Ben Johnson had every reason to talk about the weather after the Bears’ 9-3 loss to the Vikings. He just probably didn’t have much reason to expect fans to buy it.
Chicago got a rough afternoon at Soldier Field, sure. The rain came down, the conditions were messy, and neither offense looked comfortable. But the Bears also spent the day tripping over themselves, and that part had nothing to do with the forecast.
After the game, Johnson said the elements were central to what happened.
“The weather was a major factor of this game. It was a big story of this game,” Johnson said.
“Both defensive coordinators did a great job making it very challenging for the opposing offense. And so, I thought that was the tale of the tape.
And like I said, when you get into a game like this, that’s where every play is critical. That’s where the turnovers really, really hurt you.
And obviously, the blocked field goal really hurts us as well.”
He’s not wrong that the rain mattered. It was there all afternoon, and it helped turn the game into a slog. But Minnesota was dealing with the same weather, and the Vikings still found a way to leave with the win without scoring a touchdown.
That’s what makes the explanation so hard to sit with for Bears fans. Chicago’s defense did enough to win almost on its own, holding Minnesota to 246 total yards and zero touchdowns.
Carson Wentz finished with just 143 passing yards. The Bears even outgained the Vikings 297-246 and still came up empty.
The offense, though, kept handing the game back.
Chicago piled up seven penalties in the first half alone. One 14-yard completion to Colston Loveland disappeared because of an illegal shift, and the drive got worse from there with a holding penalty and a grounding call.
Williams also threw an interception, the Bears gave up four sacks, and a late 23-yard field goal was blocked. Williams eventually left with a hamstring injury after going 15 of 26 for 138 yards.
That’s not just a wet-ball problem. That’s a unit beating itself.
And the timing makes it even uglier. One week earlier, Johnson’s offense opened the season by putting up 59 points and 552 yards against Carolina. The Bears ran for 291 yards and looked like they might finally have the attack fans expected when Johnson arrived.
Seven days later, they scored three.
That kind of swing doesn’t get explained away by rain alone.
Chicago brought Johnson in because the organization believed he could fix this side of the ball. Instead, after a game in miserable conditions and against Brian Flores’ pressure, the offense never found an answer. The Bears’ defense gave them chance after chance, and a division opponent that didn’t score a touchdown still walked out with a 9-3 win.
That’s the part fans won’t forget.
Not the rain. Not the weather report. The fact that Chicago had every opportunity to avoid this loss and kept getting in its own way.
In Other News...
Michigan State Pulled Out A Huge Late Big Ten Escape
Michigan State found a way to escape Nebraska with a 3-2 win at DeMartin Stadium, leaning on a late surge to keep its Big Ten hopes moving in the right direction. Kennedy Bell and Shelby Vaughn both scored for the Spartans, while Bella Najera set up two of the teams goals to give Michigan State enough attacking punch to stay in front of a stubborn opponent.
Emerson Sargeant provided the decisive moment in the 87th minute after Nebraska had clawed back level on Ella Guyotts penalty kick. With the game hanging in the balance late, Michigan State still had the answer it needed, turning a tense conference matchup into a result that could matter a great deal down the stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Defense Faces A Big Ten Test After Notre Dame
After the loss to Notre Dame, Michigan State defensive coordinator Joe Rossi turned the focus to the next Big Ten challenge, with Nebraska coming into view and the Spartans still trying to tighten up the details on defense. Rossi used his media availability to talk through where the unit stands, stressing player development, the need for more consistent fundamentals and the kind of clean execution that tends to separate a solid defense from one that spends too much time chasing mistakes.
Much of the conversation centered on how individual players are progressing, with Rossi pointing to Jordan Hall and Derrick Simmons as examples of that ongoing work. He also touched on the coaching staff and the availability of Nebraska players, another reminder that this week is about more than just scheme. For Michigan State, the next step is figuring out whether the lessons from South Bend can show up in a more complete performance on Saturday. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Faces A Brutal Test Against Nebraskas Hot Offense
Nebraskas conference opener arrives with a lot of attention on the line of scrimmage, and Michigan State is the first team asked to sort out just how real the Cornhuskers early momentum is. Pat Fitzgerald is still in the opening stretch of his tenure as Spartans head coach, and his group gets a tough first Big Ten measuring stick against an offense that has looked comfortable early, especially on the ground.
For Michigan State, the concern is whether its own rushing game can find traction after some recent struggles, with Cam Cook carrying much of the load. The Spartans were also forced to deal with pressure up front last week against Notre Dame, and now they face a Nebraska front that wants to dictate terms from the start, making this less about style points and more about which team can control the trenches long enough to settle in. [Read more 🡒]