Alliance... » The Chicago Bears followed up that announcement

The schedule will be out tomorrow http://www.thebearslockerroom.com/authentic-jim-mcmahon-jersey , so until then, let’s speculate"The NFL schedule will be released tomorrow.with the news that single-game tickets will go on sale immediately after at 8:30 p.m. CT: We already know that the Bears will open their centennial season against Green Bay on Thursday, Sept. 5 but the rest of the schedule will be unveiled on the NFL Network and ESPN at 8 p.m. leaked throughout the day Wednesday.The Bears, coming off their best season in eight seasons and one of the expected contenders for Super Bowl LIV, will likely be on prime-time a lot.I know many Bears fans prefer those comfortable and familiar noon Central kick offs, but that isn’t the reality when the team is good and filled with eight returning Pro-Bowlers and league-wide stars such as Khalil Mack and Eddie Jackson.The Bears will likely have the maximum number of prime-time games, although some will likely be subject to flex scheduling, as well as the network “protection” they can place on certain games to save them from being flexed.Last year ten teams had five prime-time games scheduled when the schedule was released.Since we already know one, I will take a look at four more possible prime-time match ups and just for you-know-what and giggles I’ll take a stab at whether it will be a Thursday, Sunday or Monday night match up.vs. Dallas CowboysThis is easy to predict. Five of the last six meetings between these squads came in prime-time and the Cowboys are always a favorite of the prime-time schedule makers. With both teams coming off playoff appearances this has Sunday Night Football written all over it.vs. Kansas City ChiefsThis one is a little tricky. I could see this one being coveted for a 3:25 p.m. CT kick off on CBS with Jim Nantz and Tony Romo calling the action but I think seeing Matt Nagy go against his mentor Andy Reid, as well as 2017 NFL Draft picks Mitchell Trubisky and Patrick Mahomes duke it out is too good not to put on prime-time. This would be a hyped Monday Night Football game in late October or November.at L.A. RamsLast season’s Week 14 meeting was a clash of the NFL’s elite and ended up being a tough Womens Walter Payton Jersey , hard-nosed old school football game in a cold Chicago. I think there is enough national curiosity to see how the Bears would’ve fared in LA in the postseason and now see if the Rams can compete against a very elite defense after having a dud Super Bowl against the Patriots. This is a great Sunday Night Football match.at Philadelphia EaglesThree of the last four regular season meetings between these teams occurred in prime-time, save for the dismal John Fox-led squad against the rolling Carson Wentz squad in 2017. It nearly goes back to four of five if you consider the 3:25 p.m. slot as primetime games, since those regularly end up the most-watched games of the NFL weekend. With a close playoff loss hanging over the Bears and questions about if Carson Wentz can get it done for Philly, this game has enough intrigue to be a Monday night game.Other options: The Bears have played on Thanksgiving three of the past five seasons (2014, 2015 and 2018) so it isn’t out of the realm that they would end up playing at Detroit again or against another opponent in the late slot.The Bears and Vikings have met in prime-time in each of the last three seasons. The question is, do the schedule makers want to put Kirk Cousins back into prime-time after watching him wilt so much under the lights? It’s certainly possible, because the Vikings are in ‘win-now or else’ mode and should still be a good team.The Saints and Bears have played two of their last five meetings in prime-time and haven’t met in prime-time since 2014. This would be a good match up at Soldier Field on a Thursday or Sunday night.Finally, the Bears and Giants have a long and storied history. I don’t think there are enough expectations for New York to justify giving them a coveted Monday or Sunday night slot against Chicago, but I could see an early season Thursday night game.How many prime-time games do you think the Bears will have? Which opponents will it be? Garrett Mehal is the man behind the Pro Football Focus Falcons’ Twitter account. He joined me to discuss how the Falcons are trying to improve in the trenches via free agency."Despite not making any splash signings in free agency, it hasn’t been a quiet off-season in Atlanta. Several coaches were fired. Many long-time veterans were released. High round draft picks have felt the pressure of needing to perform at a higher level. Unsuccessful contract negotiations with key players have left some lingering concern across the fan base. There have been plenty of noteworthy headlines to make up for the lack of notable signings, and the Falcons have been gaining momentum of late. With the NFC continuing to get better Gale Sayers Jersey , the Falcons can’t afford to take another step back. This is a team built to win now. Pro Football Focus’ Garrett Mehal joins me to examine the Falcons’ roster and free agency thus far, with those thoughts in mind. He is the man behind the PFF Falcons Twitter account. Off-season acquisitions and declarations on both linesHow the Falcons are going to improve in the trenches has been the central focus of their off-season. While major reinforcements are obviously needed, they had to make sure their main centerpiece remains in Atlanta. Grady Jarrett has developed into their most consistent player on the defensive line. He is coming off the best of his career, which meant a lucrative long-term deal appeared to be imminent. That hasn’t quite come to fruition as Jarrett received the franchise tag. Despite developing into one of the top defensive tackles in the league, the front office couldn’t come to terms with him for the long haul. Jarrett isn’t on the level of Aaron Donald or Fletcher Cox, but there is a strong case to be made for him being right below them alongside the likes of Chris Jones and Geno Atkins.“Jarrett is definitely in the second-tier,” Mehal stated. “He’s an interesting case because he wasn’t always getting to the quarterback at the level of the players you previously mentioned. In the last five games of last season, Jarrett was playing at a premier level. He was getting five to six pressures a game. Quarterbacks had to get the ball out quicker because of his disruptiveness.”“I’m not sure what the holdup is in regards to his contract situation. Could they be hesitant because he hasn’t always been consistent as a pass rusher? It’s hard to say. Jarrett has always been an outstanding run defender. How he progresses as a pass rusher will be interesting in 2019. If he can sustain the numbers he was putting up at the end of the season, he can be right below the likes of Donald and Cox.”Although Jarrett isn’t the only player on the roster due for a massive payday, his contract situation did restrict the Falcons going into free agency. Not having the cap space to pursue players such as Rodger Saffold left the front office searching for viable starting options at a cheaper price. James Carpenter and Jamon Brown were signed as potential solutions to their biggest positional need. Mehal understands the logic behind signing both players. That doesn’t mean he envisions them being difference makers on a revamped offensive line. “Neither player can be considered as an above-average guard,” Mehal stated. “It’s more average to slightly below average when assessing them. Both players do bring starting experience http://www.thebearslockerroom.com/authentic-mike-singletary-jersey , particularly in playing for good teams like the Rams and Seahawks. They also bring much-needed depth because the only guards on the roster were Brandon Fusco and Wes Schweitzer going into the off-season. I wouldn’t consider either signing to be a huge upgrade. The signings were definitely necessary given the situation at the position.”On the defensive line, there has been plenty of discussion about Vic Beasley’s status. The former first round pick is facing major scrutiny. After becoming the NFL sack king in 2016, he hasn’t come anywhere close to matching that production. Beasley isn’t overwhelming tackles with his blistering first step and wicked agility anymore. Instead of generating pressure, he is being largely erased out of most games. Quinn spoke about taking a more “hands on” approach to get the most out of Beasley. Mehal is unsure of what to expect from him at this stage of his career.“The talk last off-season was about them not using Beasley as an off-ball linebacker anymore,” Mehal said. “They weren’t going to give him any coverage responsibilities anymore. Putting him in a pure pass-rushing role was the plan. That didn’t work out last year, as he was near the bottom of the league in pass-rushing productivity. I’m not sure how they can use him differently at this point. He’s shown he can produce at a somewhat high level. We saw plenty of good things from him in his first two seasons. For him to regress puts the coaching staff in a tough spot. He is Quinn’s guy, but this has to be the make-or-break year for him. You’d like to see Beasley improve his hands, while the coaching staff tries to get more creative in utilizing him.”Stay tuned for part two of Allen’s discussion with Garrett Mehal, covering the draft on coming on Tuesday.