Football Gumbo: Brace for Another Defensive Slugfest in Saints-Bears Game

“But there’s nothing like sampling a little gumbo, a little jambalaya and then diving face-first into a shrimp boil.” - Chris Low, ESPN.com.

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Hello folks and welcome to this new Saturday feature: a tasty mix of news and stories related to the Saints’ upcoming game. Like a good gumbo, it is full of all sorts of awesome ingredients and I will even occasionally add the slightly odd piece of news in the stew. Let’s dive in face-first!

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Crescent City Gumbo

• Interview with the Enemy: Chris Dunnells spoke with Jeff Berckes of our Chicago SB Nation counterpart Windy City Gridiron to dissect tomorrow’s Saints-Bears game.

• Saints Offense vs. Bears Defense: Bob Rose examines the matchup between Teddy Bridgewater and his crew against Khalil Mack and the Bears talented defense.

• Brace For Another Defensive Battle: John DeShazier of NewOrleansSaints.com believes that the Saints could be in for another low-scoring affair in Chicago.

• Where do the Saints Go without Kamara and Cook?: Amy Just of NOLA.com tackles the question.

• Ryan Ramczyk: From Convenience Store Clerk to NFL All-Pro. Luke Johnson of NOLA.com has an awesome piece about the Saints’ outstanding right tackle.

• Saints Pass Rushing Legends Gush About Cam Jordan: John DeShazier of NewOrleansSaints.com talks to Rickey Jackson, Pat Swilling and Wayne Martin about the excellence of Saints’ defensive end Cameron Jordan.

• Trust is Powering the Saints Defense: Steve Geller of WWL.com talks about the what has the Saints’ defense balling out in the past four games.

• Bridgewater Could Enhance Free Agent Resume in Chicago: Mike Triplett of ESPN.com believes that a good performance in Chicago would bolster the Saints’ backup free agency prospects.

• Another Missing Piece: In case you missed it, Saints nickel cornerback P.J. Williams will miss the next two games due to his offseason DWI arrest. Mike Triplett of ESPN.com has the details.

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A Taste from the Other Side

• Bears Offense Needs to Find an Identity vs. Saints: Erik Duerrwaechter of windycitygridiron.com explains how Mitchell Trubisky and the Bears offense could have success vs. the Saints’ underrated defense.

• Three Keys to Beating the Saints: Robert Zeglinski of windycitygridiron.com sees three keys for a Bears victory tomorrow.

• What to Watch For: Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun Times talks about key matchups in the Saints-Bears contest.

• Trubisky Looking to Regain Mental Edge: Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun Times talks about the Bears quarterback looking to regain confidence coming off his shoulder injury.

• Bears May Not Be Sold on Trubisky: Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun Times explains why the Bears need to find out quickly whether Mitchell Trubisky is “The Guy.”

• Four to Watch: Larry Mayer of ChicagoBears.com sees four big storylines in the Saints-Bears game.

• The Saints are a Mystical Opponent: In this very cool Comic Strip from ChicagoBears.com, the mystical Superhero Saints is about to take on the powerful Monsters of the Midway.

• Former Saint Akiem Hicks on IR: The Bears too have a crucial player out for this game. Larry Mayer of ChicagoBears.com addresses who could replace Akiem Hicks on the Bears’ defensive line.

• Bears Offense Has Been Struggling: Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com details the struggles of the Bears offense under the tutelage of head coach Matt Nagy.

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Wait...What?

• Everyone Sitting Around You at a Restaurant Could be a Spy: Nina Martyris of npr.org talks to ex-CIA operatives who reveal that eateries are key places for spycraft. Bon appetit!