The Chicago Bears are 2-2. It’s no longer like their season is already lifeless. Yet according to the response of enthusiasts, it will as smartly be. Their offense has seemed misplaced for nearly a month. Their protection has deep-rooted flaws that may’t be mounted till no less than subsequent low season. Head trainer Matt Eberflus and his body of workers are looking to paintings round an issue that started lengthy earlier than they even arrived. It is an issue of doing what they may be able to with what they have got.
They’re about to confront a Minnesota Vikings workforce main the NFC North after a 3-1 get started. They stay undefeated at house and possess one of the vital absolute best offenses within the league. It is a difficult matchup in each sense. Then once more, the Bears have already been identified to drag off upsets this 12 months. Maybe they have got any other one in them.
Chicago Bears want a variety of good fortune up in Minnesota.
Backstory:
It’s a unusual feeling that the Bears will consult with Minnesota early within the season for as soon as. It looks like they all the time finish each and every 12 months in that dome. Needless to mention, this could be essentially the most the most important recreation of the season for Chicago. Their agenda seems brutal, with 3 highway video games in 4 weeks. Losing to the Vikings would put them at 0-2 within the department and most likely kill what little possibilities that they had of being an element within the playoff chase. Minnesota has homefield and the skill benefit virtually around the board.
Injuries:
Jaylon Johnson (quad) – The Bears have survived existence with out Johnson for the previous two weeks, however they aren’t taking part in second-rate QBs like Davis Mills and Daniel Jones anymore. Kirk Cousins is taking part in a few of his absolute best soccer and has a number of guns at his disposal. Johnson overlooked follow once more on Thursday, striking his odds of taking part in low. Chicago is dangerously skinny at cornerback, and worse nonetheless, their go rush hasn’t stepped up up to now two weeks both.
Za’Darius Smith (knee) – Smith will most likely play on Sunday. He’s been restricted in follow with a knee downside, even though. So it’s tricky to grasp evidently how efficient he’ll be. He’s been their most efficient go rusher up to now. His no longer producing force might open up some alternatives in opposition to that iffy Vikings go protection—one thing to observe, realizing how troubling the Bears’ go coverage has been.
Key matchups:
Sam Mustipher vs. Dalvin Tomlinson – It isn’t even transparent if Mustipher will get started at heart this week. The Chicago Bears hinted adjustments could be coming after his disastrous appearing in New York, the place he gave up six pressures at the quarterback. If he does play, then preventing Tomlinson is a will have to. He’s been the Vikings’ maximum constant inner go rusher. Slowing him down would in the end permit the Bears to shape precise wallet.
Sam Mustipher, my goodness. He will get beat like he isn’t even there.#Bears cannot even run Mesh and hang the pocket via Fields’ drop. Make positive you watch the end-zone attitude right here — 97’s within the backfield in ~2 seconds percent.twitter.com/003HIfICvG
— Robert Schmitz (@robertkschmitz) October 4, 2022
Justin Jefferson vs. Kyler Gordon – With Johnson out, it falls to the Bears’ embattled rookie nook to assist decelerate the most productive large receiver in soccer. Gordon has struggled so much throughout the first month of the season. He’s given up too many giant performs. There is indubitably Minnesota will paintings onerous to get Jefferson matched up with him as frequently as imaginable. If the second spherical pick out folds, the Bears aren’t prone to win the sport.
X-factors:
Justin Fields – Teams have found out the way to play the Bears. Load the field to forestall the run and make Fields beat them. Thus a ways, he hasn’t been in a position to do it. Minnesota goes to attain issues on this recreation. It’s an inevitability. If Chicago has any prayer of pulling the disillusioned, they want their younger quarterback to step up. The Vikings confirmed they’re liable to mobility in opposition to Jalen Hurts. Fields will have to drive them to account for the entirety.
Dalvin Cook – It isn’t rocket science. The Bears have the worst run protection within the NFL via a rustic mile. They’ve allowed 176 speeding yards or extra in 3 in their first 4 video games, together with 262 in New York. Cook is averaging a wholesome 4.4 yards consistent with raise this season. There is not any query the Vikings will glance to get him going early. The worst factor the Bears want is dealing with the ones receivers off play motion.
Prediction: Vikings win 31-14
Too many stuff are running in opposition to the Chicago Bears on this recreation. Their secondary is depleted, and so they nonetheless can’t prevent the run. Offensively they only don’t have the firepower to stay tempo with the Vikings. Unless they run the ball smartly and Fields has a large day, this recreation might be out of hand via halftime. There’s handiest such a lot effort and depth a workforce can play with earlier than skill has to take over.
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