The Bears were who we thought they were after ruining their own epic comeback vs. the Vikings
The Bears almost had a day for the ages until they shot themselves in the foot. Twice.
For much of the afternoon against the Vikings (-7.5), the Bears looked lost. That might even be an understatement. After Chicago fell behind 21-3 late in the first half, it didn’t seem like much would go right for this rag-tag group.
On offense, Justin Fields and Co. couldn’t muster up much of any consistent positivity or churn. Chicago’s mission to make a simple forward pass look like solving a Rubik’s cube continued. On defense, Kirk Cousins started 17-of-17, and the Bears seemed to somehow forget about covering All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson downfield … or anywhere on the field.
But then, this game flipped in an instant.
On the Bears’ final drive of the first half, Darnell Mooney made one of (or the best?) catch of the year:
GOOD GOD DARNELL MOONEY pic.twitter.com/6OvUrDlpef
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) October 9, 2022
From there, the Bears would start cooking. They were putting themselves in position of completing the largest comeback in franchise history since a famous rant by former Cardinals head coach Dennis Green:
From @ESPNStatsInfo: The Bears trailed 21-3. Chicago's last comeback victory from 18+ points down came on Oct. 16, 2006 against the Bears when they trailed by 20 points on Monday Night Football.
The birth of the "they are who we thought they were" rant.
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) October 9, 2022
The unfortunate spin here is that the Bears probably should’ve finished the rally after scoring 19 unanswered points to take a 22-21 lead in the fourth quarter. In fact, when Justin Fields found a late seam around the edge on a would-be touchdown, it seemed like they did.
Bad news — Ihmir Smith-Marsette would be called for a block in the back that negated Fields’ electric run:
it didn't count thanks to a block in the back, but hoooooo buddddy this Justin Fields run was
pic.twitter.com/G7Rn0xaeej
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) October 9, 2022
Speaking of Fields’ clutch play, despite a horrendous supporting cast, he more than came through when the Bears needed him:
Justin Fields in the 2nd half
12-13, 135 yards, TD passing
5 rush, 36 yards— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) October 9, 2022
Later, after the Vikings orchestrated a masterful drive to take a late 29-22 lead, the Bears looked like they’d at least push Minnesota to the very end on their final possession. A valiant fight to the end.
Unfortunately, another tough extra push — ironically from Smith-Marsette again — would doom the Bears after the receiver fumbled the ball on their gotta-have-it, two-minute drill:
GIMME THAT. CAMERON DANTZLER TAKES THE BALL AWAY FOR A W.
pic.twitter.com/rNWS9Tcvi2
— Football Outsiders (@fboutsiders) October 9, 2022
Oof. The rare instance where pushing forward a little harder as a football player comes back to bite you in the worst possible way.
And so, despite an impressive rally from Fields and some heart shown by the Bears in an almost astonishing comeback, they unsurprisingly shot themselves in the foot, ruining any chance for victory.
In the end, in the words of the immortal Mr. Dennis Green: The [Bears] are who we thought they were.