Well, the Bears finally won a game last night, on the same day that Bears legend Dick Butkus died.

There’s something weirdly poetic about that… or maybe there’s not… I don’t know.

Okay, I really will post the Thursday Night Football thread on time tonight… I promise… probably… maybe.

On this day in 1582, the modern (Gregorian) calendar went into effect after an edict by Pope Gregory XIII.

For those of you who gave me a hard time when I asked about favorite beers, happy World Temperance Day.

I know we’ve all been (rightfully) gushing over C.J. Stroud lately, but today I’d like to talk about Dameon Pierce. Obviously our running game hasn’t been much to write home about this season — primarily due to a slew of injuries on the offensive line — so Pierce’s stats have been rather pedestrian. But I looked into his numbers from this past Sunday, and I actually think he’s doing better than it looks at first glance.

Against the Steelers, Pierce had 24 carries for 81 yards. Decent but not great. However, having watched him run this week, he looked much better than that. So I broke down all of his touches throughout the game (separated by drive):

2nd & 10 – Run, 13 yards
1st & 10 – Run, 2 yards
1st & 10 – Run, 4 yards
2nd & 6 – Pass, 27 yards
1st & Goal – Pass, 5 yards (negated by penalty)
1st & Goal – Run, 0 yards
1st & Goal – Run, 0 yards

1st & Goal – Run, 8 yards
2nd & 2 – Run, 3 yards
2nd & 10 – Run, 4 yards

1st & 10 – Run, 3 yards
1st & 10 – Run, 12 yards
1st & 10 – Run, 4 yards

1st & 15 – Run, 3 yards
1st & 10 – Run, 0 yards
2nd & 10 – Run, 5 yards

HALFTIME

1st & 10 – Run, 4 yards

1st & 10 – Run, 1 yard
2nd & 9 – Pass, incomplete

1st & 10 – Run, 7 yards (negated by penalty)
1st & 17 – Run, 6 yards
1st & 10 – Run, 4 yards
2nd & 6 – Run, -5 yards

1st & 10 – Run, 1 yard
2nd & 9 – Run, 10 yards
1st & 15 – Run, 1 yard
1st & 10 – Run, -5 yards

If you look at just his first half stats, it’s a really solid 4.4 yards per carry (along with a 27 yard reception). But his overall stats were brought down by the second half, when the Steelers sold out to stop the run, and he managed an abysmal 1.9 yards per carry. Either way, I think his success in the first half is a testament to his own tenacity and how well Slowik is scheming around our blocking deficiencies.

Also, I’d just like to say that that halfback pass for a touchdown gave me a football boner.