Congrats to bears...

[Chuckf]

They've had a heck of a year so far.

And THIS is the difference between being 7-9 and 13-4 in the NFL.   I remember in 1977 opening day hosting Dallas, a team EVERYONE made the odds on favorite to win the Super Bowl (and they did in convincing fashion beating up Craig Morton and the Denver Broncos.   This was the year Tarkenton broke his leg.   The Vikings lost to Dallas 16-10 in OT, the Bears 10-7.   Both games lost in the final minutes.   Had that team won those games and seriously could have, they finish 11-3.   The Vikings are the #1 seed in the NFC playoffs.   THAT is how close the league REALLY is.   Teams like the '84 Niners, '85 Bears, '98 Vikings, '99 Rams don't come by very often.   I think I could find agreement with most here the Vikings sitting at 7-8 right now GAVE away the Steeler game, the Eagles game, the Ravens game, AND the Bears game.   That is 4 games.   Had they flipped them the Vikings are now 11-4.   Vikings win just half of them they are 9-6 and fighting for a playoff spot. 
If they finish 9-8 just think of what could have been.   Just a bad year like 1972, 1989, 2010, 2013, 2024.  Bad luck, key injuries and losing games in weirdest and most heart breaking fashion.  Ugh. 2013 especially, coming off a 10-6 playoff season, the Vikings go 5-10-1. If my memory serves correctly the Vikings lost to the Bears in Chicago 30-31 on a TD pass with :10 on the clock, lost to Cleveland on a TD pass with :51 seconds on the clock, lost to Dallas on a TD pass with :35 seconds on the clock, lost to the Ravens on a TD pass with :04 on the clock, gave up a tie to Green Bay with :46 left on the clock. The 2013 Vikings should have been could have EASILY been 11-5. Crazy how razor thin the margin in the NFL is between victory and defeat, playoffs and going home. Even in the Vikings 4 Super Bowl defeats, of which I watched the latter 3 live and watched SB IV on youtube, the Vikings losses in all four hinged on 4 maybe 5 plays in each game.

[DeepFreeze05]

[purplefaithful]

Yah, well F the Bears too...

S hit, to paraphrase MB, can you imagine (with this D) if our team would have had just an avg QB this year? 

F'ers

[MaroonBells]

And THIS is the difference between being 7-9 and 13-4 in the NFL.   I remember in 1977 opening day hosting Dallas, a team EVERYONE made the odds on favorite to win the Super Bowl (and they did in convincing fashion beating up Craig Morton and the Denver Broncos.   This was the year Tarkenton broke his leg.   The Vikings lost to Dallas 16-10 in OT, the Bears 10-7.   Both games lost in the final minutes.   Had that team won those games and seriously could have, they finish 11-3.   The Vikings are the #1 seed in the NFC playoffs.   THAT is how close the league REALLY is.   Teams like the '84 Niners, '85 Bears, '98 Vikings, '99 Rams don't come by very often.   I think I could find agreement with most here the Vikings sitting at 7-8 right now GAVE away the Steeler game, the Eagles game, the Ravens game, AND the Bears game.   That is 4 games.   Had they flipped them the Vikings are now 11-4.   Vikings win just half of them they are 9-6 and fighting for a playoff spot. 
If they finish 9-8 just think of what could have been.   Just a bad year like 1972, 1989, 2010, 2013, 2024.  Bad luck, key injuries and losing games in weirdest and most heart breaking fashion.  Ugh. 2013 especially, coming off a 10-6 playoff season, the Vikings go 5-10-1.  If my memory serves correctly the Vikings lost to the Bears in Chicago 30-31 on a TD pass with :10 on the clock,  lost to Cleveland on a TD pass with :51 seconds on the clock, lost to Dallas on a TD pass with :35 seconds on the clock, lost to the Ravens on a TD pass with :04 on the clock, gave up a tie to Green Bay with :46 left on the clock.  The 2013 Vikings should have been could have EASILY been 11-5.  Crazy how razor thin the margin in the NFL is between victory and defeat, playoffs and going home.  Even in the Vikings 4 Super Bowl defeats, of which I watched the latter 3 live and watched SB IV on youtube, the Vikings losses in all four hinged on 4 maybe 5 plays in each game.

Truer words. Quite often the season can turn on one single play. Vikings don't give up that ridiculous last second 56-yard kick off return against the Bears and they're in the playoffs with the hottest defense in the NFL.

[purplefaithful]

Truer words. Quite often the season can turn on one single play. Vikings don't give up that ridiculous last second 56-yard kick off return against the Bears and they're in the playoffs with the hottest defense in the NFL.

And I would not be surprised if the Vikings ST Coach is shown the door this year either...Not just for that play, but that is the poster child play no doubt. 

In spite of Reichard being All Pro imo.

[mblack]

Anyone watching Beats Vs Niners game? Really fun to watch. It’s just crazy how improved the Bears are. They are going to be a tough team for a long time. Caleb, Loveland, Monongai, Burden and Rome coupled with A very good head coach. /offensive mind make a very dangerous offensive power.
Oh let’s not forget that defense.

[savannahskol]

Anyone watching Beats Vs Niners game? Really fun to watch. It’s just crazy how improved the Bears are. They are going to be a tough team for a long time. Caleb, Loveland, Monongai, Burden and Rome coupled with A very good head coach. /offensive mind make a very dangerous offensive power.
Oh let’s not forget that defense.

Defense?  Nada.  Scorched all night long.

No pass rush, nothing exceptional on back end.
And I’m pulling for them

[Mattyman]

Best game I've seen all year

Prior that it was Rams at Seattle. TNF

[pattersaur]

Best game I've seen all year

Prior that it was  Rams at Seattle. TNF

Purdy is too careless with the ball still sometimes but what a player he's grown into. That had to be a LOT of fun for Niner fans last night. Having the best RB in the league helps too.

[Chuckf]

Anyone watching Beats Vs Niners game? Really fun to watch. It’s just crazy how improved the Bears are. They are going to be a tough team for a long time. Caleb, Loveland, Monongai, Burden and Rome coupled with A very good head coach. /offensive mind make a very dangerous offensive power.
Oh let’s not forget that defense.

Drafting well matters.  PERIOD.   Injuries happen to all teams, look at the 49ers, but their front office drafts well, moves on QUICKLY from draft mistakes(see Trey Lance) thus their rosters have serviceable depth to navigate the season riddled with injuries.   The 49ers traded RB Jordan Mason, and WR Deebo Samuel.   They lost Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, Leonard Floyd, Jaylon Moore and RB Elijah Mitchell to the Chiefs, DT Talanoa Hufanga and LB Dre Greenlaw to the Broncos, too name a few.   Then the lost Nick Bosa and Fred Warner for the season.   Played without Purdy for half their games, lost Kittle for 7 games and here they are, fighting for the #1 Seed in the NFC.   

Viking woes IMO lay at the feet of Kwesi.   End of story.   If KOC has a major voice in personnel then he too deserves blame.   The drafting has been really bad.

---

Defense?  Nada.  Scorched all night long.

No pass rush, nothing exceptional on back end.
And I’m pulling for them

The problem with BOTH defenses is a lack of pass rush from the front four.   Bears really have no excuse while the 49ers have lost Williams, Jackson, and Bosa off their DL rotation.  That is a LOT of pressure not on the field.