The Bears lost to the Vikings 17-9 on Monday night. They are now officially eliminated from playoff contention.

Red Zone Woes

The Bears had five trips to the red zone on Monday night and only mustered nine points. It’s also noteworthy that their only touchdown came on the last play of the game when the outcome was already determined.

The Bears had a field goal attempt tipped by Dalvin Tomlinson and passed up an opportunity for three points to go for it on fourth down. There were points left on the table, even though the Bears had ample opportunities in Minnesota’s territory.

The Story Of a Sub-Par Team

Frankly, teams that can’t finish drives end up missing the playoffs. This is an egregious statement of the obvious, but also relevant when discussing this Bears’ offense. The Bears actually outgained the Vikings 370 to 193. They also held Kirk Cousins to under 100 passing yards.

All things considered, this Bears offense had some decent moments, but it doesn’t matter when you can’t score touchdowns. Matt Nagy himself addressed this very issue here.

The Defense Played Admirably

The Bears’ defense once again showed up to try and keep the team in the game. I mentioned earlier that they held Cousins to under a hundred passing yards, and this was with a depleted secondary no-less. Nagy praised the guys that stepped up last night, but as per usual, it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t enough to overcome the offensive ineptitude that the Bears continue to have. Additionally, it was another mistake-ridden game. The Bears had three lost fumbles and a muffed punt that put the Bears’ defense in tough situations. Also, penalties riddled the Bears all night, but maybe that wasn’t their fault entirely?

After the game, Bears’ star defensive lineman Robert Quinn said, “These refs seem like they’re controlling the game a little too much,” (NBCSports Chicago). He would go on to say “I mean, let guys play ball.” You can never blame a game on the refs, and the Bears had 9 penalties for 91 yards. That is inexcusable, but the refs certainly didn’t help the situation. You can see one of the mind-boggling calls here. Teez Tabor was penalized for attempting to make a tackle on Vikings running back Dalvin Cook. Isn’t that what DBs are supposed to do?

Is There Any Hope?

I think so. Like I mentioned earlier, the Bears’ offense was able to move the ball. Fields is still getting better, and every game is bringing him valuable experience. The Bears are also set at the running back position, as David Montgomery once again looked electric.

In the passing game, Darnell Mooney looks like he could be a stud. Damiere Byrd had a decent game as well, and Jakeem Grant has proven he can be a big-play guy when given the opportunity. A lot of people will be calling for Nagy’s firing after this game; the fourth down play-calling left a lot to be desired – to put it lightly. But I’m not sure that’s the best fix. The Bears still have an elite defense when all players are healthy, and as Fields improves, they will have the potential to be a contender next season.

What’s Next?

The Bears face the Seahawks, Giants, and then the Vikings again to close out the regular season. Unfortunately, these will be games played for pride and development, and fans (if they haven’t already started) will be looking only at next season.

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