WHEN THE BEARS HAVE THE BALL
Caleb Williams eliminating the ball extra shortly was one of the noticeable variations between the Bears’ offense with Thomas Brown as a substitute of Shane Waldron. That figures to return into play once more this week in opposition to a Brian Flores protection that likes to strain the quarterback.
Each sport is a chess match, however this one has a little bit extra intrigue, with the Vikings having seen Brown’s impact on the Bears’ offense and with Brown challenged to regulate and react to no matter Flores comes up with.
That is the place having higher weapons comes into play in opposition to the fourth-ranked scoring protection within the NFL — vast receivers Keenan Allen, DJ Moore and Rome Odunze, tight ends Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett and operating again D’Andre Swift. Underneath Waldron, the Bears’ solely sustained success regardless of these upgrades got here in opposition to weaker defenses. It’s an enormous alternative for Brown to point out how a lot of a distinction the offensive-coordinator change could make. Allen (ankle) and Swift (groin) are questionable however anticipated to play.
The important thing matchup is the Bears’ offensive line in opposition to a Vikings defensive entrance that leads the NFL in dashing protection. Profitable early downs — just like the Packers did usually in opposition to the Bears final week — will probably be an enormous key to success. However that’s one other space the place Brown should make a distinction. The Bears are twenty eighth within the NFL in first-down yardage (4.2 common), with 13 sacks (second-most within the NFL), and twenty eighth in second-down yardage (4.5 common), with 11 sacks (sixth-most within the NFL).
WHEN THE VIKINGS HAVE THE BALL
Per week after complementary soccer failed the Bears within the clutch, their protection, which ranks seventh in factors allowed, has a possibility to offer Williams and the offense a little bit respiration room in opposition to a Vikings offense that has cooled off a bit after a sizzling begin.
Until the Bears can produce turnovers, their sagging run protection once more will probably be within the highlight in opposition to a Vikings dashing offense led by former Packers operating again Aaron Jones (157 carries, 692 yards, 4.4 common, two touchdowns) that ranks nineteenth within the NFL however has been greater than succesful on a number of events this season.
The Bears, regardless of being within the prime 10 in a number of defensive classes, are a mystifying twenty third in dashing protection and twenty sixth in dashing yards per carry.
The important thing matchup is cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Terell Smith and Kyler Gordon in opposition to All-Professional vast receiver Justin Jefferson (59 receptions, 912 yards, 5 touchdowns, 15.5 yards per catch, 91.2 yards per sport).
Jefferson is clearly the Vikings’ largest risk, however the Bears will defend him by committee quite than have Johnson shadow him.
“That’s how we play,” Bears cornerbacks coach and defensive passing-game coordinator Jon Hoke stated. “We play left and proper, and there’s the reason why we do it. I believe we’ve performed fairly good protection statistically this 12 months. And we performed higher through the second half final 12 months. So [that strategy] works for the way in which we’re arrange proper now.”
