It’s divisional soccer once more as US Financial institution Stadium hosts the Vikings towards the Bears in Week 15. That is the return fixture from Minnesota’s win over Chicago in Week 12. The 11-2 Vikings may safe a playoff berth if they’ll full the double over their division rival, whom they beat simply three weeks in the past.
The Vikings wish to hold tempo with the Detroit Lions on the high of the NFC North. The Bears’ ninth lack of the season final week meant a shedding season for the fourth season in a row. The final time the Bears had a profitable season was 2018 – the one time they’ve achieved that feat within the final 12 seasons. Minnesota has all of it to play for, whereas Chicago desperately wants one thing to spice up morale. Listed here are my key personnel battles that I consider will go a great distance in figuring out the consequence.
I had this as a key battle within the reverse fixture when Thomas Brown was just lately named the Bears offensive coordinator. He’s now the top coach in Chicago. Brian Flores had his protection dominating the sport at Soldier Area, with Chicago solely managing 10 factors and having lower than 5 minutes left within the recreation. The Vikings allowed the Bears to attain 11 factors in lower than two minutes to take the sport to time beyond regulation. After the Vikings protection pressured a three-and-out, the Vikings marched up the sphere for the game-winning discipline aim.
Flores wants his protection to do what they did final time, simply with out the end-of-game collapse. Regardless of the teaching change, the Bears’ run of losses is now seven, and people defeats have develop into heavier in current weeks towards the Lions and 49ers. The early promise of the season evaporated in Chicago, and Flores will look to pile on the distress this week towards a workforce he has been linked with as their future head coach.
Jefferson posed the question to Chicago this week: both think about stopping him and let everybody else go off, or don’t, and he’ll go off. It was virtually as if Jefferson was goading them into making an attempt to cease him in man protection. The Bears have the most effective cornerbacks within the league, Jaylon Johnson, however it’s an enormous ask, even for somebody of his caliber, to go up towards Jefferson one-on-one. Within the reverse fixture, Chicago held Jefferson to 2 catches and 27 yards.
Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson mixed for 276 yards and a landing because the Vikings received the sport. Simply stopping Jefferson wasn’t a recipe for fulfillment, so will the Bears change their gameplan this time round? I might nonetheless anticipate Jefferson to obtain loads of consideration, however will they danger placing Johnson in single protection for him at instances? Jefferson is raring to show he can have an enormous day himself towards this protection, which units every part up for an intriguing battle.
The Vikings offense works significantly better when there’s steadiness. Within the final assembly, Aaron Jones had 106 dashing yards and a landing, averaging 4.8 yards per rush. It set the desk for 100-yard video games for Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson and a Vikings win – even when they practically made a multitude of it on the finish. On the flip aspect, Chicago’s backs solely managed 32 yards from 15 carries. Roschon Johnson had 2 yards on 2 carries and a landing, however the Bears RB2 has been dominated out of the sport attributable to a concussion.
D’Andre Swift struggled to 30 yards off of 13 carries and is presently hampered by a groin damage that restricted him to only one restrict in follow this week. His standing for the sport is questionable, and if Swify can’t go on Monday evening, it will likely be Travis Homer in line to steer the Bears’ dashing assault. Homer has solely had three dashing makes an attempt to date this season. The Bears have been dealt one other large blow that can help the Vikings’ run recreation. Gervon Dexter has been dominated out of the sport with a knee damage, leaving an enormous gap within the Bears defensive position that the Vikings ought to look to use.
Vikings vs. Bears | Key Personnel Battles
Brian Flores vs. Thomas Brown
Justin Jefferson vs. Jaylon Johnson
Vikings Dashing Assault vs. Bears Dashing Assault
