Going into a Week 11 tilt against the Minnesota Vikings, the Chicago Bears are a much different team than they were in the two teams' Week 1 matchup. Having figured out ways to come together and win when their backs are up against the wall, this Bears team is not one that will lay down and die.
One of the biggest strengths of this team, now, is up front on their offensive line. It's a refreshing thing to be able to say, but even Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell is taking notice. Specifically, O'Connell highlighted right tackle Darnell Wright in some recent time with Minnesota media.
"I think their offensive line's probably not getting talked about enough. Darnell Wright, when I turn on the tape I see one of the best right tackles in football," O'Connell said.
Bears fans everywhere are nodding and smiling in agreement, because Wright has absolutely played like a top offensive tackle in this league. He has been, by far, the Bears' best offensive lineman. But that's also saying something, because the rest of the line has been playing well and has come together since the beginning of the year.
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Along with Wright being a mauler in the run game, he's not the only reason why the Bears have the league's second-best rushing attack through 10 weeks. O'Connell is taking notice of the entire Bears offensive line.
"I think their additions at center and guard have shown up, and been pretty consistently healthy, and been out there on the field gelling together," the Vikings coach went on. "They made the switch at left tackle and you see the production they're getting out of that position now."
It's become very evident that this Bears offensive line has started to do what many fans had hoped it could after the offseason additions of Drew Dalman, Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson.
Jackson, specifically, started the season in a highly-questionable manner. Fans were already bracing for Lions and Rams fans to point their fingers and tell you they were right. But, since the first few weeks, even he has improved.
But it starts with Wright. His tenacity and tone-setting is exactly what this group needs as a whole. They seem to run as Wright runs, which again, is a breath of fresh air. To see this group playing far more physical and working together is something Bears fans haven't seen in quite some time.
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Going into their matchup with Minnesota, you can absolutely use the cliché. This team is not what it was in Week 1.