It's never a fun Monday after a Bears loss, especially when first place was on the line, but at least we have Derrick Rose to keep us warm this winter with his red-hot play on the court! Let's get to today's FiveSports!
SHAKY BEARS FALL IN CRUCIAL NFC NORTH BATTLE
The Bears 34-14 loss to the Vikings was a microcosm of the Bears horribly inconsistent season. One minute Matt Forte is running through the Vikings D and Devin Hester is streaking down the field for a long touchdown... the next the Bears can't punch it in from one-yard out (A fullback dive on 3rd and 1 again? Really?) and Bernard Berrian is going the other way for a Vikings-record 99-yard touchdown to change the entire game.
In the last three weeks, the Bears have lost by 34, won by 24 and lost by 20. There's that consistency we were talking about. Oops, look, Jason Davis just got stuffed again for no gain...
Later today on FiveSports: Reporter Paula Faris takes us to Halas Hall as the Bears try and re-focus for the final "quarter of the season" as Lovie Smith would put it.
THINGS LOOKING ROSE-Y FOR THE BULLS
Okay listen, no one's ever thrilled being a game below .500, but Bulls fans have major reason for optimism coming off the annual circus trip. Last season they came home 2-10. The year before that 4-9. So to be sitting at 8-9 this season isn't a bad place to be. But even more importantly, Derrick Rose is for real. I mean, look what he did to poor, poor Andre Miller last night.
Rose is the early season favorite for NBA Rookie of the Year and his numbers are pretty sick. He's averaging almost 19 points a game, 6 assists a game... and perhaps most impressive, he's shooting almost 49% from the field.
IRISH EYES CRYING, WEIS PACKING?
While the rest of the country is up in arms about the latest BCS mess (Can we have a college football playoff please? PLEASE?), around these parts, the focus is on Charlie Weis and his job security at Notre Dame. The Irish desperately needed to make a good showing against USC this Saturday, but instead got crushed in what some believe might have been Charlie Weis's last game as Notre Dame head coach. Stay tuned...
Later today on FiveSports: Columnist Eamonn Brennan looks into his crystal ball to see the future for Notre Dame's (soon-to-be-ex?) coach Charlie Weis.
JOIN PAULA, MIKE ON THE RED CARPET!
Finally, don't miss a chance to see Paula Faris and Mike Adamle interview some of Chicago's most popular athletes in a much different setting tonight.
NBCChicago.com is your exclusive home tonight for Chicago Sports Fan Choice Awards Red Carpet Show!
Don't forget to check back here throughout the day for updates and watch NBC-5 News at 6pm!
