Bears of the Future

October 6, 2023

By: Carlos Alvarez

Happy Friday 

We have a special edition in store for the first Friday of October — an all-NFL newsletter. While we await the next rounds of the MLB and WNBA playoffs this weekend, we’ll use the opportunity to recap Thursday Night Football, analyze this year’s NFL scoring frenzy, take stock of the MVP race, and honor a football legend.

If you haven’t already, refer 3 friends or make a donation to the team to join our Sunday newsletter — Any Given Sunday. It’s a treat for football fans.

Letter Rip!

NFL

Chicago\’s Glimpse of the Future

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Photo: Michael Owens / Getty Images

Bears Score 40 Against Commanders (40-20) to Snap 14-Game Losing Streak in Breakout TNF Performance

Some people’s jobs were saved on Thursday night in the nation’s capital, and we’re not talking about politicians. One week after the Bears blew a 21-point lead and dropped to 0-3, they came out swinging against the Commanders in D.C. And this time, they held it. The Bears’ duo of QB Justin Fields and WR D.J. Moore were unstoppable Thursday night, proving what many hoped they were capable of ever since Chicago made the trade for Moore last spring. The Bears took a 27-3 lead by halftime in a scintillating offensive outburst. After Washington put 11 on the board in the 3rd quarter, Chicago didn’t panic like they did a week ago. The Bears hit the gas in the 4th to tally 40 points — the most Chicago has scored since December 27, 2020 — ending the NFL’s longest active losing streak (14 games).

The Fields & Moore Combo

In his first two seasons, Fields didn’t have a pass-catcher like Moore. When Chicago traded down in last year’s draft to get the speedy receiver from Carolina, this is what they hoped for — an all-out aerial attack. The duo connected eight times for 230 yards and 3 TDs. Chicago can only hope this is just the beginning of a bright future. Before last night\’s game, many (us included) had left them for dead.

QB Comparison

J. Fields (CHI): 15/29, 339 total yards, 4 TDs

S. Howell (WAS): 37/51, 407 total yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

Top Performers

WR D.J. Moore (CHI): 8 receptions, 230 yards, 3 TDs

TE L. Thomas (WAS): 9 receptions, 77 yards, 1 TD

TE C. Kmet (CHI): 5 receptions, 42 yards, 1 TD

Watch: Bears Blast Commanders to Snap 14-Game Losing Streak (40-20)

Chicago (1-4) | Washington (2-3)

Read More

B/R: Blowout Win on TNF Gives Glimpse of How Bears’ Long-Term Plan Could Pay Off

Yahoo! Sports: Ron Rivera’s Commanders Flop Miserably as Bears Break 14-Game Losing Streak

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NFL

R.I.P. Dick Butkus

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Photo: Dylan Buell / Getty Images

Remembering Bears Legend Dick Butkus, an NFL Hall of Famer & “The Most Feared Man in the Game”

Prior to the Bears’ win on Thursday Night Football, Chicago mourned a legend. Dick Butkus, a Bears icon and Hall of Fame linebacker in the 70s, passed away in his sleep at the age of 80. Butkus was synonymous with Chicago football, much like Brian Urlacher, Walter Payton, and Mike Ditka. He was a ferocious middle linebacker who could take partial credit for football\’s rise to the forefront of sports during the 60s and 70s.

Butkus once graced the cover of Sports Illustrated with the headline, “The Most Feared Man in the Game.” Other teams’ ball carriers frequented the medical tent, and many failed to see the final whistle. But Butkus wasn’t mean off the field. On the contrary. He was beloved by Chicago, and rightfully so. Butkus grew up in the Windy City and played college football at the nearby University of Illinois before spending his entire pro career with the Bears (1965-1973). A Chicago legend, through and through. He played before sacks were officially recorded. Total tackles weren’t traceable either, but Butkus logged 22 interceptions, 27 fumble recoveries, and missed just seven games over nine seasons.

He was a a five-time All-Pro, an eight-time Pro Bowler, and the marquee Monster of the Midway before being elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979. RIP, Dick Butkus.

Read More

Yahoo! Sports: Dick Butkus, One of the Greatest Linebackers in NFL History, Dies at 80

USA Today: Dick Butkus Was Brutal, Fierce & Mean on the Field… He Was the NFL

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NFL

The Top-10 Offenses in NFL History

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Image via Joe Stella / Media Mobilize

The Dolphins & Bills Are Touchdown-Crazed in 2023, So Which Team Might Be Next to Breach the NFL’s Highest-Scoring Offenses? (By Marissa Kasch)

I think we may all have shared a similar experience during Week 3 of the NFL. You’re flipping through the channels, or maybe you’re on RedZone. Everything seems normal. You get up to grab some food and return to the TV. When you do, you can’t believe your eyes. The Dolphins put up 70?! Inevitably, you wonder what the record is, because 70 points in an NFL game is unheard of. Well, almost unheard of. The Dolphins chose to kneel rather than attempt a field goal to break the record, a classy move by Mike McDaniel, but they now hold the No. 2 spot in the record books. If you were curious like I was, here are the top-10 highest-scoring NFL games of all-time:

1. Washington Redskins 72-41 — New York Giants (1996)

2. Miami Dolphins 70-20 — Denver Broncos (2023)

3. Los Angeles Rams 70-27 — Baltimore Colts (1950)

4. Los Angeles Rams 65-24 — Detroit Lions (1950)

5. Chicago Cardinals 65-24 — New York Bulldogs (1949)

6. Philadelphia Eagles 64-0 — Cincinnati Reds (1934)  

7. Pittsburgh Steelers 63-7 — New York Giants (1952)

8. Chicago Cardinals 63-35 — New York Giants (1948)

9. New Orleans Saints 62-7 — Indianapolis Colts (2011)

10. New York Jets 62-28 — Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1985)

Historic Pace

The Dolphins’ 70-point outing wasn’t just impressive – it was historical. No NFL team has scored more than 62 points in over 10 years. The fun (or scary) part about the Dolphins is that they made dropping 70 look effortless. They practically walked into the end zone every drive, which begged the question: What will Miami and its explosive offense do next?

In Week 4, it was the Bills who erupted for 48 points (against the Dolphins, no less). That gave Buffalo three straight games of 35-plus, and those two AFC East squads are full-speed ahead chasing history.

The Single-Season Points Record

So where do they stand in relation to the most points scored by a single team for an entire season? Ironically, the team to beat is Denver (see graphic above). The Broncos hold the record with 606 points scored in 2013. Peyton Manning threw 55 touchdowns to the Broncos\’ endless supply of weapons — Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Wes Welker and Julius Thomas. Manning’s 55 TDs were also an NFL single-season record that year.

The \’23 Fins have 150 points through four games, and they’re on pace to notch the highest-scoring season ever (638 points). The Bills? They’re in the conversation, too. Buffalo is on pace for 590 points, meaning these two AFC East teams could be chasing history, simultaneously, while also chasing the division title. Imagine if Aaron Rodgers was healthy for the Jets.

Editor’s Note: The NFL added a 17th game back in 2021, so it’s only a matter of time before these records tumble.

4 Offenses to Watch in 2023

1. Dolphins (37.5 ppg) — Pace: 636 points
2. Bills (34.8 ppg) — Pace: 590 points

3. 49ers (31.3 ppg) — Pace: 531 points

4. Cowboys (31 ppg) — Pace: 527 points

Even after the NFL’s 17-game expansion in 2021, no team has cracked the top-10 scoring list in the past two seasons. Patrick Mahomes and the 2018 Chiefs were the last active group to make this kind of history. If you like points, the NFL’s got ‘em in 2023.

*Check Back for More Coverage of the NFL Scoring Pace as the 2023 Season Continues

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POLL

NFL MVP Front-Runners

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Yesterday, we polled readers asking for your early picks for the 2023 NFL MVP. The front-runners included five quarterbacks and RB Christian McCaffrey (49ers), and the voters love Run-CMC. Despite having the longest odds of the top six, McCaffrey (+2000) stole the vote from Sportsletter readers. The last 10 NFL MVP winners were quarterbacks, dating back to 2012 when RB Adrian Peterson (Vikings) was the last non-QB to win the award. McCaffrey currently leads all non-QBs in scrimmage yards (600 yards) and touchdowns (7).

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STORYLINES

 Week 6 College Football Predictions

What the Week 6 schedule in college football lacks in volume is atoned for through a variety of key matchups. Rivalry clashes between Texas-Oklahoma, Maryland-Ohio State, Notre Dame-Louisville, and three SEC battles keep things interesting. (Bleacher Report)

 NHL Preseason: Bold Predictions

The 2023-24 NHL season is just days away, and that means that it\’s time to start looking ahead to what may transpire throughout the regular season. Which teams could surprisingly miss the postseason? And who could make a deep Stanley Cup run? (CBS Sports)

 Inside the James Harden Standoff

It’s not just business, it’s personal between James Harden and Daryl Morey. How did the NBA’s most famous superstar-executive pairing turn into such a bitter feud? We spoke with people close to the stalemate that has dominated the NBA’s summer. (The Ringer)

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NEWS

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WEEKEND SCHEDULE

The Weekend Must-Watch List

NFL Week 5 (Sunday)

Jaguars at Bills (9:30 am)

Titans at Colts (1:00 pm)
Ravens at Steelers (1:00 pm)

Eagles at Rams (4:05 pm)

Cowboys at 49ers (8:20 pm)
Full NFL Sunday Schedule

MLB Playoffs (ALDS/NLDS)

Gm 1: Rangers at Orioles (Sat. 1:00 pm)
Gm 1: Twins at Astros (Sat. 4:45 pm)

Gm 1: Phillies at Braves (Sat. 6:07 pm)

Gm 1: Diamondbacks at Dodgers (Sat. 9:20 pm)

Gm 2: Rangers at Orioles (Sun. 4:07 pm)
Gm 2: Twins at Astros (8:03 pm)

College Football Week 6 (Saturday)

#12 Oklahoma at #3 Texas (Noon)

Maryland at #4 Ohio State (Noon)

#23 LSU at #21 Missouri (Noon)

#20 Kentucky at #1 Georgia (7:00 pm)

#10 Notre Dame at #25 Louisville (7:30 pm)

Arizona at #9 USC (10:30 pm)

Full CFB Weekend Schedule

Soccer

EPL: Arsenal vs. Manchester City (Sun. 11:30 am)

WNBA Finals

Gm 1: Liberty at Aces (Sun. 3:00 pm)

NASCAR Playoffs

The Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway (Sun. 2:00 pm)

*All Times ET

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