The Bears have some advantages at several position groups. Here is an analysis of the Texans by position group:

Quarterbacks: Davis Mills is the starter for the Texans and is starting his 13th game of his career. The third-round pick out of Stanford has had moments so far in his NFL career such as in 2021 when he went 21 for 27 and threw for two touchdowns in a 41-27 win over the Chargers but he has also had moments last year when he passed for 135 yards in a lost to the Cardinals who defense last year will not be confused for the 1985 Bears.The Texans have two first-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft and could be looking to upgrade the position with the group of talented college quarterbacks expected to be in the draft depending on the performance of Mills this year. Mills performance is definitely be evaluated by the Texans front office to see if he is quarterback that can help bring some winning ways to Houston.

Running Backs: Dameon Pierce, a rookie out of Florida is the starter at running back after having an impressive training camp and preseason. He did not see many snaps in the Texans first game vs Colts however he received the majority of snaps in the week 2 loss to the Broncos and averaged 4.6 yards per attempt.Veteran running back Rex Burkhead is also receiving carries but the clear starter is Pierce and I would look for him to be used early and often against the Bears team that just surrendered 193 rushing yards to Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon on Sunday.

Offensive Line: Last year, this unit allowed 44 sacks and was ranked last in run blocking win rate according to ESPN. Some of that performance was because the absence of left tackle Laremy Tunsil last year who had an injury-plagued 2021 season and missed 12 games. The Texans drafted guard Kenyon Green in the first round of the NFL Draft to address their issues with the interior offensive line. This year, the team is dealing with the absence of center Justin Britt who is dealing with some personal issues and has yet to suit up for the team however Scott Quessenberry has stepped in during Britt’s absence. The Texans have showed some small progress this year with only allowing six sacks in 9 quarters of football which ranks near the middle of the league. The Bears have to more disruptive than they were against the Packers on Sunday to win this game.

Wide Receivers: This group is lead by Brandin Cooks who has topped 1,000 yards in six of his nine seasons in the NFL and is the main playmaker for this group. The rest of the wide receivers are pretty pedestrian and last year outside of Cooks had 1,403 yards and 9 receiving touchdowns combined. It is one of the worst wide receiver groups in the league and the Bears secondary should be able to impose their will on this group.

Tight Ends: This tight end group is underwhelming as well and poses little threat as blockers or pass catchers. Currently, OJ Howard who was signed in free agency this season leads the Texans in receiving touchdowns but has just 45 yards total receiving this year. Pharoah Brown also gets snaps as well at tight end and is considered the better blocker between the two tight ends.

Defensive Line: The Texans ranked near the bottom of the league in sacks and tackle for loss in 2021 however veteran defensive end Jerry Hughes who the Texans signed as a free agent is causing a lot of disruption as has collected two sacks and a forced a fumble already this season. This unit has gotten off to a great start and if the Bears plan to win on Sunday they will neutralize this unit.

Linebackers: Pro Football Focus ranked this position group next to last in 2021. Last year, this linebacker core struggled to stop the run and gave up 4.6 yard per carry and gave up the 2nd most rushing touchdowns in the league. This year, they have given up over 200 yards rushing and close to 4 yards per carry. David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert should have no problem running against this group.

Secondary: The Texans invested a first-round draft pick in the 2022 NFL Draft (Derek Stingley Jr) and a second round draft pick (Jalen Pitre) and added some veteran cornerbacks in free agency. So far the group, has been very resilient and leads the league in passes defended and has only allowed two touchdown passes this year.  A key battle to watch is the rookie Stingley  against the Bears number one wide receiver Darnell Mooney who only had one catch vs the Packers for 4 yards vs the Packers on Sunday.

Special Teams: Kicker Ka’imi Fairburn has made all of his extra points and field goal attempts this season. Fairburn has been one of the most accurate kickers in the league and is typically near the top of the league in field goal made. Punter Cameron Johnson leads the league with most punts which aligns with how dreadful this offense has been.

Overall, I think the Texans are a better team than last year and they should get better as the season goes on. Some of the pieces to get this team to a respectable level especially the talented rookies such as Dameon Pierce and Derek Stingley Jr. Let’s see if the Bears can have their way with this young team before going back on the road and facing the New York Giants in Week 4.

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Roquan Smith has had a rough start to the 2022 season

Chicago Bears All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith has had a slow start to the season. Smith held out during the beginning of Bears training camp while trying to negotiate a new contract extension. He returned to practice with the Bears on August 20th. Smith didn’t play in any of the team’s preseason games.

His absence from practice and exhibition games appears to put Smith behind the curve in the Bears’ new defense. Smith has done ok tackling this season, as he’s accumulated 12 tackles through his first two games. But none of those tackles have been for a loss. Most of them have come way beyond the line of scrimmage. Those numbers are not suitable for Smith, who was compared to Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis for having similar numbers in the TFL category.

PFF grades are not kind to Smith

Roquan Smith hasn’t done much in the turnover department to speak of. No forced fumbles or interceptions have come from Smith this season. On Sunday, Smith seemed to have trouble with the Packers running game. Smith was taken out of a play, where he could have stopped a touchdown, by a running back, A.J Dillion:

His efforts have reflected poorly on the stat sheet in the first two weeks. According to PFF, Smith has the lowest overall grade on the Bears’ defense this season. His overall defense is rated 29.3, and Smith has been ranked as the team’s worst player in coverage. Smith’s run defense is rated in the low 40s.

Head coach Matt Eberflus said in his press conference Monday that Smith played solid in Week 2.

I wonder what game he was watching.

Smith is in a contract year

Roquan Smith will need to elevate his game if he wants a better contract in future negotiations. Smith said he’d bet on himself when he returned to training camp. It’s been rough terrain since. The Bears need Smith to play better if they want a chance to slide into a Wild Card spot this season.

The way he’s started makes it difficult for the Bears to sign him for a long-term deal in the future. Smith has been seen to be a vocal leader before games, but his play on the field is not something his peers should model after the first two weeks.

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Surveillance video released Tuesday shows two Chicago police officers opening fire from their unmarked car last July, a shooting that has resulted in criminal charges against them both.

The video is among materials and records released by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability as it investigates the shooting that wounded two unarmed men in Pilsen on July 22.

The release comes four days after Sgt. Christopher Liakopoulos and Officer Ruben Reynoso were hit with felony charges, and just a day after a Cook County judge refused to block COPA from making the videos public.

The only video that captures the shooting shows the officers’ gray Ford Fusion reversing as a group of people linger on a sidewalk in the 1000 block of West 18th Street. Two from the group then walk into the street toward the car, and one of them, Miguel Medina, holds a hand up in the officers’ direction.

Medina is shot almost immediately and knocked to the ground. Reynoso and Liakopoulos then jump out of the car and begin firing toward someone out of frame — apparently a 17-year-old boy who prosecutors said ran off and started firing at the cops.

As Liakopoulos gives chase, Reynoso stays by the car while Medina lies on the street. Neither officer appears to administer aid.

One person appears to check on Medina, followed by a second who runs up as the two officers stand near him. The video ends shortly after three police SUVs and a firetruck arrive and a crowd gathers around Medina.

The video has no sound. But other videos that don’t capture the shooting include the sound of gunfire and the initial distress call broadcast over police radio.

“Hey, do you need medical?” one person is later heard saying as someone else cries out in the background. “Hey, do you need first aid?”

Medina, 23, was shot in the lower back and right leg, according to an incident report included in the release. An arrest report notes he was taken into custody for aggravated assault of an officer, but was eventually released because the evidence was insufficient.

Reached by phone last week, Medina said the officers “shot me for no reason. Once the video is released, it will show what happened.” Attorneys for Medina said they have filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging false arrest and excessive force.

Because the 17-year-old is a minor, COPA spokesman Ephraim Eaddy said the agency wasn’t making public video that shows him. The officers’ attorneys unsuccessfully sought to block COPA from releasing anything, arguing that the disclosure would show only “half” of the incident.

The video is central to the case against the officers and allegedly runs counter to the narrative initially put forth by police brass.

Chicago Police Supt. David Brown initially told reporters that a gunman “shot first.” But on Monday, he agreed with the state’s attorney’s office that video evidence disproved the early claim that “there was an initial exchange of gunfire.”

Liakopoulos, 43, and Reynoso, 42, both face up to 30 years in prison on charges of aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm and official misconduct. They were released on bond Friday and have been stripped of their police powers.

At a news conference announcing the charges last Friday, State’s Attorney Kim Foxx said the video shows the officers lied when they claimed they shot back after first being fired upon.

In tactical response reports released Tuesday, both officers made that false claim. Both marked boxes showing that an “offender” fired the first shot. Liakopoulos also marked a box in his report indicating they were “ambushed [with] no warning.”

Assigned to the Major Accidents Unit, the officers were wearing plainclothes and were driving to a training course when they stopped to investigate a group of people that morning, Assistant State’s Attorney Alyssa Janicki said during their bail hearing. Neither was wearing a body-worn camera.

Medina and the teenager, a satchel across the front of his body, approached the officers, according to Janicki, who said Medina was holding a wine bottle and cellphone in one hand.

As Medina was standing at the passenger side of the squad car and showing his hands, Reynoso pointed a gun from the window, Janicki said. Liakopoulos also grabbed his gun, leaning across Reynoso as they both fired at Medina, leaving him seriously wounded.

The 17-year-old ran off, grabbed a gun from his bag and began firing at the officers, who returned fire, Janicki said.

A document released by COPA provides new details about an innocent bystander wounded during the exchange. The 36-year-old man said he was walking back from a gym with his friend on 18th Street when he saw three men on the other side of the street, one of them waving a bottle, before gunfire erupted.

As he and his friend ran away, he was shot in his leg and collapsed, the report states. Someone driving past offered to drive him to someone’s house. From there, his friend drove him and his wife to Rush University Medical Center.

When police sought to charge the teenager with attempted murder, Liakopoulos and Reynoso both claimed he shot first, Janicki said. But in a subsequent interview with the state’s attorney’s office, the officers said they didn’t know who fired first but claimed the young man pointed a gun at them before they shot at Medina.

Reynoso’s attorney, Brian Sexton, contended that during the exchange of gunfire, Reynoso was focused on the 17-year-old with the gun and never shot in the direction of Medina.

As for his client’s conflicting statements, Sexton argued that he misremembered the “traumatic, stressful event.” Once Reynoso was able to watch the video, Sexton said, he told COPA and the state’s attorney’s office he “just didn’t remember” the shooting.

Sexton said prosecutors had “dropped” charges against the boy, but Foxx said Friday the case was still under investigation.

Liakopoulos’ attorney, Tim Grace, asked the court to focus on whether the officers’ actions were “objectively reasonable.” Grace noted they were on-duty when they were “confronted by an armed assailant who points a gun at them and eventually fires at them.”

“We don’t use 20/20 hindsight, we don’t second-guess, we don’t slow down video like the state’s attorney’s office does,” Grace said.

He said he expected COPA to release only “half the video,” indicating the agency wouldn’t make public surveillance footage showing the 17-year-old firing a gun. He asked Judge Maryam Ahmad to stop the release, but she referred the request to a hearing before Judge Mary Marubio on Monday.

There, the attorneys warned the incomplete video could bias prospective jurors. While the video would show the officers opening fire, Sexton said, it wouldn’t show the teen “dropping into a two-point stance and firing at two police officers.”

Marubio, however, declined to keep the video under wraps.

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Teven Jenkins is quickly becoming the Chicago Bears’ best offensive lineman after a tumultuous preseason.

If Teven Jenkins needed to be motivated to reach his full potential this off-season, it seems to have worked in a big way.  Jenkins is quickly establishing himself as the best offensive lineman on the Bears’ roster and may be among the best guards in the league before the season’s end.

Teven Jenkins is an absolute force in the run game.  He moves bodies out of the way and plays through the echo of the whistle on every snap.  There just seems to be a lot of joy in the job he does absolutely destroying defenders in front of him.

Every game there’s Teven Jenkins, locking onto them and driving them 10 yards down the field, or completely pancaking them in the run game.  He just has a unique ability to gain leverage and use his natural strength to drive block defenders.

If you haven’t watched his highlights, you should be because watching him will make you giddy as a Bears fan.  He’s just a nasty man that has a highlight reel block seemingly every time he’s out there.

Which begs the question, why is he still splitting reps with Lucas Patrick?  The more reps Teven Jenkins gets, the better player he’ll become.  Some players are just happy doing their job, whereas Jenkins is happy walking guys off the field and depositing them into the stands.

He sets the tone for the entire offensive line and represents the future of what the offensive line should be.  Whatever issues existed between him, the front office and/or coaching staff should be put to rest.  Jenkins just has a unique ability that very few offensive lineman have, and more than anything he’s so much fun to watch.

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It has become somewhat customary for four-time Grammy Award winner Keith Urban to spend a portion of his live show standing among his loyal legion of fans.

And he has the battle wounds to prove it.

“There are nights when I come home and I’ve got these big fingernail scratches across the front of my chest,” Urban says during a recent chat before his Chicago tour stop. “I’m grateful that my wife (Nicole Kidman) knows what I do for a living.”

The 54-year-old New Zealand-born Australian lets out a laugh, going on to say that Kidman is quite supportive of his decision to stand face-to-face with his throngs of fans.

“I move quickly through,” continues Urban. “I love dismantling the sort of ‘me and you’ vibe and just become us.”

Urban says his decision to walk freely within a crowd of thousands requires “a whole bunch of trust” between himself and his fans. But it is those same fans that have propelled Urban’s successful career and vibrant live show.

“Before COVID hit and afterwards, the fans have always brought the energy and heart to our concert,” says Urban. The current tour is his first in four years. “They literally are half the thing that makes [the show] work or not work. So, the fact that they bring it every night on this tour is amazing.”

What also sets Urban apart from some of his country music counterparts is his reluctance to airhis political and social opinions, choosing instead to hold them close to his tattooed chest.

“I feel like it’s a difficult time for everybody [who’s] trying to be a bridge builder,” says the country music hitmaker with 18 No 1 hits under his belt including “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” “Long Hot Summer” and “You Gonna Fly.”

“I’m a bridge builder. That’s what I was born to be. It’s not about not having an opinion. It’s about recognizing we have different opinions. And those probably won’t change. And my job is not to change anybody’s opinion. It’s just to find the things we do have in common and where does that exist? And let’s stay in that place for a couple of hours. That’s all I’m asking.”

He draws in a deep breath.

“The world is changing based on these algorithms that put us in these little chambers of reality, based on what we tend to like and believe in,” says Urban, whose latest single “Brown Eyes Baby” currently finds itself on its way to the top of the country music charts. “I get the opportunity every night for two plus hours to bring many people together that might be completely polar opposites politically or religiously or socially, in every way possible. And yet they come together [for this shared experience], and everything is as one, and we sing, and we dance, and we celebrate life. …

I want to get away from all my troubles, all my stresses and worries, and my life. I want to lose myself in some other reality for one night. That’s the environment that I try and create for everybody.”

He can’t wait to create that environment for his Chicago fans.

“I’ve always loved playing Chicago and I don’t know if it’s just the lake or what,” he laughs. “Something brings a vibe out in people that’s quite open and receptive. And I think there’s something about the city, too. It’s got a really high bulls- – – meter. It recognizes it in a nanosecond. That’s why I’ve always loved going there. I love those kinds of people.”

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