Nicked up: Kwiatkoski, Williams come up big as Bears’ defense dominates Vikings

Linebacker Khalil Mack spearheaded another command performance by the Bears’ defense and sounded the alarm for the rest of the NFL to take even further notice.

“We’re warming up,” Mack said after the defense dominated the Vikings in a 16-6 victory Sunday at Soldier Field. “We’re warming up, man. And looking forward to next week already.”

The Bears’ defense has stepped up in big games before but took its act to another level against the division rival Vikings. Without Pro Bowl defensive end Akiem Hicks, who missed his first game in four seasons with the Bears because of a knee injury, and inside linebacker Roquan Smith, a late scratch because of a personal issue, the Bears were not only without two of their best players but two who are key to their vaunted run defense.

They responded with a standout performance that showed off their excellence and also their depth. They held running back Dalvin Cook to 35 yards on 14 carries and the Vikings’ offense to 222 total yards on 58 plays (3.8 average).

It was actually more impressive than those numbers indicate. In building a 16-0 lead midway through the fourth quarter, the Bears held the Vikings to a measly 109 yards on 19 plays.

While short-handed, the Bears were motivated by the Vikings, safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix said.

“A couple of those guys out there in Minnesota got in the media and kind of were talking a little too much,” Clinton-Dix said. “A couple of [Bears] guys pulled that up from the media, and that kind of put a little chip on our shoulders to go out there and shut ’em down. And we did that today.”

While Mack, Clinton-Dix and other starters made big plays, the Bears’ depth was without question the star of the day. Linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski, subbing for Smith, led the defense with nine tackles and had a sack, a forced fumble and two tackles-for-loss. Defensive tackle Nick Williams had two sacks and a fumble recovery.

“It’s fun — that’s a simple way to put it,” said Kwiatkoski, a starter before Smith arrived last season. “It’s fun to be a part of this defense. It’s fun to have games like that. I could go on and on. At the end of the day, we’re a close group, and we have fun every day.”

Several key plays set the tone for dominance. With the Bears leading 7-0, Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins hit Stefon Diggs over the middle, but cornerback Prince Amukamara punched the ball out and Clinton-Dix recovered. The play was ruled a incompletion. But it was reversed upon review.

“I didn’t even know I made him fumble,” Amukamara said. “It was just a routine play. He caught the ball, I kind of swiped, and secured the tackle and punted out the ball at the same time.”

Mack made his biggest impact on the first play of the third quarter. He strip-sacked Cousins, with Williams recovering at the Vikings’ 16-yard line. That led to Eddy Pineiro’s 38-yard field goal that gave the Bears a 13-0 lead.

“What I saw? I saw the ball,” Mack said when asked to describe a play he has made several times already this season. “And I got him, and then I saw Nick grab the ball. Big Nick stepping in there again.”

Kwiatkoski made his biggest impact on back-to-back plays in the third quarter. He stopped Cook for a one-yard loss on a pass play, then sacked Cousins and forced a fumble that led to a 19-yard loss and a punt.

“It means the world [to contribute off the bench],” Williams said. “I can’t wait for Bilal and Akiem to come back. We really have each other’s back. We want to put our best football on the field, and that’s what we did.”