Everyone expected an ugly game, but the Bears made it much worse
On fourth-and-1 from the Minnesota 21-yard line, Bears quarterback Justin Fields faked play action to no one, rolled out to his right, couldn't find a receiver and met three Vikings defenders for a sack. Trailing by 14 points late in the third quarter, it was the biggest play of the game to that point.
And the Bears bungled it.
No play was more emblematic of the 2021 Bears than that one. The Bears lost Monday night's game against the Minnesota Vikings, 17-9, at Soldier Field in Chicago. The Bears dropped to 4-10 with three games remaining in the 2021 season. The Vikings kept slim playoff hopes alive at 7-7.
The Bears were severely limited with 14 players out on the COVID-19 list. Their secondary was a shell of its former self. Yet, the secondary wasn't really the problem.
The Bears offense kept shooting itself in the foot. It fumbled away two of its first three possessions. Penalties came flying left and right (with some questionable ones against the Bears' defense).
On that key fourth-down play, the offense was confused as it broke the huddle. Head coach Matt Nagy, who might be the king of needlessly wasted timeouts, declined to call one with his offense in disarray. Fields never had a chance on the play.
The Bears significantly outgained the Vikings on offense, 370 yards to 193. They failed to score a touchdown on their first four red zone trips. This was another disaster from Nagy's offense, and another indictment of Nagy as the head coach.
It included a bit of infighting as well. At one point, left tackle Teven Jenkins drew a penalty for shoving a Vikings defender after he appeared to hit Fields late. The home fans loved the fire from the rookie tackle, even at the expense of a penalty. Right tackle Germain Ifedi did not. He shoved Jenkins and the disagreement spilled onto the sideline after the possession ended.
It was yet another sign that the 2021 season can't end soon enough, and with it - likely - the Nagy era.
Everyone knew it would be an ugly game with all the Bears' COVID-19 issues. The offense was without receiver Allen Robinson and right tackle Larry Borom. The defense was missing all four secondary starters: safeties Eddie Jackson and Tashaun Gipson, and cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Artie Burns.
The Bears started a secondary with Kindle Vildor and rookie Thomas Graham at cornerback, along with Teez Tabor and Deon Bush at safety.
Those guys actually held their own. Graham, who was just called up from the practice squad, looked really good. He broke up several passes and nearly intercepted Kirk Cousins on one occasion. He might have earned himself a chance to play more. Akiem Hicks returned from an ankle injury for the first time since Nov. 8 and had two sacks, as did Robert Quinn.
The defense was respectable. NFL teams should find a way to win when they allow 17 points. The Bears could not.
In an era filled with ugly Bears performances, this was as ugly as they come.