🎬HIGHLIGHTS

1. Bears vs. Packers game video on loop from the last 20 years

2. Connor Bedard is an All Star…but has a broken jaw

3. The Bulls get reinforcements!

💎THE FRANCHISES

In-Season

🏈Chicago Bears

TROPHY TRACKER 1-2-3-❌-5-6-7-8-9-🏆

L - Packers 17, Bears 9

What a disaster.

How can the same iteration of this rivalry replay on my TV twice a year every year? This is so frustrating.

Jordan Love looked elite and tore up the Bears defense. The disruptive pass rush and ballhawking DBs didn’t show up. And the offense couldn’t get in the end zone.

Talk about getting outplayed in every facet of the game. The score looked closer than it should have been. A missed field goal and time miscue at the end of the first half kept points off the board for the Packers.

Also, can we please call late hits on Justin Fields? Please???

Season Record: 7-10 (Final Record)

Star of the Week: Cairo Santos

Yup. We’ll give this one to Mr. Contract Extension. Mr. Reliable. Not many players showed up to this game…

Santos hit from 35, 39, and 50 yards and was 3/3 on the day.

With this performance, he broke the franchise record for FGs made in a single season! 🥇

Play of the Week: Tyrique Stevenson with the veteran move to keep the clock moving and end the first half

I have loved watching Stevenson in the back half of the season. These young DBs have been showing out, and he has stood out above the rest.

News & Notes:

1. Jaylon Johnson and Montez Sweat were selected as first-time Pro Bowlers! Both definitely deserved the nod this season. Check out Poles and Flus breaking the news to them.

2. Tyrique Stevenson was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his 2 interception game against the Falcons.

3. We got an inside look on a day in the life of Kevin Warren. Check out Gabby Hajduk’s piece here. People seemed upset by this feature, and I think the “18-hour workday” framing was not the best, but I did enjoy getting inside the mind of the Bears’ president.

4. Now the speculation begins…is Flus safe? Is Justin Fields QB1 in 2024? What other changes will happen this week? Is Kevin Warren going to force impact decisions?

🏒Chicago Blackhawks

TROPHY TRACKER 1-❌-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-🏆

L - Predators 3, Blackhawks 0

Getting shutout to start the new year looks pretty bad, but at least the Hawks’ effort was somewhat better in this one.

• Arvid Soderblom had a fairly good game to bounce back from recent struggles

• Anthony Beauvillier injured his wrist and left the game (WHY!?)

L - Rangers 4, Blackhawks 1

The tough losses continued against old friend Artemi Panarin on rough ice conditions in New York.

• New Blackhawks defenseman Jaycob Megna looked comfortable in his first game and ended up with the highest game score (per HockeyStatCards on Twitter)

• Jarred Tinordi easily took down Blake Wheeler in a fight

• The Hawks played well enough to make it a game but gave up two quick goals to start the 3rd period

L - Devils 4, Blackhawks 2

Putting the score aside, this game was worst-case-scenario. Connor Bedard left the game in the 1st period and was later confirmed to have a broken jaw. 🙏 Every time a player goes down with a face injury, it seems like it was a dirty hit, but even Luke Richardson was adamant that it looked like a clean play.

• Nick Foligno also left the game with an injury and was later confirmed to have a broken finger (He fought Brendan Smith in the 2nd period after Smith injured Bedard - love seeing teammates step up for each other)

• The team was outmatched again and, surprise, was dominated at the faceoff circle 36-19.

W - Blackhawks 4, Flames 3

Talk about a team morale win! Colin Blackwell led the way as the Hawks won a spirited game after losing Bedard and Foligno to injuries.

• The Hawks played with 11 forwards and 7 defensemen

• Blackwell with 2 goals and basically broke the game score charts with his effort (per HockeyStatCards on Twitter)

• Kurashev wore the A with Foligno out

Week Record: 1-3

Season Record: 12-26-2

Star of the Week: Colin Blackwell

With the lone goal vs. the Rangers and two key goals in the win over the Flames, Blackwell clearly stood out above the rest this week. His energy on the ice has been captivating since he returned from injury, and you can tell the team is feeding off of it.

Play of the Week: Colin Blackwell handles and goal

News & Notes:

Count that as NINE players on IR - anyone want to try out for the team???

1. Traded a conditional 7th-round pick for F Rem Pitlick from the Penguins who has spent the season in the AHL

2. Claimed D Jaycob Megna (SEA) and F Zach Sanford (ARI) off waivers

3. Connor Bedard is the youngest NHL All Star ⭐⭐⭐ EVER and was named back-to-back NHL Rookie of the Month

4. Check out Scott Powers’ article outlining the Blackhawks plan to NOT spend big in free agency this offseason. While I generally agree with Kyle from Chicago’s team building philosophy, it will be interesting to see if waiting years to add outside help will be the right move.

5. Oliver Moore, Frank Nazar, Gavin Hayes, and Sam Rinzel won gold 🥇🥇🥇🥇 for USA at the World Juniors

6. Road game losing streak is now at 14 😮

🏀Chicago Bulls

TROPHY TRACKER ❌-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-🏆

L - 76ers 110, Bulls 97

This was not even a game. Joel Embiid returned from injury with FORCE, and the Bulls had no chance from the jump.

• The Bulls trailed 43-18 after the 1st quarter

• Patrick Williams left the game with an ankle injury

• Awful shooting night for the Bulls: 38% FG, 18% 3P

L - Knicks 116, Bulls 100

The Knicks pulled away in the second half, and the Bulls are really starting to play like a shorthanded team.

• Jalen Brunson (31p) and Julius Randle (35p) lit up the scoreboard for the Knicks

• Coby White (26p) and DeMar DeRozan (28p) carried the Bulls all night

W - Bulls 104, Hornets 91

Zach Lavine AND Vooch returned to the lineup for the W!!

• Alex Caruso and Patrick Williams did not play due to injuries - the Bulls were still shorthanded

• Zach played a solid all-around game in his return! (15p/5r/4a)

Week Record: 1-2

Season Record: 16-21

Star of the Week: Coby White

Coby has been a steady scoring presence and leader on the court during this tough stretch. After struggling with his shot, he definitely found his form again in New York. Coby shot 9-15 from 3 in the last two games!

Play of the Week: Nikola Vucevic dunk

This was a pretty sick way to seal the W. There’s something about a near-7 footer driving the lane and dunking that is always satisfying.

News & Notes:

1. Zach Lavine returned to the team with 1 month left before the Feb. 8 trade deadline…

2. The Ring of Honor ceremony is this coming Friday Jan. 12.

Off-Season

⚾Chicago Cubs

TROPHY TRACKER 1-2-3-4-5-❌-7-8-9-🏆

News & Notes:

1. Craig Counsell’s coaching staff was officially announced. No surprises as most of the hires/holdovers were previously reported. Ryan Flaherty joining the staff as bench coach is the biggest change.

2. The Cubs technically added a player to their 40-man roster this week…by claiming catcher Brian Serven off of waivers. I’ll go ahead and Google him later.

3. Latest reports state the Cubs as the favorite to land Cody Bellinger. Not sure how concrete that is, but I definitely like to hear that kind of update.

4. Still no free agency or trade announcements…..

📣SAY WHAT?

😎GOOD ONE(S) ALERT

Kevin and Greta Warren

The Warrens pledged a $1 MILLION donation to Lurie Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. Just an unbelievable number and act of kindness for kids truly in need.

Honorable Mention: Christopher Morel named Gentleman of the Year in the Dominican Winter League

🔥MILD TAKE❄

I don’t know what the Bears will do with Justin Fields.

Last week, after the commanding win against the Falcons, I was fairly convinced that Matt Eberflus and Justin Fields would both return next season.

The team had shown impressive progress, the defense was coming together, and Fields was clearly functioning better in the offense. They could go to Green Bay and potentially end the season at 8-9.

Why would you not bring back the guys the team is rallying around? Why would you not want to see how much of a step the team could take next year?

But after that disaster yesterday…the Bears need better quarterback play. I can’t handle Jordan Love already being good, and the Bears only scoring 1 touchdown in their last 3 road games.

Better quarterback play could be Justin Fields. Maybe he still improves as the team adds more talent, possibly better coaching (?), and has another offseason to work. But at what point is the quarterback the problem?

Or it could be Caleb Williams. Or Drake Maye. Or whoever Ryan Poles wants to draft.

I’m way more on the fence about the Bears quarterback position and what to expect from the GM. He just has to get it right this offseason.