The Windy City Gridiron revisits three iconic Week 9 Bears victories that showcase the team’s knack for clutch performances. In 1990, a dominant 26‑6 win over Tampa Bay features rookie safety Mark Carrier’s two interceptions and five total picks by Chicago’s defense, pushing the Bears to 8‑1. A decade later, backup QB Josh McCown leads Chicago to a 27‑20 triumph at Lambeau Field after Aaron Rodgers leaves with a broken collarbone; McCown throws 22‑41 for two TDs, while the defense records five sacks. In 2018, the Bears’ defense scores twice in a 41‑9 rout of Buffalo, with Eddie Jackson’s 65‑yard fumble return and multiple turnovers sealing the win. Each game underscores Chicago’s historic ability to win against rivals with defense‑first heroics.
For NFL Week 9 fantasy managers, the article pinpoints four kickers to stream. Chicago’s Cairo Santos, fresh off a perfect 4‑2 performance, and Tampa Bay’s Chase McLaughlin, who nailed three long field goals, are deemed the top choices. Denver’s Wil Lutz also shines, riding a high‑scoring Broncos offense with recent 39‑ and 45‑yard makes. San Francisco’s Eddy Pineiro benefits from a potent attack but struggles with accuracy, making him a riskier play. The piece weighs consistency and scoring chances, recommending Santos and McLaughlin as the safest bets.
In this episode, Ira Kaufman and host Joe break down the upcoming Buccaneers‑Bears clash, dissect NFC South challenges, and discuss Todd Bowles' precarious position after his recent meeting with Rob Robinson. They also review Baker Mayfield’s performance over the past year. The conversation is aired ahead of Sunday night’s game in Chicago and is available on Apple Podcasts and Podbean.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers travel to Soldier Field for a challenging Sunday Night Football matchup against the Chicago
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The Chicago Bears are set to work out former Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jordan Elliott next week, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. The 29‑year‑old, a 6‑5, 325‑lb veteran with 65 starts and 102 games, was released by the Titans on Oct. 20 after a bizarre incident on Oct. 15 in which he left practice, retrieved a gun from his car and threatened a teammate before being diffused. The NFL is investigating the breach of league rules. Bears will hold a walk‑through at Halas Hall Saturday before hosting the Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football, and could bring Elliott in during their bye.
Since returning from a hamstring strain, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has led Chicago to a 3-0 stretch, completing 74% of his passes for 860 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. The 18‑year‑old Heisman winner says his top focus is being more decisive—a mantra he honed with USC coach Lincoln Riley and now brings to the NFL. Williams credits meticulous rehab and a mindset shift for his sharper accuracy and pocket‑escaping ability, which coach Ben Johnson says are key to the Bears’ Super Bowl hopes. His emotional comeback underscores how vital his health and decisiveness are to Chicago’s playoff ambitions.
For NFL Week 9 fantasy managers, streaming D/ST options hinge on matchups more than marquee names. The Seattle Seahawks rebound from a 34‑point, one‑sack loss to the Bears and face the Arizona Cardinals, offering a bounce‑back chance. The Houston Texans, coming off a 27‑point, 420‑yard night against the Chiefs, could exploit the winless Chargers but remain inconsistent. Denver’s Broncos, despite a modest 24‑point, 399‑yard effort versus Kansas City, showed a clutch fourth‑quarter stop and now meet the Panthers, keeping them viable. Lastly, the New York Giants, after a solid 21‑point, 237‑yard week versus Houston, target a struggling, injury‑hit Eagles squad for potential turnover upside. Each defense presents a distinct risk‑reward scenario for weekly streaming.
Former Colts All‑Pro guard Quenton Nelson, traded to the Seattle Seahawks for a 2027 third‑round and 2028 fifth‑round pick, will undergo minor cartilage cleanup surgery on his already‑injured knee. The procedure sidelines him for a few weeks, but Seattle avoids placing him on injured reserve, hoping he returns after the team’s upcoming two games and a Week 11 bye. Nelson, who aggravated the issue during Seattle’s 34‑17 loss to the Bears, has missed only four starts in his career.
The Chicago Bears, fresh off a trade for Jeffery Simmons, are eyeing another former Tennessee Titans defensive lineman as they cope with injuries. Defensive tackle Kentavius Street lands on IR after a knee injury in the 34-17 win over Seattle, potentially ending his season. Insider Jordan Schultz reports the Bears will give ex‑Titans DT Jordan Elliott a workout next week. Elliott, a 2020 third‑round pick with 65 starts, 159 tackles and 5 sacks, was released by the Titans in October after a gun‑related incident, though Titans coach Robert Saleh defends his character. The Bears may add Elliott to bolster their run defense.
The Chicago Bears have scheduled a workout for former Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jordan Elliott next week, despite his recent release after a gun incident at the Titans’ training facility. Elliott, a 65‑game starter with 159 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 5 sacks, could provide interior defensive depth for a Bears team that sits 6‑2 and just beat the Seattle Seahawks 34‑17. The NFL continues investigating the incident, and Elliott’s future hinges on the outcome.
Former Titans GM Ran Carthon praises new Bears defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons as a “Disciplined Asshole with Grit,” saying his size, strength and attitude make him a defensive leader. Simmons logged six tackles and a sack in Chicago’s 34‑17 win over the defending champion Seahawks, and he’s already mentoring a 16‑year‑old prospect off the field. With head coach Ben Johnson’s creativity and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams’ elite play, the Bears aim for an NFC North title and a deep postseason run.
The Chicago Bears may finally be close to securing a new home after Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Bears executives Kevin Warren and George McCaskey. The meeting focused on a proposed stadium in Arlington Heights, with two Illinois parcels already scouted. If the state legislature quickly approves a stadium authority, the project—tax‑exempt for the facility but funded by the Bears and the NFL—could move forward, keeping the team in Illinois. Failure to approve could push the Bears toward the alternative sites in Hammond, Indiana, a contingency they’re still weighing.
The Chicago Bears may finally get a backfield boost as Kyle Monangai returns to practice after a toe injury that sidelined him since Oct. 4. Monangai, who averaged 5.4 yards per carry and scored three touchdowns before his injury, participated in a limited session on Friday, offering hope that he can share the heavy workload shouldered by D’Andre Swift, who has carried the ball 49 times in the past two games. With Tampa Bay’s chaotic, single‑high safety defense looming Sunday night, restoring the Monangai‑Swift tandem could be crucial, though his availability remains uncertain.
Bears head coach Ben Johnson praises running back D’Andre Swift’s vision after a recent touchdown, highlighting the offensive line’s role in creating big‑gain opportunities. Meanwhile, Packers defensive end Micah Parsons returns to practice after a torn ACL, acknowledging his conditioning is the worst of his career and that he won’t be an All‑Pro immediately, but promises relentless effort. In Minnesota, the Vikings suffer their first loss, 19‑15 to the Lions, with coach Kevin O’Connell blaming a missed Kyler Murray‑Justin Jefferson connection and stressing the need for consistent four‑quarter play, while TE T.J. Hockenson remains confident the team is close to contending.
The Seattle Seahawks cut running back Velus Jones on Friday, ending his brief stint with the team. The 29‑year‑old, a former third‑round pick by the Bears in 2022, has bounced between practice squads and active rosters this season, appearing in six games for Seattle with 28 rushing yards on nine carries (3.1 YPC) and a -1 yard reception. Jones previously spent time with Jacksonville, Carolina, and New Orleans after his rookie deal with the Bears expired.
In a detailed breakdown of the Seahawks’ 27‑20 loss to the Chicago Bears on Nov. 6, 2026, assistant coach Ryan Woodall highlights how the Bears exploited Seattle’s light‑box defense. Chicago ran 15 first‑down rushes (1.6 YPC, 20% success) and capitalized on second‑down conversions, while Seattle’s 2nd‑down stops faltered. The Bears used combo‑block schemes with tight ends and receivers to neutralize the six‑man box, forcing missed tackles and enabling quick routes that kept Caleb Williams confined to short throws. Woodall’s analysis shows a stark contrast between Seattle’s usual run‑defense dominance and the Bears’ disciplined, yard‑gaining approach.
The Chicago Bears’ rookie quarterback Caleb Williams faces a daunting Week 9 test against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ top‑ranked defense. Williams has thrown for 1,267 yards with a 70.9% completion rate, six touchdowns and one interception in his first five games, but the Bucs allow just 285.9 yards per game and blitz on 39.2% of plays. Former Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy warned that head coach Todd Bowles’ aggressive scheme could reduce Williams to “pedestrian” under pressure, sparking a compelling quarterback‑vs‑defense showdown.
The Bears own the NFL's best third down defense at 23.8 percent. How Dennis Allen's unit buries teams on the money down, and why Tampa Bay is built to test it.
Mike Florian of Pro Football Talk argues the Chicago Bears overpaid for All‑Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, sending two first‑round picks and a fourth‑rounder to the Tennessee Titans. Simmons, a four‑time Pro Bowler, debuted with six tackles, a sack and a pass breakup, and is under contract through 2030. The trade was facilitated by a personal connection between Bears GM Ryan Poles and Titans GM Mike Borgonzi, despite interest from the New York Giants. Florian believes the Titans could have secured a better return, but the Bears remain confident Simmons bolsters their Super Bowl push.
The Chicago Bears received mixed news on Kyle Monangai's recovery, as Ben Johnson discusses the running back's delayed return timeline.
With the NFL trade deadline looming on Nov. 10, The Game Haus highlights seven defensive players likely to move. Cornerback Riq Woolen (Eagles) could land with the Lions or Bears, while pass rusher Josh Sweat (Cardinals) draws interest from the Giants and Jaguars. Veteran safety Budda Baker (Cardinals) may be offloaded to the Cowboys or 49ers, and Khalil Mack (Chargers) could reunite with Chicago, suiting the 49ers or Bears. Dolphins’ edge rusher Josh Uche fits the Chiefs or Giants, and Saints safety Justin Reid is a potential Bills or Jaguars pickup. Each prospect is tied to expiring contracts or teams looking to rebuild.
The Bears host the Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football as they chase a fourth straight win. Theo Benedet, Grady Jarrett and D’Marco Jackson return to full health, while running back Kyle Monangi (toe/thumb) remains questionable after missing four games. Cornerbacks Malik Muhammad and Tyrique Stevenson are also doubtful, and Zavier Scott lands on IR, leaving D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson as the only healthy backs—Salvon Ahmed may be elevated. Tampa Bay lists OLB YaYa Diaby (knee) out and wideout Emeka Egbuka questionable with a foot issue. Left tackle Tristan Wirfs is cleared to play.
The Chicago Bears head into their Week 9 game against Tampa Bay with three defensive backs listed as questionable: cornerbacks Tyrique Stevenson (thumb) and Malik Muhammad (toe), plus running back Kyle Monangai (toe). Stevenson’s injury was added Friday, adding to an already troubled secondary that includes veteran Jaylon Johnson, who ranks near the bottom of the PFF cornerback ratings. While the Bears recently acquired All‑Pro DT Jeffery Simmons and hope the upcoming bye week will clear roster concerns, the mounting secondary injuries could force GM Ryan Poles to explore further cornerback or pass‑rusher options before the trade deadline.
Chicago Bears legend long snapper Patrick Mannelly praises the 2026 Bears as a "complete team," saying they’re playing as well as any NFL squad. In a HeartFlow‑sponsored interview, Mannelly highlights the impact of rookie quarterback Ben Johnson, star rookie Caleb Williams, and a potent offense, while noting Jeffery Simmons’ impressive debut on defense. He also breaks down special‑teams prospects, including kicker Cairo Santos, punter Tory Taylor, and the return and coverage units. The full conversation is available as a video on the 2nd City Gridiron YouTube channel and as a podcast episode.
The Bears can wake up Tuesday alone in first place in the NFC North. Kyler Murray's injury, Carson Wentz's start, and the two results Chicago needs, explained.