Emma: 3 storylines to follow in Bears-Vikings
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — The Bears (4-9) are on the brink of officially being eliminated from playoff contention when they visit the Vikings (11-2) on Monday Night Football. Chicago has lost seven straight games, while Minnesota has won six in a row.
Here are three storylines to follow from U.S. Bank Stadium.
All about QB1
The Bears' vision for this 2024 season was to ascend as a team while rookie quarterback Caleb Williams established himself in the NFL.
Amid the team's struggles, Williams has done his part. He continues to play at a high level and showcase growth despite the inconsistency around him.
Williams' play is what matters most for the Bears in the final four games. Through 13 starts, Williams has thrown for 2,746 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. He has gone seven straight games without throwing a pick. Of course, Chicago is winless in that span.
It underscores how the Bears have struggled to build around Williams. This season has been a big disappointment, but Williams continues to shine while learning to cope with losing.
"There's belief — belief, hope and faith — that we're going to get this right," Williams told reporters Thursday at Halas Hall. "And however it may happen, that's how it's going to happen. That's kind of where I'm at with it. They drafted me here to go win games. If we're down, find a way to come back. If we're up, find a way to stay up and win games. Haven't been able to do that so far. The guys are frustrated about it, as am I."
For the first time in his NFL career, Williams on Monday will face the same opponent for a second time in a season.
Williams threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns in the Bears' 30-27 loss to the Vikings in overtime on Nov. 24 at Soldier Field. He played well against aggressive Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and a stout Minnesota defense. It was an impressive showing from Williams, albeit in another losing effort.
The Bears are playing for their future now, and Williams inspires hope that it can still be bright.
Pulse check
In their first game since firing head coach Matt Eberflus, the Bears lost 38-13 to the 49ers last Sunday and showed that they have many more problems to address. A coaching change wasn't nearly enough to get this team right.
At halftime, the Bears trailed 24-0 and had more punts (five) than yards of offense (four). Meanwhile, the 49ers compiled 319 yards of offense in the first half alone.
It was the type of poor performance that put the underperforming Bears players under a microscope, and there's no swift solution to cleaning up this particular mess. It will take a thorough offseason evaluation – whether that's by general manager Ryan Poles or his replacement – to assess the culture of the team.
With four games remaining, Bears players needs to understand what they're fighting for. It's about proving themselves to the decision-makers at Halas Hall or those who lead the other 31 NFL teams.
The Bears need to play with a greater sense of pride and purpose, even if there's little the team can collectively accomplish.
Brown's bounce back?
Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown is fighting for his own future. With a strong showing down the stretch, he could state his case to become Chicago's next head coach. He also has the opportunity to land elsewhere around the NFL.
It will be hard to consider Brown a legitimate candidate if the Bears show up uninspired once again Monday night. Though Brown didn't put this team together, it's his job to unify the group and recharge its collective battery.
Brown's debut as Bears interim head coach was a complete disaster. Though he doesn't deserve the blame, front office decision-makers around the league will hold it against him. That's how this business works.
The Bears had plenty of "truth telling" in the aftermath of that ugly performance in San Francisco, Brown said. A galvanized effort against the Vikings would look good for Brown and the Bears.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
