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If the best day of the NFL offseason is the release of the regular-season schedule, the next-best is the release of the preseason schedule. Thursday, we got part of the next-best thing. Or something like that. Below are the preseason matchups for ...

Another in a series of posts circling back on the 2012 season and some of our preseason themes: In 2011, a majority of NFC North teams used their nickel/dime defense on more than half of their snaps. With no schematic changes after that season, we...

After the Chicago Bears' 41-21 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, here are three issues that merit further examination: After so much preseason talk about quarterback Jay Cutler's reunion with receiver Brandon Marshall, it's pretty amazing that...

I didn't have all four NFC North preseason games playing simultaneously in front of me Thursday night. But I'll be darned if the very first thing that happened Thursday night wasn't Green Bay Packers defensive tackle B.J. Raji's ankle injury on the f...

In which we look ahead to Thursday's much-anticipated four-fecta of Week 4 games to end the NFC North's preseason schedule: Detroit Lions Opponent: Buffalo Bills Location: Ford Field Time: 7 p.m. ET Personnel notes: Lions coach Jim Schwartz ha...

We anticipated Friday that the third week of preseason games would bring heightened criticism and concern about the NFL's replacement officials. Chicago Bears place-kicker Robbie Gould started the ball rolling by referring to them as "clueless," and ...

Reviewing Friday night's action at MetLife Stadium: Chicago Bears 20, New York Giants 17 Preseason record: 2-1 Of interest: Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall combined for a 21-yard touchdown in the first quarter, but for the most part the offe...

In which we look ahead to the remainder of Week 3 in the NFC North's preseason schedule: Chicago Bears Opponent: New York Giants Location: MetLife Stadium Day/Time: Friday/8 p.m. ET Personnel notes: After an intense week of discussion about li...

We're Black and Blue All Over: Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz wasn't happy with the team's special-teams coverage groups in last Friday's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. Schwartz threatened to bring in new players, and it appears th...

This week's Inside Slant podcast is up and ready for your download. It includes discussion on the evolving ways NFL teams are using preseason games, a failed attempt by Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew to shake down his team's ne...

We're Black and Blue All Over: The Minnesota Vikings' decision to hold tailback Adrian Peterson out of the preseason, as reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter, would make perfect sense whether or not Peterson was recovering from significant knee surger...

Reviewing Saturday's action at Soldier Field: Chicago Bears 33, Washington Redskins 31 Preseason record: 1-1 Of interest: On an overall positive night for the Bears, three players encountered injuries worth monitoring. Punter Adam Podlesh su...

In which we look ahead to two more nights of exciting Week 2 preseason action in the NFC North: Detroit Lions Opponent: Baltimore Ravens Location: M&T Bank Stadium Day/Time: Friday/8 p.m. ET Personnel notes: The Lions continue to experiment wi...

We're Black and Blue All Over: Welcome to another week of preseason football here in the NFC North. Our CampTour'12 has come to an end, and I'll post a dramatic and emotional retrospective at some point soon. For now, let's move right into one of ...

We're Black and Blue All Over: Greetings from NFC North blog headquarters, where I returned late Thursday night to learn that two of our teams were struggling through their preseason debuts. You'll find some thoughts on the Green Bay Packers and C...

Reviewing Thursday's action at Soldier Field: Denver Broncos 31, Chicago Bears 3 Preseason record: 0-1 Of interest: Heavy storms probably contributed to the Bears' decision to hold out quarterback Jay Cutler, tailback Matt Forte and defensiv...