Week 18 Preview - Kings of the North. No Rest. No Mercy.

Opening Invocation - The View From the Throne

I sit in the Cook County Forest Preserve, watching the Des Plaines River move slowly beneath a skin of ice. Snow gathers on fallen branches. The forest is calm. Centered. A place where thoughts slow and truths reveal themselves. Winter has arrived. The regular season nears its end. And in the purest form of truth, the Bears are kings. Say it again. Kings. Of. The. North.

The division belongs to Chicago. The crown fits. The roar echoes. This is not a dream. This is earned; last place schedule and back-up quarterback opponents be damned.

Week 2 Was a Past Life

Yes, Week 2 happened. The Bears went to Detroit and got obliterated. Blown out 21 - 52 in September. A lesson delivered with cruelty and receipts. That team feels like several incarnations ago and no longer exists. That was the Bears before alignment. Before understanding. Before Ben Johnson finished uploading the offense into everyone’s nervous system, and more specifically Caleb’s game processing core.

That version of the Bears has been released. Thank it for its service. Let it drift downstream like an abandoned Ford sedan. That was a Bears team learning how to walk. This is a Bears team sprinting downhill with prey-driven purpose.

Football seasons are long journeys. What matters is not how you begin but who you become. The Lions peaked early and eliminated themselves in a blaze of Jared Goff turnover glory. The Bears evolved.

The 49ers Game Was a Revelation

Since 1919, Bear’s fans have endured watching the evolution of the forward pass like monks taking vows of suffering. A modern NFL offense in Chicago had no place. This is where quarterbacks are ruined and receivers go to die.

Against the 49ers, the Bears did not flinch. They went blow for blow with one of the league’s most lethal offenses. Score for score. Drive for drive. No fear. No hiding. This is not the Bears football of old. No more praying for field position. No more hoping the defense can win a 13 to 10 rock fight. This is a high-powered offense. One that can score with anyone. One that can erase deficits. One that belongs on the same field as the best. FINALLY.

And this is only year one of Ben Johnson’s system. Let that settle in.

About the Defense. Yes. We Know.

The defense is currently a liability. This is not denial. This is mindfulness. Missed assignments. Injuries. Fatigue. Wasted free-agent signings. It happens. But if there is one thing this franchise knows how to do, it is rebuilding a defense. Monsters of the Midway do not stay dormant forever. That work comes next. The offseason will address it. Aggressively. Methodically. With intent.

For now, embrace the chaos. Crack open a cold Old Style and enjoy the ride.

Kings of the North vs the Fallen Pretenders

Detroit had a window. It slammed shut. Chicago’s window is opening, and the breeze smells like January football.

The Lions are eliminated. The Bears are ascending. The contrast is sharp and deserved. Sunday is not about revenge. It is about confirmation.

No Rest. Only Presence.

Some teams rest starters in Week 18. Those teams are afraid of injury, player load management, and ignore momentum. The Bears do not. There is a shot at the number two seed. There is positioning to be claimed. There is no interest in easing off the gas.

This team will play. This team will attack. Zen does not mean passive. Zen means fully awake.

Cicero’s New Year’s Resolutions for 2026

A Mindful Rejection of Personal Growth.

As the calendar turns, many humans create resolutions. Cicero observes them. Cicero does not respect them. Still, tradition matters. So here are my intentions for 2026.

• Eat Healthier
  By which I mean reducing Gene and Jude’s hot dogs from “alarming” to “strategic.” Mustard remains non negotiable. Vegetables will continue to be symbolic.

• Exercise More
  I will continue walking miles along the Des Plaines River, especially when angry about third-and-long conversions given up by the defense. Sprinting will be reserved for playoff touchdowns and unexpected Packers collapses.

• Drink Less
  Old Style intake will remain steady during wins and increase responsibly during losses. Balance is key.

• Practice More Mindfulness
  I will attempt to breathe deeply before yelling at referees. Attempts may fail. Growth is nonlinear.

• Let Go of Negativity
  Except toward Green Bay, and anyone suggesting the Bears should “rebuild again.”

• Get Better Sleep
  Hibernation will be reconsidered only if the Bears are eliminated. Otherwise, sleep will be fragmented, postponed, and fueled by the scent of Gene and Jude’s hot dogs.

• Focus on What I Can Control
  Crowd noise. Vibes. Rituals. Hot dog inventory. Everything else is illusion.

Final Zen Manifestation

Breathe in. Exhale confidence. Feel the weight of the crown.

Bears 44. Lions 24.

Starters play. Momentum maintained.

The North is ours. The playoff journey continues. Bear Down.