Chicago Bears (Madden 24)

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The Bears depth charts for 2024 opening day.

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The first game of the season for the Bears at home against the Minnesota Vikings was a thriller. The Bears started slowly, managing to put up just six points (two FGs) in the first half, with Fields throwing a pick on an ill-advised pass on another potential scoring drive. Meanwhile, the Vikings scored two touchdowns, the first a 15-yard strike from Sam Darnold to Jordan Addison, and the second a 15-yard scramble by Darnold.

The trend continued at the beginning of the second half, as Minnesota went up 21-6 early in third quarter with another 15-yard Darnold TD strike, this time to TE Josh Oliver.

But things turned around after that. On the Vikings' next possession, Darnold coughed the ball up near the Vikings endzone on a Montez Sweat sack, and T.J. Edwards picked up the ball in the end zone for the Bears first TD of the season.

Minnesota went up 28-13 on the next possession on a one-yard TD pass by Darnold to Oliver. But the Bears came roaring back, with Justin Fields scampering for a 42-yard touchdown on a designed run, making the deficit 28-20.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Fields hit D.J. Moore on a 46-yard TD bomb, and HB Antonio Gibson completed the two point conversion on a run up the middle, tying the game at 28.

Gibson struck again toward the end of the quarter, rumbling for a 57 yard gain that set up a Bears FG with 1:12 left on the clock. Unfortunately, that was enough time for Darnold to lead the Vikings back down the field for a game-tying FG, pushing the game to overtime.

The Vikings won the toss and proceeded to charge down the field for a FG in overtime. Not to be outdone, Fields led the Bears on a lengthy drive and capped it off with a 12-yard TD toss to D.J. Moore on a crossing route with 22 seconds left in OT. Bears win 37-34.

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Week 1 Players of the Week:

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The Bears are off to a red hot start in 2024, defeating the Super Bowl Champion 49ers, in San Francisco, 35-24.

The teams traded blows throughout the first half, with both teams scoring on their respective possessions. First, the Bears established the ground game on their opening drive, marching down the field on a run-heavy drive capped off by a 13-yard run by Khalil Herbert. The 49ers returned the favor on their opening drive, primarily through the air, scoring a TD on an 8-yard toss from Brock Purdy to George Kittle. 7-7 at the end of 1Q.

In the second quarter, the Bears struck quickly on a 64-yard bomb from Justin Fields to D.J. Moore. The 49ers came back, though, and again saw little resistance from the Bears defense, ending the drive with a 10 yard pass from Purdy to Kittle. On the final drive of the half, the Bears again mounted a TD-scoring drive, this one capped off by a four yard pass from Fields to WR Darnell Mooney with 17 seconds left. 21-14 Bears lead at the half.

The trend seemed to continue on the 49ers' opening drive of the second half. Purdy took the 49ers down the field all the way to the Bears two yard line. But the Bears defense finally stiffened, and OLB Jack Sanborn sacked Purdy on a critical third-and-goal to force a field goal. On the ensuing drive, the Bears again took the ball down the field and scored on a four-yard TD run by Herbert. Bears 28, 49ers 17 at the end of the third.

The Bears defense remained strong on the 49ers next possession, forcing a punt. The Bears then capped off a perfect offensive day, with another long, run-heavy drive finished off with a Justin Fields one-yard TD run on an option play. The 49ers quickly scored on their next drive, with a 37-yard TD pass from Purdy to WR Brandon Aiyuk. But the Bears recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock. Bears win, 35-24.

Next up, the Bears take their #1-ranked rushing attack to Washington to take on the winless Commanders. The buzz around this team in Chicago right now is electric!

Box score: https://neonsportz.com/leagues/C1129/games/1987312.

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Week 2 POTY:

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Week 3: CHI 23 @ WAS 22

The Bears are 3-0 on the year after sneaking past the Washington Commanders (0-3) 23-22.

The game started with another strong Bears offensive drive, capped off with a Khalil Herbert eight-yard TD scamper. But after that, both teams' defenses tightened. The Commanders did not allow a single point the remainder of the half, while the Bears conceded only one TD (a Brian Robinson Jr. three-yard run) and two FGs in the half.

Notably, the Bears offensive line, which had not given up a single sack in the first two games, allowed QB Justin Fields to be sacked three times and pressured on numerous occasions. 13-7 at halftime.

The third quarter brought more of the same, as both teams were held to a field goal. 16-10 going into the fourth quarter.

The status quo was maintained until midway through the fourth quarter, when the Bears took the lead after a long drive on a one-yard Herbert TD run. The Commanders came back, however, and Sam Howell led a drive ending in a one-yard TD run by Robinson, giving the Commanders a 22-17 lead with 2:01 left in regulation.

Fields was surgical on the ensuing drive (not something oft said about him in his first three years in the league), but the drive nearly stalled out as the Bears were confronted with a fourth-and-goal from the Commanders' four yard line with less than 20 seconds left. But TE Cole Kmet found a hole in the defense on a short out route in the end zone, and Fields threw a strike that Kmet caught for a game-winning touchdown and only 16 seconds left on the clock. The Commanders' ensuing desperation attempts were unsuccessful. Bears win in a nail-biter, 23-22, to improve to 3-0 on the year.

Next week, the Bears will take on the Detroit Lions (1-2) in Chicago. Detroit has struggled, particularly on offense (28th overall) with the worst rushing attack in the league. Jahmyr Gibbs is only averaging 3 yards per carry (41 carries for 123 yards). Also, the Lions defense, which is strong against the pass (9th overall) could be in for trouble as its 19th ranked rush defense tries to contain the Bears' number one ranked rush offense.

Last, on a negative note, WR Darnell Mooney suffered a dislocated elbow in the game and will be out for three more weeks. It is anticipated that WR Tyler Scott, a Bears fourth-round pick in 2023, will take Mooney's spot in the slot. We might also see more of WR Larry Clayborn, the Bears fourth-round pick this year, who has not yet recorded his first reception.

Box score: https://neonsportz.com/leagues/C1129/games/2004353

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WEEK 3 POTY:

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Leaders through Week 3: