Resilient Bears lose Mitch Trubisky but beat Vikings 16-6 to tie for NFC North lead

One month into the Bears’ grand quest for a Super Bowl bid, the viability of that quest now hinges on how long Mitch Trubisky is out and how well backup quarterback Chase Daniel can manage in his stead.

The Bears lost Trubisky to a shoulder injury six plays into the game Sunday, but Daniel filled in aptly to get them a 16-6 win over the Vikings and keep their ambitious trek on course in the face of an ominous fog creeping over Soldier Field.

All is not lost — not yet, anyway, with a defense like this — and the Bears are still in the softest part of their schedule.

Regardless of where things are headed at quarterback, this was an admirable victory on a day when everything looked doomed. On the verge of implosion, the Bears rallied to vanquish the Vikings and pulled into a tie with the Packers for the division lead at 3-1.

The resilience made this victory an instant favorite for coach Matt Nagy.

“Our guys, they just stick together,” he said. “Everyone cares about each other in this. When you have that between coaches and players that trust each other, you get games like this.

“When things happen and you feel like, ‘Man, OK, I’m going to feel sorry for myself,’ that’s not how I work. And I hope it permeates into our building.”

The Bears went in without Pro Bowl defensive tackle Akiem Hicks — a run-stopping virtuoso — and longtime right guard Kyle Long, then stunningly scratched linebacker Roquan Smith hours before kickoff for personal reasons. Smith watched the game in sweats on the sideline.

When it seemed like it couldn’t get any worse, Trubisky had the offense humming, then was forced out of the game by a scramble gone bad. Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter chased Trubisky to his left and stripped him, and Trubisky hurt himself trying to break his fall.

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He landed hard on the inside of his left, non-throwing shoulder and immediately went to the sideline. After a brief examination, he headed to the locker room and came back with his arm in a sling. Nagy believed it was not a season-ending injury but gave no other details.

Daniel was a proficient substitute, and the Bears’ overpowering defense gave the offense ample margin. They held the Vikings scoreless until the final minutes, and Daniel did his part by finishing the opening drive with a touchdown pass to Tarik Cohen and completing 22 of 30 passes for 195 yards with no turnovers.

“It just felt like a practice,” Daniel said. “It felt like I was on scout team playing.”

If Daniel (or a partially healthy Trubisky) can get the Bears past the Raiders in London, the team will have a bye before resuming Oct. 20 against the Saints.

Daniel started twice for the Bears last season when Trubisky injured his throwing shoulder. He had a big game to beat the Lions on a short week, then threw two interceptions in a loss to the Giants.

Sunday’s win was impressive, but that’s not the weight class in which the Bears intend to be fighting this season. If they’re serious about chasing a title, they ought to be decisively better than the Vikings.

The concern is whether the Bears can remain a contender when so much of their ambition was based on the expectation that Trubisky would make a substantive leap.

It’s not about whether Daniel can match the mediocrity Trubisky showed to this point; it’s whether either of them can play up to the game-changing level the Bears dreamed Trubisky would reach.

Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel #4 looks to throw the ball during the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Bears defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris #95 runs onto the field before the Bears face off against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Bears running back Tarik Cohen #29 runs onto the field before the Bears face off against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Bears Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky #10 runs onto the field before the Bears face off against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Bears Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky #10 prepares to run onto the field before the Bears face off against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Mayor Lori Lightfoot waves to the crowd before the Chicago Bears face off against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky #10 kisses his mom after warming up before the Bears face off against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Bears fans cheer during the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel #4 looks to throw the ball during the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Bears running back Tarik Cohen #29 runs to the left for a 10-yard touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings during the first quarter at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel #4 talks to the coaching staff from the field during the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Bears running back Tarik Cohen #29 runs to the left for a 10-yard touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings during the first quarter at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 passes the ball to running back Dalvin Cook #33 during the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 is sacked by Chicago Bears defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris #95 for 10 yard loss during the second quarter at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 looks to throw the ball during the second quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs #14 fumbles as he is tackled by Chicago Bears defensive back Prince Amukamara #20 during the second quarter at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson II #12 catches the ball and is tackled by Minnesota Vikings cornerback Trae Waynes #26 during the second quarter at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel #4 is tackled by Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter #99 after rushing for a 2-yard gain during the second quarter at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Bears kicker Eddy Pineiro #15 kicks a 25-yard field goal during the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Bears kicker Eddy Pineiro #15 kicks a a 38-yard field goal during the third quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel #4 looks to throw the ball during the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy yells from the sidelines during the third quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky #10 stands on the sideline wearing a sling after he left the game with a shoulder injury as the Bears face off against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel #4 passes the ball to running back David Montgomery #32 during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Olabisi Johnson #81 runs to the right for a 16-yard gain during the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Bears defensive back Kyle Fuller #23 looks at the scoreboard during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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A trainer works on Chicago Bears kicker Eddy Pineiro #15 on the sidelines as the Bears face off against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 looks to throw the ball during the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Bears fans cheer during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Bears linebacker Khalil Mack #52 looks at the scoreboard during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel #4 looks to throw the ball during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy walks off the field after the Bears beat the Minnesota Vikings 16-6 at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel #4 smiles as he talks to a reporter after the Bears beat the Minnesota Vikings 16-6 at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Bears linebacker Khalil Mack #52 walks off the field after the Bears beat the Minnesota Vikings 16-6 at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel #4 smiles as he walks off the field after the Bears beat the Minnesota Vikings 16-6 at Soldier Field, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. | Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

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Daniel, with four career starts in 10 seasons, isn’t going to be that. It has hit a point where it’s hard to be optimistic that Trubisky will, either, and having his season disrupted by an injury won’t help.

The Bears’ defense buys them time, though. It gives them a chance no matter who plays quarterback, and it took a lot of pressure of Daniel on Sunday. The defense sacked Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins six times, held NFL leading rusher Dalvin Cook to 35 yards on 14 carries and took away two fumbles. The Vikings made one trip to the red zone.

That’ll keep the Bears in it against anyone. And if Daniels can keep the offense steady, as he did Sunday, that’s enough to keep pace with the other Super Bowl hopefuls for now.