Welcome to the Bears Binge, where every week RedEye prepares you for the matchup facing the Monsters of the Midway. From reasons to laugh at the opposing team to an offbeat look at the ’85 Bears anniversary, we’ll have fun with this and hope you do too.
Game time: vs. Minnesota, noon Sunday, Fox
YOU LAUGHING? YOU SHOULD BE
Players and coaches talk all about how they respect their opponents. Really, that’s what they should do. But fans don’t have to. Here are three reasons Bears die-hards should poke fun at the Vikings this week.
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They have a “Donut Club”
Not sure why your head athletic trainer (even if his name happens to be Eric Sugarman) would spearhead a club that would make athletes fatter, but it’s all the rage in the Vikings locker room. According to MMQB.com, it even has strict rules such as no one is allowed to eat any of the doughnuts until defensive end Everson Griffen gives a speech. Apparently Jared Allen tried to bring the club to the Bears, but it didn’t stick.
Peterson’s strange illness
Fox reported Sunday that running back Adrian Peterson got sick when he swallowed his chewing tobacco. He denied this, claiming he fell ill when he intentionally ate shrimp despite knowingly suffering from a shellfish allergy. Yeah, there really is no right answer here.
Ragnar’s contract demands
This is too ridiculous not to bring up again. We’re not sure what’s more bizarre: That unofficial mascot Ragnar had the guts to ask for $20,000 per game over 10 seasons ($1.6 milion total) or that no one told him this was a preposterous idea.
THE ’85 BEARS ARE HOW OLD?
ICYMI, 2015 marks the 30th anniversary of the 1985 Bears, the last team to bring a Super Bowl title to Chicago. And as anyone who has experienced it knows, turning 30 can be a pain. Each week we’ll give you an idea what Bears fans who remember the magic of 1985 must be going through.
When you turn 30 … people think there is something wrong with you if you are single.
Football equivalent: Quarterback Jay Cutler is on his fifth offensive coordinator in seven seasons with the Bears. The previous four likely will all give future employers the “It’s not me, it’s him” speech. (Ahem. If you are older than 30, single and reading this, don’t be discouraged. The love of your life is out there somewhere.)
#LagunaPicks
Instead of recruiting a football expert to predict each Bears game, RedEye asked a sea lion. Because it’s fun. Laguna, who makes his home at the Shedd Aquarium, will try is hand–er, flipper–at predictions all season.
Laguna’s record: 2-4 after Week 7 (Bears had a bye last week)
Fun fact: The coats of adult male sea lions are much darker brown than that of females and immature males, which have a tan appearance.
More info: Visit sheddaquarium.org.
NFL WEEK 8 SCHEDULE
Thursday
Miami at New England, 7:25 p.m. CBS
Sunday
Detroit at Kansas City, 8:30 a.m. Fox
Tampa Bay at Atlanta, noon Fox
Arizona at Cleveland, noon Fox
San Francisco at St. Louis, noon Fox
N.Y. Giants at New Orleans, noon Fox
San Diego at Baltimore, noon CBS
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, noon CBS
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Tennessee at Houston, noon CBS
N.Y. Jets at Oakland, 3:05 p.m. CBS
Seattle at Dallas, 3:25 p.m. Fox
Green Bay at Denver, 7:30 p.m. NBC
Monday
Indianapolis at Carolina, 7:30 p.m. ESPN
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Is this the year you learn a new skill? It can be, and RedEye Skillz can help. Start here.