CHGO Digest: Bears' preseason finale with roster spots, history on the line

Good morning, friends!

It’s game day, Bears fans, and redemption is calling.

Do I need to remind anybody what happened last September in Kansas City? Taylor Swift made her Arrowhead debut — probably to watch Jack Sanborn — and the Chiefs turned the Bears into the Tortured Opponents Department.

It was 34-0 at halftime. 34!

To borrow from Herb Brooks ahead of the 1980 Olympic hockey semifinal, “Not tonight”.

— Patrick Norton

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Bears, Chiefs resting starters on Thursday night

A win in Kansas City tonight would cap off one of the more impressive preseasons for the Bears in recent memory. A three-quarter mess on a slip-and-slide in Canton was the team’s lone performance within 20 points.

But for the Bears to head into the regular season without a taste of defeat, it’ll take another solid outing from Tyson Bagent, Brett Rypien, and the rest of the backups.

Matt Eberflus said on Tuesday that most starters, including Caleb Williams, would not see action on Thursday night against the Chiefs.

• While Eberflus did not specify which starters might play in the finale, some names come to mind. Nate Davis missed several days of training camp with a muscle strain before returning last week and playing on Saturday. Tyrique Stevenson, who enters his sophomore season, also missed valuable time in camp.
  
• Davis is a tricky call. Getting the right guard a series or two with center Coleman Shelton has value in ensuring the linemen are on the same page ahead of Week 1. However, Ryan Bates’ unavailability changes things. If Bates were healthy, maybe the team would push for extra reps. But with Bates, the de facto backup for Shelton and Davis, sidelined, preserving the health of Williams’ first line of defense probably makes more sense.
  
• Fourth-string quarterback Austin Reed is a longshot to unseat four-year veteran Brett Rypien for the third (and likely final) spot on the depth chart. But maybe Rypien has an otherworldly showing tonight and plays his way onto another team’s 53-man roster if the Bears attempt to sneak him onto the practice squad. Reed should finally get the extended look that Mother Nature cruelly cheated him out of in the Hall of Fame Game.
  

🔎 GO DEEPER | Nicholas Moreano on Kyler Gordon appearing primed for a breakout season despite missing three weeks of training camp.

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Bears’ preseason in historic territory for franchise

The Bears’ consecutive wins by 20 or more points is the first time the franchise has achieved that in preseason play during the Super Bowl era. It’s the first time the Bears have won any two games back-to-back by 20+ since 2006.

Matt Eberflus is 7-2 in exhibitions as head coach and has a chance to finish off the organization’s first 4-0 preseason since 1994. The Bears finished that year 9-7 and beat the Vikings in the NFC Wild Card before getting blown out by the eventual Super Bowl champion 49ers, 44-15.

• What does this mean? For the regular season, likely nothing. But it should be a welcomed sign for Bears fans considering Eberflus’ refreshed approach to the preseason. The head coach’s decision to heavily limit the first team’s game action before the regular season was widely criticized after the team looked overwhelmed and underprepared in a 38-20 Week 1 loss to the Packers last season.
  
• In 2023, Justin Fields attempted just nine passes in two preseason contests. Two of Fields’ passes were housed by DJ Moore (62 yards) and Khalil Herbert (56 yards). However, both scoring plays came on designed screens. Maybe the plan was for Fields to throw more in the two drives that ended quickly with long touchdowns, but the end result simply wasn’t enough.
  
• While this year’s first-team offense hasn’t contributed much to the Bears’ beatdowns against the Bills and Bengals, it did have an opportunity to work out the kinks. The starting crew’s lone preseason came on a seven-yard scramble from Williams. The offense also went three-and-out three times against the Bengals’ backups. Better now than when it matters.
  

📖 READ | Mark Carman explores Tyson Bagent’s lofty career goals and the team’s strong chemistry as training camp winds down.

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Roundup: Cubs DFA & release Neris, White Sox’s record pace

• The Cubs announced on Tuesday that Hector Neris was designated for assignment, cleared waivers, and was released. In 46 appearances with the Cubs this season, Neris picked up 17 saves in 22 opportunities with a 3.89 ERA and a massive 1.523 WHIP. Amazingly, Neris only tossed seven full innings without allowing a baserunner.
  
• Despite a 6-2 win in San Francisco on Wednesday, Grady Sizemore’s .273 win% still ranks below Pedro Grifol’s .319 for worst in White Sox history. Grifol’s was worse this season (.239), but it’ll take more than a .272 to keep the White Sox from passing the 2003 Tigers for worst record in a 162-game season. Needing 12 wins to match Detroit’s 43, the team is currently on pace to finish 39-123.

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A rally cry is born.

1️⃣8️⃣ days until Week 1. ⏰️ pic.twitter.com/KyEoRqXMYa

— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) August 21, 2024

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⚽ 8/31: CHGO Fire Takeover vs. Inter Miami — Jason Derulo post-match concert!
⚾ 9/6: CHGO Cubs Takeover for Anthony Rizzo’s return to Wrigley!
🏈 9/8: CHGO Bears Tailgate in Chicago! – Week 1 vs. Titans