The most important Bears news of the week didn't come out of Halas Hall. Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell confirmed on Thursday that quarterback Kyler Murray will miss Monday night's game against Buffalo with a hamstring strain, and that Carson Wentz will start in his place. For the Chicago Bears, that announcement turns Sunday night's game against Tampa Bay into something much larger.
Here's how it all works out. Chicago is at 6-2, while the Vikings still have a narrow hold on the division at 6-1, thanks to their early bye. If the Bears beat the Buccaneers on Sunday, and the Vikings lose to Buffalo on Monday night, Chicago wakes up on Tuesday morning alone in first place in the NFC North.
But it's the second half of that equation that just got more likely. Instead of Murray, the Vikings are sending their veteran backup into a home primetime game against the team that NFL.com ranks No. 1.
Bears fans have seen this movie
Before anybody in Chicago starts printing first place T-shirts, a word of caution, because this quarterback has already ruined a Bears Sunday this season. Murray took a concussion in Week 1, causing Wentz to take the field against the Bears in Week 2. It was one of two ugly games that the Bears have played this season, bad conditions or not. Bears fans likely remember the day as the one where Williams went down with his hamstring injury.
Wentz doesn't need to be a hero on Monday, because he's not on the side of the ball that's headlining the team. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores' defense has dragged Minnesota to 6-1, and it held Detroit to only 19 points during the Vikings only loss this season. Wentz simply needs to avoid the mistakes, keep moving the chains, and let the defense do their work.
For Chicago, none of Monday night's drama matters without Sunday night first. Beat Tampa Bay at Soldier Field, and the Bears get to spend Monday night watching a backup quarterback try to protect the division lead they just took.
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