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Bears Binge: Your semi-serious guide to the Broncos game

Welcome to the Bears Binge, where every week RedEye prepares you for the matchup facing the Monsters of the Midway. From reasons to laugh at the opposing team to an offbeat look at the ’85 Bears anniversary, we’ll have fun with this and hope you do too.

Game time: vs. Denver, noon Sunday, CBS

SO MANY EMOTIONS!

Players and coaches talk all about how they respect their opponents. Really, that’s what they should do. But fans don’t have to; they can let their emotions fly. Here are three things that will have fans buzzing before Sunday’s game against Denver.

Demaryius Thomas’ reunion with his mom

The Denver wide receiver’s mother had been in prison for drug trafficking until her sentence was commuted by President Obama this summer. Katina Smith was released from a halfway house earlier this month, but she cannot travel for 60 days and will not be at Soldier Field on Sunday to see Thomas play.

“I know that it’ll be emotional. I’m sure that I’ll break down and start crying,” Thomas told denverbroncos.com when asked about their upcoming reunion. “I’m sure that she will too because it will be her first time—even probably on the plane coming to Denver—in Denver. It’ll be a little emotional, but I’ll be very excited.”

Vernon Davis’ grandmother is adorable

Vernon Davis, who plays tight end for the Broncos, has a brother, Vontae, who plays cornerback for Indianapolis. This presents a conundrum for family members when they play each other. Like when those teams clashed in Week 9, Davis’ grandmother wore a Colts jersey and a Broncos hat in an Instagram post. Her shrugging pose is priceless.

Brock Osweiler is tall

The Broncos quarterback, who will start in place of Peyton Manning against the Bears, is listed at 6-foot-8. According to the Broncos’ website, he’s tied for the tallest player in team history. Osweiler has 2 inches on the three tallest Bears at the moment; Kyle Long, Martellus Bennett and Nick Becton are 6-6.

THE ’85 BEARS ARE HOW OLD?

ICYMI, 2015 marks the 30^th anniversary of the 1985 Bears, the last team to bring a Super Bowl title to Chicago. And as anyone who has experienced it knows, turning 30 can be a pain. Each week we’ll give you an idea what Bears fans who remember the magic of 1985 must be going through.

When you turn 30 … a quiet Friday night on the couch doesn’t sound totally depressing. But you still want to do something Saturday night.

Football equivalent: You’re growing into your age nicely, and we’re patient fans, Bears. A little nostalgia never hurt anyone, and fans love reminiscing about the ’85 team. But don’t forget you’re overdue for another Super Bowl victory.

#LagunaPicks

Instead of recruiting a football expert to predict each Bears game, RedEye asked a sea lion. Because it’s fun. Laguna, who makes his home at the Shedd Aquarium, will try is hand–er, flipper–at predictions all season.

Laguna’s record: 5-4 after Week 10 (he correctly picked the Bears over the Rams last week and has 3 straight correct predictions)

This week’s fun fact: The U.S. Navy trains sea lions to participate in certain military operations.

More info: Visit sheddaquarium.org.

THIS WEEK’S PICK: Bears over Broncos.

NFL WEEK 11 SCHEDULE

Thursday

Tennessee at Jacksonville, 7:25 p.m. NFL Network

Sunday

Oakland at Detroit, noon CBS

Indianapolis at Atlanta, noon CBS

St. Louis at Baltimore, noon Fox

Tampa Bay at Philadelphia, noon Fox

N.Y. Jets at Houston, noon CBS

Washington at Carolina, noon Fox

Dallas at Miami, noon Fox

Kansas City at San Diego, 3:05 p.m. CBS

Green Bay at Minnesota, 3:25 p.m. Fox

San Francisco at Seattle, 3:25 p.m. Fox

Cincinnati at Arizona, 7:30 p.m. NBC

Monday

Buffalo at New England, 7:30 p.m. ESPN

Chris Sosa is RedEye’s sports editor. @redeyesportschi