Bear Digest

Seeing Bears and Broncos Became More Difficult

According to a report, the Bears and Broncos game is being dumped by many CBS affiliates in favor of Bills and Dolphins.
Gene Chamberlain|
Seeing Bears and Broncos Became More Difficult
Seeing Bears and Broncos Became More Difficult

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Chicago Bears

CBS has billed itself as "America's Most Watched Network" over the years but if it is on this Sunday it likely won't be due to the Bears and Bills.

The website 506Sports tracks television and sports, including the NFL, and has found the Bears and Justin Fields are apparently losing their pull.

At least it would look that way, but it could also be the lure of a Dolphins-Bills hurting interest in the matchup between two winless teams this week, the Bears and Broncos.

Citing 506Sports, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported numerous CBS affiliates in TV markets normally friendlier to the Bears or Broncos have requested they show the Dolphins Bills game Sunday rather than Denver at Chicago.

Every CBS station in Michigan, also in Green Bay and Wausau, Wis., and Mankato, Minn. have asked to show the Dolphins and Bills game instead of the battle for Caleb Williams, as it's being billed.

Apparently the Bears can't even interest fans from teams in their own division.

Also, CBS affiliates in Fargo, N.D., Des Moines, Iowa and Cape Girardeau, Missouri are among those asking out of the Bears and Broncos, according to the report from Jackson using 506Sports as a source. 

It's not just the midwestern stations involved. Montana is definitely Broncos territory but every CBS affiliate in that state chose to air the Bills and Dolphins instead of the Broncos at Bears.

Combined, the Bears and Broncos lost by 81 total points last week so it's possible this is an abberation. However, more impactful is the fact Miami won the 70-20 game over Denver and is facing a perennial AFC power on Sunday.

There is still a big chunk of the country watching the Bears and Broncos, according to the 506sports map, but when neighboring states start pulling out then how long before the popularity of any team comes into question?

The number of no-shows for Sunday's second Bears game at Soldier Field this season will be of real interest this week, especially with it possible the 2:10 p.m. Cubs game that same day at Wrigley Field could mean a postseason berth.

Fan reaction at Soldier Field if something goes wrong will also be of interest.

It's all just another bit of pressure on a team with real problems only three games into an NFL season, one with a new president and CEO who is somehow trying to sell everyone on building a new stadium.

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.

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