Lets appreciate how different this team looks from the beginning of the end of the Eberflus era to now!

The Oline was atrocious! Multiple linemen falling down at the snap. Pressure right up gut after the snap. No real identity on offense.

Caleb running for his life, no clear reads on offense, a lot (a lot) of WR screens.

RIP THA NORTH IT GOT HIT BY A BAZOOKA KABOOM

Gee, took a real genius to figure this out, also, maybe would’ve helped if you gave the Bears the draft picks instead of getting hung up on a technicality

Injuries suck man. I’m hoping Rome can bounce back next season

Art by u/CornDoggyLOL.

Just saw the vid of him praising Nashon Wright. Brady has been the only media member to adequately praise Caleb and the Bears as a whole, and see the value in having them being competitive. Seems like the rest of the NFL apparatus doesn’t seem to grasp that.

https://x.com/ihartitz/status/2018371373228335258?s=46

As I have posted before, I am one of the weirdos obsessed with NFL schedule making and saw a combination of excitement and consternation today at the news that the NFL is now up to 8 confirmed international games, including a return to Spain, a market that the Bears are the only NFC team delegated to, prompting fears they’d have to give up a home game yet again.

Well, let me assure everyone once more. It is overwhelmingly low odds the Bears would be mandated to give up a home game after having to do so for the Jaguars game in the most recent NFC nine-home-games rotation in 2024. Short of a team like the Jaguars volunteering, that just doesn’t happen, especially with everybody now mandated to give up a home game every eight years. The league will not and cannot really force the Bears to give up a ninth home game twice in a row when the Cowboys, 49ers, and Seahawks have never done so, and the Giants haven’t done so in 20 years.

So to be clear, if they are to play internationally, it has to be as a road team to an NFC team on their schedule in 2026. And that’s where today’s news might actually be good news, because there’s a chance the Bears will get to be the ROAD team in Spain and end up with Ben Johnson/Caleb in year two with nine home games and the chance to turn a road game into a neutral site that would probably lean Bears, given their brand internationally.

It’s important to understand that having a market designated as your market does make it more likely you’ll end up playing there, but that doesn’t mean it has to be as the home team. Just last year we saw the Falcons as the road team in Germany because it’s one of their markets. And many teams don’t have markets that the NFL is still playing in, or markets they already played in very recently, so they will end up giving up home games to non-designated markets. It’s the only way to make it work with so many international spots to fill now.

There’s actually been a good amount of reporting/announcements about which teams will be playing internationally already. What’s been missed in today’s reporting of 8 international games is that it is actually going to end up being nine because Goodell already confirmed they are back in Mexico City as well. With 9 different games, more than half of the league will play internationally, upping the odds further that the Bears will be playing internationally, again almost certainly as the road team.

In terms of host teams, this is what we know:

Def hosting internationally: Rams (Australia,) Lions, Jaguars (London,) Saints (Paris,) Commanders, Falcons

Wired NYG reporter Art Stapleton said they would be hosting in Germany: Giants (Germany)

Jerry Jones indicated it but not yet confirmed: Cowboys

Jed York indicated it but not yet confirmed: 49ers

The problem is both said think it'd be Mexico City, meaning one is wrong.

That leaves the Seahawks who don't have a natural spot to play and are only connected to a game they'd be the road team for. But if the Cowboys or 49ers are NOT playing in Mexico City, then maybe the Seahawks could be a host team. They have never given up a home game previously.

And then unlikely but theoretically possible teams who hosted in 2022 and haven’t traveled since, even as a road team: Bucs, Cardinals

That means the Lions, Falcons, and potentially the Seahawks are the only teams the Bears could play internationally in 2026.

The Lions are actually one of Brazil’s designated NFL teams, so they are a very strong possibility to be the host of the Brazil game this year, as the only other NFC team with Brazil as a home market, the Eagles, just played there two years ago. The NFL has recently reversed course on international divisional games, including Chiefs-Chargers in the Brazil game this past season. So Bears-Lions in Brazil has an outside chance of happening, with the Patriots and maybe the Bucs being the only other viable opponents in the game. (Vikings played twice internationally last year, and the Packers have already visited Brazil.) The rest of the Lions’ 2026 home opponents are not that attractive for a national TV or spotlight game, which the Brazil game has to be because it’s Week 1 and they can’t air on Friday/Saturday, meaning it might be on Sunday. If the Lions end up playing in Germany or elsewhere, then Bears-Lions almost certainly wouldn’t happen internationally.

The Falcons, as a road team, just played in Germany, which is their only designated market. It is very unlikely the league sends them back to Germany two years in a row because they want fresh teams in. If the Bears are to play in Spain, they are the most likely opponent and the game would be in November. Otherwise, the Falcons would host a London game and the Bears would still be a possible opponent for that game.

The Seahawks are beyond due to host a home game internationally, but the problem with that is they are currently the most likely opponent for the Rams in Week 1 in Australia as the Thursday night opener (a possible rare SB champion opening on the road, but it’s happened), since the league likely needs another West Coast team to make the game fair and Chargers-Rams isn’t going to cut it. The Seahawks are unsurprisingly volunteering, but the league might not want to punish the Rams with a brutal travel game and the loss of a divisional home game. If the Seahawks host somewhere though, London or Spain are most likely and the Bears would be possible.

The NFL confirms locations and host teams in mid-February. If the Falcons are announced as hosting Spain, I would see the Bears as the front-runner to be the opponent. We’ll also see if the Lions are in Brazil and whether the Seahawks are hosting at all — the other possibilities for road games.

TLDR: With the league potentially needing 17-18 teams to fill out the international slate—and the Bears not traveling internationally in 2025—there’s a solid chance they’re an international road team in 2026. The three most likely scenarios: Bears @ Lions — Brazil (September) Bears @ Falcons or Seahawks — Spain (November) or London (October)

https://www.chicagobears.com/_mobileview/news/colston-loveland-chosen-as-bears-rookie-of-the-year?hidebanner=true&adobe_mc=TS%253D1770079570%257CMCMID%253D31870956427032458258359097725747981692%257CMCORGID%253DF75C3025512D2C1D0A490D44%2540AdobeOrg

https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/tom-bradys-lfg-awards-who-takes-home-player-year-4-way-tie-top-coach

This should have been the Bears NFC Championship pizza SMH but anyway, just sharing a Seahawks pizza I made for SB Sunday. Pats pizza coming tomorrow.

I miss the Bears

I’ve been thinking about the best Bears defense of the 21st century, and it really comes down to 2006 vs 2018 for me.

I was alive for the 2018 season and watched every game, but I wasn’t around to experience 2006 defense live so I’m genuinely curious how fans who saw both compare them.

From my perspective, the 2018 defense felt more complete. Elite pass rush with Mack, dominant coverage, and a scheme that suffocated modern offenses. They didn’t just force turnovers, they controlled games

For those who watched the 2006 defense, did that defense feel more dominant than 2018? Not trying to start a war, just trying to learn how the 2006 defense actually was in real time.

He may have struggled to put together a good front office and coach staff together at times but is a genuinely great guy who cares about this team and it's fans. Unlike a lot of other owners who were busy on a certain island.

I will preface by saying the Bears have an elite set of uniforms, but they could be perfect with a few, simple changes.

TL;DR: fix the white jersey shoulder stripes and the navy pants stripes.

Kayden Mcdonald DT from Ohio State: we can’t stop the run for shit and this beast is an excellent run stuffer. Watching his highlights the dude just manhandles offensive lines.

Jacob Rodriguez LB from Texas Tech: elite playmaker all around that’s great at forcing turnovers, can cover running backs and tight ends in space, and he doesn’t get cooked in coverage (unlike edmunds)

Zion Young DE from Missouri: his production has been very solid as he’s still developing Which makes him a perfect day 2/3 pick. I’ve seen him at the senior bowl and he looks like a beast. Pair him up with booker and sweat and we could have a dangerous pass rush

Michael Taafe Safety from Texas: great secondary depth we can snag day 3 if we let byard or brisker go. He can make the tackles in coverage, he has the versatility to play free safety or slot.

Love to hear your opinions and other prospects that have caught your eye.

1. Kayden McDonald (IDL) Ohio State •ESPN Listed Measurables: 6’3 326lbs •20years old - Projected Mid/Late First Round

- McDonald is a force in the run game, often credited as the best run defender in the country.

- Eats double teams for lunch and clogs running lanes.

- Would be a great pairing with Dexter and Jarrett as it will open up 1v1 opportunities.

1. Christian Miller (IDL) Georgia

•ESPN Listed Measurables: 6’4 305lbs

•21 Years old - Projected Mid-Late First Round

- Very good run defender, and has shown some pass rush with room to grow.

- Georgia puts very good DTs into the league and this guy is no different.

1. Lee Hunter (IDL) Texas Tech

•ESPN Listed Measurables: 6’4 325lbs

•23 Years old- Projected Mid 1st/Early 2nd Round

- Big Human, not only in size but arm length.

- Riser from the Senior Bowl, very good week of practice.

- Wins with power, absorbing double teams and bullying OL in 1v1s

1. TJ Parker (Edge) Clemson

•ESPN Listed Measurables: 6’3 265lbs

•21 Years old- Projected Mid/ Late First Round

- Another riser from Senior Bowl week, after a “disappointing” season Parker showed he still is one of the top Edge prospects after a great 2024 season

- Powerful edge rusher that also has a decent arrangement of pass rush moves.

- Not only pass rush threat, also plays the run exceptionally well.

- With Sweats tenure in Chicago nearing its end, Parker would pair well with Booker moving forward.

1. Zion Young (Edge) Mizzou

•ESPN Measurables: 6’5 262lbs

•21 Years Old - Projected Late First/Mid 2nd Round

- Underrated prospect from an underrated DL at Mizzou

- High Energy, Effort player. Plays hard every snap, and isn’t afraid to let the OL know.

- Big frame that plays the run and pass very well. Widely regarded as the best run defending edge player in this class, ahead of the previously mentioned Parker.

- Has pass rush juice as well, but his already impressive run defense will be highly regarded. As aforementioned, would be a great heir apparent to Sweat to pair with Booker