Hello…Chicago Bears Fans. This is my first post-game writeup, as the Dean of WCG had to step in for me last week as I was stuck abroad in tournament baseball hell. Speaking of hell, let’s get to our post game, shall we?
FIRST QUARTER
Vikings take the ball to start the game. They drive down as the Bears seem unable to put pressure on Carson Wentz. Tyrique Stephenson had good coverage on the big pass play to JJ down the sideline but didn’t get his head turned around and JJ makes the catch.
The Vikings drive into the
red zone and we get the first “downpour” effect on the game – and it goes against the Bears (it’s going to be a theme), as Devin Bush has an easy interception that he drops – three times – due to the rain.
On the Bears first drive of the first half, we see what will remain a theme – operation errors that put the Bears behind down and distance. That said, Caleb does one of his Houdini impressions as he somehow escapes a massive yardage sack and turns it into a four yard gain.
Santos for the field goal – which is almost blocked from the edge (we will come back to that) – and it is a 3-3 tie.
On the Vikings ensuing possession we get the one and only rain event that will go for the Bears in this game, as the Viking center snaps the ball well over Wentz’s head – Wentz goes back and covers within the 10 yard line and the Vikings will punt from the shadow of their own endzone.
The Bears get the ball and nothing goes good – we have a terrible sequence of plays. We are gifted an off-sides that moves the ball to 3rd and 7 (managable) and instead of calling a time out we take a delay of game – back to 3rd and 12. Calebel then scrambles to his right and just chucks the ball up – no where close to Rome the intended reciever – and Byron Murphy intercepts it.
The interception does work a bit like a punt as the Vikings have it on their own 35 yard line. Bears manage to hold – while the Vikings pick up the Bears blitz Wentz misses Jordan Addison on a fade route badly. Muhammad was in coverage.
SECOND QUARTER
So far this game the defense has been particularly unimpressive. For a defense predicated on penetration, they mostly do not get penetration – not on run fits – and not on passing downs.
Vikings get a first down on 4th and short with a Wentz sneak. But the very next play Tyrique Stephenson and Dillon Thineman combine to stuff a stretch play for a loss. Bears force a Vikings punt.
On the Bears posession Caleb hits Kalif Raymond for a big hitter on the check down over the middle. The Bears are in business.
Caleb again dumps off to Raymond and the Bears get a “Roughing the Passer” call on the forcible contact to Caleb’s head.
The Bears are forced into a 4th an 3 but Caleb floats a beauty of a swing pass out to what should be an easy first down for Swift – but he slips. Luckily he get back up and earns the first down. Vikings challenge and the play stands.
But penalties are still absolutely killing the Bears. An illegal shift kills a big gain to Colston Loveland, then a holding call puts them further back. The Bears Tax showing up again in 2026. It was an utterly terrible sequence for the Bears with four straight penalties. We are forced to punt. Flores is winning the battle by quite a bit so far.
On the ensuing Vikings drive we get a coverage sack for Austin Booker – who thankly finishes the job and the Bears are able to get off the field. With 40 seconds left the Bears get the ball back and do nothing with it. The half ends with several unblocked defenders sacking Caleb Williams.
HALF TIME – THIRD QUARTER
The Bears seems to have learned a few things at half as their run game comes uncorked. We get big time runs by Swift to move the Bears into Vikings territory. Sam Roush, who had previously been penalized, and easily had one of the worst rookie games in Bears history today, drops an easy pass from Caleb. But Caleb picks him up with a scramble for first down.
And then the Bears remember they have Kyle Monangai. Several big chunk runs from KM put the Bears in the Red Zone. Once there we again see some bad operation plays, which bring up 3rd down and long. But then an amazing play to get the ball to Raymond – who on a dry day would have easily turned that pass into the endzone, gives the Bears a first down and first and goal within the one yard line.
But then disaster strikes, perhaps due to the wet conditions, as Swift has the ball punched out and its Vikings ball on the one and the Bears are again denied points. I have to question the personnel decision there – KM hasn’t fumbled since high school and he is the obvious short yardage back. Seems like BJ over thought that choice.
On the Vikings posession they manage to get out of the shadow of their own endzone with a few first downs, but ultimately they must punt the ball. On the ensuing Bears posession we again suffer from operation mistakes (TE off the line uncovering Braxton Jones) and we are forced to punt the ball back to the Vikings.
The Vikings get the ball back and rip of their biggest pass of the day for a 22 yard gain to their third tight end. But then on 2nd down Stephenson has blanket coverage, forcing Wentz to dirt the ball. And then on 3rd down Muhammad blitzes and gets a sack.
4TH QUARTER
Bears get the ball back and its another bad penalty by Garret Bradbury. Bradbury wasn’t great in the Panthers game and he has been downright awful in this game. Five penalties in two games and multiple missed blocks in the run and pass game. Hard to see why Logan Jones remains on the sidelines.
Luther Burden makes a big catch that somehow wasn’t pass interference despite the defender being draped over him (it’s going to be a busy “Upon Further Review” this week, Bears fans). Bears end up punting and Vikes also end up punting – it is a punt fest.
On the punt Raymond clearly has both feet out of bounds and takes a massively late hit that the refs do not call. Mike Periera, the rules analyst, for once calls out the refs and states that it was an obvious penalty that should have been called.
The Bears get the ball back and Caleb hits Swift on a perfectly timed screen and it goes for a big game. Caleb then completes a big pass to Rome and the Bears are in business. Caleb hits Roush on what should have either been a touch down or the ball down at the one yard line, but Roush drops it as he is pancaked. Terrible day for Roush.
On the next play we have a great roll out – might have been a designed run or at least a run-pass, and Caleb is going to easily scamper for the go ahead touchdown and…wait…oh. Oh no. Caleb is down. Non-contact. He grabs his leg and is screaming. (my note in my journal: is just massive capital letters: “OH SH*T!!!” This…does not look good. Not merely for the game – but for the season.
Bagent comes in and he is unable to get the Bears in the endzone. The Bears set up for a chip shot field goal, and, well, remember how I noted that the Vikings nearly blocked the first field goal from the edge? Well they get there this time. Blocked field goal. Game is still 6-3 Vikings.
Caleb is on the cart with the towel over his head – he is carted off the field. Before he leaves the towel comes off and he tries to rally the crowd. I am in shock.
Vikings take the ball down the field and kick a field goal. I think. I don’t know. I can barely pay attention to the screen (and I have a big one).
The field goal doinks off the upright and in (because of course it does), and it is 9-3 Vikings.
Bears take over – good kick return by Raymond sets the Bears up. Bagent leads us down the field – we get into the Red Zone. He makes a pass to the pylon that is nearly intercepted – replay shows the defender was out of bounds.
Bagent throws incomplete – but there is one second to go. Last play – Dallas Turner sacks Bagent. Game over. Bears lose. Season over? To be continued…
