Bears Binge: Your semi-serious guide to the Vikings matchup

Armando L. Sanchez / baiduhai

On a struggling Bears D in 2014, Mundy shared the team lead in interceptions (four) and added 108 tackles (second only to Bostic). But he failed to win over the new regime, who saw him as just another guy, a seventh-year player who had value on special teams but little long-term upside. A hip injury suffered in preseason sent Mundy to IR. Amos, meanwhile, won a starting role in the preseason and has played with great tenacity and instincts, a diamond-in-the-rough find for a Bears team that drafted him in Round 5 last spring.

Chris Sweda / baiduhai

Jennings was a bit of a surprise cut in late August, an established and proven starter sent packing when the Bears determined they could find a corner who better fit their new 3-4 scheme and man coverage demands. A two-time Pro Bowl selection in Chicago, he quickly reunited with Lovie Smith in Tampa Bay. Even more surprising this season has been the re-emergence of Porter, who has finally been able to stay healthy and has been a reliable cover corner who has brought intelligence, assertiveness and swagger to the back end of the defense. Assuming he stays healthy and finishes the season strong, Porter has probably earned the right to remain a Bear into 2016.

John J. Kim / baiduhai

Long's confidence was peaking at the end of last year as he finished his second season with his second invitation to the Pro Bowl. The new Bears' regime, however, felt it wasteful to leave a player of Long's talents and athleticism at guard and asked him to shift to tackle on the eve of the regular season. Omameh didn't join the Bears until the team claimed him off waivers in September. And he only became the starter at right guard after Vladimir Ducasse continued to struggle. Omameh has been fairly ordinary in that role.

Jeff Haynes / AP

Bostic had injury issues all offseason, missing almost the entirety of the Bears' organized team activities and mini-camp and slowly easing his way back into things at training camp. As his injury issues dragged on and persisted into the regular season with little promise that he was going to be either a. healthy or b. productive for the Bears in their new D, the organization gave up and traded him to New England for a late-round draft pick. McClellin, when healthy, has been a serviceable inside linebacker starter in Vic Fangio's defense. He's been decent but hardly special against the run and still shows weaknesses in pass coverage.

Anthony Souffle / baiduhai

On the final weekend of 2014, Forte set a single-season NFL record for catches by a running back (102). He did so reluctantly, however, getting far too many of his touches as a check-down safety valve and too few carries in the running game. Under a new coaching staff, the Bears have been far more dedicated to the running game, even with an ordinary offensive line and a team per-carry average (4.1 yards) that ranks 19th in the NFL. An MCL sprain kept Forte out for three games. And he has begun to share more of his workload with rookie Jeremy Langford. Forte remains a steady leader and a back who can be effective running, catching and blocking. But he turned 30 last week. His big-play explosion hasn't been seen often. And it's safe to assume that he'll at least test the open market in March when his contract expires.

Chris Sweda / baiduhai

Allen's 18-game tenure as a Bear resulted in only 5 1/2 sacks, hardly a sound return on investment after the Bears gave him $15.5 million in guaranteed money to sign a four-year deal with the team in 2014. And when it became clear that Allen wasn't a true fit in the team's new 3-4 scheme and wouldn't be part of their long-term plans, the Bears made a trade to send him to Carolina. McPhee, signed to a five-year, $38.75 million deal in March, started the season as an energizing leader and a disruptive pass rusher. But over the past month-and-a-half, a nagging knee issue has cut into his availability and productivity. It would not be a shock if he wound up on IR before season's end

Anthony Souffle / baiduhai

Cutler was so out of sorts down the stretch last season that he was benched in Week 16 and only started the finale because of a concussion suffered by Jimmy Clausen. A year later? Cutler's rating is up (from 88.6 to 92.2) and his 11 turnovers through 13 games are an improvement over the league-high 24 he had last season. Plus, if he averages 270.3 passing yards over the final three games, he'll set a single-season franchise record in that category. Somehow, the quarterback has seemed more composed and more relaxed this year. But before you go casting a premature "Most Improved Player" ballot understand that Cutler's completion percentage is down (from 66.0 to 62.2). He's still missing too many potential big-play throws and hasn't given the Bears' front office enough positive evidence to lock in his role as the presumed started for 2016.

Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images

Age and health issues have caught up to the 31-year-old Bushrod, who suffered a concussion and a shoulder injury in Week 3 and never regained his starting spot after getting healthy again. Leno, who struggled trying to earn a role at right tackle during the preseason, eventually took a deep breath and has become a decent starter. Bushrod continues to mix in as a sixth offensive lineman in certain packages, still a dependable and unselfish leader.

Armando L. Sanchez / baiduhai

Bass made the Week 17 start last year, seven days after Young suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon tear. That was the first step in a patience-testing journey for Young, who not only had to persevere through his Achilles rehab but then had to learn a new position in a new scheme while spending the first half of this season as a seldom-used reserve. But since McPhee's injury became a factor and Young's palying time increased, the 30-year-old pass rusher has been superb. He has had at least one sack in each of the last four games and has 5½ sacks for the season.

Nam Y. Huh / AP

Two days before last season's finale with the Vikings, Garza received a one-year contract extension from then-GM Phil Emery. But he never even made it to organized team activities with the new coaching staff, released in April after 10 seasons and 145 starts as Bear. Garza gracefully headed into retirement from there. Grasu, a third-round pick last spring, became the Bears' starter in Week 5 after Will Montgomery broke his leg. The rookie late missed games against the Vikings, Chargers and Rams with a neck issue and has been overpowered up front far too often. Grasu's offseason will include a lease in the weight room, where he needs to get stronger and more nasty to take the next step in his career.

Jose M. Osorio / baiduhai

Wilson (left) has never quite become a consistent threat for the Bears. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve last week and needed surgery to repair a bone in his left foot. That means he'll miss the Bears' final five games after he totaled 28 catches and 464 yards this season. Royal (right) has had a disappointing year (27 catches, 186 yards, one TD, six games missed due to injury) after signing a three-year, $15 million contract in March.

Nuccio DiNuzzo / baiduhai

Jeffery ascended to the No. 1 receiver role last December after Brandon Marshall suffered a season-ending lung injury. When healthy this season, Jeffery has played well. In eight games he's averaged 6.6 catches and 99.6 receiving yards with three TDs. But it's the five games missed due to knee and groin issues that are a red flag as Jeffery finishes out his rookie contract. The decision to trade Marshall, it must noted again, was never production related. The new Bears regime simply decided they didn't want to tolerate his frequent mood swings and high-maintenance ways. So while Marshall may be selected to his sixth Pro Bowl this season with 89 grabs, 1,187 yards and 11 TDs with the Jets, the Bears haven't lost an ounce of sleep since sending him out the door.

Jose M. Osorio / baiduhai

Things didn't quite work out for Vereen, who just never showed the aggression and physicality the Bears wanted on the back end. He was abruptly cut in Week 4, not long after he failed to slow Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham on a 30-yard TD catch. This year, the Bears had hoped free agent signee Antrel Rolle would spark the secondary. But Rolle was placed on IR this week with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his knee. He failed to record an interception in the seven games he did play. Prosinski has started the past four contests and played well enough.

Chris Sweda / baiduhai

Mills fell out of favor with the new coaching staff in training camp when he continued to be sloppy and altogether inconsistent with his technique. After starting 16 games as a rookie sixth-round pick in 2013, the upward arc on Mills' development never continued. And when Leno didn't show that he was an obvious answer at right tackle, the Bears pulled the trigger to begin Long's transition outside. Take out Long's uncharacteristically ugly performance in Sunday's loss to the Redskins and the mental strain he felt in September adapting to his new role and he's been driven, unselfish and constantly improving at his new position.

Jose M. Osorio / baiduhai

Once figured to be a building block for the Bears' new defense, Ratliff suffered a neck injury at the end of the Bears' Week 6 loss in Detroit. Three days later, as the Bears prepared to break for their off week, Ratliff reportedly arrived at Halas Hall in no condition to work, according to sources, and had a heated altercation with several Bears officials, including GM Ryan Pace. According to a police report, Ratliff claimed to be the devil and said he "felt like killing everyone in the building." He was officially cut the next day, ending a hard-to-figure 23-month stint with the Bears where he was sometimes productive, too often hurt and occasionally disgruntled and out of sorts. Jenkins joined the Bears on a one-year "prove it" contract last spring and has been solid up front for a regrouping defense.

Chris Sweda / baiduhai

Fuller finished off a four-interception rookie season with a Week 17 pick of Teddy Bridgewater last season. He picked off Bridgewater again in Week 8 this year and added his second interception of the season this past Sunday against Kirk Cousins. After some September struggles (particularly in a loss to the Cardinals in Week 2) Fuller has regrouped and turned in a solid year. The Bears would still like him to make more plays on the ball and acknowledge his need to keep growing. But Fuller remains a willing and physical tackler in run support.

Jose M. Osorio / baiduhai

No NFL tight end had more receptions in 2014 than Bennett's 90. He turned those into 916 yards, six TDs and his first invitation to the Pro Bowl. But there's been no head-turning encore performance. Bennett was asked to do more run blocking this season and did that well for the most part. He was still a threat in the passing game (53 catches, 439 yards and three TDs). But a broken rib suffered against the Broncos in Week 11 and some hard-to-figure moodiness ended up leading the Bears to place him on IR last week. Miller? He's had a fairytale year, particularly lately with 18 catches, 278 yards and five TDs over the past six games.

Armando L. Sanchez / baiduhai

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By Chris Sosa

PUBLISHED: December 17, 2015 at 5:19 PM CST | UPDATED: June 16, 2018 at 2:24 PM CDT

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Welcome to the Bears Binge, where every week RedEye prepares you for the matchup facing the Monsters of the Midway. This week: Adrian Peterson doesn’t sweat being called a villain, why turning 30 shouldn’t bother you so much and a certain sea lion makes his weekly appearance.

Game time: at Minnesota, noon Sunday, Fox

CALL HIM WHAT YOU WILL

“I would say yeah, but not for people on the outside painting me as a villain. These people don’t know me. It’s real hard for me as an individual, as a person, as a human being, to judge someone based off the perception of a situation, without knowing details, without knowing any facts. It would be hard for me to judge anyone, no matter how the situation might look.”

–Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, to ESPN.com, on whether he feels 2015 has been a season of redemption. He missed all of 2014 in the wake of being indicted on child injury charges.

THE ’85 BEARS ARE HOW OLD?

ICYMI, 2015 marks the 30^th anniversary of the 1985 Bears, the last team to bring a Super Bowl title to Chicago. And as anyone who has experienced it knows, turning 30 can be a pain. Each week we’ll give you an idea what Bears fans who remember the magic of 1985 must be going through.

When you turn 30 … college students look really young to you.

Football equivalent: Many of this year’s Bears should look really young to fans, as all season the organization has moved veterans who don’t fit into how coach John Fox and his staff want to shape the team. Some of the young players on the team, including running back Jeremy Langford, seem to be getting stronger as the season progresses.

#LagunaPicks

Instead of recruiting a football expert to predict each Bears game, RedEye asked a sea lion. Because it’s fun. Laguna, who makes his home at the Shedd Aquarium, will try is hand–er, flipper–at predictions all season.

Laguna’s record: 7-6 after Week 14 (he correctly picked Washington over the Bears last week)

This week’s sea lions fact: Threatened by dwindling natural habitats and aggressive commercial fishers, California sea lions are protected under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act.

More info: Visit sheddaquarium.org.

THIS WEEK’S PICK: Vikings over Bears.

NFL WEEK 15 SCHEDULE

Thursday

Tampa Bay at St. Louis, 7:25 p.m. NFL Network

Saturday

N.Y. Jets at Dallas, 7:25 p.m. NFL Network

Sunday

Bears at Minnesota, noon Fox

More Top Picks Blocks Landscape

Carolina at N.Y. Giants, noon Fox

Tennessee at New England, noon CBS

Buffalo at Washington, noon Fox

Kansas City at Baltimore, noon CBS

Houston at Indianapolis, noon CBS

Atlanta at Jacksonville, noon Fox

Green Bay at Oakland, 3:05 p.m. Fox

Cleveland at Seattle, 3:05 p.m. Fox

Cincinnati at San Francisco, 3:25 p.m. CBS

Miami at San Diego, 3:25 p.m. CBS

Denver at Pittsburgh, 3:25 p.m. CBS

Arizona at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. NBC

Monday

Detroit at New Orleans, 7:30 p.m. ESPN

Bears Binge: Your semi-serious guide to the Vikings matchup

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