For one night, Bears fans have a new rooting interest: Buffalo.
Chicago is off tonight, but the game on the schedule still matters plenty. The Bears came out of Sunday night with a tight win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Soldier Field, moved to 7-2, and now head into the bye with a shot at first place in the NFC North. They just can’t get there on their own.
That part depends on the Buffalo Bills.
Minnesota enters Monday night at 6-1, sitting a half-game ahead of Chicago, and the Vikings will host Buffalo. If the Bills win, Minnesota drops to 6-2 and the Bears would stand alone atop the division. If the Vikings win, they go to 7-1 and keep that half-game edge.
There’s also a familiar name under center for Minnesota. Kyler Murray is out again with a hamstring strain, so Carson Wentz gets the start.
Bears fans know that script already. Wentz started for the Vikings in Week 2 and delivered one of Chicago’s ugliest losses of the season.
Now the Bears are asking Josh Allen to do the heavy lifting against a Minnesota defense built to make life miserable. Brian Flores has his unit blitzing as much as almost anyone in the league, while Buffalo brings the No. 1 offense in total yards.
Still, Chicago’s own case is strong. The Bears have won four straight, they own the league’s best third down defense, and their rushing attack has been rolling. The possibility is real: a second straight NFC North title, something the franchise hasn’t done since 2005 and 2006.
First place in November doesn’t come with a trophy, but it does move you closer to one.
So yes, this is one of those nights when the scoreboard matters just as much as the standings. Bears fans get to spend it as Bills fans, hoping the bye week starts with Chicago in first.
In Other News...
Rome Odunze Just Added A Dangerous New Wrinkle To Chicago's Offense
Rome Odunze had already been doing plenty of the heavy lifting in Chicagos passing game before he finally found the end zone on Sunday night. The rookie had built up a solid body of work in catches and receiving yards without a touchdown to show for it, which made his role look productive but still a little unfinished as the Bears tried to round out their offense.
Now there is at least another layer for defenses to worry about. Odunzes first score of the season came at a time when Chicago has been looking for more ways to stress opponents beyond its usual targets, and it gives the Bears a receiver who can threaten in more than one phase of the passing game. For an offense that has been searching for reliable answers, that kind of development can change the way teams have to line up against them. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Legend Sees A Path For Caleb Williams To Make History
Patrick Mannelly still sits atop a pair of Bears longevity marks, with 245 games and 16 seasons, but he is not treating those records like something to guard. The former long snapper made it clear he would welcome Caleb Williams as the player who eventually pushes past them, because in his view that kind of career arc would come with the kind of team success Chicago has spent years chasing.
Mannelly also had plenty to say about the new look around Williams, especially the addition of defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. He praised Simmons for the versatility and impact he brings to the roster, the sort of front-line presence that can change how an opponent has to game plan and, in turn, help create the kind of environment where a quarterback can stay in one place long enough to make history. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Win Put One Roster Trend In Focus Fast
Chicagos Week 9 win came with the offense still searching for rhythm, but it also sharpened the focus on a few roster trends that have been building beneath the surface. Theo Benedet stayed at left tackle for a second straight game and handled every snap there, a notable sign of stability on a line that has needed it, while Kalif Raymond continued to be a steady part of the passing game as the Bears worked through their usual mix of wrinkles and limitations.
On the other side of the ball, injuries in the cornerback room created an opening for Clark Phillips III, and he made the most of the extra work with a strong showing in coverage. Roschon Johnsons role, meanwhile, remains worth watching after he was absent from the offensive snap count entirely, leaving the Bears with some decisions to sort through even in a win that otherwise offered a few encouraging signs. [Read more 🡒]