The good: The Bears closed out 2019 with a 21-19 victory over the Vikings to even their report at 8-8.
The unhealthy: The Bears, who had Super Bowl aspirations coming into the season, wound up simply 8-8.
The ugly: The Bears wanted to rally towards a Vikings crew that basically conceded this sport from the beginning.
Let’s get to it …
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Offense: A rush to judgment
While it was a low-stakes sport towards a bunch of second-stringers, the Bears’ success on the bottom Sunday hints at an alternate universe the place the speeding assault powered a extra formidable offense in 2019. David Montgomery, whereas missing for large performs, ran for 113 yards in 23 carries. Matt Nagy didn’t overthink issues and caught to some fundamentals that labored.
It’s not a lot, particularly contemplating how the offense did not put issues away after constructing an 18-6 lead, however it may be a lesson for subsequent season.
By the numbers: 179 NET PASSING YARDS: Fueled by a number of quick passes, Mitch Trubisky accomplished 26 of 37 passes for 207 yards. He additionally acquired sacked 4 instances. 158 RUSHING YARDS: Rookie David Montgomery had his second 100-yard speeding sport with 23 carries for 113 yards. Defense: A notch under 2018 model
The protection, which has been excellent however not as overwhelming as final season, got here up with seismic performs towards the Vikings. If solely they may’ve achieved a few of that when the video games counted.
Among the Bears’ many issues this season, coach Matt Nagy has been constant on saying all three phases — offense, protection and particular groups — share the blame. Among these three, the protection deserves the smallest blame. The protection’s window looks as if it’ll be open for some time, however there are not any ensures, as Jason Lieser writes.
By the numbers: zero SACKS: The Vikings didn’t throw a lot, however the Bears hit the QB simply 3 times. Three TAKEAWAYS: Eddie Jackson picked off a Sean Mannion on the ultimate play of the sport. Special Teams: Eddy regular down stretch
A season that opened with trepidation and doubt concerning the Bears’ place-kicker ended with Eddy Pineiro kicking a 22-yard discipline purpose to offer the Bears a Week 17 highway victory — and it meant zilch.
As it seems, after the well-documented seek for a kicker to switch Cody Parkey that was ridiculed nationally and domestically, the kicker wasn’t the issue. Pineiro’s game-winner with 10 seconds left was his fourth discipline purpose with no miss Sunday to complete his rookie season with 11 consecutive made discipline targets, as Mark Potash writes.
By the numbers: Eddy Pineiro: 4-for-Four on discipline targets (26 yards, 26 yards, 33 yards, 34 yards). Cordarrelle Patterson: Left sport early with a concussion. What They’re Saying Matt Nagy: “That 2020 [season] starts right now — literally the second I walk off this stage… I’m ready to go in attack mode and figure out with Ryan [Pace] how we want to go about this thing.” Mitch Trubisky: “You have to look at the season and be honest with yourself and your teammates. And, as a leader, make decisions that are best for you to get better.” From Our Notebooks While this season didn’t go based on plan, count on a quiet Black Monday for the Bears’ teaching employees. It’s a digital certainty that Matt Nagy returns, and normal supervisor Ryan Pace is about to satisfy with reporters Tuesday. If anybody appears on shaky floor, it’s offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich — even when he’s not the one who’s been calling the performs. The victory Sunday provides Nagy win No. 20, which surpasses George Halas (19, 1920-21) for probably the most wins by a Bears head coach in his first two seasons. Mitch Trubisky accomplished 26 for 37 passes for 207 yards. He completed the season with 3,138 passing yards, marking back-to-back 3,000-yard passing seasons. The solely different Bears quarterback to perform this feat was Jay Cutler, who did it twice from 2009-10 and 2014-15.
Here are much more sport highlights.
What’s Next?
The Bears…