Super Bowl 50 Prediction

By: Benjamin Pietrucha

Prediction for Super Bowl 50: (a.k.a. "The John Fox Bowl")

Carolina Panthers 28
Denver Broncos 22

MVP: Cam Newton

NFC and AFC Championship Games' Predictions

By: Benjamin Pietrucha

 

 

NFC Championship Game Prediction

(2) Arizona Cardinals 20

 (1) Carolina Panthers 27

AFC Championship Game Prediction

(2) New England Patriots 40

 (1) Denver Broncos 22

Who was the first Chicago Bears player to lead the NFL in scoring?

By: Benjamin Pietrucha

In 1934, halfback Jack Manders led the NFL in scoring with 76 points. He played in 13 games scoring 2 rushing TDs, making 10 field goals and successfully converting 28 extra points. The Bears went undefeated in the regular season with a perfect 13-0 record, but lost the NFL Championship to the New York Giants 30-13. The head coach that year was the legendary founder of the NFL and owner of the Chicago Bears, George "Papa Bear" Halas. When Halas retired from coaching in 1967, he finished with an NFL-record 318 head coaching wins, which was eventually surpassed by then-Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula in 1993.

Chicago Bears and the NFC Championship Game

By: Benjamin Pietrucha

The Bears own a 2-3 record in the NFC Championship Game. Their last appearance was in 2010, when they lost to the Green Bay Packers 21-14 at Soldier Field. Here are some key stats:

• PF: 80
• PA: 86
• Last appearance: 2010
• Last NFC Championship Game victory: 2006

Updates: Kyle Long named to Pro Bowl and Dowell Loggains named as new Offensive Coordinator

By: Benjamin Pietrucha

Kyle Long will play in his third straight Pro Bowl as a replacement for Philadelphia Eagles tackle Jason Peters. The 2016 Pro Bowl will take place on January 31st at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Bears head coach John Fox has named Dowell Loggains as the new offensive coordinator (replacing the recently departed Adam Gase) for the upcoming 2016 season. Loggains, 35, was previously the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans in 2012-2013. Under his leadership, the Titans finished 26th in total offense in 2012. In 2013, the Titans finished 22nd in total offense.

Visual History of Chicago Bears Logos

By: Benjamin Pietrucha

Check this out this visual history of the Bears' logos and uniforms:

• http://www.sportslogos.net/logos/list_by_team/169/Chicago_Bears/

Getting Defensive: 2014 Bears vs. 2015 Bears

By: Ben Pietrucha

Defense Rank and Stats

• 2014 Overall Rank: 30
• 2015 Overall Rank: 14
• 2014 PPG: 27.6
• 2015 PPG: 24.8
• 2014 PA: 442
• 2015 PA: 397
• 2014 Penalties: 106
• 2015 Penalties: 98
• 2014 Fumbles 25
• 2015 Fumbles: 18

For The First Time Since 2007

By: Ben Pietrucha

For the first time since 2007, an NFL playoff game started with the opening kickoff returned for a touchdown. In Saturday's AFC Wild Card playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans, Chiefs running back Knile Davis returned the opening kickoff 106 yards for touchdown. The Chiefs went on to win 30-0.

In Super Bowl XLI in South Florida on February 4th, 2007, Bears rookie returner Devin Hester returned the opening kickoff 92 scintillating yards for a touchdown. The Bears went on to lose to the Indianapolis Colts 29-17.

In both games, Dave Toub was the special teams coach for the Chiefs and Bears, respectively.

Adam Gase has been named the new Miami Dolphins' head coach

By: Ben Pietrucha

Adam Gase has left his post as Bears offensive coordinator to become the Miami Dolphins head coach. Gase spent one year as the offensive coordinator for the Bears. Before joining the Bears, he was coaching for the Denver Broncos as a wide receivers, quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator between 2009 and 2014. With the Dolphins, Gase will replace interim head coach Dan Campbell. Gase is the 12th head coach in Dolphins' history.

2014 Chicago Bears Records vs. 2015 Chicago Bears Records

By: Ben Pietrucha

Here are the stats comparing the two years:

Records 

• 2014 Overall: 5-11 (.313)
• 2015 Overall: 6-10 (.375)
• 2014 Home: 2-6
• 2015 Home: 1-7
• 2014 Road: 3-5
• 2015 Home: 5-3
• 2014 Division: 1-5
• 2015 Division: 1-5
• 2014 Conference: 4-8
• 2015 Conference: 3-9
• 2014 Non-conference: 1-3
• 2015 Non-conference: 3-1

On the Offensive: 2014 Chicago Bears vs. 2015 Chicago Bears

By: Ben Pietrucha

Offensive ranks and stats comparing 2014 to 2015:

Total Offense and Rank

• 2014 Overall offense rank: 21
• 2015 Overall offense rank: 21
• 2014 Touchdowns: 40
• 2015 Touchdowns: 34
• 2014 PPG: 19.9
• 2015 PPG: 20.9
• 2014 PF: 319
• 2015 PF: 335
• 2014 Net Points: -123
• 2015 Net Points: -62
• 2014 Total YPG: 327.1
• 2015 Total YPG: 344.6
• 2014 Penalties: 113
• 2015 Penalties: 99
• 2014 Fumbles: 19
• 2015 Fumbles: 20

Chicago Bears 2016 Opponents

By: Benjamin Pietrucha

The Bears will pick 11th in the 2016 NFL Draft that is scheduled to be in Chicago. Here are the opponents for the 2016 NFL season:

Home

• Tennessee Titans
• Green Bay Packers
• Detroit Lions
• Minnesota Vikings
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• San Francisco 49ers
• Washington Redskins
• Philadelphia Eagles

Road 

• Green Bay Packers
• Detroit Lions
• Minnesota Vikings
• Dallas Cowboys
• Houston Texans
• New York Giants
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Houston Texans
• Indianapolis Colts

Notable Ex-Bears in the 2015 NFL Playoffs

By: Benjamin Pietrucha

Here is a list of notable ex-Bears playing (and coaching) in the upcoming playoffs:

Carolina Panthers

• Head coach Ron Rivera
• Tight end Greg Olsen
• Cornerback Charles Tillman
• Defensive end Jared Allen
• Offensive coordinator Mike Shula

Green Bay Packers 

• Offensive coordinator Edgar Bennett
• Tight ends coach Jerry Fontenot
• Outside linebacker Julius Peppers

New England Patriots

• Linebacker Jon Bostic
• Running backs coach Ivan Fears

Pittsburgh Steelers

• Tight end Matt Spaeth
• Cornerback Isaiah Frey (practice squad)
• Offensive coordinator Todd Haley

Cincinnati Bengals

• Defensive backs coach Mark Carrier

Houston Texans

• None

Denver Broncos

• Special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis

 Kansas City Chiefs

• Offensive line coach Andy Heck
• Special teams coach Dave Toub

Washington Redskins

• Quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh
• Assistant Offensive Line/Offensive Quality Control Shane Day
• Defensive backs coach Perry Fewell
• Defensive end Stephen Paea (IR)

Minnesota Vikings

• None

Arizona Cardinals

• Wide receivers coach Darryl Drake

Seattle Seahawks

• None

Bears lose to Lions 24-20

By: Ben Pietrucha

The Detroit Lions beat the 24-20 in the meaningless regular-season finale for both teams. Jay Cutler threw 3 INTs with 2 TD passes as the Bears never led throughout the entire contest. Matt Forte caught a touchdown in what could be his final game as a Bear. The Bears ended John Fox's first year at 6-10 and lost 4 out of their last 5 games. The Bears only won 1 game at Soldier Field, and is the first time in team history they lost 7 games at home. The Lions finished 2015 in 3rd place in the NFC North with a 7-9 record. It is the second year in a row the Bears finished dead last in the NFC North.

Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears Prediction

By: Benjamin Pietrucha

Prediction: The Bears will beat the Detroit Lions 23-18.

Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears What To Watch For

By: Benjamin Pietrucha

Here are some things to watch out for when the Detroit Lions travel to take on the Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday, January 3rd, 2016:

• Robbie Gould needs at least to 2 field goals to break the Bears' single-season field goals record which is 32. Gould set the record back on 2006. Gould also needs to attempt 5 field goals to break the Bears' single-season record which is 41. Ex-Bears kicker Kevin Butler holds the record with 41 field goal attempts in 1986.
• Jay Cutler needs at least 425 yards to break the Bears' single-season record for most passing yards. Cutler currently has 3,414 passing yards in 15 games played. Ex-Bears quarterback Erik Kramer currently holds the record with 3,838 passing yards in 1995. 
• Matt Forte needs at least 178 rushing yards to get to 1,000 for the season. He currently has 822 rushing yards. If he were to eclipse the 1,000 rushing yards plateau, it would be the fourth year in a row he has achieved that feat. He currently has 5 years in which he has rushed for at least a 1,000 yards. Forte also needs 9 catches to pass the legendary Walter Payton in all-time receptions for the Bears. Payton has 492 receptions.
• If the Bears were to defeat the Lions, this would be the Bears' only second win at home.
• The Bears' all-time record against the Lions is 96-70-5, but the Lions have won 5 straight in the series. The last time the Bears beat the Lions was on 12/30/2012 at Ford Field in Detroit. The final score was 26-24, and it was Lovie Smith's last game as head coach of the Bears.
• The last game against the Lions was at Ford Field on 10/18/2015. The Lions won 37-34 (OT) in a game where the Bears definitely had their chances to beat the Lions.

Who was the last Chicago Bears player to be named Pro Bowl MVP?

By: Benjamin Pietrucha

In 1977, Chicago Bears running back was named Pro Bowl MVP. The game was played in Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The NFC beat the AFC 14-13. The head coach of the NFC was Chuck Knox of the Los Angeles Rams; head coach of the AFC was Ted Marchibroda of the Baltimore Colts.

Payton had a hell of year in 1977. He was named NFL MVP and rushed for 1,852 yards on 339 rushing attempts. "Sweetness" finished his career with 16,726 rushing yards (which stood until 2002). He is enshrined in the College Football and Pro Football Hall of Fame. He passed away in 1999.