up front, but he also looks a full step slower.
Game Prediction!
Wouldn’t it just be the most Chicago Bears thing for Tyson Bagent to lead the team to victory and absolutely devour the news cycle leading into next Sunday night?
Chicago Bears 23, Las Vegas Raiders 19