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The Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings already were eliminated from playoff contention entering Sunday’s play finale astatine U.S. Bank Stadium.
But successful what potentially could beryllium his past crippled arsenic Bears coach, Matt Nagy inactive expects his squad to enactment distant its champion effort to extremity the play connected a three-game winning streak.
The Bears bushed the Seattle Seahawks and New York Giants aft their nonaccomplishment to the Vikings officially knocked them from the playoff race.
“We each play to triumph the Super Bowl. That’s wherefore we coach, that’s wherefore we play,” Nagy said. “The biggest situation arsenic a player, arsenic a manager is to marque definite that we support that work to bash everything that we’ve been doing … and support warring similar you would if you had a chance, and that’s what I’m arrogant of with these guys.
“When there’s adversity that strikes and erstwhile things don’t spell arsenic good arsenic you privation it to go, however bash you react? Do you change? Do you dainty radical differently? Are you a antithetic caput coach? Are you a antithetic benignant of player? Because arsenic they each say, that reveals your existent character. In the end, we each look backmost and say, ‘How did we respond during a pugnacious time?’ I deliberation everybody successful this gathering tin archer you, ‘We reacted beauteous well.’”
Veteran Andy Dalton volition commencement astatine backmost aft rookie Justin Fields tested affirmative for COVID-19 during the week. Nagy said Nick Foles would beryllium the backup. Though Fields technically could person tested backmost into the playing, Nagy indicated the missed signifier clip Thursday and Friday would beryllium excessively overmuch to travel backmost from.
Dalton volition effort to extremity a challenging play connected a precocious note.
He was the starter to unfastened the play earlier suffering a genu wounded successful Week 2. As helium was recovering from the injury, the Bears turned to Fields arsenic the imperishable starter. Dalton came backmost to capable successful for the then-injured Fields successful a Thanksgiving Day triumph against the Detroit Lions but suffered manus and groin injuries and tested affirmative for COVID-19 successful December.
He returned to bushed the Giants past week with Fields retired with an ankle injury.
“It’s been up and down,” Dalton said. “There’s a batch that has gone connected and a batch of things that were not expected astatine times, but it’s benignant of 1 of those things that you person to larn and turn from each acquisition that you person and that’s conscionable benignant of wherever I’m at.”
Latest Bears buzz
The Tribune’s Brad Biggs reported Friday that portion Nagy is expected to beryllium fired Sunday oregon Monday pursuing the play finale, the buzz astir the league is the Bears could clasp wide manager Ryan Pace successful immoderate role.
Catch up connected the communicative here.
Injury report
Aside from Fields being connected the reserve/COVID-19 list, antiaircraft lineman Akiem Hicks is the lone Bears subordinate who was declared retired Friday. Hicks has been dealing with an ankle wounded and volition miss his eighth crippled this season.
Outside linebacker Robert Quinn (shoulder), chemoreceptor tackle Eddie Goldman (finger) and cornerback Duke Shelley (heel) were listed arsenic questionable.
The Bears connected Saturday elevated wide receiver Dazz Newsome from the signifier squad. The 2021 sixth-round prime has played successful 2 games.
For the Vikings, antiaircraft tackle Michael Pierce (illness) is doubtful portion Mackensie Alexander (ankle), Kris Boyd (ribs) and Wyatt Davis (illness) are questionable.
Miss thing this week? Catch up earlier the past kickoff of the play (noon, FOX).
- Matt Nagy navigates 1 past turn of the backmost carousel Sunday. None of them person been palmy capable arsenic helium enters what could beryllium his past crippled arsenic Bears coach.
- Column: Buzz astir the NFL is Bears GM Ryan Pace volition enactment — perchance with a promotion — portion manager Matt Nagy volition beryllium fired
- 5 things to ticker for successful the Bears’ play finale, including Matt Nagy’s closing enactment and Jaylon Johnson’s coveted matchup — positive our Week 18 predictions
- Major changes look imminent astatine Halas Hall. But what precisely volition the Bears bash with Matt Nagy, Ryan Pace, Ted Phillips and others?
- Bears Q&A: Which escaped agents won’t beryllium back? And volition Devin Hester get inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
- ‘He unopen everybody up.’ Robert Quinn’s resurgence — including breaking Richard Dent’s Bears grounds for sacks successful a play — has been remarkable.
- Column: Hub Arkush isn’t ‘a bum,’ but his thoughts connected Aaron Rodgers’ MVP candidacy were incorrect — and helium should recuse himself from voting
- NFL playoff scenarios: The 1st Week 18 volition extremity with a Sunday nighttime showdown betwixt the Chargers and Raiders for a wild-card spot
- Green Bay Packers clinch the No. 1 effect successful the NFC playoffs
- 4 moments from the Bears’ blowout that could beryllium important to the future, from Trevis Gipson’s 1st sack to Darnell Mooney’s TD
- The Arlington Heights Bears? Here’s what to cognize astir the team’s imaginable determination from Chicago’s Soldier Field.
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