The Bears fell to 1-5 this season after a 19-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. But Chicago is well-positioned for the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Chicago Bears fans who thought they were seeing a fourth-quarter comeback against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday ended up witnessing something all too familiar instead.
Bears quarterback Justin Fields was ruled out with a right-hand injury in the third quarter. Backup QB Tyson Bagent was strip-sacked by Vikings safety Josh Metellus on his first drive in relief, and Minnesota linebacker Jordan Hicks scooped up the fumble and returned it for a touchdown and a 13-point Vikings lead. But the Bears still had a chance. Bagent led a 77-yard drive and scored on a QB sneak with just under eight minutes remaining. The Bears’ defense then forced a three-and-out and provided the offense with an opportunity to win the game.
It didn’t take advantage. Bagent underthrew D.J. Moore and was intercepted on Chicago’s final offensive possession of an eventual 19-13 loss.
“When you go minus-two [turnover differential] in a football game, it’s going to be hard to win,” Bears coach Matt Eberflus said postgame. “If we would have flipped that, plus-two, I bet we would have won the game. To me, it’s all about that, and it’s all about us doing our detail.
“Certainly, we fought hard in the game and I’m proud of the guys for what they did. But we didn’t come out with the victory and it’s mainly because of the ball.”
A collective groan filled Soldier Field as the Bears’ 1-5 fate was sealed. The 2023 NFL season has been a disaster-filled one in Chicago—both on and off the field. And they can now throw a potentially long-term injury at quarterback into the mix. Here’s a look back at what’s gone wrong this season in Chicago, what’s next at QB, and why Bears fans may not have anything meaningful to look forward to until April.
Fields dropped back to pass and was hit from behind and sacked by Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter on Chicago’s first drive of the third quarter.
