Some random thoughts about the Chicago Bears and other things, mostly football-related as we count down the hours until we get to watch this team play football again:
I had to chuckle just a bit at the Dennis Allen love this week – not that he doesn’t deserve it, just how some Bears fans and analysts are presenting it. Many came into the year saying the Bears had a bottom three defense and they were wasting the season by not doing enough on that side of the ball. Because the defense has looked sharp
the last three weeks, and it can’t be a misevaluation of the talent, it’s clearly that Dennis Allen is a magician. Many of those same fans and analysts were openly questioning whether or not Allen would last in Chicago at times last year. So it goes.
For my part, I was a big fan of Dennis Allen hire, and I’m a sucker for a “second year in the system” bump. I’ve also talked about the potential for the Bears defense to continue their thieving ways in 2026 with more positive game scripts. So far, so good. I get that the lack of investment made many nervous, but it’s always a good idea to let actual football be played before making a final determination. Still a long way to go, but early returns are positive. I do like the magician talk because Allen is truly good at what he does. Someone good at Photoshop, get me Dennis Allen in a magician outfit, stat. Cue Final Countdown,please.
At my local gym, 95+% of people are wearing earbuds or headphones, but there’s usually loud music playing. Then the new trainer brings out a boom box turned up to 11 for his small group sessions. Plus, the one guy talking on his phone trying to shout over all the background noise. I think I need to invest in another pair of noise-canceling headphones.
I’m going to hold out hope that Jaylon Johnson rounds into form and recaptures some of his old magic before hitting the panic button, but the clock is running out on Tyrique Stevenson. When Kyler Gordon returns and ramps up to a full-time role (I know, I know), Malik Muhammad is going to take over the boundary corner snaps and Tyrique will be relegated to a part-time role. All the talent in the world but can’t put it together. That dropped pick, which looked like it had a chance to be a pick-six if he drove on the ball, seemed emblematic of his season.
I saw Band of Brothers released a 25th anniversary documentary. The only question is do I watch the documentary before or after my 12th rewatch of the series?
We’re probably not giving enough love to Jonah Jackson. Every time we say something good about him it’s usually after talking about Darnell Wright or Joe Thuney. He deserves his own vase of flowers because he’s killing it. Kudos to Ben Johnson for knowing how to best use Jackson where his previous play caller couldn’t figure it out…
My best friend drove two hours to watch the game with me last weekend. We set up a TV in the garage, grilled out on a beautiful October day, and watched our favorite team dogwalk the poor Jets. The highlight might have been his plea for some Roschon Johnson, which was immediately answered with an explosive run. Loudest cheer of the day…
I thought Tyson Bagent played an excellent game. He threw an interception, yes, and he got bailed out on another by penalty, but overall he played on time and threw catchable passes. (Yes, I know there were four total, but one was clearly a free play and the other was aided by the hold that was called as Bagent was throwing it. The screen pass into the mountain defensive tackle is the one he was bailed out on.) With the offensive infrastructure, he’s good enough to beat bad teams and keep the Bears competitive against mediocre ones. I’m not sure he can beat good teams. We’ll find out where the Packers sit in that spectrum on Sunday.
I’m starting to hear rumors about Khalil Mack drawing trade interest from teams and you’d have to believe the Bears would be interested in adding him back. For Mack’s sake, you wonder if he’d be most interested in continuing his Hall of Fame career by circling back to Chicago and helping in a playoff run. He could use some post season success on his resume and might just be the perfect way to gild his fabulous career. Plus, it would give me an excuse to break out the Mack throwback jersey I bought years ago…
Is Kyle Monangai the most fun Bears running back to watch since Walter Payton? I’m not saying best, I’m saying the most fun. Tarik Cohen was a lot of fun but not necessarily as a running back. Forte was smooth, Thomas Jones will always hold a special place in my heart, but neither brought me the pure joy I get from watching Monangai. He’s the perfect Bears running back.
You got any musings? Hit the comments and let me know what’s up.
