The Chicago Bears enter Sunday’s recreation towards the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field coming off their first win in practically a yr.
After the Bears broke a 14-game shedding streak towards the Washington Commanders on “Thursday Night Football” final week, they’d 9 days to arrange for the Vikings — and an opportunity at their second win in a row. As kickoff approaches between the 2 1-4 groups, right here’s our snapshot have a look at the sport.
Players within the highlight
Vikings receivers
Some of the most important information throughout the NFL this week got here from Minnesota, which put star vast receiver Justin Jefferson on injured reserve with a hamstring damage.
Jefferson, the 2022 AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year after he led the league with 128 catches for 1,809 yards, is out not less than the subsequent 4 video games, beginning with Sunday at Soldier Field.
It’s clearly a big loss for the Vikings and quarterback Kirk Cousins, who related with Jefferson for 36 catches for 571 yards this season. The different Vikings targets have plenty of floor to make up for an offense that has averaged 281.6 passing yards per recreation however simply 80.8 dashing after letting operating again Dalvin Cook stroll this offseason.
Tight finish T.J. Hockenson has 30 catches for 254 yards, and rookie vast receiver Jordan Addison has 19 catches for 249 yards.
Bears coach Matt Eberflus stated Hockenson is “very good at getting open.”
“He uses his body to get open a lot of times, but he also has really good stem at the top of his routes to be able to work away from man or work into the open zones,” Eberflus stated. “And he’s good yards after catch. He’s a heck of an athlete.”
Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson stated Addison is a “crafty receiver.”
“He picks it up for where he kind of lacks in size,” Johnson stated. “He’s crafty, a good, savvy route-runner who is continuing to learn and grow. You can see where he’s a little young, but he definitely has some strengths and intangibles that can threaten defenses.”
Pressing questions
Can DJ Moore do it once more? Or will one other Bears receiver step up?
Moore’s efficiency towards the Washington Commanders — eight catches for 230 yards and three touchdowns — was so dominant it earned him the NFC offensive participant of the week award. Only two different Bears gamers had catches within the recreation — tight ends Cole Kmet (5 catches, 42 yards) and Robert Tonyan (two catches, 10 yards) — however Bears quarterback Justin Fields didn’t want a lot manufacturing from his different targets due to Moore’s manufacturing.
The query, nonetheless, is what is going to occur if an opposing protection does all the things in its energy to cease Moore. Will one other participant step up?
Darnell Mooney stated it has been “a little frustrating” not performing on the clip he would love. A 1,000-yard receiver in 2021, Mooney has simply eight catches for 104 yards and a landing in 5 video games this yr. He was focused 4 instances towards the Commanders with out a catch.
“I get paid to catch the ball and play receiver, so if I’m not doing my job, at the end of the day it gets frustrating,” Mooney stated. “I simply proceed to work. … I’m staying prepared so every time I get extra alternatives to be me, I’ll profit from it.
“Like the first play of the game (against the Commanders), it was one of those that I wish it could have just started off like, ‘Yeah, Mooney’s back for sure.’ I wasn’t able to capitalize on that one, but I’ll get more chances.”
Fields stated if defenders deal with Moore, gamers equivalent to Kmet and Mooney ought to capitalize.
“Everyone on the team knows that DJ’s our No. 1 receiver and wherever the chips fall, they fall,” Fields stated. “Moon’s going to get the ball, Cole’s going to get the ball. Of course, we always want to get those guys involved. Just spread the love.”
Keep an eye fixed on …
D’Onta Foreman
The Bears dominated out their prime three operating backs — Khalil Herbert (ankle), Roschon Johnson (concussion) and Travis Homer (hamstring). That leaves D’Onta Foreman as the very best dashing choice.
Foreman, who has been within the NFL since 2017, stated Thursday he was calm and assured as he prepares for the chance. He was pushed into motion midseason with the 2021 Tennessee Titans and the 2022 Carolina Panthers and carried out nicely. He rushed for 914 yards final season with the Panthers.
Eberflus stated the Bears are going to lean on that have.
“He was locked in in the meetings, locked in the whole time,” Eberflus stated of Foreman being inactive for 4 weeks. “Coach (David) Walker does a really good job in his meetings of keeping everybody involved. It’s more of an open forum, asking questions, keeping guys engaged.”
As far as different dashing choices, the Bears even have operating again Darrynton Evans and fullback Khari Blasingame on the roster and fullback Robert Burns on the apply squad. Wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. additionally often will get carries.
The Bears positioned Herbert on injured reserve Friday, which means he’ll miss not less than 4 video games.
Putting on the blitz
The Bears are ready to face a blitz-heavy protection underneath new coordinator Brian Flores. The Vikings lead the league with a 56.2% blitz fee, in line with Pro Football Reference, although they’re solely twentieth with a 7.3% sack fee.
“(Flores) has changed that week to week and adjusted his blitz up and down, certainly with the people he’s played,” Eberflus stated. “But we’ll see where it goes. And we’re going to have to be very tactical during the game and be able to adjust and move our scheme based on what we’re seeing.”
Outside linebacker Danielle Hunter leads the Vikings with six sacks, and security Harrison Smith has three.
Fields stated the Bears have “just got to be looking out everywhere.”
“They can bring anybody from anywhere — from corners to nickels to linebackers to cover zeros to whatever,” Fields stated. “You’ve just got to have a plan ready to go. Everybody’s got to be locked in for this week and just be able to perform on Sunday.”
Injury report
Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson (hamstring) and nickel Kyler Gordon (hand) are anticipated to return Sunday after practising in full Friday.
The Bears might want to designate Gordon to return from injured reserve.
“Obviously that nickel spot is a big spot for us, and he’s done a good job with that,” Eberflus stated. “He’s a real positive guy, so it’s always great to have his energy out there as well. He certainly brings that passion.”
Tight finish Cole Kmet, who had a hamstring damage throughout the week, is sweet to play, as is heart Doug Kramer (thumb), who must come off IR. Safety Eddie Jackson (foot) and heart Lucas Patrick (concussion) are questionable.
Along with Herbert, Johnson and Homer, cornerback Terell Smith (ankle/sickness) and vast receiver Equanimeous St. Brown (hamstring) additionally had been dominated out. The Bears put St. Brown on IR.
For the Vikings, operating again Kene Nwangwu is questionable with a again damage.
Predictions
Brad Biggs (3-2)
The Vikings are in an attention-grabbing place with star vast receiver Justin Jefferson sidelined with a hamstring damage and with out the long-term contract extension many thought he may get earlier than the season began. Without that future safety, would Jefferson bide his time returning to the sphere? Would the Vikings take into account buying and selling Kirk Cousins throughout the season? They didn’t appear to be a 13-4 crew final season however they’re undoubtedly higher than their 1-4 report, not less than when Jefferson is wholesome. It’s tough to position a ton of religion within the Bears as a result of they’ve been persistently uncompetitive, however quarterback Justin Fields has had a sizzling hand the final two video games and the offense appears to be in sync. It’s not exhausting to think about the Vikings coming into some tough instances.
Bears 28, Vikings 24
Colleen Kane (3-2)
This can be a special prediction if Justin Jefferson was taking part in for the Vikings, given the best way he has left Bears defenders helpless so many instances up to now. The Vikings with out their star vast receiver look much less formidable. Quarterback Justin Fields has a chief alternative to construct on his manufacturing during the last two weeks towards a Vikings protection that has been mediocre to not nice in lots of classes this yr. Could the Bears truly be a two-game profitable streak for the primary time since late within the 2021 season behind Nick Foles and Andy Dalton? This recreation is actually arrange for that.
Bears 28, Vikings 23
Dan Wiederer (3-2)
For a hungry crew looking for significant enchancment, this is a perfect “take care of business” alternative. The Bears are again at dwelling. They’re feeling the boldness enhance from final week’s spectacular 40-20 blowout of the Commanders. And the offense, propelled by Justin Fields and DJ Moore, certain seems to be like its discovering a official groove. The Vikings, in the meantime, are struggling and are available to city with out their greatest participant. Let the momentum roll on. Let the assumption construct.
Bears 27, Vikings 24
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Source: www.bostonherald.com