Bears Edge Out Rival Vikings in Defensive Slugfest, But Hey… A Win is a WIN. 😆

Here’s the Quick -n- Dirrty..

• Bears get a gritty 12-10 win over the Vikings but the offense still struggles mightily, with no offensive touchdowns scored. Defense bails them out.
• Play calling by offensive coordinator Luke Getsy remains extremely conservative and passive. Too many screen passes that go nowhere.
• Justin Fields has ups and downs – makes some big plays but also loses two fumbles. Shows leadership by taking responsibility.
• Defense steps up big time, with stars like LB T.J. Edwards, new DE Montez Sweat, and rookies Jaquan Brisker and Kyler Gordon getting interceptions.
• Special teams delivers with Cairo Santos hitting four field goals for all of the Bears’ scoring. An ugly win but will take a win regardless.

Support BearsMediaCo WHILE you support our Beloved Bears by clicking HERE to shop at Fanatics for ALL your favorite Gear!

Hey there, fellow Bears Fans!

Bears Gut Out Much-Needed Win Against Division Rivals

The Chicago Bears managed to edge out a 12-10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night. It was an ugly defensive battle, but a win nonetheless against an NFC North divisional opponent. As a diehard Bears fan who isn’t afraid to speak frankly, I have to analyze both the positives and negatives that allowed Chicago to squeak past Minnesota at home.

Bears’ Defense Steps Up

The headline has to be the outstanding play of the Bears’ defense, which has improved weekly under head coach Matt Eberflus and defensive coordinator Alan Williams. Stars like linebacker T.J. Edwards (13 tackles) and new defensive end acquisition Montez Sweat (1 sack) led the charge in frustrating Vikings QB Kirk Cousins all night. Edwards was everywhere, while Sweat continued his standout season since GM Ryan Poles picked him up.

In addition, cornerback Jaylon Johnson and rookies Jaquan Brisker and Kyler Gordon each hauled in interceptions to completely flummox Cousins. Johnson blanketed receivers, and the young safety Brisker showed great instincts, athleticism and ball skills on his pick. After some early-season struggles, it seems the young nucleus of the Bears secondary is beginning to thrive. This budding defense kept Minnesota’s offense out of the end zone.

Offensive Woes Continue

As outstanding as the defense performed, the Bears offense remained stagnant under the tutelage of much-maligned offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. Getsy’s unit failed to reach paydirt even once, despite possessing dynamic weapons in quarterback Justin Fields and receivers Darnell Mooney and Cole Kmet.

Getsy dialed up uninspiring horizontal passes and screens that went nowhere. His playcalling was far too conservative against an average Vikings defense missing some key starters. Running backs Khalil Herbert and David Montgomery found little room either, as Getsy never seized control or got into an offensive rhythm.

Too often, Chicago stalled drives with costly penalties and unforced errors. Fields deserves both praise and critique for his performance. On the positive side, he made clutch, accurate throws to Mooney that set up the game-winning field goal. On the negative, Fields fumbled the ball twice for turnovers, a recurring issue he must improve on.

Cairo Santos Comes Through in Clutch

At the end of the day, kicker Cairo Santos single-leggedly scored all of Chicago’s points. Were it not for his mistake-free performance of four made field goals, including a game-winning 30-yard kick with seconds left, the Bears are still winless. Santos proved why he earned All-Pro honors leading the league in scoring last season.

In a game where offense was hard to come by for both sides, Santos gave a masterclass in reliability and confidence under pressure. Other than the defense, Santos was the MVP for the Bears last Sunday.

Key Takeaways from Victory

This was not a pretty win, but it puts Chicago back to a respectable 3-5 in what most considered a rebuilding year anyway. Against a tough NFC North rival, the Bears showed they still have fight left. Here are the main takeaways for fans to feel encouraged:

• The youth movement and athleticism across all levels of the defense is apparent now. Johnson, Brisker, Gordon and company are turning the corner. Combined with veterans like Edwards and Sweat, they kept a good Vikings offense scoreless.
• Santos is one of the NFL’s elite kickers and a resounding success story for GM Ryan Poles, hitting 86% of field goals this year. In close defensive duels that Chicago must grind out while the offense finds itself, Santos may continue to play a decisive role.
• For all his inconsistencies and ball security issues thus far, Justin Fields made winning drives when it mattered most. He plays his best football late in games. Growing pains are still ahead but Fields has the mentality of a gamer.

The Bears have a long way ahead and face an upward climb to contention. But the blue-collar attitude installed by the new coaching staff is already paying dividends on defense. Next up is improving the offense and eliminating miscues. With better injury luck and continued growth from Fields and Getsy, more wins could keep coming for the fighting Monsters of the Midway!

Bear Down Bears fans! and as always… PEACE!