THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL
BEARSSSSSS
Ben Johnson: Bears are ‘playing to win,’ focused on clinching No. 2 seed against Lions in regular-season finale – 670 The Score Bears head coach Ben Johnson made it clear
that his team won’t hold back in any way against the Lions on Sunday in their regular-season finale.
Ben Johnson says Bears are ‘playing to win’ against his former team – Sports Illustrated Chicago Bears
Bears coach defends his defense after San Francisco offense scored at will to end Chicago’s hopes for the top seed.
Source: Bears rookie WR Luther Burden III has quad injury – ESPN
Burden suffered the injury on the final play of Chicago’s 42-38 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He attempted to walk off the field with trainers but eventually needed to be carted to the Bears’ locker room.
Report: Luther Burden’s injury ‘not thought to be serious’ after last play in Bears-49ers – WGN
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Burden suffered a quad injury and it’s “not thought to be serious.”
Luther Burden III injury scare might not have been as bad as it seemed – Sports Illustrated Chicago Bears
The star rookie appears to have suffered a minor injury, which makes it more likely he can suit up in Week 18.
Jaquan Brisker got brutally honest about Bears defense vs. 49ers – Bears Wire USA Today
“We let the offense down,” Brisker said, via Courtney Cronin. “I’m going to say it. We let the offense down, period. I feel like Caleb (Williams) and them, they gave us enough points to do what we had to do to win. The defense didn’t.”
Bears DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson reacts to penalty that cost him INT – Bears Wire USA Today
Following the game on Sunday night, Gardner-Johnson wasted no time in sharing his thoughts and reaction to the penalty called on him, one that felt as if it was the biggest call of the game. Here’s Gardner-Johnson’s reaction to the penalty on X.
Chicago music teacher receives Classroom Legends award by combining education, Bears fight song to energize students – ChicagoBears.com
A passionate, beloved music education and band teacher at A.N. Pritzker Elementary School in Wicker Park, Jenkins earned the prestigious Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching last year, which led to her being invited to a Bears preseason game in August.
Bears “Stock Down”: Defense can’t stop a nosebleed against the 49ers – Sports Illustrated Chicago Bears
On one hand, the Bears being able to keep pace with a 49ers in a 42-38 shootout is awesome. On the other hand…what in the world is going on that the Bears can’t win with 38 points?
POLISH SAUSAGE
Chargers QB Justin Herbert to sit out regular-season finale vs. Broncos – NFL.com
Backup Trey Lance is expected to start in Herbert’s place. “He’s got bruises that need to heal,” Harbaugh said of Herbert.
KNOW THINE ENEMY
The Bears need the game to secure the No. 2 playoff seed in the NFC, while the Lions have been eliminated at 8-8.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON
10 Bears Takes Following a Sunday Night To Remember (Even In Defeat)
Week 17 Brought Plenty Of Headlines For The Chicago Bears. Despite Their Loss, They’re NFC North Champions In 2025.
Bears vs 49ers: Inside the Snap Counts, Stats, and two yards short
Here are all the Bears’ snap counts, a spotlight on some individual statistics, and a few team stats from the narrow loss to the 49ers from @wiltfongjr.
Bears Injury Update: Luther Burden’s injury ‘not thought to be serious’
After a scare at the end of the game Sunday night, Luther Burden appears to be okay.
Chicago Bears Week 17 Notes: West Coast Collapse
A brutal defensive collapse in a wild shootout out west. Check out Bryan Orenchuk’s notes here.
Bears vs. 49ers Game Balls: Just Short of More Magic
After a close loss to the 49ers, Ryan Droste hands out his Chicago Bears game balls.
Bear & Balanced: Young Bears make a statement in San Francisco
We recap the Bears vs 49ers game with our day-after, cooled-down review from @gridironborn and @wiltfongjr.
Film study: 5 Bears scouting reports from loss to 49ers
You could probably infer from just looking at the score that it was an offensive shootout, and it was exactly that.
THE RULES
Windy City Gridiron Community Guidelines – SBNation.com – We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. The following are not permitted in comments. No personal attacks, politics, gender-based insults of any kind, racial insults, etc.
2nd City Gridiron Podcast Channel which includes Bears Banter hosted by Bill Zimmerman, Bear & Balanced from Jeff Berckes and Lester A. Wiltfong Jr., Bears Over Beers featuring Ryan Droste and Bryan Orenchuk, Making Monsters with Taylor Doll, Bear Bones from Dr. Mason West, The Mac & Read Show from Evan McLean and Ross Read, and an occasional T Formation Conversation from Lester; Steven’s Streaming Twitch Channel from Steven Schweickert is another fun one.
NOTE: Denmaster Ken is experimenting with AI data collection to come up with some more eclectic sourcing, but the article is not written by AI.
Click on our names to follow our Windy City Gridiron and 2nd City Gridiron teams on Twitter: Gary Baugher Jr.; Jeff Berckes; Dr. Patti Curl; Sarah DeNicolo; Ryan Droste; Eric Christopher Duerrwaechter; Dan Durkin; Taylor Doll; Donald Gooch; Kev H; Sam Householder; Jacob Infante; Aaron Lemming; Evan McLean; Dr. Ken Mitchell; Danny Meehan; Bryan Orenchuk; Ross Read: Jack R Salo; Steven Schweickert; Jack Silverstein; Khari Thompson; Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; T.J. Starman; Khari Thompson; Dr. Mason West; Bill Zimmerman; 2nd City Gridiron; Like WCG on Facebook; Like 2nd City Gridiron on Facebook.
