Good morning, Bears fans!
Not to get too greedy around these parts, but would it kill either the Bulls or the Blackhawks — I don’t even need both, just one — to stage some watchable games between Bears contests this fall?
The young Bulls clearly just need some time, but I’m getting some you-know-who vibes from Hawks coach Jeff Blashill …
HEADLINES
Uncertainty hits Bears left tackle spot
Braxton Jones is out for the year after opting for right knee surgery and Theo Benedet (shoulder) was listed as an estimated non-participant in Wednesday’s practice. Ozzy Trapilo hasn’t played a full game yet, so the Bears could be looking at scrambling on the one unit that’s been the most consistent during the Ben era.
Kentavius Street likely out for the season
The DL was placed on the IR after injuring his knee in Seattle and isn’t expected back. TE Stephen Carlson takes Street’s place on the 53-man while DL Earnest Brown takes Carlson’s spot on the practice squad.
Kyle Monangai estimated DNP again
Turf toe: Not even once. And can we just agree that I won’t list Monangai in headlines again until he’s back on the practice field?
Jack Campbell releases statement on neck injury
The Lions LB says he has full movement in his lower body and is “continuing to make progress” with his upper body. Continue keeping a good thought for Campbell and his family.
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THE BIG ITEM
Ending The Sunday Night Skid?
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Yes, the Bears just beat last year’s Super Bowl teams in back-to-back weeks and are riding high at 6-2.
But the biggest mountain of the Bears run of three straight primetime games might still be up ahead, even it’s -just- against the Bucs.
As our friend Brendan Sugrue reminds us, the Bears are on quite the schneid when it comes to NBC and Sunday Night Football.
Call it the “Collinsworth Curse”: The Bears have lost nine straight games on Sunday Night Football. Their last win on the program came in December 2018 against the Los Angeles Rams.
The skid actually reaches 12 if you count the two playoff games and 2019 season opener against Green Bay that were also on NBC.
Here’s the full list:
Date | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
1/18/2026 | LA Rams | 17-20 |
12/28/2025 | at San Francisco | 38-42 |
9/15/2024 | at Houston | 13-19 |
10/29/2023 | at LA Chargers | 13-30 |
9/18/2022 | at Green Bay | 10-27 |
12/12/2021 | at Green Bay | 30-45 |
9/12/2021 | at LA Rams | 14-34 |
11/29/2020 | at Green Bay | 25-41 |
12/22/2019 | Kansas City | 3-26 |
11/17/2019 | at LA Rams | 7-17 |
9/5/2019 | Green Bay | 3-10 |
1/6/2019 | Philadelphia | 15-16 |
I mean, of course it started with the Double Doink game.
Take a look at that streak and a few things help it make even more sense.
The schedule makers sure liked sending the Bears on the road. Sunday will be the Bears’ first regular season SNF at Soldier Field since 2019, when they got the luxury of hosting Patrick Mahomes so he could ruin my birthday.
Three of the games were at Green Bay, which should have been classified as cruel and unusual punishment. (For us Bears fans, of course.)
The first 10 games were coached by either Matt Nagy or Matt Eberflus.
The Bears weren’t favorites in any of the nine Sunday night games. The last time they were favored on Sunday Night Football was a 2.5-point spread against Minnesota in 2018. (Bears won 25-20).
Sunday should set up nicely for the Bears and it might be their only chance to end the losing streak this season, barring a flexed game or another playoff appearance.
Change a play here or there and Ben Johnson/Caleb Williams could’ve taken both games on NBC last season.
Per , Ben Johnson is 19-4-1 ATS as a playcaller in prime time games.
The Bears are coming into the game as 6.5-point favorites, their biggest number as favorites in a Sunday Night Football game since facing the Bengals in 1992 (when the game was on ESPN).
The Bears, however, lost that game 31-28 as nine-point favorites.
So maybe burn some incense before the game or offer up a few loose bratwurst to the football gods.
You know, just to be safe.
QUOTABLE
The message is it’s in one ear and out the other. We gotta keep winning … That’s all we’ve talked about for the last year and a half in this building, and that doesn’t change no matter what our record is and what’s happened previously.
WORTH YOUR TIME
Tom Brady has the Bears at No. 1 on his power rankings (Twitter)
Manti Te’o says Caleb Williams is the best quarterback in the NFL. (Good Morning Football)
Here’s a roundup of where the Bears fall in this week’s crop of power rankings. (Windy City Gridiron)
Luis Medina believes Rome Odunze is building WR1-worthy resume. (Bleacher Nation)
My friend Frank Schwab thinks the Jaguars are making the Super Bowl, which makes that December 6 visit to Soldier Field a potentially big game. (Yahoo Sports)
SHOP: Jeffery Simmons jerseys are in at Fanatics
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