Why This Chicago Bears' Game In Minnesota Matters Way More Than You Think

On the surface, there isn't much to take away from the Chicago Bears' visit to Minnesota for Monday Night Football. One team is fighting for the #1 seed in the playoffs. Another is eliminated from postseason play and merely waiting for the end of the season. There aren't any stakes involved for Bears fans other than watching quarterback Caleb Williams continue developing. However, there is another layer to this game people need to watch carefully. It involves Kevin Warren.

Don't forget that the Bears team president spent over a decade in the Vikings' organization from 2005 to 2019. During that time, he was instrumental in helping them build U.S. Bank Stadium, one of the highlights of his career. He still has plenty of friends and colleagues in that building. Try to imagine how he might react if the Bears were to get crushed on national television. A source told SM that Warren hates being humiliated. There could be significant consequences if it goes bad tonight.

The Chicago Bears already feel like they're teetering on the edge.

Head coach Matt Eberflus was fired a couple of weeks ago. Initially, it looked like GM Ryan Poles was safe. He'd be allowed to work with Warren on finding a replacement. However, recent events suggest that might not be set in stone. A Chicago Tribune report exposed some of Poles' poor decision-making that led to the team's ongoing struggles. This comes amidst a seven-game losing streak that has a chance to reach eight tonight, which would be the second-longest in franchise history. That is in addition to the 14-game streak from last year, which is also connected to Poles. If his seat isn't hot already, Warren could make sure it is if the Chicago Bears fail to compete tonight. Watch that scoreboard carefully.