Short workweek for Chicago Bears
It's not as if playing on Thursday after a Sunday game is a novel experience for most NFL players, but that doesn't make it any easier.
That applies to the Chicago Bears as they prepare to go on short rest Thanksgiving night at Green Bay against the Packers.
"It's not good," Bears cornerback Tracy Porter said. "You're sore from the game before. Your body's used to having more time in between. But it's part of the game, and you learn to adjust to it."
The Bears played in Detroit last Thanksgiving and lost to the Lions 34-17 in their first Turkey Day appearance since 2004 when as visitors they lost 21-7 to the Dallas Cowboys.
This is the Bears' first game on Thanksgiving night. In their last Thursday night appearance they lost 41-28 at home to the Cowboys a week after their Thanksgiving Day defeat in Detroit. They have played on Thursday Night Football in seven of the previous eight seasons with a 3-4 record, including 1-3 on the road.
"Most players have experienced it," Bears coach John Fox said of the shortened week. "We've been in a bunch of Thursday night games here lately. How much you work, as far as the pads and the intensity of the work has to be minimized, otherwise guys won't have time to recover."
Bears offensive lineman Matt Slauson speaks for the minority when he says he doesn't mind the quick turnaround.
"It doesn't really matter to me," the 29-year-old Slauson said. "The other team has to do it also. (But) recovery is key. Getting your rest is key (and) trying to work out whatever soreness you've got from the previous game. It's really important to stay up on your body. But, shoot, I want to play every day."
Porter agrees with Slauson on the importance of maximizing downtime whenever it's available, which Fox and his staff will prioritize.
"It's taking complete advantage of the rest the coaches give you," the 28-year-old Porter said. "They do a good job of limiting the snaps we're going to get in practice. They do a good job of giving us time to get off our feet, whether in meeting rooms or we're getting out early to go home and rest.
"It's a matter of us doing the proper things, whether it's continuing recovery, cold tubs, hot tubs, whatever that may be."
The Bears' only full practice this week will be Tuesday, and they did not have their usual day-after film review of Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos because they had to move on immediately to Packers preparation.
At Monday's news conference, Fox already was feeling the time constraints.
"Being here is restrictive," Fox said. "This is my (normal) Tuesday and Wednesday (combined). We've got a lot of game-planning to (do) on a short week. But we'll manage. Everyone has to deal with it these days. I think it used to be a little bit more selective, but now it's pretty much everyone who has to deal with it."
At least it's a familiar opponent the Bears are facing at the end of their concentrated "week" of preparation. But that really doesn't make it easier.
"Really, not much about this is easy," Fox said. "Do we have more familiarity? Yes, but so do they. It kind of all shakes out."
The upside for teams scheduled on Thursday night is three extra days of rest and game-planning before they play again. That hasn't worked out very well for the Bears recently, though. They're 3-4 in games following a Thursday night appearance.
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