2017 Chicago Bears: Week 5 Report Card vs. Minnesota Vikings
Although the Chicago Bears put a new quarterback in the starting lineup, their Monday night game ended the same old way. The Bears (1-4) found themselves on the losing end once again after their narrow defeat to the Minnesota Vikings by the score of 20-17.
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Things started out well in the first half. Chicago held Minnesota’s offense to just 55 yards in the first two quarters. Unfortunately, six first-half penalties kept the Bears from gaining full control of the contest. Despite giving up two touchdowns in the third quarter, Chicago had enough tricks up their sleeve to tie the game late, only to let it slip away in the final minutes.
Even in defeat, the arrow seem to be pointing up for the Bears. Let’s see if that arrow is pointing in the same direction for their grades for Week 5.
Quarterback
Mitchell Trubisky’s NFL regular-season debut wasn’t perfect, but it was impressive. The second overall draft pick finished the game completing 12 of his 25 pass attempts for 128 yards and one touchdown. Unfortunately, Trubisky threw an interception deep in the Bears’ territory late in the game, which resulted in the Vikings kicking the game-winning field goal with 12 seconds left in regulation. Overall, the rookie quarterback did well moving outside the pocket and spreading the ball. The fact that Trubisky’s not-so gaudy numbers still helped the offense look better than before, there is hope that things will only get better in the upcoming weeks.
Grade: C+
Running Backs
Jordan Howard’s 19 carries for 76 yards would have looked more impressive had his 42-yard touchdown run not been negated due to a holding penalty. But Howard did do a decent job against a Vikings defense that was third in defending the run coming into Week 5. Howard’s backfield mate rookie Tarik Cohen wasn’t as productive. Cohen only gained 13 yards on six carries, and hauled in one catch for minus-six yards. A lot of dancing and reversing of direction in the backfield didn’t help the quick and shifty rookie out of North Carolina A&T.
Grade: C
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Thanks to Trubisky, the Bears’ wide receivers and tight ends were much more involved in the passing game, compared to the last two weeks. Kendall Wright was the team’s leading receiver with four catches for 46 yards, while tight end Zach Miller added three receptions, 39 yards, and a touchdown of his own. Markus Wheaton did get targeted, but still struggled. Wheaton’s highly questionable holding penalty wiped out Howard’s touchdown run in the second quarter.
Grade: C
Offensive Line
Trubisky’s mobility made it a bit easier for the offensive line to keep the Vikings’ pass rush at bay. Only one sack was allowed, but it was costly. Charles Leno Jr. failed to keep Minnesota’s Everson Griffen from turning the corner, and a strip-sack and lost fumble was the result. The Vikings then scored a field goal. Center Cody Whitehair was flagged for a holding penalty on a third-and-10 in the first quarter that nullified a first down reception by Tre McBride III. Whitehair also had problems with snapping the ball in the shotgun.
Grade: C-
Defensive Line
It looks like defensive end Akiem Hicks has returned to the form we saw in Week 1. Hicks had two of the Bears’ four sacks on the night, to go along with four tackles. Mitch Unrein, Eddie Goldman, and Jonathan Bullard all combined for six tackles. However, the defensive front did have some problems in setting the tone on the line of scrimmage in defending the run. Minnesota’s running backs combined for a total of 126 yards on the ground.
Grade: C
Linebackers
Chicago’s pass rush was alive and well Monday night, and they took advantage of the immobile Sam Bradford in the first half. Leonard Floyd got to the quarterback twice, with one of those sacks resulting in a safety. Floyd could have had a third sack, but his holding penalty on third down wiped that out. More importantly, Floyd’s penalty gave the Vikings a first down, giving them the opportunity to melt the clock before kicking the game-winning field goal.
Injuries forced the Bears the put Jonathan Anderson in along with Christian Jones at inside linebacker. Jones had difficulty making the calls before the snap, and none was more apparent than the play that resulted in Vikings running back Jerick McKinnon scampering down the field for a 58-yard touchdown.
Grade: C
Defensive Backs
Vikings wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen came into this game ranked first and third in the NFL in receiving yards respectively. Chicago’s secondary did an excellent job in holding the duo to a combined 38 receiving yards. The safety Floyd scored was because of their tight coverage. However, cornerback Kyle Fuller did lose containment of Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph in the end zone during the third quarter.
Grade: C
Special Teams
Punter Pat O’Donnell landed only two of his seven punts inside the 20-yard line, but it was his 38-yard touchdown pass to Benny Cunningham on a fake punt that was the play of the game. DeAndre Houston-Carson forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff that could have completely swung the momentum in the direction of the Bears, but Cre’Von LeBlanc was out of bounds when he recovered the ball.
Grade: B+
Coaching
John Fox and his coaching staff should get kudos for the game plan they devised for their rookie quarterback, as well for their defense and special teams. Chicago played to Trubisky’s strengths, they kept pressure on Minnesota’s quarterbacks, and made a gutsy and much-needed call on the fake punt. The well-designed play on the two-point conversion that tied the game at 17 was unexpected and exciting.
Grade: B