Tonight, Chicago Bears fans are Buffalo Bills fans.
The Chicago Bears do not play tonight, and it might just be the most important game of the season so far. Chicago escaped Sunday night with a win on Sunday night, beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a close one at Soldier Field to reach 7-2 heading into the bye week. What the Bears cannot do for themselves is pass the Minnesota Vikings. That happy responsibility now belongs to the Buffalo Bills.
The math is simple. Minnesota sits at 6-1, a half game in front of Chicago, and the Vikings host Buffalo on Monday night. A Bills win drops Minnesota to 6-2, leaving the Bears alone in first place in the NFC North. A Vikings win pushes them to 7-1 and they maintain their half-game lead over the Bears.
The catch wears a Vikings uniform
Standing in the way is a familiar face. Kyler Murray is out again with a hamstring strain, meaning Carson Wentz starts for Minnesota. You may remember Wentz from when he started for the Vikings back in Week 2, handing the Bears one of the most ugly losses of the season.
Chicago's hopes to take first place rest upon Josh Allen's shoulders, and he's tasked with winning a game against one of the best defenses in the game. Vikings' defensive coordinator Brian Flores has put together one of the most blitz-heavy units in the game, while the Buffalo Bills boast the No. 1 team in terms of total offense.
None of it makes the Bears' position any less real. They've won four straight games, they own the league's best third down defense, a top rushing attack, and a real possibility to repeat as champions in the NFC North for the first time since 2005 and 2006.
First place in November isn't a trophy, but it is one step closer to the grand goal.
Scoreboard watching only happens to teams that matter, and for one night, the most invested fan base in football has no say in their own race. Bears fans get to be Bills fans, loudly, and hope the bye week starts in first place.
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