The Bears can take a breath after ending their five-game losing streak with a 16-14 win Thursday against the Lions. Here are three observations from the victory:
Vildor benched for Burns
The Bears went into the season with only one proven cornerback, Jaylon Johnson, and were banking on Kindle Vildor to step up as their No. 2. It hasn’t worked out, and they benched him in favor of Artie Burns.
Burns hadn’t played a snap on defense this season, but the Bears couldn’t keep clinging to Vildor. His lapse at the end of the Ravens game was the last straw, and for the season, opposing quarterbacks had completed 35 of 50 passes against him for 541 yards and five touchdowns for a 138.8 rating.
Burns was beaten by Josh Reynolds on the opening drive for a 39-yard touchdown but had no other glaring mistakes.
Heavyweights looming
Barely getting out of Ford Field with a win against the 0-10-1 Lions didn’t inspire much confidence that the Bears can handle their next two opponents: the Cardinals and Packers. Those teams are a combined 17-5, and the Cardinals come to Soldier Field next week with the No. 1 scoring offense and No. 4 scoring defense.
Close scrapes with Lions
Coach Matt Nagy is now 7-1 against the Lions, but six of those wins went down to the final play. His average margin of victory against them is 6.6 points.
