Holmes: Postgame Notes From Bears Locker Room
Well, we found out that winning this game was important to Lovie Smith. The Bears starters played the entire game and came up short in the regular season finale 10-3.
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Well, we found out that winning this game was important to Lovie Smith. The Bears starters played the entire game and came up short in the regular season finale 10-3.
This time of year everyone wants to talk about who deserves what awards, and many debates arise. For the Bears, the MVP of the defense is simple...it's the defense.
After sitting out Wednesday and Thursday's practices with an ankle injury, Bears' receiver Earl Bennett returned to the field on Friday.
A staple of the Bears' defense under Lovie Smith has been forcing turnovers. While that's lacked over the past few games, expect the Bears to turn that around.
The Bears-Packers rivalry started in 1921, a 20-0 Bears' victory, and has resulted in 180 regular season matchups. According to LeRoy Butler, the rivalry changed when Lovie Smith was hired as the Bears' head coach.
There has been some debate as to whether or not the Bears' starters will play in Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers, and also if they should play.
The Minnesota Vikings finally did something right this season. By beating the Philadelphia Eagles, the Vikings gave the Bears a guaranteed first round bye in the NFC Playoffs.
After a 7-9 season, and missing the playoffs for the third straight season, people were demanding drastic change. But the biggest change, as Lance Briggs put it, was no change.
Mike Martz had doubts about returning to coach before he joined the Bears for this season. Martz was just happy to be with a team again, now he's enjoying the rise to the top with the Bears.
No team has risen toward the NFL's elite in more stunning fashion than the Chicago Bears.
It's fair to say that the Chicago Bears have already exceeded all expectations this season.
Don't let the results get in the way of a good argument. At least that seems to be the rallying cry for the hardest-core advocates for a Bears' coaching change after this season.
All the talk this week from the Bears' players about the change of venue for the Bears-Vikings Monday night game, has been negative. But history tells us that it could still be better than the alternative.
There has been concern over the field at TCF Bank Stadium being safe enough to play and it has been said a few times that it will be. However, some of the Vikings' players have expressed concern, even describing the field as being as hard as concrete. LISTEN: LOVIE SMITH INTERVIEW
It seems the cold weather has been downplayed by the Bears lately and that's no surprise. This is just a part of the late season for Chicago. On the other hand, Minnesota is used to playing in the Metrodome. Who will have the advantage?
The Chicago Bears are hoping to play better in the frigid weather against the Vikings than they did against the Patriots. The Bears defense know they need to get turnovers and haven't been able to accomplish this in two weeks. They also know they could face QB Joe Webb and have been preparing to stop Adrian Peterson.
Lovie Smith takes constant criticism from the media and fans. But the players show unwavering support for their head coach, and the reason for that is simple, they trust him.
So far this week, there has been plenty of discussion about where the Bears-Vikings game will be played. And it seems as if that discussion hasn't reached Halas Hall.
Like most things in sports, no two athletes do something the same. In baseball, some batters use pine tar and some use batting gloves. NFL quarterbacks can be similar when it comes to the way they throw the football and the condition of the ball as well.
In the Bears' last six games they're 5-1. That one loss, as we all know, was an ugly game for the Bears that has some fans worry about the future of the team. But the big picture goal is still attainable.
The Bears went from playing their best football of the season, to playing their worst game of the season. Despite the 36-7 loss to the Patriots, the Bears can still lock up the division, and a playoff berth, with a win over the Vikings and a Green Bay loss.
So the Bears are not as good as the Patriots. We probably knew that, at least those of us who expressed pessimism about their chances, even in mythically-advantageous weather.
Continuos snow, high winds, and frigid temperatures were not enough to stop Tom Brady and the New England offense from blowing out the Chicago Bears. LISTEN: GAME HIGHLIGHTS - LOVIE SMITH
The late Harold Coffin, a humor columnist for the Associated Press, once said, "envy is the art of counting the other fellow's blessings instead of your own."
The Bears are who they are. They trust their schemes and rely on their players to make plays. And when that combination works, the wins pile up.
Chicagoan Laura Hubka designs and creates all the hats at her pop-up shop at the Drake Hotel; a mix of serious and whimsical, colorful and nifty neutrals.
During this season of giving, many Chicagoans are generously helping Christmas special for other families. See what groups across the area are doing and what you can still do this holiday season.
Matas Buzelis and Nikola Vucevic each score 24 points as the Chicago Bulls pull away in the fourth quarter for a 136-125 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
A man has been charged with stealing hundreds of cases of ice cream from delivery trucks in northwest Indiana.
Over the weekend, 50 young men between the ages of 9 and 25 embraced the cold and handed out toys, water, and food in the South Shore neighborhood.
The alternative budget proposal championed by a group of Chicago aldermen won a crucial first full City Council vote on Friday, setting up a final vote on Saturday
Defenders of a Wisconsin judge found guilty of felony obstruction for helping a Mexican immigrant evade federal officers are raising alarms about judicial independence and say they hope the conviction will be overturned on appeal.
Village leaders in Broadview, Illinois, voted down a proposal that would limit the setting up of additional detention centers in the area.
The Justice Department has released records from the Epstein files, the first documents to come to light under a new law signed by President Trump.
A jury convicted a Milwaukee judge on one count of felony obstruction Thursday, the Associated Press reported, after she was accused of helping a man who was in the U.S. illegally evade federal immigration authorities.
A new report shines a light on electricity shortages that Illinois could face in less than 10 years.
With less than two weeks until Christmas, if you're sending gifts to people far from home, the deadlines to get them there on time are fast approaching.
A condo owner in Country Club Hills says he's forced to sell his home after his condo association failed to reimburse him for repairs to his leaking roof. Edward Hadnott's condo has sat empty since a major roof leak in 2022.
The U.S. stopped minting pennies this week, and some groups have issued a warning about the headaches that can create for some businesses and consumers.
Why is one school in the west Chicago suburb of Lisle paying a water bill three times higher than another? The answer has to do with a private utility company.
Millions of people with an Affordable Care Act health plan face a massive jump in premiums next year — this chart shows just how much.
It's the holiday season, which means it's the most common time of year for norovirus to spread. Here's what you need to know about this winter stomach bug.
A study conducted in part by Chicago's Northwestern Medicine found that tanning beds not only triple the risk of melanoma, but can also damage DNA across nearly the whole skin surface.
An investigation into the case of a Michigan man who contracted rabies after an organ transplant provided more details on the infection's origin.
The newest measles vaccination numbers released by Chicago Public Schools shows immunizations are finally moving in the right direction.
The Chicago Bears are expanding their search for a new stadium to Northwest Indiana, even though they already own land in Arlington Heights and have also proposed a new lakefront stadium in Chicago.
A Culver's is coming to Chicago's South Loop, a real estate broker has confirmed.
A new vision for passenger rail is on track in southeastern Wisconsin. The MARK Passenger Rail Commission held its inaugural meeting on December 5, 2025, at Racine City Hall.
U.S. Steel says it'll resume making steel slabs at its Granite City Works plant in Illinois amid strengthening demand.
Traffic at O'Hare International Airport is growing faster than expected, and this has Chicago city leaders wanting to make big changes to future construction plans at the airport.
Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre is hosting "The Phantom of the Opera," and staff offered a firsthand look at the iconic chandelier inside the theater this week.
The special features interviews with Kathy Bates, Annette Bening, Albert Brooks, Michael Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland, Jerry O'Connell and Mandy Patinkin.
The Oscars ceremony is moving to YouTube starting in 2029, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Wednesday.
The nearly 100-year-old cinema will close briefly after New Year's Day and reopen on Jan. 9 with a showing of Jim Jarmusch's "Father Mother Sister Brother."
Known as a popular Hollywood director, Rob Reiner also had a lengthy record of political and civic activism, especially in California.
Chief meteorologist Albert Ramon has the latest First Alert Weather forecast.
Meet a woman who creates beauty off the top of her head. Laura Hubka does it with style.
During this season of giving, many Chicagoans are generously helping Christmas special for other families. See what groups across the area are doing and what you can still do this holiday season.
With an end-of-the-year deadline fast approaching, it looks like Chicago aldermen have agreed on a city budget to avoid a shutdown, with a final vote expected on Saturday. This plan didn’t stop Mayor Brandon Johnson from making a last-minute effort to revive a controversial measure of his own.
In the South Shore neighborhood, a group of teens recently took over the street to give back to their community. Over the weekend, 50 young men between the ages of 9 and 25 embraced the cold and handed out toys, water, and food.
The alternative budget proposal championed by a group of Chicago aldermen won a crucial first full City Council vote on Friday, setting up a final vote on Saturday
The Justice Department has released records from the Epstein files, the first documents to come to light under a new law. Follow live updates here.
Chicagoan Laura Hubka designs and creates all the hats at her pop-up shop at the Drake Hotel; a mix of serious and whimsical, colorful and nifty neutrals.
During this season of giving, many Chicagoans are generously helping Christmas special for other families. See what groups across the area are doing and what you can still do this holiday season.
A man has been charged with stealing hundreds of cases of ice cream from delivery trucks in northwest Indiana.
Some Chicago area hospitals are at risk of significant flooding both in and around the buildings, according to new KFF Health News/Fathom models.
Lawmakers in Springfield are looking to address the high water bills being reported in some suburbs from customers of Illinois American Water.
Electric bills in the Chicago area could go up as much as $70 in the next three years because of data centers, according to the Citizens Utility Board.
Advocates and legislators are seeking solutions and and accountability for a pattern of Chicago police arresting Black gun owners on firearms charges despite valid FOID and CCL licenses.
Homeowner and Army veteran Kaliff Chilembwe's property tax bill has seen an increase of 118%.
Matas Buzelis and Nikola Vucevic each score 24 points as the Chicago Bulls pull away in the fourth quarter for a 136-125 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Zachary Bolduc scored twice and Lane Hutson had three assists as the Montreal Canadiens beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1.
After years of planning, Chicago State University is officially launching its first football team. The school is launching the only NCAA Division 1 football program in the City of Chicago.
The Bears will be severely depleted at wide receiver for Saturday's rematch with the Packers, as both Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III will be out with injuries.
The Bulls shot 56.2% overall and made 14 of 36 3-pointers on the way to a rather convincing win after losing eight of nine.
Defenders of a Wisconsin judge found guilty of felony obstruction for helping a Mexican immigrant evade federal officers are raising alarms about judicial independence and say they hope the conviction will be overturned on appeal.
Village leaders in Broadview, Illinois, voted down a proposal that would limit the setting up of additional detention centers in the area.
A grand jury this week indicted a man on charges of setting a young woman on fire on a Chicago Transit Authority train last month, and also setting a fire outside City Hall.
Three teens have been charged with robbing a person who came to buy items that had been offered for sale in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
Two days after the shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, MIT professor Nuno Loureiro was shot to death at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts.