Good morning, Bears fans!

So we’ve gone from caring about PFF grades to hamstring injury grades in just a matter of days. What a ride.

I do feel a little better writing this now than I did in the hour after Caleb’s injury, but still … let’s get all available prayer hands up for good news today. We should get an update by Ben Johnson’s 3 pm press conference at the latest.

— Kevin Kaduk

Bears fall 9-3 in water-logged mess One week after being the toast of the league, the Bears offense washed out with a zero-touchdown effort in the home opener. The team has only won its NFC North opener in four of the previous 16 seasons.

Caleb’s injury not as bad as thought? That’s the hope. NBC’s Mike Florio reported on Sunday night that Williams’ hamstring injury could be Grade 1, which could carry a timeline as little as 1-3 weeks. That would obviously be fantastic, but we can’t let our guards down after the Coby Bryant switcheroo back in camp.

Bearigami! That was somehow the first 9-3 finish in the franchise’s history. Anyone else find it weird the Bears just started a site to track all the possible final score combinations in team history and then got two new entries in the first two weeks?

Packers outlast Jets in OT We wouldn’t have been in the mood to gloat as much, but still a bummer to see Green Bay sidestep an 0-2 start. Also, the Jets might be better than we thought.

Aside from the Caleb Williams injury, of course?

For most of the game, I had a weird feeling of deja vu.

One team at Soldier Field a limited quarterback, a stalwart defense and harsh elements that were tilting the table in their favor. If one or two things went its way, that team was walking away with an upset.

And that’s exactly what happened.

Only this time it wasn’t most of the Bears teams we’ve watched the past 35 years pulling the surprise, but a Vikings team that came to Chicago with backup Carson Wentz as 4.5-point underdogs.

The in-game win probability kept the Bears as favorites for a majority of the game, but two major events allowed the Vikings to walk away with the victory.

Those two turning points were peppered with a litany of mistakes and miscues including ill-timed penalties (eight for 58 yards), an inability to convert on third down (5-for-15) and three scoreless trips to the red zone (the Bears reached the 1, 5 and 12 yard lines without a TD).

There were also big drops (Sam Roush, Devin Bush), a -2 turnover differential and a blocked field goal (Roush again).

The never-ending rain makes a true analysis near impossible. The elements will always favor a defense-first team and that’s what happened as Ben Johnson slid to 5-2 against Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. If the two teams play on an idyllic September afternoon, what looks different?

At the same time, it’s discouraging that Johnson’s team didn’t come into the game more prepared. The offensive line was a mess and Johnson couldn’t find a way to knock the Vikings defense off balance outside of Kyle Monangai-led drive to start the second half. Roush had the same amount of catches and targets than Colston Loveland.

While much of this week’s analysis will focus on the Bears getting through whatever time Caleb will miss, it’s worth wondering how they’ll fix some of these issues once he does return.

Why have Loveland and Luther Burden been largely invisible the first two weeks?

Why can’t the offensive line stay out of the penalty column?

What happens the next time these two teams face off in Week 18, a game that might have big consequences?

These questions are irrelevant if today’s news about Caleb leans toward worst case scenario.

But they’re there all the same.

I covered plenty of more ground in my members-exclusive Sunday takeaways column. Read it now.

YouTube • Podcast

Takes and analysis from Bears By 7 members

“I don’t need to see Sam Roush on the field again for a good long while.” —

“Please be OK, Caleb.” — Greg Smith

Become a member to get a take in next Monday’s newsletter!

• Brad Biggs says the Bears have a long way to go, with or without Caleb Williams. (Chicago Tribune)

• Luis Medina takes a closer look at Sam Roush’s awful day. (Bleacher Nation)

• Jon Greenberg sums up a day to forget at Soldier Field. (The Athletic)

• Jason Lieser zeroes in on the issues that Garrett Bradbury and Braxton Jones had all day long. (Sun Times)