Kidneys at birth, anyway.

The Chicago Bears recorded a net positive by just one yard pass in Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns – the same AFC team the Minnesota Vikings host in Week 4 at US Bank Stadium .

The passing statistics are a bit wacky. Rookie passer Justin Fields – considered the savior of the franchise by many Bears loyalists – has scored 68 passing yards as an individual stat in Cleveland. But his team surrendered 67 lost yards via a sack, dicing the team’s total passing yards to a. The devil is in the details.

The Week 3 Bears were the first team since the 2009 Cincinnati Bengals to record one or less passing yards in a single game. During this season, the Bengals, led by Carson Palmer, and the Tennesse Titans powered by Kerry Collins have each suffered games with one or less passing yards.

Chicago joined the dubious club last weekend.

Led by Fields, the Bears were beaten by the Browns – a team historically the target of nasty stats. But not in 2021. Cleveland is 2-1, exhibiting a consistent offense with Hellraisers like Myles Garrett in defense. The Browns are currently two-point favorites to defeat the Vikings in Week 4.

In Chicago, operations are gloomy. Fields was supposed to bring Mahomes-like vigor to the Bears’ offense. Instead, the franchise, on its first start, is stuck with a paltry passing yard. And statistics like this:

Outgoing incumbent Andy Dalton suffers from a bone contusion to his left knee. Nick Foles, the learned Super Bowl winner of yesteryear, could be in the mix for playing time. Fields, the heir apparent, obviously deserves a lot more time to mature. But the Bears management must win now. Head coach Matt Nagy was already at the top of the hotseats lists heading into Week 3 – along with Vikings skipper Mike Zimmer – and Nagy’s job security was not bolstered by the Browns debacle. At all. Conversely, Zimmer silenced his hotseat chatter, if only for a week.

The Green Bay Packers took control of NFC North after a storybook end in Santa Clara against the San Francisco 49ers. Kicker Mason Crosby netted a 51-yard field goal at the end of time to end the 49ers’ unbeaten streak. Then the Detroit Lions were also bitten by a field goal. Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker set an NFL record with a 66-yard field goal late in the game, ending the Lions afternoon in heartbreak.

Meanwhile, the Vikings finally resolved the Seattle Seahawks after a dominating performance from Kirk Cousins ​​and Alexander Mattison. The Minnesota defense even made an appearance in the second half.

It’s back to the drawing board for Chicago. No matter how many yards he racked up on his first start, Fields was always going to have a fair hearing to lead the franchise. His maiden voyage was just a little oppressed by the tastes of most people.

Chicago will be hoping to surpass the passing total by one yard next week at home against the winless Lions.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. Its Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Guilty pleasures listed: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, “The Sopranos” and The Doors (the band).