Bears vs Vikings Halftime Report: Tied up at 3
Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
It’s appropriate to show Blair Walsh kicking a 37-yard field goal in the Week 17 Bears vs Vikings clash, because the first half of this meaningless game has been highlighted by a pair of field goals. The Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings are knotted up at 3 in the battle for last place in the NFC North in what many believe is Marc Trestman’s last game as head coach. The worst thing Trestman could do would be to guide the Bears to a victory and botch their draft position, which sits at #7 heading into Week 17. A win could move the Bears from #7 to #11. It’s not a huge dropoff, but whoever is in charge of the Bears draft could use all the help they can get.
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Neither team seems interested in trying to win this game. Jay Cutler and the Bears offense appear content to move the ball via screen passes and check downs while Teddy Bridgewater and the Vikings are slogging through the proverbial mud. I’d like to say the Bears defense looks good, but I think the Vikings offense is just bad. Both quarterbacks accounted for 85 passing yards in the first half.
Matt Forte is inching closer to breaking Larry Centers’ all time catches mark for a running back with 5 catches in the first half for 10 yards. Martellus Bennett added 5 catches for 36 yards.
On defense, Jeremiah Ratliff had a sack to give him 6.5 on the season while Shea McClellin blew up an intended reverse for an 11-yard loss. It’s the first time in three seasons that McClellin wasn’t fooled by a misdirection play. Progress people, progress.
Regardless of the result, the most interesting events are sure to take place on Monday when Trestman and his staff should be shown the door. It’s still unclear whether GM Phil Emery will survive the purge.