Mike Sansone
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Mike Sansone
@mikesansone.bsky.social
7.2K followers 480 following 140 posts
Senior editor, NFL (Bears, Chiefs) at The Athletic. Longtime Chicago Tribune sports guy. Living the Northwest Indiana life.
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Reposted by Mike Sansone
In a lot of ways, Sunday afternoon felt like an identity win for the Bears. From the continued takeaway surge to the punishing running game to the whole team’s success in resetting in a short week after an emotional win.

More from inside Halas Hall …
Bears’ confidence building along with winning streak: ‘We know how good we can be’
As they strive to play their best football, the Bears believe they've found a special combination of energy, chemistry and purpose.
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Mike Sansone
That’s the first go-ahead home run while trailing by multiple runs in the 7th inning or later in Game 7 history

Only other in any winner-take-all game: 2024 NLWCS G3 Pete Alonso
Reposted by Mike Sansone
The day after, Ben Johnson on this drive: "I didn’t think I did a good job calling plays in that sequence. I’m very very aware of not wanting to give the ball back to the opponent with enough time for a rebuttal drive. I don’t think I did the defense any favors with those play calls."
Ugly possession for the Bears' offense after the stop on fourth down. Surprised not to see a run play considering they have 3 timeouts. Tory Taylor pins the Saints at their own 9.
Reposted by Mike Sansone
Ben Johnson: "The thing I'm most proud about is, not only did we get off to a good start with a 20-0 lead, is we weathered the storm in between. It wasn't our best middle 8 of the game. ... I just think back to (Week 1) and we didn't handle that very well. As a team, we responded a lot better."
Reposted by Mike Sansone
Sunday was only the eighth time ever the Bears forced four turnovers, had four sacks and held an opponent to fewer than 45 rushing yards.

Story from Soldier Field on a special day for the defense
Chicago Bears defense puts on a show against Saints: ‘It was pretty special’
The Bears lead the NFL in takeaways and have forced at least three turnovers in each game of their current four-game winning streak.
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Mike Sansone
It turns out Patrick Mahomes' trick play vs. the Raiders required practice time. And communication. Oh, and a teammate stopping himself from laughing.

Here's the backstory of Mahomes going Hollywood — and the 6 words everyone heard on CBS's broadcast:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...
The backstory of Patrick Mahomes’ trick play vs. Raiders: ‘That was hilarious’
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes faked out the Raiders — and CBS broadcasters — with his acting skills. Here's what happened.
www.nytimes.com
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D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai have combined for 163 yards on 27 carries (6.0 per carry).

8 plays, 51 yards in 4:18

Bears 26, Saints 14
Reposted by Mike Sansone
Not sure what was more impressive, the Saints' trick play or Ben Johnson's challenge flag toss.
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We've got a ball game at Soldier Field. Saints march 80 yards in 10 plays. Another Rattler-to-Olave touchdown.

Bears 20, Saints 14
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Spencer Rattler with two impressive balls to Chris Olave, a 57-yarder than the 21-yard touchdown, and New Orleans gets the ball to start the second half.

5 plays, 91 yards in 0:46

Bears 20, Saints 7
Reposted by Mike Sansone
Kyle Monangai gets his first career touchdown. Play of the drive? Caleb Williams' pass to DJ Moore, who reacted quickly to make the catch-and-run, then the clutch third-down throw to Colston Loveland.

8 plays, 55 yards in 4:35

Bears 20, Saints 0
Reposted by Mike Sansone
The tarpaulin is coming off the field. The rain is supposed to stop around kickoff, but it’s windy (you guys do know what they call Chicago, right?).

The Saints are one of three teams the Bears have yet to beat in the post-Lovie Smith era (Eagles, Dolphins).
Reposted by Mike Sansone
Thanks to Jayden Daniels’ fumble, D’Andre Swift’s runs and Jake Moody’s kicks, the referees from MNF became a footnote.

A Friday Footnote, that is. Story on the penalties, and an encouraging sign from the Bears’ win
Chicago Bears overcame tough calls in MNF win: How concerning are the penalties?
The Bears are averaging 8.6 penalties per game, and had some glaring — and questionable — ones Monday night. But they overcame them to win.
www.nytimes.com
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Potential funniest game of the year right here
Reposted by Mike Sansone
December 2008.

The last time the Bears beat the Saints. Caleb Williams was 7. Ben Johnson was working as a software developer.

What a peculiar 8-game skid this has been.

Will Sunday reverse the voodoo?
Are the Bears under a New Orleans spell? Recent history has not been kind vs. Saints
Every time a game with the Saints seems like a springboard for the Bears, it has turned into a trapdoor.
www.nytimes.com
20 years ago, the White Sox pitched four complete game in the playoffs, and it feels like 100 years ago.
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Bears head coach Ben Johnson on DJ Moore: "Good news is he's back in Chicago now and we'll take him day by day." Said it was a groin injury.
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“The mindset was be able to hold the ball, run the ball, make them use their timeouts, stay in bounds. Play smart, situational football at the end of the game and go win.”

Enter D’Andre Swift, who had his best game as a Bear. Story from Landover
How D’Andre Swift, Bears’ run game found their groove in win over Commanders
Swift finally got going as the Bears' running back's 55-yard touchdown catch and 15-yard run to set up the winning field goal were clutch.
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Mike Sansone
Amid the intense focus of an NFL season, players don’t go out of their way to meet the practice squad kicker. On Monday night, they were carrying him off the field.

*Hi. Jake Moody. Damn glad to meet you.*

What a moment. What a league.
Introducing Jake Moody, the new Bears kicker and an unlikely Monday night hero
With everything on the line Monday night, Moody knew focus and presence would be key on his game-deciding kick.
www.nytimes.com
That's a good one, but Cameron Diaz has to go, too.
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Bears WR DJ Moore will be staying overnight in the DC area for "precautionary medical attention," per the team.
Reposted by Mike Sansone
Bears PK Jake Moody on getting carried off the field by his teammates: “It’s a pretty cool series of events. A couple days ago, I didn’t even know I was playing.”