Three Keys: Bears at Vikings
K. Joudry
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It’s the final home game of the year for our Minnesota Vikings. Like the Bears, we’re sitting at an uninspiring 6-7, but the expanded playoff format means we still have a reasonable chance at making the postseason. In other words, there is plenty to play for. To be successful, the Vikings need to ensure Kirk Cousins has more than just impressive stats, the interior OL steps up against a strong Bears front seven, and the defense can stop the run.
Key #1: Kirk Cousins vs. Meaningless Stats
The Kirk Cousins critics will commonly devalue his impressive stats because they suggest the numbers don’t coincide with impressive on-field play. At times, Cousins has certainly added fuel to this fire. Since the bye, though, he has been excellent. Indeed, his stats and on-field play have been really strong, which is a trend that needs to continue.
We’ve written before about Cousins’ struggles against Chicago, so we won’t get into that topic again. What we will say, though, is that he and Gary Kubiak need to ensure they’re integrating Minnesota’s elite options in the passing game. There is a good chance Dalvin Cook will struggle to run, so Minnesota’s offense will need to adjust. Cousins doesn’t necessarily need a massive day, but he does need to have a clutch, timely day.
Key #2: Minnesota’s iOL vs. Chicago’s DTs
Akiem Hicks is Minnesota’s kryptonite (is it possible to have many kryptonites?). We just can’t seem to get the edge on Hicks. He is a great player, one who consistently makes life difficult for our offense because he manhandles our interior linemen. Minnesota needs to develop some sort of plan to deal with Hicks; doing so might just be the single biggest factor in securing a win.
Otherwise, the Vikings need to ensure they’re magnifying the OL’s strengths — athleticism — while minimizing the weaknesses — power. At this point, Dakota Dozier likely isn’t going to improve, so we should be hoping for Garrett Bradbury and Ezra Cleveland to return to their solid play. Kubiak will likely take a death-by-a-thousand-paper-cuts approach, consistently attacking the outside with quick passes and runs. Finding success in this area has the capability to nullify Chicago’s DTs.
Key #3: Minnesota’s Run Defense vs. Chicago’s Run Game
Recently, Chicago has found success running the ball. David Montgomery is PFF’s seventh-highest running back. He ran for more than 100 yards last week, doing so in only eleven carries. The week before, it was Cordarrelle Patterson who found success on the ground. Chicago is going to be leaning on these two players, especially since Minnesota is allowing 119.9 rushing yards per game. Ask yourself: if you were coaching the Bears, would you let Mitchell Trubisky cook or give the ball to talented running backs against a below average run defense? The answer is obvious, so expect Zimmer to place a high priority on shutting down the run early.
The Crystal Ball
The drive toward respectability continues. After correctly predicting the outcome of the Bucs game, we at TVG are sitting at a 6-7 prediction record on the season. Perhaps foolishly, we’re relying on the guys in purple to get us to .500 on the season.
We’ve given our perspective on this game elsewhere. In short, we think the offenses are going to have some success, largely due to some significant injuries on both sides. Mike Zimmer is a better coach than Matt Nagy, and this will end up being the difference in the end.
Offseason Prediction: Bears 13 – Vikings 10
Updated Prediction: Vikings 31 – Bears 26
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