The Chicago Bears find themselves 4-2 on the season and pushing to make the playoffs. This is fantastic for a team that is installing a new offense with a rookie quarterback. I don't care how bad the teams are that they have played up to this point, this is exactly what we were hoping for to start the 2024 season. The only problem is that the rest of the NFC North is also playing at a high level.
With the team's current record, the Bears would be leading or tied for first in five out of eight divisions. Instead, they are in the NFC North and find themselves tied for last. Hopefully, the team will keep up with its recent surge and put some more wins together after the bye week. The back half of the season is going to be what separates the division. None of it will be easy, but Bears fans should be excited nonetheless.
Having the bye week this early seems like it could hurt the Bears in the end. The team is relatively healthy compared to most teams, but hopefully, they get back two, if not all three of their defensive backs. Jaquan Brisker (concussion) and Tyrique Stevenson (ankle) missed the London game. Then Kyler Gordon left the game early with a hamstring injury. Chicago faces Washington in a rookie QB showdown in Week 8 and having their defensive backfield intact could be very beneficial.
With less to talk about this week, it is always fun to hear random topics you might not hear during a normal week. That is what we got from Cole Kmet this week when he joined The Stretch Podcast. On this episode, the guys asked Kmet who the biggest trash talker was on the Chicago Bears roster. It took Kmet a few minutes as he noted the team doesn't really have many true trash-talkers. However, then a lightbulb went off.
Doug Kramer is the biggest trash talker on the Chicago Bears
At first, this is a little hard to believe. However, then you realize that the guys who usually play center, as Doug Kramer does, are a little crazy and run their mouths. Just look at Olin Kreutz when he played. Kramer is seeing the field more as Shane Waldron uses him in their "jumbo" personnel package both on the line and also as a fullback. According to Kmet, Kramer even talks smack on field goals.
"I am next to him on field goals and he will be in dudes faces after just a field goal. Like stuff I am uncomfortable saying. I will not even say on here. Like he is saying some crazy a** s**t to the guy across from him."Cole Kmet
Hearing these types of stories always makes me laugh. Hopefully, Doug Kramer will continue to make an impact when needed, but his days might be numbered as Larry Borom and Ryan Bates are likely returning to the active roster very soon.