e anger and frustration of our supporters and would like to assure them

CHICAGO -- Somebody has to win.In a battle between two last-place teams, the San Francisco 49ers (1-10) will visit the Chicago Bears (2-9) on Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field. The clubs have combined for one win -- yes, one -- in the past eight weeks.Yet as strange as it sounds, the game carries significance heading into 2017. Both teams are on track to receive top-five picks in the NFL draft, and this weekends matchup could help determine the order of selection.Naturally, players on both sides do not want to hear about how a loss might improve their teams draft position. They are starved for a victory, and many second- and third-stringers who are now in the lineup know that the final five weeks of the regular season will serve as an audition tape as they look for jobs next year.One player who could benefit the most from a strong performance this week is Bears quarterback Matt Barkley. The 26 year old faced an uncertain future when the Arizona Cardinals released him at the end of training camp, but he has found opportunity in Chicago after injuries to Jay Cutler, Brian Hoyer and Connor Shaw.Barkley made his first NFL start last week against the Tennessee Titans and likely will be under center once again this week. He completed 28 of 54 passes for 316 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions and nearly engineered a fourth-quarter comeback before the Bears final drive stalled inside the Titans 10-yard line.Moving on from here, (we know) that we can win, that we have guys on this team that can win games, said Barkley, a former college standout at USC. Just making sure that we dont shoot ourselves in the foot, I think thats the goal from here on out.The same could be said for the 49ers.On offense, San Francisco has played much better in recent weeks thanks to the re-emergence of quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The outspoken 29 year old continues to make headlines for his non-football actions, and now he is creating a buzz with his performance on the field. In four starts in November, he passed for 1,110 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions for a 96.0 rating. He scrambled 29 times for 223 yards and a touchdown.I feel like Im getting more and more comfortable in this offense, Kapernick told the San Francisco Chronicle this week. Ultimately, I think thats what it comes down to for a quarterback. Getting comfortable in an offense, really getting your feet settled in, getting that foundation, where you can go out and just play freely. This offense has been great for me in that way.Against a short-handed Bears defense, Kaepernick could thrive. Chicago will be without starting linebackers Jerrell Freeman (suspension) and Danny Trevathan (knee injury), which means that rookie fourth-round draft pick Nick Kwiatkoski and 2015 undrafted free agent John Timu are likely to start in the middle of the 3-4 scheme.The 49ers have averaged 20.7 points per game, which ranks 22nd in the league. The Bears rank similarly on the opposite side of the ball as they have allowed 24.0 points per game, which ranks 18th.The numbers are much more difficult to predict this week when the Bears have the ball. Chicago has averaged 16.2 points per game, which is second-to-last in the league. The Bears have scored 17 points or fewer in all but three games this season, and their highest output for the season is 23 points against the Colts.However, as poorly as the Bears offense has performed, the 49ers defense has been just as bad. San Francisco has allowed 31.3 points per game, which is last in the league. The injury-riddled defensive unit, which remains without key players such as linebacker NaVorro Bowman (Achilles) and safety Eric Reid (biceps/injured reserve), has allowed 40-plus points three times this season and has given up 30-plus points a whopping eight times in 11 games.This seasons ugliness combined with the dismissal of Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich led some to speculate that 49ers head coach Chip Kelly might be interested in returning to his previous position in the college ranks. But Kelly told reporters this week that he had no interest in going back to Eugene.I havent talked to a college since Ive been in the NFL, and thats not my goal, Kelly said to the San Francisco Chronicle. My goal is to be the head coach of the 49ers. Thats what Im going to do. It surprises me that it continues to be a new story. Its been the same story since I left four years ago. Im not looking to go back, and thats what Ive always said. Nike Shoes Outlet . DAmigo scored twice in regulation and added the shootout winner as the Toronto Marlies edged the San Antonio Rampage 5-4 in American Hockey League action. Black Friday Nike Shoes . The Dutchmans tenure got off to a poor start when referee Guido Winkmann awarded a penalty within two minutes for Niklas Starks clumsy challenge on Alexandru Maxim. https://www.fakenikeshoeswholesale.com/ . Emery skated the length of the ice and fought an unwilling Holtby during the third period of the Flyers 7-0 loss Friday night in Philadelphia. He was given 29 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct. But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46. Fake Nike Shoes . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games. Discount Nike Shoes . John Lucas, signed as a mentor for rookie Trey Burke, showed he can score if required, scoring 12 points of his 16 points in the second quarter as Utah built an 18-point lead. LONDON -- England is on the verge of hiring Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce to take charge of the national team as Roy Hodgsons successor.A person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the English Football Association is close to finalizing Allardyces appointment.The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the appointment has not been made and the FA board, which is due to meet on Thursday, has to approve new coaches.The FA has to secure Allardyces release from Sunderland, which urged for a swift resolution last week after revealing that the 61-year-old Englishman had held talks with England.At the present time Sam Allardyce remains Sunderland manager, Sunderland said in a statement on Wednesday evening. We share in the anger and frustration of our supporters and would like to assure them that we are working to conclude the matter in the best interests of Sunderland.The FA began searching for a new coach three weeks ago wwhen Hodgsons hopes of extending his four-year stint were ended by an embarrassing loss to Iceland in the last 16 of the European Championship.dddddddddddd The defeat prolonged the countrys trophy drought since the 1966 World Cup.England has little time to dwell on the humiliation in France with qualifying for the 2018 World Cup beginning with an away match against Slovakia on Sept. 4.Allardyce has 25 years of experience in management, including spells in the Premier League with Bolton, Newcastle, Blackburn and West Ham.Although Allardyce has never won a major trophy as a player or coach, he has a reputation for improving struggling teams.Allardyce joined Sunderland in October and helped the team stay in the Premier League, further improving his credentials for the England job.Like Hodgson, Allardyce never appeared as a player for England. 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