The Chicago Bears met the challenge head-on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis. With little to play for after the Rams jumped out to a big early lead on the 49’ers, the Bears demonstrated the gritty resolve they’ve displayed all season en route to a well-earned 24-10 victory over the Vikings.
Chicago finishes the regular season at 12-4 and prepares to welcome the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday at Soldier Field. Meanwhile, the Vikings, pre-season favorites as a possible Super Bowl team, miss the playoffs and conclude a disappointing year at 8-7-1. READ MORE
The Chicago Bears get a playoff preview when they face the Minnesota Vikings Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.
In a game that resembles as close to a post-season atmosphere as there could be, the Bears seek to finish strong, stay healthy, and possibly eliminate the Vikings from playoff consideration. With a little help from San Francisco combined with a Chicago victory, the Bears would land a coveted first-round bye.
Ahead of the kick, here are four keys to a Bears win:
1. Protect Mitch Trubisky…Although the Bears did a respectable job in the first meeting, Minnesota will be fueled by the home crowd in a must-win game. Tasckles Charles Leno and Bobby Massie have played solidly, but are prone to occasional breakdowns. The Vikings Danielle Hunter (14.5 sacks enjoyed a breakout year and combines speed with power. READ MORE
With the NFC North title locked up but a playoff seed still on the line, the Chicago Bears (10-4) head west to play an undermanned, yet improving San Francisco (4-10) club.
Here are three questions to ponder before Sunday afternoon’s kick:
Overcoming past history and painful memories, the Chicago Bears relied on their defense and opportunistic plays from the offense and special teams to beat Green Bay 24-17 and in the process, earn the NFC North division crown.
“It’s a humbling experience for all of us,” said coach Matt Nagy. “We talked about finishing all week—finish, finish, finish. We had a very similar situation as we did the first week and we were able to finish the game.” The Bears avenged a season opening 24-23 setback in a game where they blew a 20-0 advantage. READ MORE
