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Sports Friday, January 9, 2026 | | |
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Good morning, Chicago. “It’s natural to be excited about a game of this magnitude," Bears coach Ben Johnson said ahead of Saturday night's wild-card playoff game against the Packers. Until then, Johnson has settled into a routine and expects his players to do the same. “I get a good workout in,” he said. “Our guys have handled the short weeks really well. We’ve handled the night games really well. At this point in the season, we all understand what that routine needs to look like. It certainly
makes a long day, and you try to do what you can to make sure you’re in the plan a little bit but also getting your mind away from it so that you’re fresh and ready to go for kickoff.” To get away
from football — in what little time is afforded — Johnson said he tries to “get a little sleep, a little rest.” "A workout for the coaching staff normally is a good thing, just to get the blood flowing a little bit,
" he said. "And maybe watch a movie or something like that if you’ve got extra time.” Stay connected with us all day: Sign up for our newsletters to get the latest news in your inbox. And you can follow us on social media: X, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Threads. Not a Tribune subscriber? Here's our latest offer. | | | | The Chicago Bears are short on playoff experience, but they have veterans they can lean on. They need their premier players to step up in the postseason. | | | | | Playoff heroes can come in all shapes and sizes. Here are six Chicago Bears players who could become unsung heroes if Ben Johnson’s team were to make a playoff run. | | | | | The Chicago Bulls were forced to postpone their game against the Miami Heat on Thursday night because of condensation on the court at the United Center. | | | | | The Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday traded Nolan Allan, Laurent Brossoit and a 2028 seventh-round pick to the San Jose Sharks for Ryan Ellis, Jake Furlong and a 2028 fourth-round pick. | | | | | The Chicago Bears will meet the Green Bay Packers for the third time in the playoffs, with the game airing on Prime Video. Here’s how to watch. | | | | | Patrick Kane became the 50th player in NHL history to reach 500 goals, scoring twice to help the Detroit Red Wings beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-1 on Thursday night. | | | |