CHICAGO (104.3 The Score) – A much-anticipated home opener for the Bears had the life removed from it by late in the fourth quarter Sunday. All the energy inside Soldier Field was halted as the Bears lost 9-3 to the Vikings and lost quarterback Caleb Williams to a hamstring injury, making a bad day worse in Chicago.
Here are observations from the game.
Stunning setback
Following the Bears’ 59-37 win over the Panthers in their season opener, Williams expressed his belief that it would be his team’s worst performance of the season. It was his way of pointing to the team’s goal of making continued improvements each week.
The Bears’ loss to the Vikings on Sunday darn well better be their worst game of the season. It was that ugly. Scoring just three points was unimaginable after the Bears had left Charlotte a week prior with Super Bowl hopes.
The Bears’ loss can’t be pinned on Williams’ exit midway through the fourth quarter. It had been a horrendous offensive display even with him under center.
The Bears committed eight penalties, went 0-for-3 in the red zone, saw running back D’Andre Swift fumble one yard shy of the goal line and had a 23-yard field-goal attempt blocked. Williams was sacked three times and under siege all day before he left with his injury.
What was especially frustrating was the Bears’ failure to activate their running game – the bread and butter of head coach Ben Johnson’s offensive identity. Swift carried 16 times for 45 yards, and fellow running back Kyle Monangai rushed 10 times for 47 yards. As a team, the Bears rushed 31 times for 134 yards, with a fair deal of their ground game success coming on Williams’ improvisation on scrambles.
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores had Johnson’s number Sunday. He blitzed more than three-quarters of the time, and the Bears didn’t have an answer offensively.
The penalties are a frustrating matter that Johnson will certainly address as the Bears reconvene at Halas Hall on Monday to review their disappointing performance. At one point in the second quarter, the Bears faced a second-and-35 after three straight penalties.
It was a collective failure by the Bears’ offense, but it starts with Johnson, who took his share of the blame postgame.
Now, the Bears will move forward with backup quarterback Tyson Bagent starting in place of the injured Williams. And for the team as a whole, everybody needs to move past a really poor performance.
Hat’s off to the defense
Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson was upset after the game.
“We didn’t win, we didn’t do enough to win, we didn’t create turnovers and we missed opportunities,” he said.
“I’m frustrated because we lost.”
Despite the loss, those on the Bears defense had reason to hold their heads high after a strong performance. Had the offense done its part, Monday would be a celebration for the bounce-back effort by the defense.
The Bears held the Vikings to 246 yards of offense, 3-for-13 on third-down conversions and scoreless in their lone red-zone appearance. Minnesota never scored a touchdown.
Of course, conditions played a factor for both teams. Just as the Bears struggled on offense through the rain and sloppy field, so too did the Vikings. But Chicago defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and his unit still did a good job to put an abysmal performance in the season opener behind them and move forward.
Bears rookie safety Dillon Thieneman continued his strong early play, edge rusher Dayo Odeyingbo recorded his first sack since suffering a torn Achilles last season and linebacker T.J. Edwards looked healthy flying to the football. Johnson and fellow cornerback Tyrique Stevenson also defended Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson well, as he had three catches for 55 yards.
A day to forget for Roush
Bears rookie tight end Sam Roush couldn’t have slept well Sunday night.
Roush dropped a would-be touchdown in the fourth quarter, a pass from Williams that led him in stride between two defenders to the goal line. Four plays later, Williams suffered his hamstring injury.
That drive ended with kicker Cairo Santos’ 23-yard field-goal attempt getting blocked after Roush whiffed on a block along the left side of the Bears’ field-goal protection. It seemed like something was off with the snap count, because veteran tight end Cole Kmet – blocking on the right side of the protection unit – was late reacting to the snap, just like Roush.
Extra points
--- The Bears would’ve been shut out had it not been for punter/field-goal holder Tory Taylor, who corralled a high snap from rookie long snapper Beau Gardner to set up Santos’ 50-yard field goal in the first quarter.
--- The Bears continued to rotate Braxton Jones and Theo Benedet at left tackle. Second-year offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo worked in full at practice Friday for the first time since suffering his serious knee injury last January. He’ll likely be the starter at left tackle soon – perhaps even next Monday night against the Eagles.
--- Will the Bears pull the plug at center and insert rookie Logan Jones in place of struggling veteran Garrett Bradbury? Sunday was so bad for Bradbury that it’s worth considering.
--- The Bears’ leading receiver through two games is veteran Kalif Raymond, who has 13 receptions and is a reliable target in this offense.
--- Meanwhile, second-year tight end Colston Loveland had one reception for three yards in two games.
--- Bagent almost led the Bears, and what theater that would’ve been.
--- It was just a brutal, disastrous day at Soldier Field.
Chris Emma covers the Bears and the Chicago sports scene for 104.3 The Score.
