Bears-Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings hosted the Chicago Bears yesterday for a Week 17 preseason game. The game meant little for the Vikings. They were already locked into the sixth seed. Only their playoff opponent was in question and this game played no role in determining that. The game was a Super Bowl for the Bears. Their season was done the moment the game ended. The Vikings played no starters on offense or defense. The Bears played all healthy starters throughout. The Bears won the Week 17 preseason game on a last-second field goal, 21-19.

This game went from a probable win for the Vikings to a likely win for the Bears on a 4th-and-9 play with 2:36 to play in the game. Leading 19-18, the Vikings defensive backups had forced the Bears offensive starters into that 4th-and-9 situation. Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky connected with a wide-open Riley Ridley for 32 yards. That put the Bears starters at the Vikings 19-yard line with two minutes to play. The only things in question were where and when the Bears would kick a short field goal. They did so from the Vikings 4-yard line and only 10 seconds remained. It looked like Vikings rookie corner Kris Boyd was responsible for coverage of Ridley on the play that turned the game. Boyd was knocked down/fell down and that got Ridley free for his easy catch and run. The unfortunate thing for the Vikings defensive backups is that Trubisky might complete a pass of over ten yards to a wide open receiver only one time in ten opportunities. This was that one time. And the Bears starters had their win over the Vikings backups.

I was disappointed when reports started trickling out of Minnesota last week that Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer was thinking about resting the starters against the Bears. The Vikings offense looked way too out-of-sorts last Monday night against the Green Bay Packers to be taking a week off. There's a reason that I'm sitting here doing this and Zimmer and his coaches do what they do. They know what's best for their team moving forward. I just react to it. It's their job. It's my passion. So, what we got yesterday was a fun, somewhat relaxing Vikings football game. That's somewhat unusual for a Week 17 game of a season that includes the playoffs. Actually, the most disappointing about this game was the knowledge that it will be the last time that I see the Vikings play in that damn gorgeous stadium. I miss that place already.

This game was a fun watch for this Vikings fan because the backups played well. They more than held their own against the Bears starters. Those Vikings backups might've walked away with an easy win if Sean Mannion was a little more efficient. Some of his "mistakes" were more unfortunate than mistakes. He was charged with the fumble on what was a slightly low pitch to Mike Boone. Mannion had a pass that was intercepted that was really a bobble by Boone and a fortuitous bounce into the arms of a Bears starter. Alexander Hollins dropped a pass that he probably would've taken for a touchdown. The Vikings had to settle for a field goal. Mannion's second interception was the desperation pass that ended the game. If the first three of those unfortunate "mistakes" could've been avoided it likely would've turned into more Vikings points at the expense of Bears points. The second interception wouldn't have happened simply because Mannion would've ended the game with kneel downs rather than a desperation pass. Another mistake by the Vikings backups led directly to two points for the Bears starters. With the ball at their own 1-yard line, the Vikings offensive line simply didn't block Bears linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski. That allowed him easy access to tackling Boone in the end zone. None of these avoidable "mistakes" were forced. Just a little cleaner game from the Vikings backups and it's a completely different game.

The running game, Mike Boone in particular, carried the offense. Boone opened the game with a 59-yard burst to the Bears 16-yard line. It looked like it was going to be a 75-yard touchdown burst but the Bears starters ran him down. Unfortunately for the Vikings, the low toss that resulted in Mannion's fumble immediately followed Boone's burst. Boone should've secured the toss before he started looking for a lane. Instead of some game-opening momentum for the Vikings, the Bears starters had their first break of the game. The rest of the game for Boone was more like his first carry than the second. He finished the game with 148 yards on 17 carries and a short touchdown run. He was easily the Vikings' player of the game on offense.

Other than the Bears first possession of the second half the Vikings defensive backups played well. Each level played well. The line was able to provide consistent pressure on Trubisky (four sacks and six hits). Defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo had a strip sack and fumble recovery that he returned for a touchdown. Despite replay ruling that he was touched down before he started the return it was a terrific all-around play. Odenigbo has really emerged as a pass rusher over the last month. The backup defensive backs allowed the Bears to convert a few too many third (and one fourth) down conversions (the one to Ridley being the most glaring) but their coverage was more often strong than soft. They kept everything in front of them. Kris Boyd, eight tackles and two for loss, was especially active. The glaring negative for the Vikings defense was that first Bears possession of the second half. It was a terrible performance. Considering the play on every other Bears possession it was really surprising. The Bears offensive line just bullied the Vikings defense and running back David Montgomery took advantage. The Bears easily moved the ball 75 yards on nine plays in just over five minutes. The final 14 yards was Montgomery and the line bulling their way for the touchdown. Half of Montgomery's 113 yards rushing came on this drive. The drive was such an anomaly.

Anyway, despite the final score this was a fun game. It was a fun game partly because the result ultimately didn't matter but mostly because the Vikings backups played even with the Bears starters throughout the game. They played with great passion and energy. Most of these players haven't played much during the season and it was fun seeing them take advantage of their opportunity. It came down to a field goal in the final seconds. An opportunity that swung the Bears way on a 4th-and-9 play with just over two minutes to play in the game. While I didn't agree with resting the starters before the game I now know that it was the right decision. The play of the backups was inspiring and I hope that it inspires the starters in the playoffs. If the starters play in the playoffs with the same passion and energy that the backups played with yesterday, it could be a very fun playoffs for the Vikings. Those playoffs start next Sunday in New Orleans. Skol!