The Chicago Bears upset the Minnesota Vikings in a game that was only close because the team could not get out of their own way. From start to finish, they looked like the better team that was more deserving of winning the game. They got some key players to step up, which guided them to victory. Who were the players who stepped up the most?
5. The Chicago Bears saw the value of Roschon Johnson
Monday night was the most we had ever seen from Roschon Johnson. Johnson had been ascending, but a concussion in week five caused him to play two games. This was when D’onta Foreman took over the backfield and did not let it go.
However, with Foreman injured in Week 12, there was a chance to get Roschon Johnson back into the mix. Khalil Herbert had a chance to get back into the swing of things, but the Bears discovered that they needed a power back who could get downhill with a straight-ahead running style. That is what Foreman brought, and Johnson brought.
Herbert is more about big plays, but the risk is that he gets outside often, and it can lead to losses. The Bears need a runner who can stay on schedule, and they are getting that with the grinder backs.
Johnson never played more than 50% of the snaps in an NFL game until Monday, but he played 75%. He had a season-high in rushing attempts and routes run. The results were 15 overall touches for 75 yards, with four catches for 40 yards being key in the victory.
It will be interesting to see if Johnson can continue to control the backfield after the bye week, or if Foreman gets healthy and they go back to him.
4. The Chicago Bears key trade additions made an impact
The Chicago Bears had two big trades in the past calendar year. After the awful decision to trade for Chase Claypool, Ryan Poles went back to the plate with DJ Moore and Montez Sweat. These two have been phenomenal additions so far, and both are key reasons the team won.
Moore had 11 catches for 114 yards in the win. Six of his catches moved the chains. On the flip side is Montez Sweat, who added 1.5 sacks. He has 2.5 sacks with the Bears, which is just 0.5 away from the team lead. He has been here for four games.
The Bears as a team are getting more sacks and turnovers in the last four games compared to the first eight. It is so easy to say this has to do with Sweat.
The additions of Moore and Sweat are the reason the Bears have four wins. They are the two best players on the roster already.
3. The Chicago Bears defensive line is coming alive
The addition of Montez Sweat has been huge because it has made other players better. One easy case is DeMarcus Walker. Walker was always meant to be a rotational rusher when he signed. However, the lack of depth had him starting for the Bears and playing more than ever.
It took a week or so to get going, but now Walker has a more defined role and is excelling. From weeks one through nine, he had a pass rush win rate of 8.7, and in the last three games, it was up to 15.8%. He has had nine pressures in the last two weeks.
Gervon Dexter has had eight pressures in the last three weeks. That is pretty good when you consider he had nine in nine games coming into this one. Dexter had an 8.1% pass rush win rate in the first eight games, and that shot up to 15% in the past three weeks. Some of this is Sweat, some is the rookie getting better.
Dexter had many key rushes in this game, and Walker saved the Bears points late in the first half with a huge sack of Joshua Dobbs. The Bears do not win without these two key offseason additions.
2. The Chicago Bears need to extend Jaylon Johnson
The best player on the Chicago Bears in recent weeks has been Jaylon Johnson. You could easily consider him the best cornerback in the game right now. Johnson has always been shut down, but now he is bringing the ball skills. Johnson had an interception and two pass breakups on Monday. Honestly, he should have had two picks.
He did the same thing against Detroit and could easily have a five-interception season. Still, three will do when he had one in three years coming into this game.
More than just picking off passes, Johnson has been lockdown and has quarterbacks looking anywhere but his way. On top of that, he remains solid as a tackler against the run.
The Bears had to start Terell Smith in this game and get an honorary mention for a good start, but this game was won because the Vikings could not do anything in Johnson's direction.
1. TJ Edwards is picking things up for the Chicago Bears
TJ Edwards has slowly but surely become a find for the Chicago Bears. He started off the season rocky but has slowly gotten better. At first, he improved against the run and as a pass rusher. However, after Austin Ekeler embarrassed him and the Bears on primetime, Edwards has also been better in coverage.
In the first eight weeks, he was allowing 9.4 yards per target and 8.8 yards after the catch per reception. In the last four weeks Edwards is allowing 6.5 yards per target and 6.4 yards after the catch per reception.
Monday was his best game in coverage, PFF, but anyone watching the tape could see that as well. Edwards made a game-changing play where he followed the running back across the field in motion and made a sideline-to-sideline play in coverage. Edwards was also key in limiting Joshua Dobbs' rushing attempts.
His ascension in recent weeks is looked over because the team is healthy in so many other areas, but Edwards is straight-up playing good football.