Thankfully, there is hope.
Regular-season football game final score, Monday, Nov. 27: Visiting Chicago Bears, 12, host, Minnesota Vikings, 10.
The Bears improved to 4-8 in the NFC North, however, remain in last place in the four-team National Football Conference North Division. In order, the standings: Detroit Lions, 8-3; Vikings, 6-5; Green Bay Packers, 5-6; Bears, 4-8. Following the Bears’ bye week, the Bears will play the third of three consecutive NFC North games, home, noon, Sunday, Dec. 10 against Detroit. In the first of three in the North Division, the Bears squandered a good lead and lost to host Detroit, 31-26, then beat the Vikings Monday this week, 12-10, in which the Bears led 12-3 in the fourth quarter. Ever hopeful, there are five regular-season NFL games remaining for the Bears. Through Monday of this week there are four of the 32 NFL teams with three victories or fewer, less than the Bears. Carolina is at the bottom with a 1-10 won-loss record, including the 16-13 squeaker victory by the Bears in their Thursday, Nov. 9 game at Carolina. The Bears, in order, will play at home against Detroit, December 10, at Cleveland, December 17 at home against Arizona, December 24, at home against Atlanta, December 31, and at rival Green Bay January 7, 2024. The added 17th regular-season game is at the end of the season, instead of at the start of the season in the good weather when the fan base has proven it takes time for good-weather activities other than football. Playoffs and Super Bowl are delayed one week.
What do we make of a 4-8 record with five games remaining in the regular season? There is always hope, never become discouraged, and basic parity exists in the National Football League.
•The start of the high school basketball season, boys and girls, is always a welcome time, even with being over-shadowed by football’s crescendo. Improvement is the goal of most high school basketball teams from Thanksgiving to March Madness. Unlikely any high school basketball teams will be undefeated in the middle of February, even though following nine weeks of high school or college football there nearly always will be teams undefeated.
•Aurora University finished its season in defeat following 10 football victories without defeat in the regular season and one playoff game. Aurora University, under the leadership of head coach Don Beebe, has moved up near North Central College, the defending Division III National champion. Teams move in waves, up or down, in making transitions. Aurora’s 10-1 record likely will move the program forward next season. North Central likely will go a long way to match National championship of last season, as difficult as is the task. North Central’s tough task Saturday will be in a quarterfinal playoff football game at the University of Wisconin-LaCrosse.
•High school boys basketball teams ended tournaments Saturday, Nov. 25 in success, including Waubonsie Valley and St. Charles East.