The Chicago Bears look like a team destined for another down year. After a rough 0-4 start, they’ve worked their way to 2-5. Now they’re starting a five-game sequence where they’re on the road four times. The first comes in Los Angeles against the 2-4 Chargers. It is hard to imagine the Bears winning that game unless Justin Herbert wets the bed, but anything is possible. However, their incentive to pull something off may have gone up in a big way. It came from a disastrous turn of events at Lambeau Field.
The Minnesota Vikings won their third-straight game after an ugly 1-4 start, beating the Green Bay Packers 24-10. However, it may have come at a high price. Kirk Cousins left the game with an apparent ankle injury. Video replays indicate it might be the same situation that happened to Aaron Rodgers in Week 1. In other words, he may have torn his Achilles. It turns out that is exactly what happened, as insiders reported it after the game. That means the Vikings’ season now falls into the hands of 5th round pick Jaren Hall.
This injury could impact the Chicago Bears in a big way.
One of the four upcoming road games will be in Minnesota against the Vikings. Cousins not being available drastically increases their chances of a victory. They also play the 1-6 Carolina Panthers at home. Presuming both of those are victories, it means the Bears could reach the bye week at 5-7 if they can somehow beat the Chargers, New Orleans Saints, or Detroit Lions. From there, they finish out against Detroit at home, in Cleveland, at home against Arizona and Atlanta, and the season finale in Green Bay.
It isn’t a wide open lane to a wild card playoff spot, but it’s there. This team has been playing much better football lately. They can still run the ball well. They’re improving defensively. If they can get decent play at quarterback, this schedule no longer looks impossible to traverse. The Chargers are 1-2 at home this season. New Orleans has problems offensively. Divisional games are impossible to predict. Arizona and Atlanta are beatable. The Chicago Bears have a shot. Cousins’ injury cracked the door open a bit wider.
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