The NFC North gauntlet continues for the Chicago Bears, who are still stuck in a tailspin following their promising start to the season. The Bears (4-6) are set to welcome the Minnesota Vikings (8-2) to Soldier Field as they try and salvage their final seven games of the year.
Chicago is coming off yet another last-second loss, this time due to a blocked game-winning field goal attempt against the Green Bay Packers, which extended their losing streak to four games. Minnesota, however, continues to thrive in their unexpected season, winning three in a row. The Vikings are in prime playoff position, while the Bears are very much on the outside looking in.
Ahead of this divisional game, here are our bold predictions for Bears vs. Vikings.
1. Bears get an opening drive touchdown
Enough is enough. It’s time for the Bears offense to come out of the gates swinging, and now with some experience under new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, this is the week things get going. It won’t be easy, though. Minnesota’s defense is known for their heavy blitz calls, which can throw young quarterbacks off their game. It doesn’t seem like they get a ton of pressure when they bring the house, though.
According to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, the Vikings have a pressure rate of just 39.1% when blitzing, the 12th-lowest in the league. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is already planning for the barrage of defenders and will look to get the ball out quickly. His average time to throw last week was 2.62 seconds, the lowest of the season. I believe Brown will have a proper script in place to combat the heavy pressure, which will lead to an opening drive touchdown. It has to happen at some point this season.
2. Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze connect for a passing TD
That opening drive touchdown could be from Williams to wide receiver Rome Odunze. The two rookies took a big step forward last week against the Packers when they connected for two big plays on the final drive of the game. Had it not been for the blocked field goal, we would all be discussing the chemistry these two are establishing. Williams talked about how Odunze is his guy following the game, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them connect for their first score since Week 3.
Williams is continuing to learn his teammates tendencies, and something he is working on is trusting his receivers to go up and get the ball. That’s exactly what happened last week with him and Odunze, and we’re going to see it again. This time, it will be for a score against the Vikings suspect secondary.
3. Keenan Allen has his best receiving day of the season
At this point in the season, it’s clear that wide receiver Keenan Allen isn’t the same player he once was when he was a member of the Los Angeles Chargers. The long-time veteran still is averaging just 35 yards per game and has yet to break 50 yards all year. On top of that, he’s now dealing with an ankle injury that could limit his impact. And yet, I think this will be his best game of the season from a yardage standpoint.
Allen is best used as the quick-read option for Williams, who will be getting the ball out fast against this Vikings defense. He also commands plenty of targets, as he has had at least six over the last four weeks. This is a great spot for him to rack up plenty of yards and keep the chains moving. And though he isn’t having the same season as he did in 2023, Allen’s best game of his career came against this same Vikings defense under Brian Flores when he racked up 18 receptions for 215 yards. Maybe he won’t get close to those numbers, but something better than 45 yards is surely on the cards.
4. Montez Sweat strip sacks Sam Darnold
Montez Sweat is frustrated. Very frustrated, in fact, due to the lack of success he and the Bears are having this season. The Pro Bowl defensive end has struggled due to injuries, and the pass rush that was so effective early in the year has essentially fallen off. The Bears have sacked the quarterback just five times in the last three games, while Sweat hasn’t gotten to the quarterback in nearly a month. It really shouldn’t happen again this week, but I’m choosing to believe Sweat’s fire will lead to production.
Sweat is facing off against Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill, who is having a stellar season. The veteran offensive lineman hasn’t allowed just one sack all season long and hasn’t given up a pressure since Week 8. It’s not like O’Neill hasn’t faced capable pass rushers, either, so why will Sweat break the streak? He manhandled O’Neill the last time these teams met, totaling 1.5 sacks and seven pressures. A sack is coming, and given Darnold has fumbled seven times this year, don’t be surprised if the ball comes loose.
5. The Vikings front seven gets an interception
The strength of the Vikings defense is their front seven, and the offensive line will need to play at their best to keep Williams upright. That is easier said than done with so many capable pass rushers at Minnesota’s disposal. Their top edge rushers, Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard, have combined for 15 sacks and don’t show any signs of letting up. Everyone knows the pressure is coming, but what happens when it doesn’t?
Flores likes to bring the heat and also cool things off by dropping linemen into coverage. That’s where Williams can get into trouble by throwing to a spot occupied by a defender when he’s expecting pressure. The rookie quarterback has done a good job of taking care of the ball, but Flores will lure him into a trap and capitalize with a pick from their front seven. Perhaps it will be Van Ginkel himself, who already has multiple interceptions on the season.