With a tighter grip on the NFC North, the Chicago Bears

LAKE FOREST http://www.thebearslockerroom.com/authentic-roquan-smith-jersey , Ill. (AP) — are in unfamiliar territory and facing a different kind of challenge as the season heads toward its final stretch.Learning to handle success.“We have to make sure that we just continue to keep those blinders on, keep the earmuffs on, don’t listen to anything and just keep playing our football,” coach Matt Nagy said.The Bears sure look as if they’re serious about winning the division after a 25-20 prime-time victory over the second-place Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.The defense dominated, with Khalil Mack leading the way. Cody Parkey bounced back from a miserable performance to make all three of his field goals. And the Bears (7-3) came away with their fourth straight win.One concern for them: Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky injured his right shoulder.Nagy made no reference to Trubisky’s health after the game or when he met with reporters on Monday afternoon. But the Bears later said Trubisky would not have participated had they practiced. They were required by NFL rules to release a hypothetical injury report because they play Thursday at Detroit.That the Bears are leading the division is quite a change after four consecutive last-place finishes. For the first time in years, managing success is an issue for them.“When it’s the other way, and people tell you how bad of a coach you are, how poor of a player you are and you should be cut and you should be fired, we don’t listen to it Womens Eddie Goldman Jersey ,” said Nagy, in his first season as a head coach. “So it’s the same thing when you’re having success. You don’t listen to it. You understand both sides, but we worry about what’s said in this building.”There are plenty of good things to say about the Bears at the moment.They’re heading toward their first playoff appearance since the 2010 season. They’re on their longest win streak since a six-game run in 2012. They beat division opponents the past two weeks after dropping 10 in a row against them. And they could make it three over the NFC North in a 12-day span with a victory at Detroit on Thursday.The Bears beat the Lions 34-22 at Soldier Field on Nov. 11 , with Trubisky throwing for a career-high 355 yards and three touchdowns. Chicago also jumped out to a 26-0 lead and sacked Matthew Stafford six times in that game.The victory over Minnesota was a sort of validation for Chicago after beating teams with losing records the previous three games, including the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills.“It shows that we can battle with the best of them,” running back Tarik Cohen said. “It shows that we are still getting better and that we haven’t reached our ceiling yet. Only we can decide what our ceiling is.”The Bears are looking good at the moment, with a defense ranked third overall through Sunday. They were allowing league lows in yards rushing per game (77.8) and per carry (3.5), and had more interceptions (18) and takeaways (27) than any other team.“I think our offense is doing a great job with having the first possession and putting points on the board,” cornerback Prince Amukamara said.“Our offense is really getting things going, so it makes it a little bit easier for the defense because now we know the opposing team’s offense needs to get going and start passing more to get points on the board.”Mack had a sack against Minnesota Marcus Cooper Jersey , giving him three in the past two weeks and eight in eight games this season. And Eddie Jackson returned an interception for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.Parkey also got some redemption after hitting uprights four times while missing two field goals and two extra points against the Lions. But he didn’t attempt an extra point on Sunday.Nagy opted to go for two after each of their two touchdowns. And he acknowledged Parkey’s struggles the previous week factored into those decisions. He also insisted his own aggressive nature and a belief the plays would work were big reasons.Chicago converted both times, with Trubisky passing to Josh Bellamy in the second quarter and Adam Shaheen in the fourth.“It worked,” Nagy said. “It doesn’t always work. And you’ve got to make sure that you get two out of every three.”Nagy said he discussed the plan with Parkey and wasn’t worried about how it would impact his confidence.“Whenever you’re honest with people, it’s so easy to do what you do because you’re real with them,” Nagy said. “You tell them exactly what you’re feeling and everybody knows the plan.” Doink, Doink, Done. Cody Parkey ends Bears season doing what he does best, hitting the upright"THIS IS NOT AN OPEN THREADBEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!BEARRRSSSSAllardyce: Eagles tipped Cody Parkey's field goal http://www.thebearslockerroom.com/authentic-kyle-fuller-jersey , not a straight up miss - NBC Sports Chicago - On closer examination, it looks like Cody Parkey didn't miss a game-winning field goal but Eagles' Treyvon Hester got a finger on it.Cox: Cody Parkey got booed as he left the field after missing potential game-winning field - NBC Sports Chicago - Cody Parkey received the boo birds from the Soldier Field crowd after missing a potential game-winning kick in the playoffs.'Shell-Shocked:' Trubisky Reacts to Loss Against Eagles - NBC Chicago Video - Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky had some ups and some downs in his first career playoff game, but unfortunately he’ll have to wait for his chance at a second after the team lost 16-15 to the...Game Recap: Bears fall to Eagles in wild-card game - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears reached the playoffs for the first time in eight years and generated hope for the future. But their magical season came to a disappointing and sudden end Sunday as the Monsters of the Midway fell to the Eagles 16-15 at Soldier Field.Pace talks playoffs on pregame show - ChicagoBears.com - General manager Ryan Pace appeared on the Bears pregame radio show Sunday on WBBM Newsradio 780 AM and 105.9 FM to discuss the team’s playoff game against the Eagles.Dickinson: Bears exceed expectations, now look for more pieces - ESPN - Matt Nagy changed the culture, Khalil Mack took the defense to another level, and Mitchell Trubisky made strides, but their run ended in heartbreak.Medina: The Sound of a Season Ending - Bleacher Nation - The end.Bears Fall To Eagles In Wild-Card Game After Cody Parkey's Late Miss - 670 The Score - Parkey's game-winning field-goal attempt hit the upright and the crossbar.Bernstein: Bears Ending A Sad All-Timer - 670 The Score - In a nightmare, Cody Parkey's winning field-goal attempt clanged off the upright.Finley: Bears safety Eddie Jackson in, tight end Trey Burton out vs Eagles - Sun Times - The Bears got their all-pro safety back for their most important game of the year.Campbell: Mitch Trubisky's final-drive heroics go for naught after missed field goal - 'He did everything we asked him to do' - Chicago Tribune - Before the Bears' final drive, coach Matt Nagy said quarterback Mitch Trubisky looked at him and smiled. “I just told him: ‘This is where the story begins Womens Bryce Callahan Jersey ,' " Nagy said. Unfortunately for Trubisky, the ending wasn’t up to him.Kane: The goal-line stand that wasn't - Bears defense can't quite hold off Eagles in final minute - Chicago Tribune - After Eagles quarterback Nick Foles found Alshon Jeffery for an 11-yard catch late in Sunday’s 16-15 Bears playoff loss at Soldier Field, a Bears defense that aced so many tests this season faced a whopper of a challenge.Kane: Bears fall to Eagles 16-15 as late Cody Parkey field goal attempt hits upright and crossbar - Chicago Tribune - The Bears drove into field goal range late in the fourth quarter only to have Cody Parkey miss from 43 yards out, ending their season with a 16-15 loss to the Eagles at Soldier Field on Sunday.Kane & Campbell: All-Pro safety Eddie Jackson activated but doesn't play in Bears' playoff loss to Eagles - Chicago Tribune - Bears safety Eddie Jackson was dressed in full uniform with his helmet on Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field, but the safety stood on the sideline for the entire 16-15 loss to the Eagles.Malogon & Green: Bears tailgaters make the most of playoffs: 'We can’t control how they play, but we’ve never had a bad tailgate party in all those years' - Chicago Tribune - Chicago Bears fans tailgate outside Soldier Field on Sunday just before the team faces the Philadelphia Eagles in a wild-card playoff.Chicago Bears-Philadelphia Eagles Wildcard Postgame Show: Season Ends With a 'Doink' as Bears Lose - We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. 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