The Minnesota Vikings are resting up as they had their scheduled bye week on Sunday. After a hard fought win against the New York Jets in London, they more than earned it. The Chicago Bears were in London though, and while they picked up their fourth win, the two NFC North teams couldn’t be more different.
Minnesota Vikings record holds more weight than the Chicago Bears
Of course the Vikings 5-0 record is better than that of the Chicago Bears 4-2 tally. Going beyond just the reality of being undefeated, not all wins are equal either. If you remember, the Minnesota Vikings schedule was suggested to be a gauntlet. It has been, but that hasn’t stopped them from winning. The Bears schedule has been anything but.
The Vikings are 5-0.
The teams they’ve beaten have a combined record of 14-12.
The Bears are 4-2.
The teams they’ve beaten have a combined record of 4-16.
There’s levels to this winning stuff… pic.twitter.com/h174a58XWx
— Leighton Glodek (@LGlodek) October 13, 2024
The Vikings started their season with a victory over the hapless New York Giants. From their they knocked off potential Super Bowl hopefuls in San Francisco, Houston, Green Bay, and New York. In each of those contests, they spent the vast majority of the game leading. Quality opponents and strong results, these teams are not the same.
DARNOLD AND JETTAS. ARE YOU KIDDING???
📺: #MINvsGB on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/7ueoBJbPGE— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2024
It’s good for Chicago that Bears rookie Caleb Williams appears to be settling in. He torched the Jacksonville Jaguars for four touchdowns in London on Sunday. Any strong performance, regardless of opponent, is going to help push his development forward. That doesn’t mean he has handled any sorts of juggernauts though.
4 TOT TUDDIES!
Caleb Williams is the first QB to throw FOUR touchdown passes at @SpursStadium! pic.twitter.com/b3k8qu3CgW
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) October 13, 2024
Chicago’s two losses have come against the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts. They are they only truly competent teams that the Bears have played, and including the Colts in that pairing is probably a reach. Jacksonville looked truly inept as Williams carved them up on Sunday.
They get a reprieve with their bye coming next week. They do face the Washington Commanders out of it, but then get soft opponents in the Cardinals and Patriots. A stretch that includes the Packers, Vikings(x2), Lions, and 49ers will reveal plenty.
Minnesota isn’t going to run the table, and a loss is sure to be coming at some point. Still, the 5-0 start is infinitely more impressive than the NFC North foe’s production considering the opponents.