👋 Good morning!
Friendly reminder to throw some rock salt down on the sidewalk or driveway before you land on your rear trying to make it to the car this morning.
And if you have a remote starter, take advantage of it.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you … unless you’re reading this midday.
In which case, some ibuprofen and a heating pad go a long way. As for the bruised ego because everything was caught on your Ring doorbell (speaking from experience), I can’t help you there.
Wear Your Heart on Your Head!
New headwear is now in the ALLCITY Store!
psst … hats make for great stocking-stuffers
Bears In The Trap
Is Sunday’s matchup against the 3-10 Cleveland Browns a trap game? Can a trap be a trap when everybody is calling it a trap?
Going 1-0 This Week: Sandwiched between both incredibly important games against the Packers, it makes sense why some might consider this a possible trap. But regardless of the Browns’ record, the Bears aren’t taking this week lightly.
Ben Johnson on the importance of Sunday: “We have goals, and we know what’s out in front of us. And so, it's just that awareness that every game matters. Every game matters. That's where this week, you go from an emotional rivalry game, like we just played. This week is equally important. We need this win. We desperately need this win.”
Safety Kevin Byard on “trap” games: “I don't really believe in trap games in the league. I think every single week you have to bring your best ball regardless of records. This is the National Football League, and every team and everybody is playing for something regardless of what their record is.
“I remember us last year not having a great record, but every single week we went out there, we played for the name on the front of the jersey, the name on the back of the jersey, playing for pride. We cannot take this team lightly at all.”
The Injury Report: The Bears conducted a walkthrough on Wednesday, so their practice report is technically an estimation.
However, receiver Rome Odunze was considered a limited participant due to the nagging foot injury that forced him to miss last Sunday’s game — a career first.
Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was also listed on the report as limited with a hip injury. It’s Stevenson’s first participation since exiting the Bears’ Week 12 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers, in which he aggravated a lingering hip issue.
Kyler Gordon did not participate. He suffered a groin injury during pregame warmups last Sunday and was ruled out shortly before the opening kickoff.
Ben Johnson on Kyler Gordon’s status: “To be determined. I haven’t heard over the last couple of days, just the extent of it. But coming out of that one, it didn’t look very good.”
Here’s the deal: the Browns are pretty terrible.
Shedeur Sanders has had some nice moments against porous defenses, but the Browns’ supposedly vaunted defense is still allowing 24.8 points per contest over its last six games. Included in that stretch? Giving up 27 to the New York Jets and 31 to the Tennessee Titans.
Sanders does have some nifty weaponry on the offensive side with running back Quinshon Judkins, tight end Harold Fannin Jr. and receiver Jerry Jeudy. And the Bears will need to devote every available resource to stopping Myles Garrett from reaching Caleb Williams.
Maybe the expected freezing-cold temps keep things interesting early on in the game, but none of this should matter.
The Bears are the much better team playing—despite last Sunday’s loss—much better football.
Blackhawks 3, Rangers 0: Did somebody open up a can of whoop-ass? Last night might’ve been the Blackhawks’ best showing of the entire season. Just a dominating effort from start to finish.
Louis Crevier scored on a shorthanded backhander — yes, that Louis Crevier. Connor Bedard scored his 19th goal of the season thanks to a sweet dish from Andre Burakovsky. Bedard also picked up an assist on Tyler Bertuzzi’s coffin-nailing goal in the third period.
Spencer Knight also picked up his second shutout of the season, stopping all 21 shots he faced. Nice rebound for Knight after allowing six to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.
Bedard, through 30 games, is on pace to score 52 goals and 63 assists.
No Blackhawks player has:
Scored 52-plus goals in a season since Jeremy Roenick (53 in 1991-92)
Scored 115-plus points in a season since Denis Savard (131 in 1987-88)
Rule 5: The White Sox selected two right-handed pitchers in Wednesday’s Rule 5 Draft.
Jedixson Paez, a 21-year-old selected from the Boston Red Sox, becomes the White Sox’s No. 15 prospect per MLB Pipeline, and Alexander Alberto, a 24-year-old from the Tampa Bay Rays, becomes the club’s No. 21 prospect.
Both players must remain on the team’s MLB roster through the entirety of the 2026 season or be returned to their previous organization. Last December, the Sox selected RHP Shane Smith first in the Rule 5 Draft. Smith became the club’s lone representative at the 2025 All-Star Game.
📺 CHGO Bears
1:00 on YouTube
📺 CHGO Bulls
4:30 on YouTube
🐻 Brick x Brick
6:00 on YouTube
📺 CHGO Cubs Related
8:00 on YouTube
Something on your mind? Rate this issue and leave a comment, question or topic to discuss!
Talk to you tomorrow!
– P.N.
