Chicago Bears Week 11 Notes: Most Important Win of the Season

SB Nation

Here we are. Yet another win despite not playing a clean, complimentary football game. But a huge divisional win, no less. Arguably, the most important win of the season for the Chicago Bears on the road

against the rival Minnesota Vikings. Let’s get to my notes in this one.

Offense:

Immediately stoked to see Luther Burden III starting as WR3 over Olamide Zaccheaus. I thought Burden had an up-and-down day, showing both why he earned this opportunity and also why it has taken this long to earn the trust of his coaches and teammates. The Vikings played a terrific game on defense, so hopefully this is the start of something special for the rookie wideout.

Caleb was off-target in this one, especially early. Pressure got to the Bears’ offense in both the run and pass games, and Caleb was impacted. Deep balls to DJ and Rome would have gone for huge gains if not TDs.
Chicago implemented a “quick-snap” game plan to try to offset the pressure coming from Brian Flores’ defense, even snapping the ball before the referees had officially set the ball in play. Something I have not seen outside of a two minute drill.
Flores flipped the script from his week 1 strategy where he barely blitzed Caleb at all and was throwing pressure all day. Caleb escaped most of it, miraculously as ever I might add, but was still taken down for 2 official sacks. Tough day at the office for the OL, including Darnell Wright in both run and pass game.
That was my favorite use of Cole Kmet in the passing game that I have ever seen. Of course, I love seeing him coast down the seam for a big gain, but when he is catching a ball in the flat and lowering his shoulder for more yardage, that is a high percentage and chain-moving play. With so many weapons on this offense, I would love to see more of that, please. No more screens to the big fella.
His collision with CB Isaiah Rodgers was as big a hit as you will see. Kmet won.
I felt we needed the run game in this one, and it’s no surprise that on two of our longest drives, including the only TD drive, we ran the ball well.
Speaking of running the ball, Swift continues to impress. He is wasting no time putting his foot in the ground, cutting up-field and getting positive yardage and broke multiple tackles in this one. I thought Ben made a mistake late in the game not putting Swift back in the game after he single-handedly carried the offense down the field only for Cairo to miss the FG.
That said, I love Monangai and will continue to praise the 1-2 punch that he and Swifty pose.
Drops continued to hurt us, but none more than the late DJ pass that hit him square in the chest. Thankfully, rookie TE Colston Loveland bailed the team out with a clutch 3rd and long conversion, but Caleb was much more accurate late, and his pass catchers didn’t do him any favors.
I loved the quick screen to Burden when Minny was bringing pressure. Should have done that more.
Pre-snap penalties reared their ugly head again in this one.
Was I the only one to see the blatant face-mask no-call on Travis Homer? BTW…WTF did Ben run a shotgun sweep on 3rd and 5 to Travis Homer? Worst call of the game IMO.
Overall, thrilled to get a win. Thrilled Caleb broke the record for most comebacks in a season in franchise history. And thrilled to have a young QB who is clearly not pleased with the way he and the offense played, even though they came out with a win. This is a good sign, people!

Defense:

It was quickly clear to me that the Vikings were targeting both Nahshon Wright and Noah Sewell in the passing game. Wright has to be giving QBs second thoughts after snagging his 4th INT of the season, but teams absolutely feel they are the weak link on this defense.
That is, until Tyrique Stevenson went down, and they were playing practice squad players across from Justin Jefferson. But I digress…
The run defense struggled all day, and I hope we seriously consider bringing in new FA Khalen Saunders to shore it up for this home stretch.
Dennis Allen brought the pressure, which seemed like a fair amount, but really only impacted J.J. McCarthy one time, and he threw a terrible interception. Pass rush is clearly a dire need this offseason. If we can somehow hang on until we get reinforcements in the secondary, we have a chance. But if the backend isn’t healthy, we should expect even more nail-biters until the offense starts consistently clicking.
Edmunds was all over the field once again. Looking like a Pro-Bowler, folks. And absolutely in All-Pro conversation.
This was, IMO, easily Grady Jarrett’s best game as a Bear. He was pushing the pocket in the passing game and created the pressure on the aforementioned INT by McCarthy. I think rotating him in mostly for passing downs is a good move at this stage in his career.
I hope Tyrique Stevenson is healthy, but that dude plays one of the most physical brands of football for a CB in the league. And we need his coverage more than anything.
I am not afraid of J.J. McCarthy. Yet. However, I feel Kevin O’Connell can work with the young man.
Kevin Byard III with another magnificent INT for a league leading 5. Talk about Pro-Bowl and All-Pro, this guy is playing like he is a shoe-in.

Special Teams:

I thought Cairo had his best game when it comes to kick-off placement of the season.
That said, the coverage team struggled, but that rookie return man for Minnesota, Myles Price, is going to be a problem.
Liked seeing Roschon Johnson on the kick-return team, but I am fairly certain they prefer he block and not return the ball.
Josh Blackwell has been having a rough season in my eyes, and his illegal contact after a great punt by Tory Taylor was tough. But Blackwell also had his best return of the season, so that was encouraging.
Speaking of big returns, Devin Duvernay absolutely had his best return of the season, and it came at the most clutch time of the game. Have to shout out Special Teams coach Richard Hightower with the return call that set up a convoy of blockers up the right side of the field.
Can’t talk about special teams without highlighting Cairo Santos. His miss in the 2nd half felt like a backbreaker the way the game was going. And I was extremely nervous when it came down to his leg at the end, but he has been money for us, and I love his attitude and swagger from the kicker position. Especially after so many have been clamoring for Jake Moody in Cairo’s absence earlier in the season.