The Chicago Bears (4-6) look to halt their four-game losing streak when they host the Minnesota Vikings (8-2) on Sunday at Soldier Field.
For the Bears, it’s the first of two NFC North games in five days with the Thanksgiving game at the Detroit Lions (9-1) to follow.
As kickoff approaches, here’s our snapshot look at the game.
Player in the spotlight
Caleb Williams
The Bears rookie quarterback saw quick results from his new partnership with offensive coordinator Thomas Brown in Week 11 against the Green Bay Packers. While the Bears offense scored only 19 points, they did manage 391 yards, including 23-for-31 passing for 231 yards from Williams in the loss.
The ability of Brown and Williams to quickly get on the same page after Williams spent so long learning former coordinator Shane Waldron’s offense was promising. Brown said his plan is about finding what’s right for the players.
“It’s simple. It doesn’t matter what I’m comfortable with. I don’t play,” Brown said. “So I can always adapt or adjust. To me, it’s my job as a coordinator to adapt and adjust to our players, to what our guys are doing. So, whether it’s Caleb, whether it’s the O-line, whether it’s the receivers, tight ends or backs, it’s our job to design a plan to obviously attack a defense but also to play to what we do well.”
They Bears don’t have an easy second test against a Vikings defense under coordinator Brian Flores that Brown said doesn’t have many weaknesses. They boast the top run defense in the league and also are first with 16 interceptions. Brown said he has met Flores only a couple of times, but he was highly complimentary of the unit he runs.
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“One of the biggest compliments you can get as a coach is your unit takes on your personality,” Brown said. “They are aggressive, they are attacking, they are opportunistic, and so it’s going to be important for us to go into the game, first and foremost, and play with no fear. We’re never going to coach fear, never play with fear. For me, that starts first with preparation. … Our guys being able to have confidence in the game plan, to do that based on preparation in the week. Then let it rip, man.”
Pressing question
Can the Bears get their pass rush going?
Defensive end Montez Sweat was forthright Thursday when asked how he is feeling as the Bears prep for the Vikings.
“We’re on a three- or four-game losing streak? I’m pretty (expletive) frustrated,” he said.
It’s not just the losing streak that has dampened Sweat’s spirits recently. He has been on the injury report more than he has been used to, first with a shin bruise and then with an ankle injury, though he is now off it and good to play Sunday. And he hasn’t recorded a sack since Oct. 27, sitting at 3½ for the season.
The Bears pass rush in general has been lacking of late, with just one sack in each of the last two games, and that’s obviously something they’d like to change as they attack Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold.
Darnold has experienced a bit of a renaissance this season, throwing for 2,387 yards with a 100 passer rating in 10 starts after rookie J.J. McCarthy had meniscus surgery in the preseason. But Darnold also has thrown 10 interceptions — including five in Weeks 9 and 10 — and been sacked 28 times, the latter tied for sixth most in the NFL.
“That’s a weekly aspiration and goal,” Bears defensive coordinator Eric Washington said of getting the pass rush going. “Everything that we like to do starts with our four-man rush, first through third down and including two-minute. Whatever we desire to do in terms of sending an extra player should complement that. We have to have the production with our four-man rush.”
Keep an eye on …
The Bears’ communication
Coach Matt Eberflus stressed early in the week that the Bears needed to come up with a manageable and effective plan to combat the defense of Flores, whom Williams called “the king of the Cover-0 blitz.” Brown said the Bears need to use motions to help “undress” what the Vikings are doing presnap, and Williams said he needs to be aware of where his hot routes will be.
Eberflus on Friday stressed that the next step is execution of the plan and “elite communication” throughout the game as they try to help Williams conquer the challenge.
“High-pressure team. There’s no hiding it. That’s who they are,” left guard Teven Jenkins said. “That’s one thing we have to be very conscious of up front, being able to communicate all the way through the tight ends, just to let you know there’s pressure coming from the front side, back side.”
Jenkins returns to the lineup after missing the Packers game with an ankle injury. He said the ankle is good enough to play this week, giving the Bears a healthier line for the first time in weeks.
“I’m going to keep pushing through,” he said. “That’s what my team needs from me and that’s what I need from myself as well.”
The Bears offensive line has its work cut out against a Vikings unit that is third with 35 sacks. Outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel leads the Vikings with eight sacks. Jonathan Greenard and Patrick Jones II each have seven.
“(Van Ginkel) is a really good, all-around football player,” Eberflus said. “The instincts are elite, and he makes a lot of plays for him.”
Next safety up
The Bears will be without starting safety Elijah Hicks, who was declared out with an ankle injury. Hicks started five games in place of Jaquan Brisker, who is on injured reserve with a concussion.
Now the Bears turn to sixth-year safety Jonathan Owens, who has played in 10 games without a start this season. But Owens is experienced, with 30 starts the last three seasons with the Green Bay Packers and Houston Texans.
“Jonathan’s doing a really good job in there, and he’s started some games last year, so he’s familiar in terms of being in that role,” Eberflus said. “He’s done a good job communicating with Kevin (Byard) and everybody else in the secondary.”
The secondary as a whole, including cornerback Jaylon Johnson, is going to have to buckle down against Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson. The Bears gave up passes of 60, 48 and 25 yards last week to Packers receiver Christian Watson.
Jefferson is averaging 91.2 receiving yards per game.
Injury report
Bears running back D’Andre Swift said he expects to be good to go Sunday after battling a groin injury during the week.
He rested Wednesday but practiced in a limited fashion Thursday and was back in full Friday. The Bears listed him as questionable.
Wide receiver Keenan Allen also is questionable after rolling his ankle in practice Friday. Eberflus said the Bears don’t think it is severe and are hopeful he can play Sunday.
Along with Hicks, guard/center Ryan Bates also is out with a concussion. Offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie (calf) is questionable.
For the Vikings, tight end Josh Oliver (wrist/ankle) is out. Outside linebacker Gabe Murphy (knee) and tight end Nick Muse (hand) are questionable.
Predictions
Brad Biggs (6-4)
There have been plenty of Minnesota teams as good or better than the current one that have had a hard time at Soldier Field against average to mediocre Bears teams. The Bears have won the turnover margin in three consecutive games (all losses) and six of seven. They should be in position to make a play or two against quarterback Sam Darnold, and ball security has been a real positive for Caleb Williams of late. A path to victory for the Bears must include stealing a possession or two. It’s hard to believe the Bears are going to have a lot of success running the ball against Minnesota’s stout front, though, and if the Vikings get Williams in second-and-long and third-and-uncomfortable, that will be problematic.
Vikings 23, Bears 13
Colleen Kane (6-4)
The Bears could really use this win, considering they have to turn around and travel to Detroit to face the NFC North-leading Lions five days later. And it feels like one they could steal if the defense forces Sam Darnold into some turnovers and Caleb Williams and the offense under Thomas Brown can manage the Vikings defense and continue to show some of the positives that came out of the loss to the Packers. But still, it seems unwise to pick the Bears until I see they can put it all together against a good team. We haven’t seen that recently.
Vikings 23, Bears 20
Dan Wiederer (6-4)
The Bears can definitely win this game. And it starts with creating enough pressure with their front four to make life difficult for Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold. Get that done and create a couple of turnovers and maybe this painful losing streak comes to a close. Still, containing Justin Jefferson will be a struggle. The challenge for Caleb Williams in solving Brian Flores’ defense is real. And it’s almost impossible to pick the Bears to win again until they actually win again.
Vikings 19, Bears 13
