GRADING THE BEARS
QUARTERBACK
AJay Cutler ( 20- for- 31, 252 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs, 100.5 rating) shook off some early rust and was virtually surgical in attacking a stout Vikings defense with precision. His 11yard TD pass in a tight window to Alshon Jeffery was what they were missing without him.
RUNNING BACKS
ARookie Jordan Howard ( 26- 153, 1 TD) gave the Bears’ 32nd- ranked scoring offense the spark it needed with a 69- yard run in the first quarter. He had a key third- down catch and also scored his second TD of the season on a 2- yard run.
RECEIVERS
BJeffery ( 4- 63) was shut out in the first half but had 4 catches in the second half, including the 11- yard TD. TE Zach Miller ( 7- 88) had a 21- yard catch on a TD drive. Rookie TE Ben Braunecker ( 1- 8) had his first NFL catch that preceded Howard’s 2- yard TD.
OFFENSIVE LINE
ALine did yeoman’s work vs. a tough Vikings front without guards Kyle Long and Josh Sitton. Eric Kush played like a starter. Ted Larsen held his own. Vikes’ Linval Joseph made plays, and Charles Leno Jr. allowed the lone sack, but the Bears never let the Vikes take control.
DEFENSIVE LINE
AAkiem Hicks came through with a huge game when the Bears needed it— two sacks and a pass breakup. Cornelius Washington had a hustle sack, chasing down Sam Bradford near the sideline, and a batted pass. Vikes held to 57 yards on 18 carries ( 3.2 average).
LINEBACKERS
ALeonard Floyd backed up his stellar game vs. the Packers with another sack and drew a holding penalty. Willie Young was active all night. Jerrell Freeman ( 7 tackles) had big third- down stops. Danny Trevathan is getting there.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
B+ Tracy Porter and Cre’Von LeBlanc were solid at CB as the Vikings were held to 95 net passing yards through three quarters, with a long play of 21 yards. Stefon Diggs beat De’Vante Bausby for a late TD and nearly had a 50- yard TD, but Bradford barely overthrew him.
SPECIAL TEAMS
C+ LeBlanc had some tough luck with punts that cost the Bears field position— but without any ultimate damage. Connor Barth was 2- for- 2 on FGs ( 30, 28). Nick Kwiatkoski and Sherrick McManis made plays.
COACHING
AJohn Fox, take a bow. With 11 days between games, Bears played solid, virtually error- free football against a first- place team. Dowell Loggains and Vic Fangio had excellent game plans. Loggains, in particular, called a good game, keeping the Vikings off- balance.