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All statistics and snap counts are taken directly from the NFL's Game Statistic and Information System.
Black Monday was exciting and all, but the Chicago Bears did play a game on Sunday...
When the clock read :00 on the 2014 Chicago Bears' season, the first word that popped in my head was finally. Finally this disappointment of a season has come to an end. What started with expectations of an offense building off their success of 2013, turned into one of the most lethargic offenses in recent memory. The O just couldn't put 60 minutes together all season long and it was fitting they whimpered out with nothing but three field goals in week 17 against the Minnesota Vikings.
Jay Feely was 3-4 in field goals to account for all 9 points for the Bears. Sticking with the special teams, punter Pat O'Donnell had 4 punts for a 45.5 average and a 32.8 net average. Return man Marc Mariani had a big 67 yard return to boost his average to 29.3 on 3 kick returns.
The Bears were on the short end of just about every team stat. They were outgained 311 yards to 264. The Vikings held the 1st down edge, 15 to 12. Minnesota was 8 of 15 on 3rd down tries while the Bears only converted 4 of 15. Chicago did convert 2 of 3 on 4th down, while holding Minny to 0 for 1. In what has become a theme for the 2014 season, the Bears were penalized more than their opponent, 8 for 50 yards to just 4 for 25 yards for the Vikes.
I guess if we're looking for a silver lining, the Bears didn't turn the ball over this week. Minnesota's Teddy Bridgewater threw one interception for the Vikings' lone turnover.
Jay Cutler played every snap of this meaningless game and he completed 23 of 36 (63.9%) for 172 yards. He also scrambled 3 times for 39 yards. Running back Matt Forte and wide out Marquess Wilson also played all 61 snaps, as did the 5 offensive linemen.
Forte was targeted a game high 12 times in the passing game, catching 8 for 23 yards. He also had 17 rushing attempts for 51 yards. Wilson caught 2 of the 3 balls thrown his way for 18 yards. Alshon Jeffery only took one play off, and he caught just 2 of the 5 passes thrown his direction for 34 yards. Number three wide out Josh Morgan had one rushing attempt for 9 yards and he caught 1 of the 2 balls thrown his way for 13 yards.
Starting tight end Martellus Bennett played 56 snaps and he caught 8 of the 11 balls targeted at him for 59 yards. Back up TE Dante Rosario caught 2 of 3 balls for 25 yards in 33 offensive snaps. Rosario also chipped in with 14 snaps on special teams. Eben Britton played 2 snaps as a 6th offensive lineman.
There were five Bears that played all 62 snaps on defense. Defensive end Jared Allen (2 tackles, 1 pass defense), corner Kyle Fuller (1 tackle, 1 interception, 1 pass defense), safety Ryan Mundy (11 tackles), and linebackers Jon Bostic (10 tackles, 1 tackle for loss) and Christian Jones (7 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 1 QB hit).
Linebacker Shea McClellin played 36 snaps making 3 tackles including 1 TFL. Khaseem Greene had 2 defensive snaps.
The other starting safety, Brock Vereen, played 60 snaps making 5 tackles. Tim Jennings, who starts opposite Kyle Fuller at corner, played 60 snaps and he made 2 tackles. Nickelback Demontre Hurst played 29 snaps on D and another 12 on special teams. He made 2 tackles on D and 1 more in the 3rd phase.
David Bass got the start at left defensive end and he played 41 snaps making 4 tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL and a QBH. Cornelius Washington made 3 tackles in his 22 DE snaps. Trevor Scott managed to get 1 snap at DE.
Starting defensive tackles Stephen Paea and Jeremiah Ratliff played 43 and 40 snaps respectively. Paea had 3 tackles and Ratliff had 6 tackles, a sack, a TFL and a QBH. Rookie DTs Will Sutton and Ego Ferguson played 21 and 17 snaps respectively, with Ferguson compiling 2 tackles.
Five other Bears matched Rosario's 14 special teams snaps, Anthony Walters, DeDe Lattimore, Danny McCray, Sherrick McManis and Montell Owens.
What were your week 17 snap count and statistics thoughts?