Climbing back to .500 has never been so stressful! We'll talk about the Bears' inability to close games later – for now, enjoy a nice 33-27 road win over a division rival. Playoffs?! Here's where the arrows are pointing:
Arrow Up – Darnell Mooney
Mooney’s not just a guy, he’s A Guy. (And one that now owns the record for most receptions from a Bears rookie.) The final statline (4 catches 49 yards 1 TD) isn’t necessarily going to blow anyone away, but his role within the Bears offense – not to mention his importance – has never been more clear. His touchdown catch in the first quarter was impressive, but his 12-yard catch one quarter later may have been the best play of his game. Safe to say he’s already the Bears’ most explosive player?
Arrow Up – Mitch Trubisky
If only the Bears had given Trubisky more input at, you know, any point in the last four years! (I’m kidding) (No I’m not) People had waited to see how the new-and-improved, efficient, bootleg machine fared against a respectable defense, and Trubisky didn’t disappoint. Not only did he finish 15/21 with 202 yards and a touchdown, but he pulled the Bears back to .500 and essentially ended Minnesota’s season in the process. He did a little bit of everything on Sunday: he found yards with his legs, made smart decisions, and protected the football (for the most part). Things are going so well for Trubisky right now that Twitter spent most of the 2nd half talking about how the Bears would bring him back next year.
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Arrow Down – Kindle Vildor
His pass interference call in the 4th quarter may have been ticky-tacky, but it was a PI call nonetheless – and one that kept the Vikings on the field in a two-score game with 10 minutes left. He was a fairly significant part of the blown coverage that led to the Vikings first touchdown, too. Going up against Minnesota’s receiving group is as tough as a debut gets, but Vildor struggled quite a bit.
Arrow Up – Cairo Santos
He’s hit 22 field goals in a row and is just *now* getting the love he deserves. 21! Has a Bears kicker ever made 22 field goals in a season?! (Stop yelling at me, I know.) Take a little time to do some inventory on all the other things you’ve worried about this year, and how none of it has been kicker related. What a world we’re living in.
Arrow Up – David Montgomery
He’s arrived! The Montgomera is here! Montgomery’s 146 yard day marked the third time in four games that he’s gotten over 100. It was also, notably, a career-high. Imagine if the Bears had tried giving him the ball before Week 10! The best part about David Montgomery touchdown runs is how, every single time, he gets into the end zone with 5 guys hanging on for dear life.
Arrow Down – Run defense
Look, Dalvin Cook’s a stud. He finished the first half with 79 yards on the ground – the most any RB’s had against Chicago this year – and ended the game with 132. He averaged almost *six* yards per carry. There’s not a whole lot more to say; it was ugly. The Bears will certainly appreciate having Eddie Goldman back next year.
NFL
Arrow Up Hon. Mention: Sam Mustipher & Cody Whitehair; Bill Lazor; Allen Robinson
Arrow Down Hon. Mention: Tackling; end zone targets for JP Holtz; late-game clock management