Bears falter late in 23-20 loss to Vikings

Jeremy Langford dropped a catchable ball on third down.

It was the biggest play of the game that you probably forgot: Pernell McPhee had sacked Teddy Bridgewater, hurting the Vikings quarterback enough to earn a grimace as he stood up and saying afterward that he “smelled blood in the water”.

“We gave them that big-ass hole in the middle”, McPhee said, disgustedly. “Winning comes up with competing, winning comes with finishing, and we’ve just got to learn how to finish”.

After making steady increases in the past three games, it looked like Bridgewater went back to how he was playing through the first three games.

Ratliff was seen having an animated discussion with general manager Ryan Pace in the parking lot outside Halas Hall a week and a half ago, and the team announced his release a day later.

The Bears had jumped ahead 20-13 on a dramatic score with 4:55 to play.

The cornerback batted a pass intended for Matt Asiata that forced a punt on the Vikings’ first drive. And their coaches and teammates definitely appreciate their major contribution to the 5-2 start.

It was a tough week on Revis island for the rookie out of Alabama, as he finished with just five catches for 46 yards. “He’s got the intangibles you need and he’s going to continue to get better and better”. Following after Minnesota quarterback Teddy Bridgewater hit Stefon Diggs with a short pass that the Chicago secondary managed to turn into a 40-yard touchdown to tie the game, kicker Blair Walsh drove home the winning field goal as time expired from 36 yards out.

OTHER: As always, feel free to hit the “OTHER” button in the poll and let me know your vote in the comments section. “Continue to just do a better job of getting the football out of my hands and allowing our guys to make plays”.

It was reminiscent of Chicago’s previous game, a 37-34 overtime loss at Detroit on October 18. His career passer rating, which is better in the fourth quarter compared to the other three, proves the young quarterback has command of his team in these moments.

“We got a long way to go”, he said.

Marcus Sherels has become the first punt returner in Minnesota Vikings history to win an NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award. Bridgewater was 7 for 10 for 114 yards in the final period. Instead of selling out to stop Peterson, the Bears did everything within their power to clog Bridgewater’s passing lanes and Peterson was able to capitalize on the opportunity for another 100 yard performance.

“I told our guys, we fought, we battled”, Fox said.

Cutler was 22 of 33 for 211 yards. In the receiving end, Tavon Auston had 98 yards and one touchdown in four receptions while Jared Cook added 57 yards in two catches. He sputtered through most of the game, missing open receivers and forcing throws, but in the fourth quarter he played like a polished perennial Pro Bowler. “We aren’t far away at all”.

NOTES: The Bears also lost WR Eddie Royal to a left knee injury, and CB Bryce Callahan was sidelined by a concussion. A fan asked if he was OK, and he said, “Yeah.”…