TURNING POINT, TAKE 2
Bears did zip after pulling big upset last year, but this time may be different
Did the Bears just take a huge step toward relevance? Or was Monday night’s upset of the Minnesota Vikings just a mirage— a well- timed matchup against a good team in a rut?
We’ll soon find out. The last time the Bears shocked the world — a 17- 13 upset of Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field last year— they parlayed the momentum into absolutely nothing, losing to the 3- 8 San Francisco 49ers 26- 20 at home in overtime. In fact, the Bears lost their next three games and four of five. The only team they beat in that span — the Tampa Bay Buccaneers— fired their coach.
Now in a similar situation after an impressive 20- 10 victory over the Vikings at Soldier Field, the Bears have an opportunity to show just how far they’ve come. They have two weeks to rest, get healthy and prepare for the Bucs ( 3- 4) in Tampa. After that, they face the New York Giants ( 4- 3), who will be coming off a Monday night game against the Philadelphia Eagles;agles; the Tennessee Titans ( 4- 4),, who will be playing their third road game in four weeks; and the he 49ers ( 1- 6), who also will be playingng their third game of four on the road, oad, where they are 1- 10 the lastt two seasons. Their only victory y was against the Bears last year.
So far, Year 2 of the John n Fox era has been a big disappointment. In recent years, Bears fans have been conditioned to expect theworst — a big reason why an NFL. com story that they had hired a consultant to review their football operations gained traction so easily.
But the potential to build d on an upset is a little greater ter this time than it was after the Lambeau win last year— with an improved defense under r Vic Fangio among the top reasons. The front seven, which was expected to be a force, is coming into focus now, with Leonard Floyd and Akiem Hicks more effective recently, Pernell McPhee back on the field and Jerrell Freeman and Danny Trevathan providing consistencyco and production in the middle. For the first time since Lovie Smith was fired, the Bears have a defense with some bite to it. Especially around here, that’s always a good place to start. 1a Nose tackle Eddie Goldman, who has missed the last five games with a high ankle sprain, could be the final major piece of the puzzle. “Hopefully we’ll have him back when we start preparation for Tampa,” Fox said. 2 It was only one game, but things are finally looking up for general manager Ryan Pace. Floyd has three sacks and a touchdown in his last two games. Hicks, after a slow start, had two sacks against the Vikings and has four in his last five games. Rookie Jordan Howard ( 26 carries, 153 yards, one touchdown) outgained Matt Forte ( 25- 82, two touchdowns). Zach Miller ( seven catches, 88 yards) out gained Martellus Bennett ( 435). Reserve guards Eric Kush and Ted Larsen didn’t leave anyone pining for Matt Slauson. And Connor Barth was 2- for- 2 on field goals ( 30 and 28 yards) and has kicked seven in a row. 3 If you’re lamenting the Bears diminishing their chances for
top- five draft pick by beating the Vikings, stop it. The Bears beat the Vikings because key players played well— Floyd, Hicks, Jay Cutler, Howard. If they keep winning because they’re actually getting better, that’s more important than tanking an entire season Theo style for a top- five pick— at least until the final game or two. With better health— the Bears are starting to show some growth. 4 If Howard had another gear, he would have reached the end zone for an 82- yard score, but if he had that kind of speed, he wouldn’t have been around in the fifth round of the draft. As it was, an inside run that goes for 69 yards is pretty impressive, not only for Howard but for the Bears’ offense. 5 Howard’s run was the fourth longest of the post- Walter Payton era, behind Neal Anderson ( 80- yard touchdown vs. the Packers in 1988 and 73 yards vs. the Packers in 1989) and Kahlil Bell ( 72 yards vs. the Eagles in 2009).
5a Howard’s 26- carry, 153yard rushing performance ( 5.9 average) was even more impressive considering the Vikings came into the game ranked third in rushing defense ( 81.7 yards per game) and seventh in yards per attempt ( 3.7). Howard’s previous 100- yard games came against the Detroit Lions ( 27th in rushing defense/ 21st in yards per attempt) and Indianapolis Colts ( 22nd/ 14th). 6 The Bears are going into the bye off a victory for the first time since 2012, when they beat the Jaguars 41- 3 at Jacksonville. The only players left from that game are Cutler, Alshon Jeffery and Sherrick McManis. 7 The last time a 1- 6 or worse team won on Monday night — the 0- 7 Bears beat the Miami Dolphins 36- 33 in overtime in 1997 — the Cleveland Indians lost the World Series in seven games. 8The
Bears have won more games against NFC North opponents in the last five weeks ( 2- 1) than they had in the previous two seasons ( 2- 10). They beat the Lions 17- 14 at Soldier Field in Week 4 and lost 26- 10 to the Packers at Lambeau Field in Week 7. 9 Ex- Bears Player of the Week — Forte gained 82 yards on 25 carries ( 3.3 average) and scored two touchdowns ( four and two yards) in the New York Jets’ 31- 28 victory over the Cleveland Browns. 10 Bear- ometer: 6- 10— at Buccaneers ( W); at Giants ( L); vs. Titans ( W); vs. 49ers ( W); at Lions ( L); vs. Packers ( L); vs. Redskins ( W); at Vikings ( L).