4 Takeaways from Vikings at Bears
The Minnesota Vikings are 9-2 and have already eclipsed most offseason win projections. Head coach Kevin O’Connell and his team aren’t interested in a rebuilding or transitional year; they want to compete for the title.
In the 30-27 win over the Chicago Bears, we have once again learned something about the team.
1. Vikings Trifecta Strikes
Justin Jefferson is the top attraction in the Twin Cities, but he couldn’t make any noise on the stat sheet in Sunday’s win. Too much attention was paid to him by the opposing defense. Jefferson was constantly double-covered, and the Bears employ some excellent cornerbacks who can make life hard for wideouts.
But that’s where his wingmen come into focus. When there’s that much attention on the former LSU standout, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson must feast against single coverage. Addison registered career numbers in yards and receptions, producing eight catches for 162 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Hockenson added seven catches for 114 yards in what was his first big game after returning from injury.
That’s why it’s important to have playmakers next to a star wideout. Defenses encounter a pick-your-poison situation, and if QB Sam Darnold is making the right decisions instead of forcing the ball to his WR1, there’s not much opponents can do.
2. Jonathan Greenard Is Good
Jonathan Greenard was signed to replace departed four-time Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter. Folks expected him to be a downgrade, but through 11 games, he has been nothing short of spectacular. After posting another two sacks versus Bears QB Caleb Williams, he has now tabulated nine on the season.
He is also remarkably good in run defense, which helps the Vikings field the NFL’s top unit in that regard. Greenard signed a four-year deal worth $76 million, and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has found gold to this point.
His counterpart Andrew Van Ginkel also recorded a sack against Williams, raising his sack total to nine, too. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores must be extremely happy with his duo on the edges.
3. Caleb Williams Is a Baller
The Bears have a long history of having bad quarterbacks under center, but rookie Williams might be the fix to that problem. He was drafted with the first overall pick and entered the league with high expectations. Of course, the Bears have not been close to reaching their expectations, and the rookie has endured some usual growing pains, but he is slowly coming along.
In the two games with new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, he has looked more confident and gave the Vikings more trouble than most other QBs this season, resulting in 340 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 33 yards on the ground. Perhaps the most impressive attribute for a rookie is his ability to take care of the football. He has only thrown one interception in his last eight games and none in the last five.
He will gain more experience in the remaining games this season and could be a problem for the division in the future.
4. Sammy Clutch
Sam Darnold played well throughout the game, ending the day with 330 yards and two touchdowns while not turning the ball over.
The most fascinating aspect is that he completed all six passes in overtime for 90 yards, guiding his crew down the field into field goal range and, ultimately, the game-winning kick from Parker Romo. He seemed poised in high-leverage situations and was aggressive down the field while still making sure the team would keep the ball.
The signal-caller has now set a personal single-season record for passing touchdowns with 21 and has experienced a sweet bounceback after some struggles a few weeks ago. Barring any unforeseen developments, he will make his first playoff start in January.
Editor’s Note: Information from Over The Cap and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt