Chicago Bears: 5 X-factors for beating the Vikings in Week 10

The Chicago Bears need these five players to step up and get the team back on track.

To say the Chicago Bears are a mess right now is an understatement. Just three weeks ago, they were atop the NFC. Now, however, after losing three straight games, they are on the outside looking in. With the next three games against NFC North division foes, if they don’t right the ship quickly they could find themselves in the division cellar. They spent the four seasons between 2014 and 2017 there and don’t want to return.

First up for the Bears is the Minnesota Vikings. Just three weeks ago, the Bears had a 3.5 game lead over them. If Minnesota wins this week, that lead gets cut down to just 1.5 games. Both teams need this game so we get to see which team’s desperation rises to the top.

The Bears have a MASH unit. Just two of the starting offensive linemen are healthy. Even some of the backups are injured. Last week against the Tennessee Titans, head coach Matt Nagy had to use tackle/guard Alex Bars make his first professional start at center, a position he never played before.

Late in the game last week, running back David Montgomery had to leave the game in the fourth quarter. He suffered a concussion. As a result, he is now in the NFL’s concussion protocol and his status for this week is still unknown.

The defense is also affected by the injury bug. Defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris had to have shoulder surgery and is now out for the season.

Let’s see how this team responds to all this adversity. They haven’t handled it well in the last three weeks. If they can win this game and end that streak, keeping them above .500, they enter the bye week with something positive. They can recharge and come out strong after the bye.

In order for that to happen, these five players need to step up and get the job done.