Good morning, Bears fans!
Enjoying the bye week? Ryan Poles must be, judging by the lack of any last-minute moves before Tuesday’s deadline.
All together now: “We have Jeffery Simmons at home.”
Speaking of enjoying the bye week, no regular newsletter on Friday. We’ll come back big on Monday for the stretch run through Valentine’s Day.
HEADLINES
Your first place Chicago Bears
Minnesota’s loss to Buffalo on Monday night put the Bears in first for the first time since Week 1. They own a half-game lead over the Vikings and Lions.
Bears stand pat on deadline day
Dennis Allen could’ve used another corner. Ben Johnson might’ve been able to use another tight end. But nothing doing. Any reinforcements will have to come through the free agent pool.
DT Jordan Elliott works out at Halas Hall
Same guy who was cut by the Titans last month after going to his car to get a gun during an argument. I’m a little surprised the usually cautious Bears would even kick the tires on someone with that baggage. We’ll see if anything comes of it.
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THE BIG ITEM
Deals at the Deadline
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If the NFL’s trade deadline were Black Friday, then Ryan Poles would be the guy who found a great early deal online in Jeffery Simmons and got to enjoy his purchase a few weeks ahead of time.
Minnesota’s Nolan Teasley is the guy who was pressured into making a buy and found a TV (Kirk Cousins) that looks great on the surface but is also missing a few key features.
Detroit’s Brad Holmes is the guy who wanted to stay conservative, but still picked up an air fryer in safety Andre Cisco just to say that he bought something.
And Green Bay’s Brian Gutekunst? Well, he’s apparently happy with the comfortable sweater he already owns, even if it may have a few holes.
It’s clear the Bears won the NFL trade season, even if it required the highest price. Simmons’ presence has already secured two wins in the ultra-competitive race for the NFC North and figures to be a key difference maker in the four division games that remain.
Time will tell if Teasley will get credit for his last-minute scramble on the Cousins homecoming, but what choice did he have? Kyler Murray’s hamstring combined with Carson Wentz’s horrendous start on Monday Night Football required the move.
And then there’s the Lions and Packers, who either made a cursory trade for secondary depth (Cisco for a sixth-rounder) or did nothing even with Josh Jacobs’ future providing plenty of questions.
I think we all would’ve liked the Bears to go a little bit bigger, particularly with a secondary that has standing reservations in the trainer’s room. The Khalil Mack dreams were fun while they lasted, too.
But the Bears already took the biggest swing in the division, period.
Many people will point at the Vikings and say they’ll be serious contenders with a passable offense. They’re not wrong.
But it ignores the fact the Bears did the same thing in reverse with Simmons. I’m willing to bet the Bears defense will level up much more with #99 than the Vikings offense does with the Cousins reunion.
And, again, the Bears were able to get two victories by Poles moving on Simmons early while the Vikings needed two losses to be hit with the realization that Murray and Wentz weren’t it.
Now all the real fun begins. All four NFC North teams are entering an epic stretch run willing to ride different strategies.
We’ll see who ends up happiest with their trip.
QUOTABLE
My dad sent me a quote: ‘Only mediocre people can be at their best all the time’… As a team, to be able to still find a way to win and other guys step up and fill the void, I think that’s what good teams do.”
WORTH YOUR TIME
Jacob Infante on why standing pat after the Simmons blockbuster makes sense. (Windy City Gridiron)
Adam Hoge on 10 things the Bears need to fix during the bye week. (CHGO)
James Neveau on why the Bears’ remaining schedule is a beast. (NBC Chicago)
SHOP: Get geared up for the second half of the season with all of the Bears gear at Fanatics
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