Windy City Gridiron picks Bears-Vikings

In a time of genuine crisis, it can be difficult to stay calm. Rationality is at a premium. Reflecting and, in turn, diagnosing your own problems with enough time to right the ship is sounds a lot easier than it actually is. But what happens when the same problems keep hitting you upside your jaw, outright numbing you to the idea you can ever hope to fix them?

The Bears are in the middle of a three-game losing streak. None of the defeats at the hands of the Rams, Saints, and Titans inspired much of any optimism. The same usual problems of an offensive malaise, a defense holding on for dear life and letting go at the worst, most inopportune moments, and an utterly overwhelmed coaching staff reared their ugly heads again and again. Whatever obvious deficiencies the Bears have for the time being, not only have they not been fixed or remedied, they’ve actually consistently regressed. They’ve compounded on one another, getting worse over time for almost two seasons now.

In other words, it’s business as usual on the Chicago lakefront.

A recent fan and reader poll conducted on Windy City Gridiron is, to me, fascinating on its merits. 15 percent of you have said you are confident in the current direction of the Bears. What I wonder is why that lowly number doesn’t include almost everyone? No one said the poll question was of a positive winning connotation. It asked you whether you are confident in the direction of the team, and that path can be taken anywhere. The current direction of the Bears is obvious: They’re on a downhill slope, with no answers from anyone in a meaningful leadership role, and the same problems everyone who dares follow them has seen for decades. Everyone should be overflowing with confidence at the Bears’ direction, because it’s familiar and it’s the same depressing movie playing on repeat.

Mike Zimmer’s Vikings haven’t beaten the Bears since late 2017. Kirk Cousins hasn’t beaten the Bears since he was a member of the Washington Football Team. Remember that era? Here’s hoping both don’t come off this illustrious schneid on Monday night. If I were you, however, I wouldn’t hold my breath at the prospect. The definition of insanity is repeating the same actions and expecting different results.

Windy City Gridiron’s staff picks for Bears-Vikings and every other NFL game this weekend.

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