Not The Greatest, But Maybe The Most Balanced Show On Turf
The Chicago Bears' offense underwent a transformation this season. They went from a pass-heavy to a balanced attacked, and that might be the best fit for the Bears.
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The Chicago Bears' offense underwent a transformation this season. They went from a pass-heavy to a balanced attacked, and that might be the best fit for the Bears.
Feel free to be as crazy as you want at Soldier Field on Sunday. Fortify yourself with your drink of choice, wave a sign with whatever risqué taunt you can create, wear your superfan-finest or be that shirtless guy, but promise one thing:
The beginning and end of the 2010 Chicago Bears' season look like complete opposites. And the defining change during the season took place during a week the Bears didn't play.
After losing the Super Bowl in 2006, the Bears selected Greg Olsen with the 31st overall pick in the NFL Draft. While some desire better stats and more blocking because of where he was drafted, his versatility should be the focus.
Solid pass protection usually portends potent offenses, and lots of points generally means lots of wins. In that regard, it's hardly a shock to see four of the top five teams in the New York Life Protection Index playoff bound.
Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo announced that he has no plans to step aside after this season. He even seemed to be rejuvenated with the Bears' success this season.
The last time Jay Cutler played postseason football was when he was in high school. Despite that long break from playoff action, Cutler is poised and read to make a run deep into the playoffs.
Most things this season have gone the way the Bears wanted. But the offensive performance in the regular season finale wasn't the way a team wants to enter the playoffs.
One year ago today, the leaders of the Bears held one of the worst press conferences in Chicago sports history.
Sunday's win was impressive for several reasons. The most impressive, however, might have been the emergence of a quick-strike offense.
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.
Monday night's game resulted in a few things for the Bears. Devin Hester is now, officially, the greatest returner of all-time, as if that was ever in doubt.
It can be said that the Bears' success this season is related to the way Jay Cutler has been playing. And if you buy into that logic, then things can get even better for the Bears.
This may be it – the best day of this bizarre, 2010 Bears' season.
The Bears' defense has been consistent all season long and they've re-established themselves as one of the league's best. The offense, on the other had, has struggled at times, but also has shown flashes of a high powered offense.
How bad was New England's 36-7 defeat of the Bears on Sunday? Figure this; the Patriots were leading 33-0 at halftime while Jay Cutler and Mike Martz could only lead the beloved to 33 yards of total offense in the first half.
One of the biggest matchups in Sunday's game will be the Bears' offense against the Patriots' defense. The longer the Bears can keep Tom Brady off the field, the better chance they have to win.
The Bears' offensive line was taking a great deal of criticism in the early part of the season. They gave up an NFL-record number of sacks in the first half against the Giants, but have slowly improved.
Prominent aspects of this year's Bears discussion are winding together for Sunday afternoon's game against the Patriots at Soldier Field.
Jay Cutler has been improving week to week, and by the numbers has been playing some of the football of his career. But his offensive coordinator, Mike Martz, still sees room for improvement.
If the Bears are going to beat the Patriots on Sunday, the offense will have to put up some points. We've seen the Bears try to throw the ball all over the field and we've seen them commit to the run. Which offense will we see on Sunday?
Since the bye week the Mike Martz offense has taken on a different form. Instead of "the greatest show on turf," we're seeing a balanced offensive attack with a quick hitting passing game. But is that the offense the Bears will show on Sunday?
The Bears' offense has been making tremendous strides over the past few games. Jay Cutler's improvement has been most visible and it stems from a change in the Martz scheme.
The Bears are finally giving Jay Cutler some protection after changing up the rotation several times due to player performance and injuries. They finally have the right mix.
The Bears have invested a lot in Jay Cutler, both monetarily and in terms of what it took to get him. Because of that big investment it was important to get the right coach for him.
On Sept. 11, 2001, Don Bacso was working as an IT consultant. When American Airlines Flight 11 hit the north tower of the World Trade Center between the 93th and 94th floor, Bacso was on the 57th floor.
Next week, Riot Fest returns to Douglass Park, and alongside big names like Twenty One Pilots, Nas, and Alanis Morissette, one performer will be making his heavy metal debut at 95 years old.
Chicago native and "Godmother of Punk" Patti Smith was back in her hometown on Thursday night to receive this year's Harold Washington Literary Award
Final preparations are in full swing ahead of a busy stretch of days that will mark Mexican Independence Day throughout Chicago.
Jared Jones pitched seven innings of one-hit ball, Oneil Cruz added a solo home run and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago White Sox 2-0 on Thursday night to complete a three-game series sweep.
Five months until the 2027 mayoral election in Chicago, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is leading in early polling, and has a commanding lead in fundraising.
Matt O'Shea, who has been the alderman of Chicago's 19th Ward for the last 16 years, is the latest to announce he is giving up his Chicago City Council seat after this term.
The Supreme Court said Missouri must use a 2022 congressional map — not a new congressional map that favors Republicans — in the 2026 midterm elections.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker excoriated the Republican midterm convention in Dallas at a Democrats' event in Texas Tuesday, calling it "a clown show" focused on President Trump while Americans are hurting.
A coalition of advocacy groups and a Democratic-led city filed a preemptive lawsuit seeking to block the Trump administration from deploying armed ICE agents to polling sites ahead of the midterm elections.
Nicor customers will get a break on their bills this fall after Illinois Attorney General Kwame Roul reached an agreement with the utility to cut $140 million from its requested rate hike.
Drivers in Chicago and beyond were paying the highest gas prices ever recorded for the Labor Day holiday as millions of Americans were making their way home on Monday.
Around 115 million domestic and international tourists visited Illinois last year, pushing visitor spending past $50 billion for the first time and generating more than $88 billion in total economic impact.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a lawsuit Thursday against ABC Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric Inc., alleging deceptive business practices.
Cook County homeowners are again facing a sharper increase in property taxes this year than businesses, the Office of Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas announced Monday.
Cardinal Blase Cupich and a group of Catholic nuns have joined a federal lawsuit challenging Illinois' Medical Aid in Dying law, which is set to take effect in just over a week.
Flies have been everywhere this summer in the Chicago area, and some of them bite. But why is this happening?
Prime Healthcare is drawing criticism after announcing it will stop obstetrics services at three Chicago-area hospitals.
The Chicago Department of Public Health on Tuesday announced two human cases and one death from the West Nile virus in the city this year, and one of those two people has died.
The Jackson Chance Foundation supports the lives of families with babies in the NICU by removing the financial burden of finding parking near hospitals.
Plans for a new Chicago White Sox stadium in the South Loop have residents near the existing ballpark in Bridgeport concerned, not just because the team might be leaving, but also what might be coming nearby.
A new report from the University of Illinois Chicago said federal immigration enforcement led to $1.26 billion in unspent money at retail establishments and restaurants in Cook County.
Around 115 million domestic and international tourists visited Illinois last year, pushing visitor spending past $50 billion for the first time and generating more than $88 billion in total economic impact.
A new Whole Foods Market is coming to Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.
More than 100 Black-owned businesses were showcased at Soldier Field Sunday for Black on the Block.
The stage was set and the air was humid as rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, took the stage for the first of two Chicago concerts at Soldier Field Thursday night.
James Fulton Engstrom, now a healthy teenager, was born without a pulse in 2010 — and his survival is the miracle the Catholic Church credited to Fulton Sheen's intercession, clearing the way for beatification.
The Met's decision to highlight the work by designer John Galliano sparked widespread controversy due to his history of antisemitic and racist comments.
The Edgewater Music Festival was under way this weekend on Chicago's north lakefront.
People around the world, including Chicago, continued to gather Wednesday to pay tribute to the late Dolly Parton.
Meteorologist Laura Bannon has the extended forecast.
Chief meteorologist Albert Ramon has the latest First Alert Weather forecast.
On Sept. 11, 2001, Don Bacso was working as an IT consultant. When American Airlines Flight 11 hit the north tower of the World Trade Center between the 93th and 99th floor, Bacso was on the 57th floor.
Next week, Riot Fest returns to Douglass Park, and alongside big names like Twenty One Pilots, Nas, and Alanis Morissette, one performer will be making his heavy metal debut at 95 years old.
Chicago native and "Godmother of Punk" Patti Smith was back in her hometown on Thursday night to receive this year's Harold Washington Literary Award.
Final preparations are in full swing ahead of a busy stretch of days that will mark Mexican Independence Day throughout Chicago.
A man who was shot and killed by police in northwest suburban Des Plaines on Wednesday was threatening officers with an electric hedge trimmer and ignored officers to drop it, police said on Thursday.
Nearly 300 million birds flew over the Chicago area on Wednesday night. Another 276 million are expected to make the same trip Thursday night.
On Sept. 11, 2001, Don Bacso was working as an IT consultant. When American Airlines Flight 11 hit the north tower of the World Trade Center between the 93th and 94th floor, Bacso was on the 57th floor.
Next week, Riot Fest returns to Douglass Park, and alongside big names like Twenty One Pilots, Nas, and Alanis Morissette, one performer will be making his heavy metal debut at 95 years old.
Chicago police crime data show 255 reported crimes in the last two years on the two blocks where the former Hard Rock and Rainforest cafés sit vacant. Neighbors have been calling the city about the alley between them for six years.
A three-year effort by the Cook County Sheriff's Office to help bring down crime on the Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago appears to be working.
Several lawsuits are challenging Illinois' medical aid in dying law that is set to take effect on Sept. 12, including one in federal court arguing the law discriminates against people with disabilities.
Back in 2023, ISP got a $10 million grant from the Illinois Secretary of State's Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council.
Two years before dozens of decomposing bodies were found inside the South Chicago Chapel funeral home, police in nearby Evergreen Park found two bodies in the owners' minivan outside their home.
Jared Jones pitched seven innings of one-hit ball, Oneil Cruz added a solo home run and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago White Sox 2-0 on Thursday night to complete a three-game series sweep.
Josh Jacobs pleaded no contest Thursday to misdemeanor battery and criminal damage charges; the NFL said it is reviewing the case under its personal conduct policy and Jacobs remains on the commissioner's exempt list.
AL Central-leading Chicago (75-70) maintained a two-game lead over Cleveland, which lost at Baltimore.
The Brewers extend their NL Central lead to 10 games over the Cubs.
Milwaukee extended its NL Central lead to nine games over Chicago by coming from behind to defeat the Cubs for a second straight day.
Chicago police crime data show 255 reported crimes in the last two years on the two blocks where the former Hard Rock and Rainforest cafés sit vacant. Neighbors have been calling the city about the alley between them for six years.
A three-year effort by the Cook County Sheriff's Office to help bring down crime on the Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago appears to be working.
Police are searching for a group wanted for damaging multiple cars in Chicago's Kenwood neighborhood early Thursday morning.
Thieves stole three golf carts from the Billy Caldwell Golf Course on Chicago's Northwest Side early Thursday.
Dorian Smith spent much of his time at the Grant Park skate park, where skaters knew him as Avery. His father said the family is distraught. No one is in custody.
