Halas Intrigue Bears Report: Breaking down Week 4 victory over Vikings

The good: The Bears improved to 3-1 with a 16-6 victory over the rival Minnesota Vikings.

The bad: For the third time in four games, the offense averaged less than 4 yards per carry.

The ugly: QB Mitch Trubisky lasted just six plays before leaving for good with a shoulder injury.

Let’s get to it ...

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Offense: No Trubisky, No Problem

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

By the numbers:

• 197 PASSING YARDS: Daniel came through by completing 22 of 30 passes with one touchdown, zero picks and a 101.4 passer rating.
• 72 RUSHING YARDS: David Montgomery led the way with 53 yards in 21 carries on a workmanlike day for the ground attack.

Offensive play of the game:

Defense: Just Another Big Mack Attack

With Akiem Hicks and Roquan Smith out, the Bears didn’t miss a beat in shutting down Dalvin Cook, Kirk Cousins & Co.

By the numbers:

• 222 TOTAL YARDS ALLOWED – 182 passing, 40 rushing
• 6 SACKS: Nick Williams (2) Khalil Mack (1.5), Roy Robertson-Harris (1.5), Nick Kwiatkoski
• 2 FORCED FUMBLES: Mack, Prince Amukamara

Defensive play of the game:

Special Teams: Eddy Goes 3-for-3 On Bad Knee

Kicker Eddy Pineiro is still hurting, but he made all three of his field-goal attempts Sunday. He continued to play through a pinched nerve in his kicking knee and is intent on gutting out the upcoming game against the Raiders before giving it extended rest on the ensuing bye week.

By the numbers:

• Eddy Pineiro: 3-for-3 FG (25 yards, 30 yards, 38 yards); 1-of-1 XP
• Duke Shelley committed a penalty on special teams for the third time in four games. It’ll be worth watching whether the errors impact his already-limited role at some point.

What They’re Saying

Bears LB Khalil Mack: “We have so many guys! We’re got double Nick [Williams and Kwiatkoski], Chase stepping in there. We’ve just got so many guys jumping in there doing their job. That’s all you can ask for.”

Bears WR Allen Robinson on vibe with Chase in the huddle: “I didn’t even know he was in at first. It was coming out of a timeout; I was kind of confused at first. That’s a guy we have a lot of confidence in. We’ve played some games with him before. He’s been here since I’ve been here. We’ve got a chance to get some reps with him.”

From Our Notebooks

• Head coach Matt Nagy said LB Roquan Smith not playing — a surprise announcement shortly before game time — was “completely a personal matter.” Smith stood on the Bears’ sideline in a navy sweat suit preferred by inactive players. He left before the media was allowed into the Bears’ locker room afterward.
• The Bears’ defense held Vikings RB Dalvin Cook (who entered Sunday as the NFL’s leading rusher) to 35 yards on 14 carries. The Bears have allowed just one 100-yard rusher in regulation over their last 38 regular-season games (Latavius Murray, at Minnesota, in Week 17 of 2017 season).
• The Bears played Sunday’s game without two Pro Bowl players — guard Kyle Long (hip) and defensive lineman Akiem Hicks (right knee). They’d previously ruled out defensive lineman Bilal Nichols (broken right hand) and receiver Taylor Gabriel (concussion).
• Nagy improves his career record against the Vikings to 3-0 and 8-2 at Soldier Field (regular season). The Bears are 10-2 under Nagy when scoring first.

What’s Next?

1. The Bears travel to London for a Week 5 matchup against Jon Gruden’s Oakland Raiders at noon next Sunday on FOX.
2. It’s the first time Mack will face his former team. “It’s just another game but we got to win,” Mack said. “It’s going to be a good one.”

View From Minnesota

• Minneapolis Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins unleashed on the Vikings and slippery-fingered QB Kirk Cousins. The headline says it all: “This was a putrid Soldier Field loss, even Vikings standards.” Scoggins pointed out that Cousins is now 5-27 against teams with a winning record.
• Facing a Bears team hobbled by injuries before QB Mitch Trubisky exited during the opening drive, the Vikings had high hopes entering the game. Afterward, coach Mike Zimmer said: “Everybody’s frustrated right now.” The Twin Cities Pioneer Press pointed out the Vikings’ celebrated running game disappeared at Soldier Field, and so did the rest of the offense.

On the Podcast

Mitch Trubisky is hurt and something’s up with Roquan Smith, but the Bears beat the Vikings. Patrick Finley, Jason Lieser and Mark Potash break down Trubisky’s shoulder injury, Smith’s absence and debate whether Sunday’s 16-6 victory against the Vikings was the most impressive of the Matt Nagy era. In the world-famous Pot-Cast, Mark talks about his longtime dream to launch an old movie house.

Listen here.

Also, got any questions for the Bears? Email us or tweet at @suntimes_sports and we’ll see if we can get them answered in one of our next newsletters.

This Week’s Question

Dear Reader: Did the Bears’ offense operate better without Mitch Trubisky?

Email us at sports@suntimes.com with your question, name and location, and we’ll include the best responses (and our thoughts!) in our next newsletter.

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