Despite the Chicago Bears’ season ending with a meaningless game against the rival Minnesota Vikings, the game might have meant something in an indirect way.

First a little about the game itself. The Bears fell down 10-0 early on only to come back and make it 14-10 on a touchdown pass from Josh McCown to Roy Williams and an interception return touchdown by Charles Tillman. The Bears wouldn’t trail again. The Bears ended up with a 17-13 victory, but it took some timely plays (Julius Peppers blocking Ryan Longwell’s field goal attempt) and some fortunate ones (the Vikings botching a snap on another field goal attempt). The Bears tried to give this one away a couple of times. In the end, after D.J. Moore intercepted Joe Webb’s pass at the Chicago 30, it was over.

The game itself meant very little. Both teams were out of playoff contention and were locked into their respective third and fourth place finishes within the NFC North. However, one side note that could come out of this game is the settling of the Bears backup quarterback situation next season. While Josh McCown hasn’t performed extremely well in his two starts, he’s been surprisingly competent for a player who hasn’t played steadily for four years. With another solid enough start (15 for 25, 160 yards, one touchdown, and one interception), McCown has seemingly secured the backup position for next year. Combining his performance with Caleb Hanie’s lackluster one, McCown seems a little more secure.

Ideally, Jay Cutler won’t get injured next season and the choice of McCown won’t mean anything. My hope is that the Bears will try and add a piece or two (and sign Matt Forte to a long term contract) to a team that was legitimately strong prior to injuries. If the Bears can stay healthy and upgrade at a position or two, the Bears could make good on Brian Urlacher’s claim of the team vying for a championship.

For now, the victory is a dim ray of pleasure on an otherwise disappointing season.

Brian is a lifelong Chicago Bears, having lived in Illinois his entire life and having followed the NFL throughout.

Sources

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Read More: Julius Peppers (DE – CHI), Chris Spencer (C – CHI), Jay Cutler (QB – CHI), Lance Briggs (LB – CHI), Devin Hester (WR – CHI), Brian Urlacher (LB – CHI), Marion Barber (RB – CHI), Nick Roach (LB – CHI), Kellen Davis (TE – CHI), Matt Forte (RB – CHI), Corey Wootton (DE – CHI), Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings, Jan 1, 2012 12:00 PM CST

The Chicago Bears have already been without Jay Cutler and Matt Forte, and they may be without Brian Urlacher and Marion Barber on Sunday when they close out their injury riddled season against the Minnesota Vikings. Urlacher missed his second straight day of practice on Thursday with a knee injury and Barber did not practice again due to a calf injury.

The good news is that Devin Hester (ankle) was a full participant on Thursday after being limited yesterday. Julius Peppers also returned to practice on Thursday after missing Wednesday’s due to a non-injury related matter.

Here is the full injury report for the Chicago Bears:

For more on the Chicago Bears, visit Windy City Gridiron. For more on the Minnesota Vikings, head over to Daily Norseman.

December 28, 2011 (LAKE FOREST, Ill.) —
Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher was selected to his eighth Pro Bowl, while teammate Lance Briggs made it for the seventh year in a row.

Running back Matt Forte made his first Pro Bowl on Tuesday, hours after being placed on injured reserve because of a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee. Veteran cornerback Charles Tillman was also picked for the first time as was special teams contributor Corey Graham.

The five selections were the most for the Bears since they had eight in the 2006 season. Six-time Pro Bowler Julius Peppers, who leads the team with 10 sacks, was among the Chicago players who did not make it.

Urlacher is the sixth player in team history to be voted to eight Pro Bowls as a Bear. He is second on the team with 125 tackles behind fellow linebacker Briggs (140) and is tied for the lead with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

Briggs became the fourth linebacker in franchise history to be selected to seven straight Pro Bowls, joining Hall of Famers Dick Butkus (eight in a row), Bill George (eight) and Mike Singletary (10). He is the ninth player overall to be voted to seven Pro Bowls as a Bear.

The pick comes after he made a hard push before the season for a new contract even though he had three years left on a six-year deal. Management shot down his request, but did try to get something done with Forte, whose rookie contract is expiring.

Those negotiations went nowhere, but he was having his best season before a hit to the knee against Kansas City on Dec. 4 cut it short. Forte was leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage (1,487), ranked third in the league in yards rushing (997) and ranked fourth among all running backs with 490 yards receiving before missing the past three games.

That didn’t stop him from becoming the first Bears running back to make to the Pro Bowl since Neal Anderson following the 1991 season.

Tillman has 11 pass break-ups, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries to go with 107 tackles.

Graham has 20 special teams tackles, and his selection was the eighth by a Bears player under coordinator Dave Toub. Devin Hester (2006-07, 2010) and Johnny Knox (2009) have made it for returns, with kicker Robbie Gould (2006) and Brendon Ayanbadejo (2006 and 2007) also getting picked.

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Despite losing their last five games in a row, the Chicago Bears had one of their bigger Pro Bowl hauls in recent years when five players were named to the Pro Bowl. While linebackers Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher, long the mainstays of Chicago’s defense, were honored again, the most welcome news for Chicago was Charles Tillman, one of the best cornerbacks in team history, being selected for the first time and runningback Matt Forte become the Bears first running back picked in 20 years.

Special teams player Corey Graham was also picked. Julius Peppers, Chicago’s $91 million defensive end, surprisingly was not picked.

Chicago’s five picks were its biggest representation for the NFL’s all-star game since eight Bears were named in 2006, the year Chicago made it to the Super Bowl for the second time.

This is the seventh consecutive Pro Bowl nod for Briggs (2005-11 seasons), who has played well despite complaining briefly about wanting a new conrtract early in the season. He is just the fourth linebacker in franchise history to be selected to seven straight Pro Bowls joining Hall of Famers Dick Butkus (eight straight), Bill George (eight) and Mike Singletary (ten). He is the ninth player overall to be voted to seven Pro Bowls as a member of the Bears organization and the seventh to be selected seven years in-a-row. In 2011, Briggs paces the team with 140 tackles and is tied for the team lead with eight tackles for losses to go along with one interception and two forced fumbles.

Forté is the first Bears running back to be named to the Pro Bowl in 20 years. Neal Anderson made it following the 1991 season.  Prior to missing the last three contests with a knee injury, Forté led the NFL in yards from scrimmage (1,487), ranked third in the league in rushing yards (997) and ranked fourth among all running backs with 490 yards receiving. His 4.9 rushing average in 2011 is a career high and sixth among NFL running backs with at least 150 rushing attempts this season.

Graham was named to his first Pro Bowl and is the eighth Pro Bowl selection by a Bears special teams player under Special Teams Coordinator Dave Toub. Graham plays on five of the Bears six special teams units (punt coverage, kickoff coverage, punt returns, kickoff returns and field goal blocks).The Bears punt return coverage unit ranks second in the NFL this season allowing just 5.4 yards per return.

This is the first Pro Bowl nod for Tillman and he is the first Bears cornerback to be named to named to the Pro Bowl since Nathan Vasher in 2006. The ninth-year veteran ranks third on the team with a career-high 107 tackles. Tillman leads the team in pass break ups (11) and is tied for the team lead in forced fumbles (three) and fumble recoveries (two) while adding two interceptions and an interception return touchdown. Since entering the NFL in 2003, Tillman leads all defensive backs with 27 forced fumbles and his 29 interceptions is tied for ninth in the NFL overall during that time.

Urlacher was named to his eighth Pro Bowl (2000-03, 2005-06 & 2010 seasons). He is the sixth player in team history to be voted to eight Pro Bowls. He is tied for the team lead with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries and has added a fumble return touchdown.

Despite losing their last five games in a row, the Chicago Bears had one of their bigger Pro Bowl hauls in recent years when five players were named to the Pro Bowl. While linebackers Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher, long the mainstays of Chicago’s defense, were honored again, the most welcome news for Chicago was Charles Tillman, one of the best cornerbacks in team history, being selected for the first time and runningback Matt Forte become the Bears first running back picked in 20 years.

Special teams player Corey Graham was also picked. Julius Peppers, Chicago’s $91 million defensive end, surprisingly was not picked.

Chicago’s five picks were its biggest representation for the NFL’s all-star game since eight Bears were named in 2006, the year Chicago made it to the Super Bowl for the second time.

This is the seventh consecutive Pro Bowl nod for Briggs (2005-11 seasons), who has played well despite complaining briefly about wanting a new conrtract early in the season. He is just the fourth linebacker in franchise history to be selected to seven straight Pro Bowls joining Hall of Famers Dick Butkus (eight straight), Bill George (eight) and Mike Singletary (ten). He is the ninth player overall to be voted to seven Pro Bowls as a member of the Bears organization and the seventh to be selected seven years in-a-row. In 2011, Briggs paces the team with 140 tackles and is tied for the team lead with eight tackles for losses to go along with one interception and two forced fumbles.

Forté is the first Bears running back to be named to the Pro Bowl in 20 years. Neal Anderson made it following the 1991 season.  Prior to missing the last three contests with a knee injury, Forté led the NFL in yards from scrimmage (1,487), ranked third in the league in rushing yards (997) and ranked fourth among all running backs with 490 yards receiving. His 4.9 rushing average in 2011 is a career high and sixth among NFL running backs with at least 150 rushing attempts this season.

Graham was named to his first Pro Bowl and is the eighth Pro Bowl selection by a Bears special teams player under Special Teams Coordinator Dave Toub. Graham plays on five of the Bears six special teams units (punt coverage, kickoff coverage, punt returns, kickoff returns and field goal blocks).The Bears punt return coverage unit ranks second in the NFL this season allowing just 5.4 yards per return.

This is the first Pro Bowl nod for Tillman and he is the first Bears cornerback to be named to named to the Pro Bowl since Nathan Vasher in 2006. The ninth-year veteran ranks third on the team with a career-high 107 tackles. Tillman leads the team in pass break ups (11) and is tied for the team lead in forced fumbles (three) and fumble recoveries (two) while adding two interceptions and an interception return touchdown. Since entering the NFL in 2003, Tillman leads all defensive backs with 27 forced fumbles and his 29 interceptions is tied for ninth in the NFL overall during that time.

Urlacher was named to his eighth Pro Bowl (2000-03, 2005-06 & 2010 seasons). He is the sixth player in team history to be voted to eight Pro Bowls. He is tied for the team lead with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries and has added a fumble return touchdown.