We watched the Bears' 12-10 win over the Vikings on "Monday Night Football" so you didn't have to. Here are the takeaways from a Monday night snoozefest.
The Bears have a decision to make at quarterback: Justin Fields, as he's done the past two seasons, showed flashes of being a viable NFL starter on Monday night.
He finished the game 27-of-37 for 217 yards and led the team with 59 rushing yards on 12 carries. He also had two costly fumbles that nearly cost Chicago the game before marching the team down the field for the winning field goal with 10 seconds remaining.
Josh Metellus forces a fumble and the Vikings take over
— NFL (@NFL) November 28, 2023
: #CHIvsMIN on ESPN/ABC
: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/J5tLNJHyh1 pic.twitter.com/fKnE0eTxsP
Josh Metellus forces the fumble and the @Vikings get it back!
— NFL (@NFL) November 28, 2023
: #CHIvsMIN on ESPN/ABC
: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/J5tLNJHyh1 pic.twitter.com/q4naI22xeI
Fields and Moore get the @ChicagoBears into field goal range
— NFL (@NFL) November 28, 2023
: #CHIvsMIN on ESPN/ABC
: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/J5tLNJHyh1 pic.twitter.com/WtydkAlSgB
Fields and the Bears might be best off divorcing following the season, allowing Chicago (4-8) to draft a quarterback and Fields to go to a team that could better utilize his strengths.
As ESPN analyst Louis Riddick noted, using the smaller, 5-foot-11 Darnell Money as the lead blocker on multiple wide receiver screens is bad from a schematic standpoint. It also failed Fields, who entered Week 12 as one of the best deep passers in the league with seven touchdowns, no interceptions and a 134 passer rating on throws 20 yards or more downfield.
Darnell Mooney.
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) November 28, 2023
Lead blocker in screen game.
Seen it more than once.
Ok. Just gonna watch now.
A stunning stat on the MNF broadcast: @justnfields average air yards per attempt is 0.8 yards.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) November 28, 2023
Not even a full 3 feet from the line of scrimmage.
The Bears have a fascinating decision to make as to whether to build around Fields or choose the top quarterback on their draft board with Carolina's (likely No. 1) first-round pick.
Coach Matt Eberflus hasn't impressed in his two years in charge; it might benefit all parties if Chicago starts from scratch and retools its offense with another regime.
Montez Sweat trade is working: The Bears were blasted for trading a valuable second-round pick for edge rusher Sweat, but a month later, it's time to reassess.
Sweat recorded his first sack as a Bear last week and added 1.5 sacks against the Vikings as the team finished with nine quarterback hits after only managing four against Kirk Cousins in the first meeting.
Sweat's early production has ensured the team didn't repeat last year's mistake when it traded for wide receiver Chase Claypool.
The "Passtronaut" crashes: Joshua Dobbs' incredible run as the Vikings' starting quarterback lasted about as long as Colorado's run as a top-25 college football team.
He provided one of the most intriguing storylines of the season by leading Minnesota to consecutive wins (albeit against the NFC South), but that seems like an eternity ago after his dismal performance against Chicago.
Dobbs was 22-of-32 for 185 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions. Every good story has its end. Minnesota probably wished this one had a few more chapters.
A big play from Jaylon Johnson!
— NFL (@NFL) November 28, 2023
: #CHIvsMIN on ESPN/ABC
: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/J5tLNJHyh1 pic.twitter.com/DBjEBdFLtH
Jaquan Brisker intercepts it off the dropped pass
— NFL (@NFL) November 28, 2023
: #CHIvsMIN on ESPN/ABC
: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/J5tLNJHyh1 pic.twitter.com/g14EO5AnEA
And Edwards follows it up with the Bears 3rd INT of the game ‼️
— NFL (@NFL) November 28, 2023
: #CHIvsMIN on ESPN/ABC
: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/J5tLNJHyh1 pic.twitter.com/2d4C1s2O09
FOUR INTs for the Bears.
— NFL (@NFL) November 28, 2023
This time it's Kyler Gordon.
: #CHIvsMIN on ESPN/ABC
: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/J5tLNJHyh1 pic.twitter.com/D87RqUO61Q
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