The Bears entered last week with a do or die scenario in their matchup against their divisional foe, the Minnesota Vikings. Both were 6-7 and needed a win to stay alive in hopes of potentially earning themselves a wild card spot. In essence, the winner stayed alive and the loser all but became eliminated from playoff contention.
Unfortunately, I missed the whole game as I had to work between 11-6:30 that day. I did not want to hear anything about the game from anyone until I went on my break. I finally did so around 3:30 and checked my score app to see what went down. Waiting for the app to load, I anxiously waited to see what the final score was, as it felt like it took minutes for the results to appear. I expected a close, low-score loss, but then I eventually saw a 33-27 win for the Chicago Bears and felt both surprised and profoundly delighted.
In this article, I will discuss and review the crucial win over the Vikings and preview our upcoming matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Playoff Hopes Stay Alive Thanks To The...Offense?
Over the past three weeks, the Chicago Bears have put up 30+ each game. Yes, you read that correctly.
Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought, in 2020 or almost ever, that this team's offense would put up that many points in consecutive games. Not even in 2013, the sole year of our only significant offensive season in recent memory, where the team ranked second in the NFL in overall offense, did they score 30+ points in three-straight games. Considering the team's state during their six-game losing streak, their recent showing feels too good to be true.
Trubisky Keeps Flowing
Quarterback Mitch Trubisky has been under extreme scrutiny and low confidence, including from yours truly. We all knew this, but he seemed like a lost cause with the way the team and their season became to be. However, credit must be given where it is due: he has played exceptionally well over the past several weeks.
In this past game against Minnesota, he did not stuff the stat sheet and put up substantial numbers. Instead, he played a controlled game led by a short-yard attack. He would eventually complete 21 pass attempts, including a touchdown pass with a man in his face to Wide Receiver Darnell Mooney early in the game.
He did have himself a god-awful interception in the end zone in an attempt to pad the Bears' lead by double digits with three minutes left in the game. But other than that, he played well enough to keep himself and the offense flowing. At the moment, I am still not going to call for the Bears to extend him (and neither should you), and that will take a LOT for me to change. Despite the surge, his leash is still very short, and I believe people do not realize that enough. I guarantee you: just one bad game of his and having the team lose will resurrect calls for most Bears fans to want him gone. To be honest with you, the mystery around his future in Chicago is only becoming even crazier to think about given his late surge.
Regardless of how you feel towards him, Trubisky deserves credit for the way he has played recently. We still have to wait another week to see how he could do against a much stiffer defense, but it is a delight to see him perform the way he has. He may not be playing lights out, but he seems nowhere near to be gasping for air at the moment. Besides, Trubisky does not need to light it up for the team to win. Sure, he has played well, but there is a much bigger reason why the offense has had recent success...
Run, Monty! Run!
You see what happens when you feed this man and give him room to run?!
Trubisky and the pass game have been good, but Running Back David Montgomery has been great. In fact, David Montgomery has been on an absolute blaze, rushing for 100+ yards for the third time in four games. For the first time since Jordan Howard in 2017 (in the OT win against the Baltimore Ravens), a Bears Running Back had 30+ carries, as Montgomery finished the game with 32 carries, 146 yards, and two touchdowns.
David Montgomery Fighting His Way For His Second Touchdown Against the Vikings Last Week
(Credit: NBC Chicago)
He flat-out tore up the Vikings defense and undoubtedly had the best game of his young career so far. Offensive Coordinator Bill Lazor and Head Coach Matt Nagy finally gave him the opportunity to lead the offensive attack for the game, and man did he not disappoint. He broke off several runs that showcased his brilliant physical style of play. He also provided good burst through the line, which would not have been possible without the Offensive Line's well-improved play, as they deserve a ton of credit, too. Specifically, Montgomery's second rushing touchdown saw him run through the middle of the line and take a few Vikings defenders with him to the endzone. It would have never occurred if it was not for Guard Cody Whitehair absolutely mauling an opposing defensive lineman about five yards downfield.
I will admit, you could potentially use the "he has not done well against a legit defense" argument with Montgomery. However, unlike Trubisky, the difference is he has not experienced a downfall of sorts in his young career so far. We are still learning about who Montgomery is and what he can do. He has always shown flashes and carried a ton of promise coming out of Iowa State. Even when the Bears were experiencing their downfall this year, Montgomery was still among the league leaders in broken tackles and yards after contact. He has also been severely limited by less-deserving usage and subpar Offensive Line play, until recently.
We know he is a physical back capable of doing damage against opposing defenses, and it appears the team is finally utilizing him properly. Like any player, I will still wait to call him legit until he can play consistently well against better defenses. But with what Montgomery has shown recently, the increased usage was strictly (perhaps better than) what we expected when we took him in the 3rd round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
State Of The Opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
When you look at the Jaguars and their 1-13 record this season, you see yet another year of sheer disappointment from the team. Top off the fact that they won their season opener against the Indianapolis Colts and lost thirteen straight games afterward, making it even more miserable for the team and their fanbase. The only legit shining light from the team is that undrafted Illinois State Running Back James Robinson has been one of the coolest, most underrated stories of the year, as he is among one of the league leaders in overall rushing.
However, despite the Jaguars' immense disappointment and being slaughtered by the Baltimore Ravens last week with a final score of 40-14, Duval County now has something to genuinely be excited about.
Tanking For Trevor
All season long, the win-less New York Jets appeared in a prime position to have the #1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. As we all knew for a while, the undisputed top prize in that class is none other than Clemson's Quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Being labeled as a generational talent, Lawrence is considered the most significant NFL prospect since Andrew Luck back in 2012. Suddenly, things changed last Sunday, as the Jets were able to shock the world and beat the 9-4 Los Angeles Rams.
While the Jets were fortunate not to join the 2008 Detroit Lions and 2017 Cleveland Browns as the only win-less seasons in NFL History, they arguably still lost more than they won. They now find themselves owning the second overall pick while the Jaguars jump up and are currently in the driver's seat towards the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes.
Trevor Lawrence Looking To Throw A Pass In The 2020 College Football Championship Against LSU
(Credit: Pro Football Network)
The Jaguars currently have second-year pro Gardner Minshew, former notorious Bears free-agent bust Mike Glennon, and 2020 6th round pick Jake Luton all making starts for the team this year. Minshew had himself a satisfying rookie season last year and making "Minshew Mania" well-known in the NFL world. However, after a decent start this season, he was sidelined with a thumb injury and stayed there until Week 14. Luton made three starts until he got benched in favor of Glennon, while Glennon has made three starts as well until Minshew came back. However, in this upcoming game against the Bears, Head Coach Doug Marrone (as of this writing) has not committed to a starter this week.
This just shows the mess the Jaguars are in and that they are still aching to fix their QB situation. Other than their magical 2017 AFC Championship appearance-season, they have been one of the league's bottom feeders in recent memory. Full of turmoil and former toxic star players left and right, the team is only focused on removing themselves from their frightening past. Being able to snag a player like Lawrence should help build excitement, and the only way they do that is to keep losing.
State Of The Bears
I do not know what to believe about this team anymore. Are they a team truly capable of winning? Are they just leading us on again into thinking we can actually play well? What should we think about the futures of Pace, Nagy, and Trubisky? I still am firm on my opinions at the moment, but who knows anymore. This team's future and direction is a significant question mark, and the season's final result will have monstrous implications on everything inside and out of the organization.
All we know is that the Bears are no longer plummeting like they previously were and are pushing for the playoffs. At the moment, they are staring up at the Arizona Cardinals and the final Wild Card spot. Simply put, Bears would need to win their last two games and have the Cardinals lose one of their final two games for us to have a realistic shot at making the playoffs. The fact that we are currently in this position after their six-game winning streak is mind-boggling and nothing short of a miracle; yet here we are.
If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It
One of Matt Nagy and his coaching staff's chief criticisms this season is making questionable changes and play calls with the offensive scheme. For example, when there has been an aspect of the game that has been successful one week, they would questionably pull back from that and not be as committed to that successful phase as they were. Specifically, we have seen this with Allen Robinson and David Montgomery at times this year.
This does not take a lot to figure out: All we ask for is to keep feeding those guys. When you continuously target your top weapon down the field, who is a renowned catch in traffic artist, better things happen. When you give your rising bruiser of a Running Back more carries, better things happen. Fortunately, with Bill Lazor in charge of offensive play calls, we have seen these guys better, more deserving opportunities, especially in Montgomery's case.
Anthony Miller, Allen Robinson, and Mitch Trubisky Surrounding David Montgomery After His
Touchdown v.s. The Houston Texans (Credit: Bears WIre - USA Today)
We have seen this offense play better far beyond what we could have ever imagined with both guys clicking. It would be foolish to continue to fully expect 30 point games, but thanks to the improved play of Mitch Trubisky, as well, the offense is finally being able to roll properly. It would have been fantastic to see this type of play before they lost six-straight games, but the next best thing for the team was to learn from their mistakes and see how they can get better, and fortunately, they seem just to be doing so.
My Preseason Prediction For This Game: Bears Win
My Pick Now: Bears Win
Final Score: Bears 26 - Jaguars 13
For the first time since Week 10, I have finally picked the Bears to win again heading into a game.
When you face a team as low as the Jaguars, it may be easy to assume that the game will be lopsided in our favor. While that could very well be the case this week, surprises are always bound to happen in any sport whatsoever. I mean, as I said, we just saw the win-less Jets beat the 9-4, seemingly playoff-bound Los Angeles Rams last week, so anything is possible.
While I always prioritize keeping upsets in mind, I will be more lenient on the Bears this week.
Even against the worst-ranked defense in the league, I will not predict the Bears' offense having their fourth-straight 30-point performance this week. But that does not mean I do not think guys like Robinson and Montgomery will not have good games. Robinson is a former Jaguar himself and left the team on not the most ideal terms. Even while on a team that many believe (and no one can blame him) he is unhappy with, I would bet that he has had this game circled on his calendar since the moment the Bears' schedule was released. I am confident in Trubisky feeding him again and allowing his top target to exert proper revenge against his former squad.
I would not be completely blown away if this game was relatively close, as the Bears have been better lately, but are still not great by any means. But both teams have important implications with the outcome of the game; the Bears for the playoffs and the Jaguars with an opportunity to draft one of the most prized draft prospects in recent memory. At this point, a Bears win and Jaguars loss would be a welcomed outcome for both fanbases. This is a rare opportunity for both sides to be happy with a specific final score outcome; let us hope that comes to fruition. Just do not forget to keep an eye on the Cardinals score while you are at it, too.
If you read through this whole article, pat yourself on the back because you are a gem. While you are at it, please feel free to let me know what you think and tap the heart icon at the bottom, if you wish.
Thank You and Bear Down!