The Chicago Bears took care of business on Sunday with a 19-17 win over the Minnesota Vikings. It wasn’t pretty, but then again, few of their wins have been this year. What matters is they’re 7-3 and suddenly in control of the NFC North. There are seven games left to play. Three wins will get them to ten and likely put them in position for a playoff spot. Up next is the Pittsburgh Steelers and likely their last matchup with Aaron Rodgers before the Hall of Famer calls it a career. However, there is massive news happening with the opponent Chicago will face after that.

Per usual, the Philadelphia Eagles have been cruising this season. They took down the Detroit Lions on Sunday night, improving to 8-2 and in full control of the #1 seed. However, that victory came at a massive cost. Lane Johnson, their future Hall of Fame right tackle, exited with a foot injury. It was soon revealed he’d suffered a Lisfranc sprain. He is expected to miss 4-6 weeks of action, meaning he won’t be available for November 28th when the Bears come to town.

How significant is this loss? Since 2013, when Johnson was drafted, the Eagles have been 105-55-1 when he plays. They are 15-23 when he doesn’t.

The Chicago Bears can meet Philadelphia on equal ground.

Right now, the Eagles are the superior team. They have an array of talent across the board and have continued proving it each week. That said, things haven’t been going well for the offense. In their past six games, they’ve scored 17 or fewer points four times. That was with Johnson in the lineup. With him out, it’s impossible to say how much worse it could get. Jalen Hurts tends to hold the ball a lot at quarterback. He gets away with it because Philadelphia’s protection has always been great. The last time Johnson missed a game, Hurts was sacked six times. You cannot understate his impact on their fortunes.

It’s also worth noting Dennis Allen has given the Eagles problems in past meetings. Here is the number of points his defense gave up in the seven games he faced them with New Orleans.

• 15
• 10
• 40
• 24
• 7
• 14
• 39

Put all of this together, and it’s not unreasonable to think the Chicago Bears have a legitimate chance to pull off an upset at Lincoln Financial Field in 11 days. The big key will be whether they score any points against what is fast becoming one of the NFL’s elite defenses. If Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams can establish an early lead, it might force the Eagles to play a style they’re not comfortable with, especially without Johnson.

Chicago Bears fans know the rollercoaster that comes with Cairo Santos. He can frustrate you one minute and save the day the next. And while many of us have been quick to point out his flaws — myself included — Sunday was a reminder of who he really is: a clutch, reliable kicker when the Bears need him most.

Yes, he missed a kick early. That’s the part that sticks with fans, especially in close games. But what matters just as much is how he responded. Santos bounced back by drilling every kick after that, including a huge 54-yard field goal and, of course, the game-winner. That’s mental toughness most kickers simply don’t have.

His performance also made history. Santos now holds the Bears franchise record for most 50+ yard field goals (24), passing Robbie Gould’s 23. On top of that, he remains the most accurate kicker in Bears history, something that gets overshadowed because his leg isn’t as strong as some others around the league.

I’ve been one of his biggest critics at times. It’s easy to focus on the limitations — the shorter range, the occasional weird miss, the feeling that he’s a bit of a liability compared to the big-leg kickers around the NFL.

But the truth is simple: Cairo Santos consistently delivers in pressure moments. He’s earned the “C” on his chest, he’s earned the respect, and after Sunday, he’s earned an apology from me — and probably a lot of Bears fans too.

The Chicago Bears Can’t Keep Getting Away With This…

The Chicago Bears knew what they were walking into on Sunday. It was a rematch of week one when the Minnesota Vikings overcame a 17-6 deficit to win 27-24. The humiliation lingered for the Bears after that. That meant this was their chance for revenge. However, it was also a game that represented pure desperation for the Vikings. A loss would push them to 4-6 and all but out of the playoff picture. That assured the Bears were going to get a physical game from their longtime rivals, and they were more than happy to oblige. None more so than Cole Kmet.

Ever since Colston Loveland came into the picture, it became clear to the former 2nd round pick that he would have to redefine his role with the Bears. His solution? Apparently, it was to become a devastating blocker. He proved that last week with two crucial blocks on Bears touchdowns. This week, he decided to set the tone early in the game with one of the more disrespectful takedowns of the season.

It took place on a run play inside Vikings territory. Kmet came in motion to the right, which matched him up against linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. What happened next? Well, take a look for yourselves.

Cole Kmet is finally becoming the aggressor.

There was never any doubt that the young tight end had the body and power to become a fierce blocker. It just always felt like he was too passive, which made it easier for defenders to beat him. Since head coach Ben Johnson took over, that has changed. Every player on offense has taken a much more aggressive approach to blocking, and Kmet is no exception. That pancake and staredown of Pace Jr. was a perfect example. No more getting pushed around. If you want war, then you’ll have it.

The Bears proved their point. They ran the ball more and made their presence felt. Cole Kmet was at the heart of it all. He also led the team in receiving. It served as a good reminder of his versatility. This is the Kmet that Bears fans have waited for. Not only is he a leader, but he’s become a tone-setter as well.

The Chicago Bears week just went from great to even better. After grinding out a much-needed win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, fans were gifted another morale boost when the Detroit Lions fell to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night. That result officially places the Bears in sole possession of first place in the NFC North and elevates them to third overall in the NFC standings.

It’s hard to overstate how significant this is. The Bears didn’t just gain ground — they took control of the division outright. They finally took the North but now it’s up to them to not give it back. For a team that has spent most of the past decade chasing the other three teams, this is a big moment.

Sunday’s win over Minnesota was exactly the kind of game the Bears needed. The defense tightened when it mattered most, and the offense made enough plays to seal the win. Good teams win games like that. Bad teams don’t win on the road.

But the path ahead is anything but easy. Chicago faces several tough matchups in the coming weeks. The margin for error stays thin, even with the division lead. Still, entering the back half of the season on top of the NFC North — and sitting third in the conference — is exactly where the Bears want to be.

Sunday was a win. Sunday night made it even better.

The Chicago Bears Can’t Keep Getting Away With This…

Chicago Bears safety Kevin Byard didn’t hold back after Sunday’s win over the Minnesota Vikings, firing off a message that instantly resonated across the NFL landscape:

“This ain’t the same ole Bears!!”

And honestly? He’s not wrong.

The Bears have now won seven of their last eight games, climbing to 7–3 and taking sole possession of first place in the NFC North. They currently sit as the No. 3 seed in the NFC, a stunning turnaround for a franchise that has spent years searching for stability, leadership, and an identity. This version of the Chicago Bears is different—undeniably different—and Byard’s tweet captured exactly what fans and players have felt building for weeks.

Byard himself has been a cornerstone of this surge. Playing at an All-Pro level, he’s helped transform the defense into a unit that creates game-changing takeaways rather than collapsing late like past years. His playmaking ability, and experience have elevated the entire secondary that has been devastated by injuries.

Much of this new identity traces back to head coach Ben Johnson, whose calm leadership and offensive mind have completely reshaped the culture inside Halas Hall. Caleb Williams has become a stabilizing force Chicago has desperately needed at quarterback—poised, unbothered by pressure, and delivering when it matters most.

This isn’t the same old Bears. The mentality is different. The results are different. And now, the whole NFL is starting to realize it.

The Chicago Bears Can’t Keep Getting Away With This…

It wasn’t a great statistical day for Caleb Williams on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. He completed just 50% of his passes for 193 yards. No touchdowns. It was a frustrating afternoon. Granted, his receivers still struggled with drops and left tackle Theo Benedet remains a liability in pass protection. Still, some people couldn’t understand why Williams couldn’t put together a better afternoon. The answer is simpler than you’d think. It is because Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores refused to let him.

Most defensive coordinators would’ve had a careful game plan meant to contain Williams in the pocket, daring him to win without the benefit of his legs. Not Flores. Without top pass rush Jonathan Greenard, he decided to do something almost no coach would dare. He blitzed—all the time. By the time the game was over, Minnesota had sent five or more rushers at Williams a staggering 66.7% of the time. It didn’t allow much time for thinking. It should be considered a minor miracle that Williams managed not to turn the ball over.

Brian Flores has that effect on many quarterbacks.

People forget he did the same thing to Lamar Jackson last week. The two-time MVP only had 175 yards and a touchdown when Baltimore went into that same building. He also fumbled once, but luckily didn’t lose it. People shouldn’t act like Williams is the only one to struggle against Brian Flores. He has that effect on plenty of quarterbacks. Besides, it’s not like the Bears asked their quarterback to be overly aggressive. They ran the ball 39 times in the game. It is possible that head coach Ben Johnson opted for a more conservative approach, likely sensing Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy was struggling. The Bears played for ball control and security.

It worked out. Williams and the offense didn’t turn it over. Minnesota did twice. One of those interceptions by McCarthy turned into a field goal, which proved the difference in the game. Flores accomplished his goal of slowing down Williams, but the Bars wisely didn’t let it dictate their approach to the game. They remained composed, played the chess match, and made the necessary plays to secure the win.

The Chicago Bears hoped they would be better in 2025. It felt like they upgraded across the coaching staff, going from Matt Eberflus and Shane Waldron to Ben Johnson and Dennis Allen. They also spent lavishly to improve the offensive line, added some playmakers, and came into the summer with renewed vigor. Then they started the year 0-2, capped by a 52-21 drubbing in Detroit. Everybody thought the season was over. No one in their right mind thought the Bears would win seven of their next eight games and sit atop the NFC North.

Yet that inexplicably has come to pass. It all started last week when the Green Bay Packers lost to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football, knocking them out of 1st place. Chicago went into Minnesota and took down the Vikings to reach 7-3, handing them 2nd place. Then, on Sunday night, the division-leading Detroit Lions were dismantled in Philadelphia. That dropped them to 6-4, unbelievably handing the top spot in the North to the Bears.

Anybody who says they saw this coming in August was a damn liar.

The Chicago Bears finally control their own destiny.

They have seven games left in the season. Three of them are against the Packers and Lions. Two will be at home. There is a golden opportunity for them to seize the moment and finally fulfill Ryan Poles’ prophecy of taking the north and never giving it back. Of course, they also must contend with those same Eagles and the surging San Francisco 49ers as well. The Chicago Bears can’t get comfortable. They haven’t played a clean football game most of the season. You won’t be top teams playing the way they have.

They know it too. Either way, the Bears deserve a lot of credit. There is no way they should be in this situation. Yet because of their resilience and hard work, they’ve climbed out of the mud. Good teams make their own breaks. That is what seems to be happening now. The question is whether they can finish down the stretch. It is what Ben Johnson trained them for.