Vikings-Bears

Well, that was disappointing.

The Chicago Bears hosted the Minnesota Vikings last night in a battle for the NFC North lead. After the 25-20 win, the Bears (7-3) have a 1.5 game lead over the Vikings (5-4-1). The good thing for the Vikings is that there are still six games to play and they host the Bears in Week 17. The bad thing for the Vikings is that they have to figure out a way to protect quarterback Kirk Cousins from the Bears pass rush (and every team's pass rush) and they have to figure out a way to run against the Bears defense. The Bears defense was great last night.

But as great as the Bears defense played it was still a one score game.

Everyone seemed to forget that it was a one-score game. Everyone being Cris Collinsworth and Al Michaels in the booth. The fawning started just before the Bears kicked a field goal to open the scoring with about six minutes to play in the first quarter. It ramped up when the Bears scored their only offensive touchdown of the game with about six minutes to play in the first half. The Bear love continued without restraint throughout the second half as the Vikings finally started to score. If one wasn't paying much attention to the game one would think that a single team was on the field. It wasn't just Cris and Al that showered one team with so much affection. In their recap of the game, ESPN.com stated that "The Bears suffocated the Vikings in total yards (308-268)" A 40 yard advantage in total yardage doesn't seem too suffocating. The only points that the Bears offense put on the board in the second half came on a field goal at the two-minute warning. Until that late field goal, the Bears second half possessions ended in two punts and two turnovers. They didn't take an offensive snap on the Vikings side of the field until midway through the fourth quarter. That suffocating Bears offense had nearly as many turnovers (2) as points (3) over the final 30 minutes.

As a Vikings fan, I suppose that I'm a little sensitive to a general dismissal of Minnesota throughout a game that wasn't decided until the Bears recovered an onside kick at the end of the game. The Bears did control the game as a 10-minute edge in time of possession clearly shows. The Vikings were chasing the Bears throughout. But there were two teams on that field. And both had opportunities to win the game. It was the Bears that took better advantage of those opportunities.

Unfortunately, the Vikings couldn't take proper advantage of the the two second half takeaways by their defense. Despite getting excellent field position on both, the offense only managed a pair of field goals. A team that wins big games scores touchdowns in those situations. They don't leave 8 points on the field in those situations. The Vikings left another 3-7 points on the field in the first half with a fumble in the red zone. That's way too many missed points.

The Vikings biggest mistake came with 8:30 to play in the game. After the defense forced a Bears punt, the Vikings offense took over at their own 11. Down 14-6, they had an opportunity to march down the field and tie the game. Instead, Kirk Cousins threw an interception on the first play that Bears safety Eddie Jackson returned for a touchdown.

The Vikings offense did score two touchdowns over the final eight minutes but that defensive score and the late field goal were too much to overcome.

Some yardage numbers:

Total Yards
Vikings: 268
Bears: 308

Passing Yards
Vikings: 246
Bears: 160

Rushing Yards
Vikings: 22
Bears: 148

You don't have to look too hard to see the problem in the Vikings game. They couldn't run the ball. That put the Vikings behind the sticks on most possessions. The lack of a running threat allowed the Bears to rush Cousins without restraint. That made thinks easy for Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, Leonard Floyd and friends. Those guys don't need things made easier for them.

Mack was a beast. His stat line: a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery. His most startling play garnered no stats. On a pass rush in the second half, with one arm, he shot-putted Vikings left tackle Riley Reiff. It was a ridiculous display of power.

As great as Mack was, defensive tackle Akiem Hicks might have been even more impressive. His stat line: 6 tackles, a sack, and 5 TFLs. Five tackles for loss! Are you kidding me?

The Vikings really missed tight end David Morgan. He injured his knee against the Detroit Lions in Week 9. His blocking is so critical to the run game. HIs blocking might've gotten running backs Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray past the line of scrimmage. If Morgan is out for an extended time I'm curious if the Vikings coaches might consider bringing in reserve tackle Rashod Hill and bumping right tackle Brian O'Neill to an end position. They might even throw to O'Neill on an occasion or two just to keep the defense concerned about the possibility. When he was at Pitt he was offense used as an offensive playmaker on occasion. The Vikings have to figure out a way to run the football.

This was a very disappointing game. The Bears have control of the NFC North but there's still six games to play. Everything is still in front of them but they have to stack some wins. Perhaps six of them. It starts with the Green Bay Packers next Sunday night.