Caleb Williams (18-for-31, 191 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions, 86.9 rating) struggled to lift the offense out of its recent rut, as the Bears relied on the run and resorted to a short-passing game to combat the Vikings’ pressure in the first half. Williams had better luck in the second half, including a 26-yard pass play to Keenan Allen and a 29-yard pass to Rome Odunze.
Rookie Kiran Amegadjie, making his first NFL start, had a night to forget. Amegadjie was beaten for a strip-sack on third-and-nine by linebacker Jonathan Greenard, with Blake Cashman returning the fumble 17 yards for a 32-yard loss in field position. He was also called for holding Greenard on another third down and had a false start. Backup Doug Kramer forgot to report as an eligible receiver, nullifying a one-yard touchdown run by D’Andre Swift.
DeMarcus Walker was quietly effective as he often is. He led a workmanlike effort with four quarterback hits, including a near sack that led to an incompletion and forced the Vikings to settle for Will Reichard’s 52-yard field goal. Walker also had a tackle-for-loss and a quarterback hit that led to a punt. Chris Williams (two quarterback hits) had a sack. Montez Sweat (two tackles, one TFL) also sacked Sam Darnold, but was called for being offside on the play, negating the sack.
It’s hard to tell who was covering Justin Jefferson on his seven-yard touchdown in the first quarter, because no one in the Bears’ secondary was even close to him. Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (two pass breakups) just can’t win — he intercepted Darnold in the second quarter, but it came on fourth down and resulted in an eight-yard loss in field position. He intercepted Darnold again in the end zone in the fourth quarter but was called for pass interference.
The Bears were scoreless in the first half (down 13-0) for the third consecutive game (outscored 53-0 total) but still had a chance in the second half against an 11-2 team on the road. Thomas Brown rolled the dice on the team’s first possession and went for the first down on fourth-and-one from the Bears’ 39, but Swift was stopped for no gain on a pitchout. Swift also was stopped for no gain on fourth-and-one at the Vikings’ 29.
