The Bears' defense made the wrong kind of history in loss to the Vikings
The Chicago Bears’ young secondary was exposed in the team’s 29-22 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Vikings QB Kirk Cousins took the Bears’ youngsters to school on Sunday, finishing 32-of-41 passing for 296 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Justin Jefferson, who will be a problem for many years to come, was the main […]
The Chicago Bears’ young secondary was exposed in the team’s 29-22 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Vikings QB Kirk Cousins took the Bears’ youngsters to school on Sunday, finishing 32-of-41 passing for 296 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Justin Jefferson, who will be a problem for many years to come, was the main beneficiary with 12 catches for 154 yards on the day.
Cousins was in a groove in the pocket. In fact, none of Cousins’ 41 pass attempts were thrown into a tight window, per ESNP Stats and Information.
A tight window is defined by one or fewer yards of separation from the nearest defender. It’s the most attempts without a tight-window throw since Next Gen Stats was created in 2016.
Cousins’ lone interception came on a great play made by CB Kindle Vildor, but it did not qualify as a tight-window throw.
Chicago was shorthanded in the secondary with starting CB Jaylon Johnson and S Dane Cruikshank ruled out due to injuries.
Growing pains are part of rebuilding a football team. Young players learn from making mistakes, and, with a generational talent on the other sideline in Jefferson, mistakes can be common, even for the most-talented secondaries in the NFL.
Featured image via Brad Rempel – USA TODAY Sports
