Quinn’s Record-Setting Day Paces Bears Past Giants

On Sunday afternoon, Robert Quinn passed one of the Chicago Bears’ all-time greats in the record books.

Midway through the fourth quarter of Chicago’s 29-3 blowout win over the struggling New York Giants, Quinn managed to sack Mike Glennon. With his 18th sack of the season, Quinn broke the Bears’ single-season record that was previously held by Richard Dent, who had 17.5 in the 1984 season.

And there’s simply no need for an asterisk with the extended 17-game schedule. Quinn broke the record in just 15 games; he was out for the team’s Week 7 road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In 2020, Quinn signed a massive five-year, $70 million deal with the Bears. He recorded just two sacks in 15 games, but the 31-year-old turned back the clock in 2021 en route to a third career Pro Bowl selection.

Quinn finished the game with a sack and one forced fumble. The victory moved the Bears to 6-10 on the year. They’ll finish up their season with a road game against the NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon (1:00 p.m. EST). Bears fans can check out the best sports betting apps to stay updated on upcoming games and future odds.

Bears Will Reportedly Part Ways From Matt Nagy

The Bears have never fired a head coach midseason, and it looks like ownership will wait until Sunday’s finale against Minnesota to formally make a change.

Citing sources, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Bears seem “primed to have a new head coach for the 2022 season and is expected to begin its search for” the successor of Matt Nagy.

Hired by the Bears in 2018, Nagy’s first season in the Windy City was a great success. He led the team to 12 wins and an NFC North division title, ending the franchise’s eight-year playoff drought. 

Nagy was named the 2018 Coach of the Year, but the Bears have failed to register a winning season ever since.

They went 8-8 in both 2019 and 2020, earning the NFC’s final wild-card spot in the latter year. Chicago was eliminated by the New Orleans Saints on Wild Card Weekend, however, and now they have slumped to their first losing season in four years.

Nagy came from the well-documented Andy Reid coaching tree. He spent two seasons as the Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive coordinator (2016 and 2017), helping Alex Smith enjoy a career year in 2017. Nagy’s coaching career began in 2008, where he served as an intern on Reid’s staff with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Though Nagy carries an offensive background, Chicago fielded a top-five scoring defense in each of Nagy’s first two seasons. He may not have cut it as a head coach long-term, but Nagy shouldn’t struggle to find another coaching position ahead of next season.

Blackhawks Remove Fleury From COVID-19 Protocol

The Chicago Blackhawks got a much-needed boost on Sunday.

The team announced that star goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has been removed from the COVID-19 protocol. The 37-year-old is back on the active roster.

Fleury was acquired by the Blackhawks in an offseason blockbuster trade with the Vegas Golden Knights. Though Chicago has struggled on the ice, Fleury has been a bright spot with a .913 save percentage and two shutouts on the year.

Fleury had a rocky October but returned to his Vezina-like form in November, going 5-4 with a 2.12 goals-against average. He proceeded to win four of five starts in December.

The Blackhawks’ Dec. 21, 23, 28, and 29 games were postponed as Omicron cases continue to surge. They returned to the ice on Saturday, falling 6-1 on the road to the Central Division rival Nashville Predators.

Chicago returned home to the United Center on Sunday, but they were no match for the Calgary Flames, who skated to a 5-1 blowout victory. Having allowed 11 goals in their last two outings, Fleury’s return cannot come soon enough for the slumping Blackhawks.

Chicago has lost four games in a row and five of their last six. They sit at 11-17-4, which places them 14th in the Western Conference standings.

The Blackhawks will look to rebound when they host the Chicago Avalanche on Tuesday evening at 8:30 p.m. EST.