NFC North

Are Expectations for Caleb Williams and the Bears to High for 2024?

Are Expectations for Caleb Williams and the Bears to High for 2024?

Greg Gabriel thinks we should temper expectations for the 2024 season because if the Bears’ plans come together, they’ll be a team built for sustained success year after year.

With the drafting of a potentially great quarterback in Caleb Williams and wide receiver in Rome Odunze, plus the acquisitions of such top offensive players like wide receiver Keenan Allen and running back D’Andre Swift, many of the local media and fans feel the Bears are a good bet to become a Playoff team this season.

The Houston Texans did it last year with a roster on paper less than the...

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Lions had the 2 most disruptive defensive backs in 2023

Lions had the 2 most disruptive defensive backs in 2023

No defensive backs in the NFL were more disruptive than these 2 Detroit Lions last season:

The 2023 Detroit Lions season certainly won’t be remembered for great defensive play. The team finished 23rd in points allowed, and they were particularly poor against the pass. Detroit allowed the sixth-most passing yards (4,205) and touchdowns (28) in the NFL.

However, there were some very promising individual performances from the Lions defense that should give fans optimism moving forward—even in Detroit’s high-criticized secondary.

James Foster from A to Z Sports highlighted this in a chart he posted to Twitter on Wednesday. In it,...

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Minnesota Vikings News and Links, 8 May 2024

Minnesota Vikings News and Links, 8 May 2024

Since Our Last Open Thread...

NFL to release schedule next Wednesday

Again, we all know the rules, but in case someone is new:

  • No discussion of politics or religion
  • No feeding of the trolls
  • Leave the gender hatred at the door
  • Keep the bad language to a minimum (using the spoiler tags, if you must)
  • Speaking of which, if discussing a newer show or movie, please use spoiler tags
  • No pictures that could get someone fired or in serious trouble with their employer
  • If you can’t disagree in a civil manner, feel free...
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The Bears drafted three mid round steals

The Bears drafted three mid round steals

The Bears did some work on day two and three of the NFL Draft.

The Chicago Bears' first two draft picks have received plenty of praise league-wide, and rightfully so, but the other three members of the class have also received their fair share of kudos.

In a couple of recent articles, and one recent interview, some neat stuff has been said about third-round selection Kiran Amegadjie from Yale, fourth-rounder Tory Taylor from Iowa, and fifth-round pick Austin Booker.

ESPN’s Senior NFL Insider Jeremy Fowler spoke with NFL executives, scouts, and coaches to gain insight into each team’s draft class,...

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Wednesday Cheese Curds: Packers offense in a good place heading into 2024

Wednesday Cheese Curds: Packers offense in a good place heading into 2024

Things are looking promising in Green Bay.

It’s completely obvious, of course, but it’s still amazing how much things have changed in a short time in Green Bay.

A year ago the ink was barely dry on the trade terms that sent Aaron Rodgers out of Green Bay. The Packers had committed to Jordan Love, but it’s hard to say they really knew what they had in their first-year starter. Heck, almost exactly three years ago, Brian Gutekunst said (on record!) that Love had “a long way to go.”

But here we are, heading into year two of the Love...

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Ray Lewis was 1 pick away from being a Green Bay Packer

Ray Lewis was 1 pick away from being a Green Bay Packer

According to former Packers scout Eliot Wolf, the team was ready to make him the 27th pick of the 1996 draft. Unfortunately, he was drafted 26th.

It’s not often that the name of a Green Bay Packers front office member, outside of the general manager, is recognizable to the fan base. A major exception to that rule, during his time with the Packers, was Eliot Wolf — who spent the 2004 through 2017 seasons with the team.

The son of Ron Wolf, the former Green Bay general manager who brought the team a Super Bowl during the 1996 season, was...

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5Qs: Christian Mahogany is ‘one of the most competitive players I’ve covered’

5Qs: Christian Mahogany is ‘one of the most competitive players I’ve covered’

We chatted with Trevor Hass of the Boston Globe, who called Lions 6th-round pick Christian Mahogany ‘one of the most competitive players I’ve covered.’

In an effort to better know the Detroit Lions’ 2024 NFL Draft class, we will be spending the next couple weeks talking to writers and analysts who have covered them for the past few years at the college level.

We kick off the series with the Lions’ final pick: Boston College guard Christian Mahogany, who was taken by Detroit in the sixth round. Many expected Mahogany to be selected on Day 2 of the draft, so...

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Video: Which player’s improvement would help Detroit Lions the most?

Video: Which player’s improvement would help Detroit Lions the most?

Meko and Morgan are back to discuss which Lions’ player would improve the team the most by taking their game to a new level.

The 2023 season for the Detroit Lions was truly a magical one. Playoff droughts were ended, expectations were reset, and the Lions came within minutes of appearing in the first Super Bowl in franchise history. The coolest part? It may just be the tip of the iceberg.

Sure, things can change in a hurry from year to year in the NFL, but when you look at the current makeup of the Lions’ young roster, it’s hard...

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Open thread: Which former Lion will have the greatest impact with their new team?

Open thread: Which former Lion will have the greatest impact with their new team?

These former Detroit Lions players will find themselves on new teams in 2024. Which of them will have the most success in their new home?

Many fans stop paying attention to players when they leave their team. Their support and interest die when that player dons new colors.

However, keeping track of former Detroit Lions players can help paint a picture of the team’s offseason mindset. Which players priced themselves out of Detroit? Which players were deemed not worth bringing back? These questions can be answered by observing these former players in their new homes. Did the Lions make the...

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The Bear’s Den, May 8, 2024

The Bear’s Den, May 8, 2024

Bears players enjoying hanging out in Chicago, working together on their own in offseason

WE WANT YOU!

Would you like to show your Chicago Bears spirit to the world? I’m starting a feature where Windy City Gridiron readers can share pictures of themselves and their families and friends in Bears attire. Simply email a picture to me at the following address: denmasterken at aol dot com. The pictures need to be clear, and full resolution (i.e. full size from your phone if that’s how you take them). Include any description information you like along with the photo!

**THE DAILY SPONGIE...

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Bear Bones: Interview with Bears UDFA Ian Wheeler

Bear Bones: Interview with Bears UDFA Ian Wheeler

Check out our exclusive interview with Chicago Bears undrafted free agent Ian Wheeler!

The Chicago Bears will hold their rookie minicamp this weekend, and one of the players looking to impress will be UDFA Ian Wheeler from Howard University. The 5’11”, 205-pound running back and special teamer racked up nearly 2,500 all-purpose yards for the Bison while returning a school-record three kickoffs for touchdowns.

Wheeler joined Mason West’s latest Bears Bones for an exclusive interview to discuss walking on at Howard, the importance of playing for an HBCU, his versatility to play special teams, and why he chose to sign...

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NFL announces 2024 schedule to be released next Wednesday

NFL announces 2024 schedule to be released next Wednesday

Not as early as we had thought

It appears that we’re going to have to wait just a bit longer for the 2024 NFL schedule than we had originally thought.

The National Football League has just announced that the release of this season’s schedule will be happening on 15 May, which is one week from tomorrow, at 7:00 PM Central time. It appears, according to Ben Fischer of the Sports Business Journal, that the teams were, in fact, expecting the schedule to be released this coming Thursday, but that is officially not happening.

Again, if past seasons are any indication,...

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