One Viking Claims the Bears Were Trashy
The Minnesota Vikings possessed a golden opportunity in Week 12 to grab a Wildcard playoff berth by the esophagus and not relinquish the grip.
Then, they lost 12-10 to a Chicago Bears team that couldn’t score a touchdown. In fact, Minnesota became the first team inside the 2023 season to lose while not surrendering a touchdown to the opponent.
One Viking Claims the Bears Were Trashy
Sorrow indeed, Vikings players aren’t handing the Bears any credit. Some team members believe Minnesota beat itself with self-inflicted turnovers, implying that Chicago isn’t all that. One such opinion giver was wide receiver Brandon Powell, a first-year Viking whose resume to date is quite productive.
“Man, the Chicago Bears defensive backs is trash. That’s just simple. They were trash. We just hurt ourselves, that’s all,” Powell told Star Tribune after the Vikings loss at home. Minnesota now holds a 6-6 record following Week 12 and a 58.7% chance of reaching the playoffs, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI).
Next to the Green Bay Packers, the Bears are Minnesota’s foremost rival, so it makes all the sense in the world that Powell is experiencing the rivalry’s bad blood. Before Monday Night Football, the Vikings had chipped off the Bears in five straight games, but Chicago ended the skid in sloppy fashion at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Too, Powell’s unflattering summary of the Bears isn’t shocking. He was involved in a skirmish with cornerback Kyler Gordon, a brawl that ended up with a 15-yard penalty for Gordon.
Meanwhile, Powell was certifiably correct about Minnesota beating itself. The Vikings handed four turnovers to the Bears via interception, as quarterback Joshua Dobbs produced his worst career game — one so unfortunate that head coach Kevin O’Connell wouldn’t name a starter for the next game at the Las Vegas Raiders. The Vikings have a bye this week, but thereafter, Dobbs, Jaren Hall, or Nick Mullens could start in Week 14.
When the Vikings were beset by foolish turnovers to start the 2023 campaign, O’Connell mentioned, “I think that’s something we’re going to fix one way or the other. Either guys are going to fix it, or we’re going to have to put other guys in the game that have ball security.”
So, in the vein of “beating ourselves” from Powell, plus Dobbs’ gaffes, Minnesota may turn to a safer option at quarterback, which could be Hall or Mullens.
Powell joined the Vikings in March and could be on the fast track to a WR3 job next season. He’s a tried-and-true playmaker and even helped Minnesota knock off the Atlanta Falcons on the road in early November, thanks to a game-winning touchdown reception.
The man is a gamer — and after two trysts with the Bears, he will fit in just fine indefinitely with the Vikings after a taste of NFC North bad blood.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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