Alshon Jeffery (Photo via: BleacherReport.com)

Fantasy teams everywhere weep and contemplate a trade as we all wait to see when Alshon Jeffery will be back on the field. And according to ESPN Chicago, there is no time table for his return. So unfortunately this update provided no solid update but I guess it gives me another reason to revisit the topic for the sake of the fans… But the good news is that according to Jeff Dickerson, Jeffery will be reevaluated this week, and that will hopefully provide us with a better time frame for his return.

Alshon has been an outstanding rookie on this talented Bears squad and was making himself known as Cutler’s number 2 receiver behind Brandon Marshall prior to breaking his hand during the win in Jacksonville. And if you have watched the games this season, you can tell that Jeffery’s absence has made a huge change in the effectiveness of the offense. He is a huge challenge for defenses because he is not only great in the pass game, but he is a great blocker for the run. An extra weapon on our offense that can change the outcome of games.

Although the injury did not require any surgery, he was still placed in a cast and has missed two weeks so far. And even after missing those two weeks, Jeffery is still the Bears third-leading reciever.  

Hopefully Jeffery will be able to return in the next few weeks. Because we will need him back. I’d say rest him this week (not like he is ready to come back anyway) and hope he returns for the prime time November 11th match up against Houston. If for whatever reason we do not see Jeffery back in the next few weeks, it will post another challenge for our offense as we enter a pretty tough schedule throughout the end of the year. The interesting thing will be to see what the Bears do if that situation arises… To be continued.

Gould Secures Ugly Win For Bears (Photo via: ChicagoBears.com)

There is no doubt in my mind that Cutler is sore and in need of rest after that ugly win on  Sunday against Carolina. It was a tough first half for Cutler and the offensive line to say the least. Jay was sacked six times, lost two fumbles and threw one interception, all of which led to the Bears trailing Carolina at the half and a terribly low passer rating for our QB of 18.1.  Which in turn, led to fans booing their team as they walked off the field at the half (Side note: I would NEVER boo my own team. It’s not my style as a fan, but whatever, maybe that is what they needed).

But props to Cutler for stepping up during the second half, especially during the last drive of the game where Jay marched down the field play after play making it look rather easy, and leading the Bears into field goal territory where Gould secured the win. Honestly, people are way too quick to bash Cutler (I say this ALL the time). Yes, he can take responsibility for some of the mistakes, but he stepped up when needed and is in touch with reality about the situation. He isn’t making excuses for how they played, he recognizes it and is ready to learn from it.

Not much to say about the defense except that they played great, again. There were a few missed opportunities and a few missed tackles, but the fourth quarter came around and the defense really stepped up. Especially with Tim Jennings scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter, which is the sixth defensive TD for the Bears so far this year. And overall, let’s give props to Jennings for doing a great job of covering Steve Smith as well.

Although it was an ugly win, I think it will help us in the long run. It doesn’t matter what Carolina’s record is, they played well and are arguably a lot better than their record shows. I know everything is political and whatnot, but sometimes I wish Lovie would override Tice’s play calling, but maybe that is one of the hiccups of adjusting to a new OC. The game showed us some of our inconsistencies that we need to work on for the tough schedule coming up.

 And side note, but HOW AWESOME ARE THOSE JERSEYS. I wish they wore them every single week.

Final Score: Chicago 23 – Carolina 22

Forbes Magazine recently partnered with Nielsen and compiled a list of the Most and Least Liked Players in the NFL.

Two Bears players made the list(s).

Jay Cutler: NFL’s 2nd Most Disliked Player (Photo via: ChicagoNow.com)

Unfortunately, Jay Cutler  has the second lowest score with a 21% appeal rating. The only person he falls behind? Oh, just a guy named Ndamukong Suh, the Lions defensive tackle, who has ironically had several iconic moments with Mr. Cutler himself. (Suh has a appeal of 19%, for anyone who cares.)

But on a more positive note, Brian Urlacher is ranked #8 amongst the NFL’s most liked players coming in at 57%. This is absolutely accurate in my opinion. Brian always stays away from controversy and has always played hard. Brian is aaccompanied by three Green Bay Packers and several QBs, but ALL of them fall behind Mr. Troy Polamalu.

Charles Tillman Named NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Photo via: ESPN.com)

Everyone’s favorite Peanut was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against the Detroit Lions. And after holding Calvin Johnson to only three catches throughout the night, he deserves the praise. And as if that was not enough, Tillman also forced two fumbles against the Lions offense.

This afternoon, Tillman was also placed on Mike Sando’s MVP Watch list on ESPN.com, making him only the second defensive player on the list, following J.J. Watt.

This national recognition is long overdue for Tillman, who is one of the league’s best defenders. And although he is accompanied by an outstanding support system, that should not discredit his personal success and talent. And I have a feeling that this is just the beginning for him this season.

MNF: Bears vs. Detroit at Soldier Field (Photo via: Taina Molina)

On Monday night, the Bears proved to everyone that they are a hot commodity in the NFC North this year and regardless of what you hear, it’s not all hype. The Bears beat the Lions 13-7 in the misty and humid game at Soldier Field and now are proud owners of a 5-1 record.

Coming off a Bye week, the Bears looked just as consistent as they did prior to the break. There were a few bad passes, but other than that, Cutler emerged as a leader throughout the game and threw for 150 yards throughout the night. Cutler was also faced with a tough sack from Ndamukong Suh in the second quarter, which took him to the locker room for a few plays. But no worries Chicago, Cutler emerged again in the second half.  I was confused by a few of the play calls in certain situations, like the passing plays at the three yard line which lead up to a field goal instead of touchdown. And sometimes the offense just seemed to move slow, but regardless they managed to get the job done. Also, nice job by Robbie Gould for the extra points last night in the wind and rain.

And let’s talk about defense for a second…

I had some major doubts towards the beginning of the season, I’m not going to lie about it. I just did not know how our aging defense would match up against some of these explosive, young offenses. But these guys have really proved me wrong.

The defense managed to hold Calvin Johnson, one of the league’s best receivers, to three receptions - thank you Charles Tillman. You are awesome. Fumble recovery by Urlacher. Another fumble recovery by Zack Bowman. Stafford sacked three times. And to end the night right, Stafford was flushed out of the pocket, filling his helmet with grass and sending everyone at Soldier Field home with a smile on their face. But seriously, hats off to Peanut for covering Johnson so well that we didn’t realize he was even still in the game. If I could give the game ball to anyone it would be him.

I think that we have some work to do on offense in order to be a championship caliber team, but everything seems to be headed in the right direction. Bears have a difficult schedule coming up, but if we can stay healthy and get an offensive flow going in the first half, I wouldn’t doubt they can continue bringing home these wins.

As we left the stadium, it started to downpour rain (naturally), but that did not stop the thousands of people from chanting “Detroit sucks” for about a mile. Chicago is just the best.

And in case you missed it, please see the picture below:

Soldier Field, Chicago (Photo via: Destination360.com)

The Chicago Bears are heading into this Monday Night Football match up with a 4-1 record while the Lions (2-3) fight to stay in the conversation of the competitive NFC North.

Matthew Stafford has had a great season so far, but has had to pass a lot in order to come back after trailing in the game, but it will be interesting to see how he performs against Chicago’s ridiculously good defense.  Jay Cutler has started games fairly slow but has managed to be successful in the second half. But tonight he will have to start quick as Detroit fights to get back into the division. I mean, Detroit’s defense has showed us in the past how scrappy things can get when they are fighting for a win.

The Bears D has been scoring just as often as the offense, so we will see if they are able to keep this up against Calvin Johnson (I refuse to call him Megatron, sorry) and company. Because honestly, Johnson is one of the most dynamic WRs in the game and has always performed well during prime time games. Each team has something to prove tonight, so I expect these teams to go back and fourth, but in the end I think defensive scores will win the game.

I don’t like to over think games before they happen because as well know, one moment can change the course of the night. Defensive scores will win the game. My prediction: Bears 31, Detroit 20.

Hoping to help out the family of the Bears fan who was slain last week in Jacksonville, Kellen Davis held a fundraiser for the Pettry family on Saturday, October 13th at John Barleycorn – Wrigleyville. The event was put together very quickly, and regardless of the time table, the night ended up being a huge success.

For a suggested donation at the door, you were given one drink ticket, had access to a buffet, got the chance to be part of a raffle and ticket drawing for Bears memorabilia and more importantly, had the opportunity to help out a family in need. Surrounded by Bears fans, it definitely felt like a family environment from the moment I walked in the door. Mrs. Pettry, their children, Mr. Pettry’s mother, and other extended family members were in attendance and the crowd grew quickly as time went on.

Reva and I arrived around 5pm when the event started and there were already a handful of people at the event. Kellen Davis, Chris Spencer and Jason McKie were also all in attendance and mingling with fans all night long. The band, Modern Day Romeos, also did a great job or entertaining the crowd. And best of all, 100% of all the money raised went directly to the Pettry family. And after Brandon Marshall and his wife’s generous offer to cover the bills of family until they get back on their feet, it’s safe to say that Chicago has got their back.

The photos below were taken throughout the night– enjoy!

By now, you’ve probably heard about the tragic killing of Bears fan William Christopher Pettry last weekend in Jacksonville.  Pettry had traveled to FL to cheer for his favorite team but was killed in a senseless act of violence.  Pettry was the main financial provider for his family and leaves behind a wife and three children.

The Bears are off this week, and tight end Kellen Davis has decided to host a fundraiser and set up a donation page to benefit the Pettry family.

Davis told ESPN Chicago, “My heart goes out to the Pettry family that lost their loved one over a senseless act,” Davis said. “I wanted to show my support when I heard about this, so I started a donation page and am participating in a fundraiser that my team helped put together.”

The generosity Davis and his teammates are showing towards a man they’ve never met is just proof that there is a world of kindness out there to overshadow this terrible tragedy.

The fundraiser is being held tomorrow, October 13, at John Barleycorn in Wrigleyville from 5 pm to 9 pm   Davis and some of his teammates will be there to auction off paraphernalia, will all proceeds benefiting the Pettry family.  We urge everyone to attend or donate, if able.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Pettry family and we extend our thanks to Davis and the Chicago Bears for their amazing act of kindness.

Alshon Jeffery (Photo via: Riley Schmitt – Rant Sports)

My favorite rookie Alshon Jeffery has a fracture in his right hand and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks, although the injury should not require surgery. Jeffery is the Bears second-leading receiver with 14 catches and 184 yards this year. And stats aside, he has made a major impact on our offense as a rookie.

If you followed Jeffey’s college career at all, you know that he seems to handle pain relatively well (breaking his hand, still playing, still scoring). I think that we can rest Jeffery for a few weeks after the bye and *fingers crossed* he will be able to return for the SNF game against Houston on November 11th. In the mean time, unless they are covering up the severity of the injury, I think we can cover his position just fine with Marshall, Hester, Bennett and Davis. So I do NOT think it is necessary to put Jeffery on IR just yet, especially because this is our bye. Even if he misses six weeks, that is five games and still means he can come back before the playoffs.

In addition, according to Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com, Kamar Aiken reportedly worked out for Green Bay on Monday and then stopped in Chicago on Monday late afternoon. Aiken, the wide receiver who spend the last year on the Bill’s practice squad was recently released and has been shopping around for his next opportunity. Although, lets not forget about Joe Anderson who performed relatively well during training camp and the preseason. Exact transaction details have not been released, but it will be interesting to see how they maneuver the guys around until Jeffery’s return.

The new and improved Nike Chicago continues its amazing line-up of events by hosting Chicago Bears players on Tuesday, October 9th. The Q & A will begin at 6pm and the event will also launch the new Nike gear for the Bears.

I unfortunately will not be able to make it because of a prior commitment, but if anyone does feel free to send me some notes on how it goes!

And this advertisement for the event is pretty sweet…

Photo via Twitter: @NikeChicago