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Good morning, Chicago!

And welcome to the first Victory Monday of 2022!

Sunday’s 19-10 win over the 49ers had a certain cleansing quality and not just because Soldier Field was doused with heavy showers from the moment the tailgate grills were unpacked.

The victory was the first of the Matt Eberflus and Ryan Poles era — and it was the complete opposite of what the previous Matt and Ryan gave us.

Not at first, though. The start of the season opener seemed like it was headed for disappointment. The offense was stagnant, the Bears didn’t score and there was even a bizarre “only the Bears” moment when the team was penalized for punter Trenton Gill bringing a towel out before a field goal attempt.

But just when you thought this Monday would be filled with bad towel jokes, the Bears flipped the script. Justin Fields started making plays. The defense imposed its will on an overmatched quarterback in Trey Lance. The undisciplined play of the 49ers caught up to them.

It was a complete reversal of what we usually expect. Matt Nagy’s teams rarely rose to the occasion against superior competition and certainly never after early adversity.

Fields and the Bears, however, kept their composure to choke out a team that methodically wore them down during last year’s game at Soldier Field.

It felt as good as Fields and his teammates turning the end zone into their own Slip ‘N Slide after the game.

We’ll see how far this team can go, but Week 2 brings another opportunity for these Bears to show that things have changed: A primetime visit to Lambeau Field on Sunday night.

Enjoy this one for now, though.

–Kevin Kaduk
CHGO Head of Content

More Bears game content from CHGO!

• Nicholas Moreano on how Justin Fields led the team to victory
  
• Mark Carman issues his grades for the Bears (CHGO Members)
  
• Listen to Sunday’s postgame show

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🚙 You’re invited to our first football tailgate!

Are you ready to party with the CHGO crew in two weeks? We’re throwing a huge bash at the corner of Roosevelt and Michigan and want to see you there. Full details here.

👕 New shirt drop!

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The Week Ahead

• Remember the newsletter I wrote two weeks ago, declaring the White Sox season pretty much dead? No? Fantastic! Sunday’s loss aside, the team just put together a successful West Coast road trip and return home 2.5 games behind Cleveland. A two-game series at home against Colorado starts Tuesday, followed by a makeup game against the Guardians and a weekend series in Detroit against a Tigers team that has long since packed it in. Read Vinnie Duber for more on the team’s final push.
  
• The Cubs are 58-82 with the NL East-leading Mets up next. CHGO Cubs beat writer Ryan Herrera is already looking forward to what the offseason may bring.
  
• Two-match week in Bridgeview for the Red Stars, who currently occupy the sixth and final NWSL playoff spot. They tied the OL Reign 2-2 on Friday night.
  
• Fresh off a 3-1 win over Inter Miami, the Fire head to Montreal on Tuesday before returning to Soldier Field and trying out the new Bermuda grass on Saturday against Charlotte.
  

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No, we don’t care how it ends

Bears but make it Titanic. We can’t get enough. pic.twitter.com/PLoaTj5Ksg

— CHGO Sports (@CHGO_Sports) September 12, 2022