Bombshell News Is Perfect Timing For The Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears finally got into the win column this season, thumping the Washington Commanders on Thursday night 40-20. That said, they're still 1-4. It will take a few more victories before anybody starts taking them seriously. Their next challenge will be taking down their division rival Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field on Sunday. That is a tall order. Chicago hasn't beaten them since 2020, and they have the offensive firepower to take advantage of the Bears' weaknesses on defense.

Or at least they did. Huge news dropped on Tuesday morning. Minnesota is placing superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson on Injured Reserve. He suffered a hamstring injury on Sunday in a loss to Kansas City. Considering the Vikings are already 1-4, this is not a loss they can afford. With him out of the picture, the Bears are in a great position to get back-to-back wins. Their secondary will be considerably stronger too since both Kyler Gordon and Jaylon Johnson are returning from injuries.

The Chicago Bears have every reason to think they can win.

Minnesota relied heavily on throwing the football to function on offense. Their running game is 29th in the NFL. With Jefferson out of their picture, their one strength is drastically reduced. Then there is the defense. It hasn't improved much from last year, ranking 21st against the pass and 23rd in points allowed. This feels like a great opportunity for a suddenly red-hot Justin Fields to continue piling up yards and touchdowns through the air. He played well against Minnesota last year. No doubt he'll be eyeing some revenge.

Nothing is guaranteed with the Chicago Bears. They aren't used to winning yet. Beating Washington was a breakthrough, but they still have lots to prove. This game is now skewing in their favor. They're at home with three extra days of rest and time to prepare. Now the Vikings are coming in wounded and demoralized. If the Bears can't win this, it will be confirmation they are simply not a good enough football team. On the other hand, a victory would open the door to much bigger possibilities.