AJ McCarron couldn't remember having this much fun at any le

vel of football.Trailing by five in the closing minutes Customized Chicago Bears Jerseys , he told his teammates they were going to pull out the win and it would be a "legendary" moment for them.McCarron delivered in the end after struggling for most of the game, leading a fourth-quarter surge that culminated with a touchdown pass in the final minute, and the Buffalo Bills closed the preseason with a 28-27 victory over the Chicago Bears on Thursday night.With both teams holding out their starters and few key reserves playing, the focus was on McCarron. For most of the game, he made a shaky case for a roster spot let alone a starting job, but he did come through down the stretch.He ran for a touchdown and threw for three more in the fourth — including a 6-yarder to Keith Towbridge in the closing minute. That capped an 84-yard drive that was aided by two roughing-the-passer calls, including one against Isaiah Irving on a fourth down at the Buffalo 3."I looked at the group and told them, 'Watch this, it's gonna be legendary,'" McCarron said. "First, I said, 'Watch this, we're gonna go down and win and you're gonna remember this for a long time so this is gonna be legendary — for us and for our group, not knowing who's (gonna be) here tomorrow.' ... It was just awesome to battle with them and probably the most fun I've ever had."McCarron was 13 of 34 for 156 yards and had an interception returned for a touchdown in the early going. He could be the odd man out if the Bills opt to go with two quarterbacks rather than three, though coach Sean McDermott insisted he is "absolutely" in the race for the starting job with first-round pick Josh Allen and returning backup Nathan Peterman.He also said he has not decided who will start the opener at Baltimore on Sept. 9.CASE TO STAYTyler Bray made a case for the Bears to keep three quarterbacks. With Mitchell Trubisky and backup Chase Daniel not playing, Bray was 19 of 29 for 180 yards and an interception. Ryan Nall ran for 79 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown."I like where we're at," said Bears coach Matt Nagy, in his first season. "We've got a lot of depth and we're going to have some tough decisions here coming up."Signed to a two-year deal in free agency after spending the past four seasons as Andy Dalton's backup in Cincinnati, McCarron was considered the initial front-runner for the Bills' starting job because he had more experience than Allen and returning backup Peterman.But he missed a little over a week after he bruised his right shoulder while being hit several times at Cleveland on Aug. 17. That injury along with his performance seemed to knock him out of the running for the starting job. It also raised questions about whether he will make the opening roster.But McCarron said he has "no clue" where he stands in the competition or if he'll make the roster."I understand you all want to talk about the QB competition, but I'm enjoying the game," he said.SLOW STARTMcCarron got off to a brutal start, throwing for just 39 yards and getting picked off twice in the first half.His troubles really began after Cody Parkey kicked a 47-yard field goal on Chicago's first possession.Moments later, McCarron threw a pass right to the Bears' Doran Grant along the sideline, resulting in a 33-yard touchdown return . And just like that, it was 10-0.Parkey added a 23-yard field goal midway through the second quarter. Nall made it 20-0 with just under two minutes left in the half with his 32-yard TD run up the right sideline, though the Bears missed another opportunity in the closing seconds after McCarron got picked off again.Chicago's Abdullah Anderson tipped a pass at the line, leading to an interception for John Timu. But Parkey's 39-yard attempt hit the right upright.NATIONAL ANTHEMThere were no protests by either team during the anthem.INJURIESBills: WR Ray McCloud III suffered a knee injury.Bears: TE Daniel Brown suffered a shoulder injury on a 27-yard catch in the third and left the game. Nagy said he's not sure if it's "day by day or week by week." ... LB Kasim Edebali was helped off the field and taken from the sideline on a cart with a bruised leg after a run by Buffalo on the first play of the fourth quarter.NEXT UPBills: Open season at Baltimore on Sept. 9.Bears: Open season at Green Bay on Sept. 9.The Bear’s Den, August 29 www.authenticschicagobears.com , 2018 BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!BEARRRSSSSZeglinski: Pushing your chips in - Bold predictions for the Bears 2018 season – The Rock River Times - There’s been a heft of warranted optimism surrounding Matt Nagy’s Bears for the past eight months. The coach has instilled a palpable energy. The Bears themselves are more in tune to maximizing an abundance of youthful talent and players in their primes. It’s an organization on the upswing. And until now, it’s been fluff and no substance.Finley: Is Kasim Edebali the answer to the Bears OLB depth problem? - Sun Times - Edebali has a big couple of days ahead of him. The Bears are making cuts Saturday, and his wife is scheduled to give birth next week.+Stankevitz: Bears believe Roquan Smith’s preseason absence won’t keep him from playing Week 1 - NBC Sports Chicago - The first time Smith plays an NFL snap will be in a regular season game, and will be the first time he takes a game snap since the College Football Playoff final last January.SportsTalk Live Podcast: Will Roquan Smith play in Week 1? - NBC Sports Chicago - The SportsTalk Live panel discusses Roquan Smith’s availability for Week 1 at Lambeau Field and the USA Today report that Joe Maddon could be on the hot seat.Campbell: Roquan Smith unlikely to play in Bears preseason finale - Chicago Tribune - Bears rookie linebacker Roquan Smith will probably sit out Thursday's preseason finale with a hamstring injury, coach Matt Nagy said Tuesday.Campbell: Matt Nagy's jump to Bears will shift how Mitch Trubisky and Patrick Mahomes measure up - Chicago Tribune - Matt Nagy's move to Bears head coach from Chiefs offensive coordinator will shift how the three first-round quarterbacks in the 2017 draft class- Mitch Trubisky, Patrick Mahomes and DeShaun Watson — measure up against each other.Wiederer: What Matt Nagy's candor reveals about the 2018 Bears - Chicago Tribune - After benching his starters for Saturday's penultimate preseason game, Bears coach Matt Nagy offered clear and candid explanations for his move. In doing so, he helped us to learn several key things about his approach and the Bears' 2018 expectations.Rosenbloom: Bears GM Ryan Pace failed to put Roquan Smith in a position to succeed, and it’s still dragging on - Chicago Tribune - We don’t know if Roquan Smith’s hamstring injury is a result of missing a month of practices and games. We do know GM Ryan Pace’s inability to get his top draft pick signed early failed to give Smith the best chance to succeed and limited the time he might need to recover for games that matter.Jahns: Hoge & Jahns Podcast break down the Bears' roster - Sun Times - How many tight ends will the Bears keep? How about receivers? Hear the guys' answers, your voicemails and more here.Potash: Bears rookie Roquan Smith won't play against Bills; Matt Nagy optimistic he could play vs. Packers - Sun Times - "If he’s able to play and we feel good about it, trust me, we’ll give him an opportunity to get in there.”Finley: Tyler Bray will play all of the Bears' preseason finale - Sun Times - Five days after starting their second-string quarterback, the Bears will turn to their third-stringer for the entirety of their preseason finale.Jahns: Bears vs. Packers: Bears preach patience with QB Mitch Trubisky - Sun Times - The Bears open the season against the Packers, but it won't say too much about Trubisky's development. Coach Matt Nagy is preaching patience.Medina: Who Needs the Starters Anyway? Javon Wims Earned a Spot On PFF's Team of the Week - Bleacher Nation - Javon Wims was pretty much perfect against the Chiefs, which earned him a spot on PFF's Team of the Week (and probably a job in Chicago, too).Medina: The Starting Left Guard Battle Between Eric Kush and James Daniels is Coming Down to the Wire - Bleacher Nation - The Bears haven't settled on a starting five along the offensive line, with James Daniels and Eric Kush still battling for the left guard spot.Medina: Roquan Smith Probably Won't Play Thursday, But Week One Against the Packers Is Still Possible - Bleacher Nation - Even though Roquan Smith isn't likely to play Thursday, the Bears still seem to have Week 1 as a target date for his NFL debut.Mayer: Nagy says 'Good chance' Smith plays in season opener - ChicagoBears.com - Roquan Smith likely will be held out of Thursday night's preseason finale against the Bills. But Bears coach Matt Nagy remains optimistic that the first-round draft pick will be able to play in the regular-season opener Sept. 9 in Green Bay.Mayer: Bears first-stringers 'all in on Green Bay' - ChicagoBears.com - With Bears starters set to sit out Thursday night’s preseason finale against the Bills, they can devote 100 percent of their energy on preparing for the regular-season opener Sept. 9 versus the Packers.Perez: Chicago Bears don’t expect TE Adam Shaheen to go on injured reserve - Bears Wire - Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy said he doesn't expect TE Adam Shaheen to go on injured reserve at the start of the 2018 NFL seasonPerez: Matt Nagy says Aaron Lynch brings valuable experience to Bears defense - Bears Wire - Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy said OLB Aaron Lynch still offers value to the defense despite being out all summer with a hamstring injuryPerez: Chicago Bears won’t be able to stash WR Javon Wims on practice squad - Bears Wire - Chicago Bears WR Javon Wims was a standout performer in Week 3 of the NFL preseason(Video) PFW Chicago Podcast 123: Live from La Barra in Oakbrook, IL - Pro Football Weekly - This week on the PFW Chicago Podcast, we are LIVE from La Barra Restaurant in Oakbrook, IL. The PFW Crew discuss all things Bears, including Nagy's decisions to sit the starters in the third pre-season game. Plus the guys take a look at the upcoming season and preview some great additions to your fantasy leagues.Mullin: Jay Glazer posits a what-if Bears franchise fantasy involving Matt Nagy, Mitch Trubisky - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears potentially have something serious going on with Mitch Trubisky and Matt Nagy, believes NFL expert Jay Glazer. Moon Mullin looks at just how good it could be.Eurich: Bears important dates - 247Sports - The Chicago Bears are facing some important upcoming dates.Eurich: Tyler Bray to play entire game vs. Bills - 247Sports - Tyler Bray will get all the snaps at quarterback on Thursday for the Chicago Bears.Eurich: Bears practice squad candidates - 247Sports - The Chicago Bears game against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night may be the final game for many players in their NFL careers.Eurich: What an extension for Eddie Goldman would cost Bears - 247Sports - Eddie Goldman is deserving of a contract extension from the Chicago Bears.Dickerson: Roquan Smith, Chicago Bears rookie linebacker Chicago Bears T-Shirt , unlikely to play preseason finale - ESPN - Bears coach Matt Nagy said Tuesday that Roquan Smith, the team's first-round draft pick, is unlikely to play in Thursday's preseason finale. If he doesn't, he'll enter the regular season without having played at all in the preseason.POLISH SAUSAGEReport: Alshon Jeffery will miss at least the first two games – ProFootballTalk - Eagles receiver Alshon Jeffery’s injured shoulder will keep him out at least the first two games of the season, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. The team, though, is expected to activate him to the 53-player roster this weekend with hopes that Jeffery can return by Week Three.KNOW THY ENEMYDetroit Lions release DE Robert Ayers a day after signing him - Pride Of Detroit - That was quick.Vikings roster cuts: 90 to 53 - Daily Norseman - Yinka gives his own spin on who he thinks will make the Vikings’ final rosterPackers QB Tim Boyle will play a lot in Kansas City, says Mike McCarthy - Acme Packing Company - The head coach expects to play his fourth QB a lot in the preseason finale.IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRONBerkes: Top 100 Fantasy Football List - Windy City Gridiron - Jeff’s top 100 fantasy football list contains five Bears for the first time in the history of fantasy football.Zeglinski: Do the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers have a rivalry in the making? - Windy City Gridiron - The newest WCG radio dives into the 49ers and their hype as the Bears are set to play them for the fifth-straight year.Householder: Stock up, stock down - Chicago Bears vs. Kansas City Chiefs - Windy City Gridiron - Another extended look at the backups against Chiefs means the roster picture and the depth chart are getting clearer.Bears vs. Bills Preseason 2018: Preview, game time, TV schedule, odds, and more - Windy City Gridiron - Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch the preseason finale between the Chicago Bears and the Buffalo Bills.WCG CONTRIBUTORS BEARS PODCASTS & STREAMS2 Minute Drill - Website - iTunes - Andrew Link; Steven’s Streaming – Twitch – Steven Schweickert; T-Formation Conversation - Website - iTunes - Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; WCG Radio - Website - iTunes - Robert ZeglinskiTHE RULESWindy City Gridiron Community Guidelines - SBNation.com - We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. The following is not permitted in comments, FanPosts, usernames or anywhere else in an SB Nation community: Comments, FanPosts or usernames that are intolerant or prejudiced; racial or other offensive epithets; Personal attacks or threats on community members; Gendered insults of any kind; Trolling; Click link for full information.The Bear’s Den Specific Guidelines – The Bear’s Den is a place for Chicago Bears fans to discuss Chicago Bears football, related NFL stories, and general football talk. It is NOT a place to discuss religion or politics or post political pictures or memes, and any posts that do this will be deleted and the poster will be admonished. We do not allow comments posted where the apparent attempt is to cause confrontation in the community. We do not allow gender-directed humor or sexual assault jokes. The staff of WCG are the sole arbiters of what constitutes “apparent attempt to cause confrontation”. We do not allow the “calling out” of other members in any way, shape or form. Posts that do this will be deleted on sight. Bottom line, it’s fine to debate about football, but personal jabs and insults are strictly prohibited. Additionally, if you keep beating the same dead horse over and over and fail to heed a moderator’s warning to stop, you will be banned.Click on our names to follow us on Twitter:WCG Contributors: Jeff Berckes; Patti Curl; Eric Christopher Duerrwaechter;Kev H; Sam Householder; Jacob Infante; Aaron Lemming; Andrew Link; Ken Mitchell; Steven Schweickert; Jack Silverstein; EJ Snyder; Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; Robert Zeglinski; Like us on Facebook.