👋 Good morning!
There’s plenty to be thankful for this Thanksgiving week.
But I think this takes the cake …
No (Insert Injured Player’s Name)?
No Problem.
The Bears were missing linebackers Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards and Noah Sewell and cornerbacks Kyler Gordon and Jaylon Johnson. Starting left tackle Theo Benedet was ruled out two hours before kickoff.
Still, the Bears found a way with a mix of new and familiar heroes.
Next Man Up: Without Edmunds, Edwards, Sewell, and rookie Ruben Hyppolite II, who was injured in the first quarter, linebackers Amen Ogbongbemiga and D’Marco Jackson stepped up in a major way, combining for 29 tackles.
Jackson earned a game ball from head coach Ben Johnson for his efforts. But he wasn’t the only player to step up and fill somebody else’s shoes.
Rookie offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo found out just before the game that he’d be making his first career start. He allowed just one QB pressure and did not allow a sack.
Nahshon Wright made a miraculous high-point interception on Steelers QB Mason Rudolph’s first pass of the day. By the end of the game, Wright was the Bears’ top corner after Tyrique Stevenson left with a hip injury.
Ben Johnson said after the win: “I knew we were decimated in certain areas, and yet the easy thing is to say, ‘Woe is me,’ and our guys didn't do that. They just stepped up and kept battling through. It happens to most teams each season, too, where your depth gets tested. It just so happens it was this week for us.”
Moore, Moore, Moore: Caleb Williams and DJ Moore connected for two touchdowns on Sunday. Entering the game, Moore had just one touchdown catch this season.
On five catches for 64 yards, Moore eclipsed 8,000 career receiving yards. He also leapfrogged Devin Hester and moved into a tie with Bill McColl (1952-1959) for 20th place on the Bears’ all-time receiving leaders list (2,815).
Williams on the rekindled connection between himself and Moore: “I know it is big for our confidence, as well as relationship. … We're excited for it. We got to keep growing that and keep building on that.”
Williams, thanks to Moore’s contributions, finished 19-for-35 passing for 239 yards, three touchdowns, zero interceptions and a 104.3 passer rating.
The Bears’ ability to weather the storm on Sunday was incredibly impressive — even against Mason Rudolph instead of Aaron Rodgers, who was ruled out on Sunday morning.
Their resilience will be tested with a short turnaround before facing the Philadelphia Eagles on Black Friday.
The hope is to get Jaylon Johnson and Gordon back for Friday. But it isn’t exactly a guarantee. It’s also worth keeping an eye on Stevenson’s injury status after he exited early with an aggravation of his hip injury.
Still, 8-3 is an incredible start — and Sunday’s victorious effort felt like nothing short of a miracle.
Bears 31, Steelers 28
CHGO Bears POSTGAME
YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify
• Jahns: Bears win behind unsung heroes
• Carm’s Grades: Depth delivers in gutsy win
Avalanche 1, Blackhawks 0: After an embarrassing blowout loss in Buffalo on Friday night, the Blackhawks responded on Sunday with one of their strongest all-around performances of the season.
Ryan Donato and Ryan Greene each finished with four shots apiece but their efforts were all for naught.
Avalanche netminder Scott Wedgewood was unsolvable. Cale Makar scored the lone goal of the game late in the second period.
The Avalanche have lost just once in regulation this season — back on October 25th — and have won nine straight.
Late in the third period, Tyler Bertuzzi was whistled for a phantom trip that was eventually reversed after the officials conferred. Jason Dickinson was also called for a slashing that … wasn’t a slash. Tough night for the stripes.
I.C.Y.M.I: The Blackhawks officially announced Friday morning that they’re bringing back their alternate black sweater. The jersey will debut this Friday at home against the Nashville Predators.
Too Close For Comfort: After squeaking by the one-win Washington Wizards with a one-point come-from-behind victory on Saturday night, Bulls center Nikola Vucevic gave an all-time postgame interview with CHSN’s K.C. Johnson.
Vucevic, who scored a game-high 28 points, said: “For three quarters or whatever, we were very soft. We gave no resistance. We didn't do anything that we talked about. Just played really soft. It was really bad.
As Vucevic expressed his concerns for the Bulls’ struggles against an inferior opponent, teammates Jalen Smith and Matas Buzelis encouraged Vucevic to “be happy.” Vucevic, however, wasn’t buying it and snapped, telling his younger peers to move.
Immortalized: The Bulls inducted Johnny Bach, Bill Cartwright, Neil Funk, Horace Grant, John Paxson and Norm Van Lier into the team’s Ring of Honor on Saturday.
The team honored the newest members with video vignettes during timeouts and a small halftime presentation.
Love Me Tender: The White Sox elected not to tender contracts to LHP Cam Booser, 1B Tim Elko and OF Mike Tauchman, rendering the three as free agents.
Tauchman appeared in 93 games last season for the Sox, slashing .263/.356.400. His efforts were strong enough for a 1.9 bWAR but not good enough for a 2026 contract.
Elko, 26, slashed .134/.194/.328 in 67 at-bats after making his MLB debut on May 10th last season.
Tail-Great!
Don’t forget to vote for Chicago Bears Fan of the Year nominee and CHGO Diehard Jonathan Otten (second from right) for the NFL’s Fan of the Year award!
🐻 Hoge & Jahns
9:00 on YouTube
📺 CHGO Bears
1:00 on YouTube
📺 CHGO Cubs
2:00 on YouTube
📺 CHGO White Sox
5:00 on YouTube
📺 CHGO Bulls
Pregame at 6:30 on YouTube
🏀 Bulls at Pelicans
7:00 on CHSN
🐻 Bears After Dark
7:00 on YouTube
📺 CHGO Bulls
Postgame on YouTube
Something on your mind? Rate this issue and leave a comment, question or topic to discuss!
Talk to you tomorrow!
– P.N.
