3 Takeaways from the Chicago Bears loss to the Vikings
The Chicago Bears desperately need Jaylon Johnson to get healthy.
The Bears effectively made Kirk Cousins look like Joe Montana early in the contest. The 34-year-old seemingly had someone running wide open every time he dropped back to pass, and it looked like there was nothing Chicago could do to slow down the Vikings’ high-powered offensive attack.
Undrafted free agent Jaylon Jones got the start for Chicago and looked like the worst player on the field for either squad. Cousins targeted the Ole Miss product early and often, and he gave up over 100 yards in the first quarter alone. While he wound up leading the team with 13 tackles, that had more to do with the fact that he was often the nearest defender in coverage rather than a testament to his skills as a run defender.
However, it was not all negative from the Bears’ secondary, as Kindle Vildor nabbed his first career interception, and Kyler Gordon had arguably his best performance of the season after getting picked on the first few weeks. However, the Bears were sorely missing Jaylon Johnson for the third-straight week, as there was nothing they could do to slow down Justin Jefferson, who finished the contest with 12 catches for 154 yards.
The Bears would have had a much better chance to win if Johnson were in the game, as Jefferson would have been hard-pressed to have the same impact against Chicago’s lockdown cover man.
Johnson is an invaluable asset to the Bears’ secondary, and they need him to return to the lineup if they want to play up to their potential. If Gordon and Vildor can build off their strong performances, then there is reason to be optimistic about Chicago’s defensive backfield once the 23-year-old can return to the lineup.