It was a rainy day at Soldier Field as both teams struggled to move the ball in the slippery conditions.
The Vikings started with the ball and got on the board first with a 35-yard field goal from Will Reichard. The Bears responded on the next drive with a field goal of their own as kicker Cairo Santos connected from 50 yards. After a Minnesota punt, a Bears interception and another Vikings punt, the game was tied 3-3 heading into the second quarter.
After a Bears punt to start the second quarter, Minnesota drove down the field, and Reichard made his second field goal of the game from 49 yards. Both teams punted on their next possessions, the Vikings led 6-3 at halftime.
To start the third quarter, the Bears worked the ball to the 1-yard line. However, on first-and-goal, running back D’Andre Swift fumbled, and the Vikings recovered. Minnesota couldn’t capitalize on the turnover and punted after five plays.
Following two more punts by each team, Chicago moved the ball early in the fourth quarter. The Bears reached the red zone behind several runs from Kyle Monangai. On first-and-goal from the Minnesota 6-yard line, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams rolled out of the pocket looking to scramble. However, he slipped awkwardly on the field and fell, grabbing his leg. Williams struggled to walk under his own power and was carted off the field.
Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent entered the game. After a 1-yard pass and an incompletion, Chicago set up for a field goal from the Minnesota 5-yard line looking to tie the game at 6. When the ball was snapped, holder Tory Taylor took too long to place it on the ground, and Vikings defensive back Isaiah Rodgers blocked the kick.
Minnesota used the momentum from the blocked field goal to drive down the field on an 11-play possession, and Reichard made his third and final field goal of the day, a 39-yarder.
However, Chicago had 1:09 and a sliver of hope to steal the game from the Vikings. Tyson Bagent led the offense down the field to the Minnesota 20-yard line. After an 8-yard pass and two incompletions, the Bears faced fourth-and-2 with one second remaining. Bagent dropped back to pass, surveyed the field and was sacked by Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner.
The loss moved the Bears to 1-1 on the season after their offense scored 53 fewer points than it did in Week 1 against the Panthers. However, Chicago’s biggest concern was not the loss to Minnesota but the health of Williams.
On Monday, the Bears’ medical staff revealed Williams had suffered a minor hamstring injury and had not been ruled out yet for Week 3.
Some fans took to the internet to criticize Williams for reacting to his injury, but his performance throughout the rest of the season will help determine how he is perceived. Before exiting the game, Williams completed 15-26 passes for 138 yards with one interception. He was sacked three times, posted a 56.6 passer rating and added 42 rushing yards. It was not the best performance for the “Madden NFL 27” cover athlete.
Monangai led the team in rushing with 47 yards on 10 carries, while Swift led the team in receiving with five receptions for 54 yards. Swift also added 45 rushing yards on 16 carries. Wide receiver Kalif Raymond had five catches for 40 yards, and for the second consecutive week, tight end Colston Loveland was a nonfactor in the offense. Despite leading Chicago in receiving yards last season, Loveland has just one reception for 3 yards through two games.
The defense held Minnesota to just nine points but didn’t fill up the stat sheet. Chicago didn’t force a turnover despite leading the NFL in takeaways last season. Rookie defensive back Dillon Thieneman and defensive tackle James Lynch led the team with seven tackles apiece. Defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo, defensive back Malik Muhammed II and defensive end Austin Booker each recorded a sack.
With Williams’ injury, a solid defensive performance and an underwhelming offensive showing, the Bears have plenty of work to do before their upcoming prime-time game. In Week 3, Chicago will remain home and host the 2-0 Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field on Sept. 28 for a “Monday Night Football” matchup on ESPN and ABC.
