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Sarah Shook turns from outlaw country to dark, rootsy pop with the new project MightmareJamie Ludwigon October 27, 2022 at 5:00 pm

Sarah Shook is best known as the singer and guitarist for rowdy country band Sarah Shook & the Disarmers, but Cruel Liars, the debut album from their latest project, the darker and more intimate Mightmare, proves that pigeonholing them would be a grave mistake. Shook grew up in a fundamentalist Christian household where their exposure to music was limited to classical and religious styles, but in their late teens a friend turned them on to secular music and they became enamored with indie rock. After relocating from the northeast to North Carolina, they found their stride as a country musician, naming their first band Sarah Shook & the Devil as a tongue-in-cheek nod to their pious upbringing. By then, they were a divorced, single parent in their early 20s, working several jobs to make ends meet while gigging on the side. With the Disarmers, launched in 2014, Shook has poured their rebellious spirit and hardscrabble wisdom into three albums of effusive, outlaw country music that elicits a smile as often as a tear in the proverbial beer—most recently with Nightroamer, which came out on Thirty Tigers in February. 

If it weren’t already clear that Shook has a knack for reinvention, Cruel Liars provides ample evidence. They began working on the material in the pandemic lockdown of early 2020 and wound up writing, recording, and producing the record at home, playing all the instruments (with the exception of a handful of bass tracks by Aaron Oliva). More bedroom than barroom, Cruel Liars grapples with heartache, loss, and self-discovery in intricate tunes that merge Shook’s indie-rock influences with dark, stripped-down Americana and pop. While the record is most powerful in its most intense moments, such as the driving, shadowy “Enemy,” the whole thing is made more compelling by Shook’s characteristically sharp lyrics and richly layered vocal harmonies. Mightmare doesn’t sound like the Disarmers, but Shook’s ability to mine something universal from intimate thoughts and tales connects them at their core. The strength of this first release already makes an urgent question of where Shook will take the project from here.

Mightmare Sun 10/30, 8:30 PM, Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, $15 ($12 in advance), 21+

Wednesday, November 30, 2022 at the Museum of Contemporary Art

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Sarah Shook turns from outlaw country to dark, rootsy pop with the new project MightmareJamie Ludwigon October 27, 2022 at 5:00 pm Read More »

Bears predictions: Week 8 at Cowboys

The Sun-Times’ experts offer their picks for the Bears’ game Sunday in Dallas:

RICK MORRISSEY

Cowboys, 17-13

Forget all that stuff I said last week about Bill Belichick having a plan for Justin Fields. Eighty-two Fields rushing yards later, it was apparent the old ball coach didn’t. The Cowboys don’t give up points or passing yards or many of the things opponents typically need for success. They do give up rushing yards, though. Hmmmm. Season: 4-3.

RICK TELANDER

Bears, 18-17

I’ve been wearing a hair shirt and crawling on my knees in penance for being so wrong about Bears-Patriots on Monday night. The Bears only beat the spread by 28 points, and it easily could have been 35. Are they decent or was that the luckiest game they’ll ever play? Send thoughts to oddsmakers everywhere. Season: 4-3.

LAURENCE HOLMES

Cowboys, 27-20

I can’t wait to see the speed of Fields vs. the speed of Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons. The Bears showed some real positive signs vs New England. It’ll be interesting how they handle success, with a short turnaround, against a better team. Season: 3-4.

PATRICK FINLEY

Cowboys, 23-10

The first round of the 2021 draft featured five quarterbacks, Ja’Marr Chase, Rashawn Slater and others, but there’s nobody I’d rather have than Parsons. He enters the week with 8 sacks — and will leave it with 10. Season: 3-4.

JASON LIESER

Cowboys, 24-13

This is a significant step up in competition for the Bears, and despite the promising victory against the Patriots, they aren’t ready for that yet. And Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will only get better as he works back from injury. Season: 3-4.

MARK POTASH

Cowboys, 23-16

The Bears are on a high after beating the Patriots at Gillette Stadium. If Fields takes another step forward, they could pull off another upset. But that will be a tough chore against a Cowboys defense that ranks second in points and yards per play. Season: 4-3.

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DePaul basketball: Tony Stubblefield focuses on local talent for ‘Chicago’s Team’

As each year passes without DePaul sniffing an NCAA Tournament bid — the last one for the Blue Demons came in 2004 — slipping into irrelevance is magnified even more.

In another attempt to pump life into a program that’s been on life support, DePaul hired veteran Oregon assistant Tony Stubblefield in April of 2021. The easy-to-like Stubblefield is affable, full of energy and renowned for his recruiting prowess.

And if you look closely — real closely, like under a microscope — there has been success and positive strides made in Stubblefield’s 18 months on the job.

Stubblefield inherited a program that had gone a combined 5-28 in Big East play the previous two years; the first-year coach won six conference games in his first season while winning 15 overall. And he did so with a depleted roster, including losing leading scorer Javon Freeman-Liberty for seven key games.

In year one the program landed a consensus top 75 prospect in the country in current freshman Zion Cruz. They also went into the transfer portal and added the leading scorers from Oklahoma and South Florida in guards Umoja Gibson and Caleb Murphy, respectively. The Blue Demons will welcome LIU-Brooklyn transfer Eral Penn (17.1 points, 7.4 rebounds), who put up big numbers in the Northeast Conference, and former Simeon star Ahamad Bynum.

As Stubblefield enters year two, he has the arrow of DePaul basketball pointed in the right direction. We caught up with him as the season tips off in less than three weeks.

Sun-Times: In a word or two, DePaul basketball is …

Stubblefield: Chicago’s team.

S-T: Now that you’re beginning your second season, talk about the reception you’ve received from the Chicago basketball community since you’ve been here.

Stubblefield: It’s been very welcoming. There has been a great reception from the high school coaches, the AAU coaches, and the fans in Chicago. It’s something I’m really excited about, just seeing the DePaul community and beyond energized about what we are trying to do here.

S-T: What do you know today about DePaul basketball that maybe you didn’t know or were aware of the day you were hired?

Stubblefield: The love that people still have for DePaul basketball. It’s very clear. You see how badly they want to see DePaul basketball successful again. From the Ray Meyer days to the Joey Meyer days to the Pat Kennedy days, those people that have seen DePaul basketball at the top, who have seen them go to the NCAA Tournament on a regular basis, that’s still there. It hasn’t happened in so long that you think people have forgotten about it. But it’s still there. They want DePaul basketball to be great again and get it back to where it once was.

S-T: You have Ahamad Bynum from Simeon on the roster. Last year you had Brandon Johnson, a Chicago area native in your starting five. How important is recruiting Chicago talent, both city and suburban talent, in moving this program forward?

Stubblefield: I think it’s still very important. There is talent here and talent that is coached well. There are such good high school basketball coaches in the Chicago area and great AAU programs. It’s important for us to recruit Chicago. It’s important for our fan base. These players with name recognition, that carries weight with our fans.

S-T: When you get some downtime and get away from basketball, what’s that look like for Tony Stubblefield?

Stubblefield: I like to work out. I like to go for jogs on Lake Shore Drive and along the lake. I like to eat. Chicago has some of the best restaurants in the country, so I love going out for a great meal. Getting around the city, being active in the city. This city is so vibrant and with the energy, there is just so much to do that I like to enjoy the city in my down time.

S-T: Do you have one or two go-to spots now?

Stubblefield: I can’t put it at one or two. I probably have too many. That’s why I’m gaining weight.

S-T: What’s your plan and program philosophy in balancing the roster between high school talent, junior college players and using the transfer portal? And how difficult has that become?

Stubblefield: I don’t think you can build a program relying solely on the portal. I think you have to have a foundation of four-year guys who are going to be in the program. I’ve always had great success recruiting junior college guys, so I think we can have some success recruiting junior college kids here and there. And I think we have to use the portal when there is a major need. Replacing a guy like Javon Freeman-Liberty who averaged 22 points a game last year is not easy. You have to go get an older, more experienced guy to come in and do some of that heavy lifting. Have to have a combination of high school, junior college and portal. It has been more difficult to navigate. You also have to continue recruiting the players in your own program. You have to keep a pulse on your own kids and continue to recruit them on a daily basis.

S-T: What’s Tony Stubblefield, the head coach, need to learn, adapt or get better within year two as a head coach?

Stubblefield: You don’t know what you don’t know in your first year as a head coach. It’s really a learning curve during that first year. Your time demands you have to learn to manage. You get pulled in a lot of different directions. The focus has to be on the development of your players and recruiting and coaching your team. But there is so much more to it with fundraising and booster functions and so much more. You’re wearing a lot of different hats while at the same time you’re preparing your team to go out and win ball games.

S-T: Now that you know this program so much more, what’s the most underrated part of DePaul basketball that people aren’t aware of or realize?

Stubblefield: That DePaul basketball is still very much relevant. Because we haven’t been to the tournament in so long, I know people out there may not believe that. But people care. I see that. When we call on recruits and their families, or when we talk to people in the city, they want to see DePaul basketball have success. We’re in a great city with a big media market. We have everything here to be successful.

S-T: How is this DePaul team this season different than your first time last season?

Stubblefield: I think the big difference is our depth and having more options on this roster. We will be a more balanced team than we were last year.

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White Sox rumors: Ozzie Guillen gaining steam in manager searchJordan Campbellon October 27, 2022 at 5:20 pm

Oct 10, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox former manager Ozzie Guillen signs autographs before game three of the 2021 ALDS against the Houston Astros at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago White Sox presumably have 24 hours to name a new manager before they likely would need to wait until after the World Series concludes to make an official announcement.

The Major League Baseball World Series between the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies is set to begin on Friday evening and teams are advised not to make any official announcements during the World Series in an effort to ensure that the focus is on the two teams that are playing.

Interestingly enough, there are two candidates from the Astros’ and Phillies’ coaching staff that may be in consideration for the White Sox managerial gig.

Astros’ bench coach Joe Espada is believed to have interviewed for the position while Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long would be an ideal candidate for the position as well.

If Espada or Long are finalists for the position, that would lend credence as to why the White Sox have not named a manager while teams such as the Texas Rangers and Miami Marlins have already named their new managers.

Or, it could be that the White Sox were waiting on a meeting of the minds to take place between 2005 World Series manager Ozzie Guillen and team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf to take place.

In a radio hit with KNXO in Iowa, NBC Sports Chicago insider David Kaplan reported that Guillen recently met with Reinsdorf to clear the air regarding the end of Guillen’s first stint as the White Sox manager in 2010.

The White Sox traded Guillen to the Miami Marlins after consecutive years of friction between the manager and the team’s front office.

Kaplan indicated that the meeting between Guillen and Reinsdorf went well and the silence from Guillen’s camp may indicate that there is a real chance that he returns to the manager’s helm for the White Sox.

In reference to Guillen potentially being named the White Sox manager for a second time, Major League Baseball insider Jon Heyman questioned the idea while speaking with “The Mully and Haugh Show” on Thursday morning but did indicate that Reinsdorf may want Guillen for the job.

No guarantees that @OzzieGuillen won’t get the #WhiteSox job, I think the owner wants him. But again my opinion is odd choice says @JonHeyman

Listen https://t.co/QNqhdQR7By pic.twitter.com/rmbVrSZApP

— Mully And Haugh (@mullyhaugh) October 27, 2022

Ozzie Guillen is gaining steam to become the manager of the Chicago White Sox.

If Guillen does become the White Sox manager, this would mark the second consecutive. managerial hire in which the final decision was made by the owner and not the general manager.

Reinsdorf wanted to correct a previous wrong in 2020 when he hired Tony La Russa despite general manager Rick Hahn wanting AJ Hinch, and he could have a similar idea in mind with the preference for Guillen to return to the White Sox organization as the team’s manager.

Guillen would be an interesting choice for the White Sox considering another hire where the organization opted to go with a familiar face as opposed to a candidate in Espada that clearly has a future in baseball as a manager.

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White Sox rumors: Ozzie Guillen gaining steam in manager searchJordan Campbellon October 27, 2022 at 5:20 pm Read More »

Fantasy basketball tips and NBA betting picks for Thursdayon October 27, 2022 at 5:47 pm

Christian Wood has provided a spark to a Mavericks team that has started the 2022-23 season hot and faces a struggling Nets team on Thursday night. AP Photo/Tony Gutierre

1:00 PM ET

ESPN’s fantasy basketball and basketball betting tips cheat sheet is your pregame destination for basketball betting predictions and our best intel and data to help you make smart fantasy and wagering decisions. NBA game odds for October 27 are provided by Caesars Sportsbook, and fantasy advice is based on ESPN 10-team leagues.

What you need to know for Thursday’s games

Fatigue?: The Nets were 3-11 outright (5-9 ATS) on the second night of back-to-backs a season ago and are in their first such spot this season tonight- (they have two more over the next 17 days). Under tickets cashed in nine of those 14 games and the Nets team total was a worthwhile target (106.9 PPG). It’s early, but Kevin Durant has as many turnovers this season as assists and has yet to shoot better than 33.3% from deep in a game.

Giddey for Mann: Josh Giddey (ankle) will miss his second consecutive game and that sound you hear is the elation of Tre Mann‘s fantasy managers (or savvy prop bettors). On Tuesday against the Clippers, Mann fired 24 times from the field in his 36 minutes, a per minute shot rate that was 54.9% greater than his three games to open this season. The Clips have allowed at least 108 points in three straight games, so if the Thunder can continue to push the pace like they have thus far, Mann could be in for another high usage evening.

Checking The Temperature: Jordan Poole entered this season with a reputation as an instant offense type of player that could fill it up in a hurry. That’s still true, but he’s quietly added play-making to his bag of tricks, something roto fantasy managers and prop bettors alike have to be loving. The 23-year-old is averaging an assist for every two shots taken this season, nearly double his career rate entering this season. Does it sustain? Tough to say, but we will get a good look at if these gains are real tonight against a Heat team that is top-10 in defensive efficiency since the beginning of last season.

Stackramento: The winless Kings host the surging Grizzlies in Sacramento this evening in a contest that claims the highest total of the slate (236.5). Memphis ranks sixth in offensive rating, but also last in offensive rating thanks to getting drubbed by Dallas last weekend. The Kings, meanwhile, are sixth in pace and 21st in defensive rating, adding even more possessions to this fantasy-friendly setup. Stacking DFS lineups with both of these defensively-deficient rosters makes some sense amid a four-game slate. With Ja Morant, Domantas Sabonis, and De’Aaron Fox as high-ceiling building blocks, complementary shares of Keegan Murray, Kevin Huerter, Desmond Bane, and even Santi Aldama could prove rewarding. For those seeking some streaming options, Huerter (53% available in ESPN leagues) has seen his 3-point volume leap by 48.2% since last season with Atlanta, while Aldama (76%) is playing heavy minutes and producing a nice blend of blocks and boards for the Grizzlies.

— Jim McCormick and Kyle Soppe

Game of the night

Dallas Mavericks at Brooklyn Nets7:30 p.m. ET, Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York

Line: Nets (-2.5)Money line: Mavericks (-145), Nets (+122)Total: 225 pointsBPI Projected Total: 233.6 pointsBPI Win%: Mavericks (58.7%)

Questionable: Tim Hardaway Jr. (foot), Markieff Morris (personal)Ruled out: Seth Curry (ankle), Davis Bertans (knee), Frank Ntilikina (ankle)Note: BPI numbers factored in players who are ruled out but assumes questionable players will play

Fantasy streamer: Royce O’Neale (available in 80.5% of leagues) is making a consistent 3-and-D impact. He’s averaging 3.5 combined steals and blocks per game, plus 2.3 3-pointers per game, and has at least two stocks and a 3-pointer in every game this season. — Andr? Snellings

2 Related

Best Bet: Christian Wood over 18.5 points. The Mavericks’ offense rests almost solely on Luka Doncic, Christian Wood and Spencer Dinwiddie. Betting the over-stack (e.g. over points on all three of them) has been successful so far this season, but for Wood specifically, it doesn’t appear that Vegas has caught up to his role with his new team. In three games thus far, he’s scored 25, 25 and 23 points; he’s getting plenty of shots as the primary option in the second unit and main scoring lieutenant when Luka is on the court. — Snellings

Breaking down the rest of the slate

LA Clippers at Oklahoma City Thunder8:00 p.m ET, Paycom Center, Oklahoma City

Line: Clippers (-6)Money line: Clippers (-250), Thunder (+205)Total: 218.5 pointsBPI Projected Total: 222.7 pointsBPI Win%: Clippers (58%)

Questionable: Paul George (illness)Ruled out: Kawhi Leonard (knee), Marcus Morris Sr. (personal), Josh Giddey (ankle), Jalen Williams (eye)Note: BPI numbers factored in players who are ruled out but assumes questionable players will play

Best bet: Clippers -6. In the first game of a back-to-back set, the Clippers lost to the Thunder. However, Los Angeles was without Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Leonard, who has stiffness in his knee, has already been ruled out. While George is questionable with an illness for tonight’s game, there is a strong chance he will play. The Clippers do not want to lose consecutive games to the Thunder. My bet is on Los Angeles to cover. The Thunder aren’t a strong offensive team ranking 27th in points scored per 100 possessions played. This season, Oklahoma City allows opponents to have an effective field goal percentage of 54.1%. — Eric Moody

Memphis Grizzlies at Sacramento Kings10 p.m. ET, Golden One Center, Sacramento, California

Line: Grizzlies (-3)Money line: Grizzlies (-165), Kings (+140)Total: 237 pointsBPI Projected Total: 236.6 pointsBPI Win%: Grizzlies (52.5%)

Questionable: John Konchar (shoulder)Ruled out: Ziaire Williams (knee)Note: BPI numbers factored in players who are ruled out but assumes questionable players will play

Fantasy streamer: Santi Aldama (rostered in 23.2%) is a great streamer against the Kings. He’s averaged 12.8 PPG, 7.5 RPG and 1.3 BPG in 30.8 MPG this season and scored 30 or more fantasy points in three out of four games. The Kings rank 22nd in points allowed per 100 possessions, which also helps the cause. — Eric Moody

Best bet: Keegan Murray over 16.5 points. Murray has averaged 17.5 PPG in his first two NBA games, coming off the bench but getting plenty of minutes. He’s moving into the starting lineup on Thursday, and while his minutes can’t realistically get much higher, this vote of confidence also gets him out on the court with playmakers that can get him more open looks. Murray showed me in the Las Vegas Summer League that he’s ready to be a professional scorer in the NBA right now, and he has a quickness advantage on Santi Aldama that should allow him to be aggressive as a scorer in his first start. — Snellings

Miami Heat at Golden State Warriors10:00 p.m ET, Chase Center, San Francisco

Line: Warriors (-6.5)Money line: Warriors (-260), Heat (+210)Total: 227 pointsBPI Projected Total: 227.9 pointsBPI Win%: Warriors (67.7%)

Ruled out: Andre Iguodala (hip), Donte DiVincenzo (hamstring), Omer Yurtseven (ankle), Victor Oladipo (knee)Note: BPI numbers factored in players who are ruled out but assumes questionable players will play

Fantasy streamer: James Wiseman (available in 65.4% of leagues) has proven than he can produce efficiently even in limited minutes off the bench. Wiseman has scored in double figures in three straight games, and is averaging 11.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG and 0.8 BPG in 17.8 MPG on the season. As part of the second unit, he should also pretty much avoid Bam Adebayo, and Wiseman’s physical tools should allow him to get the better of Dewayne Dedmon and the otherwise undersized Heat frontline. — Snellings

Best bet: Andrew Wiggins over 25.5 points + assists + rebounds. This season, Wiggins averages 20.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.8 APG, 2.0 SPG, and 1.3 BPG in 32.3 MPG. For the season, he has a usage rate of 21.7% and faces a Heat defense that has been torched by small forwards. Miami has allowed 28.3 PPG, 4.05 APG and 8.7 RPG to the position. — Eric Moody

Analytics Edge

BPI’s highest projected totals

1. Memphis Grizzlies (118.7 points)2. Dallas Mavericks (118.0 points)3. Sacramento Kings (117.9 points)

BPI’s lowest projected totals

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (110.2 points)2. Miami Heat (111.6 points)3. Brooklyn Nets (115.6 points)

BPI top probability to win (straight up)

1. Golden State Warriors (66.7%)2. Dallas Mavericks (58.7%)3. LA Clippers (58.0%)

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Fantasy basketball tips and NBA betting picks for Thursdayon October 27, 2022 at 5:47 pm Read More »

Can the Bears get past Micah Parsons and this Dallas D?

The Bears (3-4) come into the game on Sunday vs the Cowboys (5-2) hoping to win back to back road games for the first time since 2020 while the Cowboys are trying to move up the standings in the competitive NFC East.  Here is a position by position breakdown of the Cowboys:

Quarterback: Dak Prescott just made his return last week as the starter vs the Lions after injuring his thumb in the season opener against the Buccaneers. During his absence, Cooper Rush was the starting quarterback and guided the Cowboys to a record of 4-1 during his starts. The offense only averaged 20.2 points per game and Rush served mostly as a game manager on offense.

During the game vs the Lions, the Cowboys rushed the ball a season-high 32 times which could have been a way to ease Prescott back from his injury. The Bears should be prepared for the Cowboys open up the playbook now with Prescott back as the starting quarterback and making his third start of the season.

Running Back: The Cowboys have one of the best running backs combos in the league with Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard. Elliott has gotten a slight majority of the snaps this season but is only averaging 63.3 rushing yards per game which is the 2nd lowest in his career.

Pollard so far this season has had career highs in rushing yards per game and is averaging 5.6 yards per rush. In the game on Sunday against the Lions,  he had 83 yards rushing on 12 carries which lead the Cowboys. Pollard has had five of the six longest rushes this season for the Cowboys and has been the more explosive running back this year for the Cowboys. 

Pollard will be a unrestricted free-agent after this season and will be a sought after player this offseason. The run game will be a focus for the Bears as they look to continue to their impressive run defense from Monday.

Offensive Line: Coming into the season, the offensive line was facing a lot of changes from last season. Tackle La’El Collins signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in the off season and guard Connor Williams signed with the Dolphins both players were starters for the Cowboys last season. Then, left tackle and possible future Hall of Famer Tyron Smith suffered an injury in the pre season and has still not returned back to the lineup.

However, the Cowboys replaced Smith place on the line with rookie Tyler Smith who was drafted to play guard but was moved out to left tackle and has only allowed 4 sacks this season and has been helpful for the Cowboys until the return of Tyron Smith which owner and general manager Jerry Jones expects later this season.

Currently, the Cowboys ranked eighth in ESPN run block rate in the league. The Bears have only faced one other team this season that is currently in the top 10 in run block rate and that was the Vikings who the Bears gave up 117 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns.  Also, the Cowboys have allowed the fifth fewest sacks this season. The Bears need to be prepared for this offensive line to impose their will on them during the game on Sunday.

Wide Receivers: Like the offensive line, this group also changed from the previous season with Amari Cooper being traded to Cleveland and Cedrick Wilson leaving via free agency to sign with the Miami Dolphins. The duo had a combined 113 catches, 1,467 yards and 14 receiving touchdowns. In addition to the loss of Cooper and Wilson, projected starter Michael Gallup got hurt in the preseason missed the first three games of the season.

This group has struggled to make an impact which I think is due to the fact that Prescott missed some time and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore limiting the amount of passes for Rush. This year, was expected to be a breakout season for Cee Dee Lamb but he has not lived up to the hype. He currently ranks 16th in receptions and 14th in yards in the league and has yet to have a 100 yard receiving game. Lamb had only six targets vs the Lions which was a season low.

With Gallup missing time, the second leading receiver has been Noah Brown. Prior to this season, Brown had not started more than one game but this year given the opportunity he leads the team in yards per reception and is second on the team in receptions. If the Cowboys expect to be playing deep in January, someone is this group is going to need to emerge.

Tight Ends: Dalton Schultz was the starter going into this season looking to secure a long-term deal with the Cowboys however the two sides were unable to come to an agreement. Schultz agreed to a franchise tag and will be one of the free agents the Cowboys will have to make a decision about for next season.

He has missed two games this season with an injury to his knee but in the games he has played he has only had 129 receiving yards and needs to get to on-track to provide a receiving threat for this offense. His backup Peyton Hendershot has stepped in and has contributed 7 catches for 70 yards and one receiving touchdown.

The Bears have allowed the fifth fewest yards to tight ends this year and will need to be aware of Schultz as he is coming back from injury.

Defensive Line: The Cowboys have a league leading 29 sacks this season and the defensive lineman have 17 of those sacks. The defensive linemen that has caused the most havoc this season has been Dorance Armstrong Jr. Armstrong currently has six sacks which is tied for second in the league among defensive linemen. Prior to this season, Armstrong Jr. season-high in sacks was five. Opposing offensive linemen can’t just focus on Armstrong Jr, because at least six other defensive lineman have recorded sacks as well.

The Cowboys forced four fumbles in the game vs the Lions and the defensive line forced two of those fumbles. The defensive line has been great against the run as well only allowing one running back to have more than 100 yards rushing against them.

Justin Fields will be under constant distress on Sunday and the offensive line will have to deal with Armstrong and company on Sunday if they plan to win this game.

Linebackers: There is only one person to talk about in this group and that is linebacker Micah Parsons. Parsons, who won the defensive rookie of the year last year is the heavy favorite to win the Defensive Player of the Year this season. Parsons is tied for second in sacks, fifth in quarterback sacks, third in forced fumbles and has the highest pass rush win rate this season according to ESPN. Parsons is a dynamic pass rusher and one of the best defensive playmakers in the league.

Last week, the Bears did not do a good job of dealing with the Patriots linebacker Matt Judon as he recorded 2.5 sacks and three quarterback hits. The Bears first priority on offense is to find Parsons and make sure they keep him away from Bears quarterback Justin Fields.

Secondary: The Cowboys are tied for the fourth most interceptions in the league this season with seven and have given up 185 yards per game which is also the fourth fewest in the league. The player that gets the most recognition for his cover skills in the secondary is Trevon Diggs. Diggs lead the league in interceptions last year with 11, but he also lead the league in yards allowed last year and penalties which is due to the his aggressive playstyle. This year, quarterbacks are completing 60% of their passes on him and is second in passes defended this season.

The secondary has only allowed one receiver to have more than 80 yards this season and have only 4 receptions over 40 yards this season. A team like the Bears that struggles to make passes will have difficulty making passes versus this secondary.

Kicker/Special Teams: Kicker Brett Maher has made made 15 out of 17 field goals this year and had a game-winner vs the Bengals in week 2. He is third in made field goals this season and is having a great year kicking. Punter Bryan Anger ranks 19th in punt yardage this season so it is possible the Bears could be given some decent field position in the game.

Kickoff and Punt Returner KaVontae Turpin ranks third in punt return yardage and fifth in kick return yardage this season. The Bears rank near the bottom of the league in return yards this season and will need to have their full attention to speedster like Turpin.

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MAGA flip-flops

Men from Blago to Bolduc are trying to sing a new song.

by Ben Joravsky
October 6, 2022October 6, 2022


Just like we told you

The Bears finally make their play for public money to build their private stadium.

by Ben Joravsky
September 24, 2022September 29, 2022


The choice is yours, voters

MAGA’s Illinois Supreme Court nominees are poised to outlaw abortion in Illinois—if, gulp, they win.

by Ben Joravsky
September 9, 2022September 9, 2022

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Listen to The Ben Joravsky ShowBen Joravskyon October 27, 2022 at 7:01 am

Reader senior writer Ben Joravsky riffs on the day’s stories with his celebrated humor, insight, and honesty, and interviews politicians, activists, journalists and other political know-it-alls. Presented by the Chicago Reader, the show is available by 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays at chicagoreader.com/joravsky—or wherever you get your podcasts. Don’t miss Oh, What a Week!–the Friday feature in which Ben & producer Dennis (aka, Dr. D.) review the week’s top stories. Also, bonus interviews drop on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays. 

Chicago Reader podcasts are recorded on Shure microphones. Learn more at Shure.com.

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Chicago Reader senior writer Ben Joravsky discusses the day’s stories with his celebrated humor, insight, and honesty on The Ben Joravsky Show.


MAGA flip-flops

Men from Blago to Bolduc are trying to sing a new song.

by Ben Joravsky
October 6, 2022October 6, 2022


Just like we told you

The Bears finally make their play for public money to build their private stadium.

by Ben Joravsky
September 24, 2022September 29, 2022


The choice is yours, voters

MAGA’s Illinois Supreme Court nominees are poised to outlaw abortion in Illinois—if, gulp, they win.

by Ben Joravsky
September 9, 2022September 9, 2022

Read More

Listen to The Ben Joravsky ShowBen Joravskyon October 27, 2022 at 7:01 am Read More »

Luminous storytellingJack Helbigon October 27, 2022 at 3:24 pm

Siena Marilyn Ledger’s brand-new two-person play, being produced here with 16th Street Theater and Dragonfly Theatre as part of the National New Play Network rolling world premiere program, is based on a deceptively simple premise. Luna, a quirky and precocious tween whose mother is undergoing cancer treatment, befriends Aaron, another cancer patient, also in the midst of a gender transition, undergoing treatment at the same clinic. In the wrong hands such a premise could be painfully sentimental or, worse, deadly dull. But Ledger is too clever a writer to fall into either trap. Their characters are fresh and interesting, and the story that unfolds in this tight, intermissionless 90-minute play is absorbing without being forced or unreal.

Man and Moon Through 11/13: Thu-Fri 8 PM, Sat 4 and 8 PM, Sun 2 PM; no performance Thu 11/3; Madison Street Theater, 1010 Madison, Forest Park, 708-795-6704, 16thstreettheater.org, $25 (virtual performances $10)

It helps that the lead actors—indeed, the play’s only actors—Clare Wols and Peter Danger Wilde work so well together. Over the course of the play we see these two grow together as they face the harsh realities of their lives. (Though we never see Luna’s mother, we come to realize just how desperately ill she is.) Under Hayley Procacci’s direction, Wols and Wilde deliver the kind of performances that grab an audience from the get-go, and never let us go. Wols in particular brings a remarkable energy, intelligence, and depth to her part. In lesser hands this role could have been played as a mere middle-school version of manic pixie dream girl—the eccentric free spirit who teaches another character to love life again—but 12-year-old Wols possesses acting chops way beyond her years.

Editor’s note: On Tuesday, October 25, the board of 16th Street Theater announced that they were shuttering operations at the end of the year. Man and Moon is the last full production they will be offering.

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Luminous storytellingJack Helbigon October 27, 2022 at 3:24 pm Read More »

Democracy under siegeAlbert Williamson October 27, 2022 at 3:40 pm

Invictus Theatre Company delivers a solid, sometimes stirring, and strikingly relevant rendition of William Shakespeare’s 1599 tragedy. It’s the story of Marcus Brutus (played by Invictus artistic director Charles Askenaizer, who also directed), a well-intentioned aristocrat in the waning days of the ancient Roman Republic, who joins a plot by his fellow senators to assassinate the political and military leader Julius Caesar (Chuck Munro), who Brutus fears is becoming a tyrant. Rather than calming Rome’s political polarization, the murder backfires when Caesar’s loyal friend, Marc Antony (Mikha’el Amin), rouses the people’s rage against the self-proclaimed “liberators” with an impassioned funeral oration. Mob violence escalates into civil war; the result, after all the blood is shed, is the establishment of the very imperial system of government that Brutus kills—and dies—trying to prevent.

Julius Caesar Through 11/20: Mon, Thu-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, Reginald Vaughn Theater, 1106 W. Thorndale, invictustheatreco.com, $35 (seniors and students with valid ID $30)

The 16 non-Equity actors in this intimate storefront staging mostly handle the dense, rigorously rhythmic text skillfully, bringing both clarity and musicality to the long-phrased verse. Particularly good are Askenaizer as Brutus, Daniel Houle and Joseph Beal as his coconspirators Cassius and Casca, and John Chambers as Caesar’s nephew and heir Octavius, shrewdly allying himself with Antony in order to position himself to become the first Emperor of Rome.

With the U.S. Capitol insurrection of January 6, 2021, clearly in mind, this three-hour modern-dress production features “Hail to the Chief” played when Caesar enters and people chanting “Lock them up!” and waving the star-spangled banner and a “Don’t Tread on Me” flag. Sometimes (especially at the end), this directorial commentary gets a little too obvious, to the detriment of the drama—but I won’t challenge the accuracy of the analogy between the dangerous demagogic politics of 44 B.C. and 2022 A.D. The tragedy of Julius Caesar is not just Caesar’s or Brutus’s, but democracy’s, and we ignore that at our peril.

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Democracy under siegeAlbert Williamson October 27, 2022 at 3:40 pm Read More »