For the third time in the first five weeks of the 2022 NFL season, the Minnesota Vikings will play host to an NFC North rival at U.S. Bank Stadium. After notching victories over the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions at home, the Vikings will welcome the Chicago Bears to town in Week 5. This is a bit of an unusual scenario for both of these teams, because these two teams usually meet towards the end of the season. In fact, this will be the first time since the Vikings moved to U.S. Bank Stadium that the final home game of the regular season for the Vikings will not feature the Bears. The Vikings have won three of the last four games between these two teams, including sweeping the season series last season. That included last year’s regular-season finale in Minneapolis, as the Vikings scored 21 fourth-quarter points to emerge with a 31-17 victory over the Bears. Minnesota opens this game as a touchdown favorite according to our friends at the DraftKings Sportsbook, with the over/under at the beginning of the betting week being set at 43. This game will be aired on FOX affiliates around the country, with kickoff from U.S. Bank Stadium scheduled for noon Central time. We’ll have our coverage of this week’s game in this convenient stream for you to access more easily. SBNATION
The Bears just seem to have the Vikings number it's always tough an all out war divisional games are always tough records mean nothing
This might be the least talented Bears team that Minnesota will have played in some time. Minnesota, meanwhile, seems like they can contend if they fix a couple deficiencies. I'm pretty confident that Chicago will lose this one. You never know, but... it might not be hard to guess. Here's to both teams coming out healthy, either way.
Montgomery is back to practice, probably plays and probably runs for 100+. Justin Fields just may shred the Vikings secondary, lol... you never know. No one knows which Vikings team will show up, they are hard to gauge so far. Good Luck!
The Minnesota Vikings offense is still a work in progress but they have come up big when it mattered the most. Throughout the season, the Vikings have shown elements of being great but haven’t been able to utilize them with any form of consistency. Here are four keys for the Vikings offense to take advantage of the Bears defense and get the win on Sunday. Win at the catch point The Minnesota Vikings have struggled to win at the catch point this season. They are last in the NFL with contested catches having only caught 2/15. The Bears only have five pass break ups so this week could provide opportunities, especially with Jaylon Johnson potentially out, to take some calculated chances down the field giving your talented receivers the ability to win down the field. Keep the defense guessing with jet motion One of the things that head coach Kevin O’Connell has prioritized is utilizing motion at the snap, specifically jet motion. They haven’t run many jet sweeps but they did score a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints with one. Jet motion gets the defense moving at the snap which can be a tell for what the defense is doing. It can also open up running lanes on the edge due to having to account for a jet sweep. Utilizing this concept more often will make a difference in offensive success. Protect Kirk Cousins When Cousins is comfortable in the pocket, he is at his absolute best. A confident Cousins can be a calculated killer in the passing game. The issue is that he can get rattled and thrown off of his game. Immense pressure and turnovers have thrown him off in the past. Keeping him in a groove and confident is a recipe for success. Use play action Play-action has been the bread and butter for Cousins throughout his career. This season is no different, as he has been excellent in utilizing play-action. This season, Cousins is completing 68.8% of his passes for 355 yards and four touchdowns on the season. All four interceptions have come on non-play action concepts. Getting Cousins in a groove and attacking down the field is a great strategy from by the Vikings. VIKINGSWIRE
Pretty much, Captain Obvious stuff by Vikings Wire, but over-all good points. I still believe its the same ol-same ol with the Vikings... better run defense and better O-line play is premium. If the Bears defense can pressure Cousins, this is going to be a very close game, im my opinion, with either team having a shot to win it in the end. The Vikes defense better shut Montgomery down also... this will be key (even tho I have Montgomery going in fantasy) in containing the Bears offense and forcing Fields to open up the offensive pass game which could be a key factor also if the Vikings can pressure him. I believe the Vikings are their own worst enemy this season and have become very unstable/ and unpredictable, like a box of chocolates. They must get in a groove with timing and execution. Take the Bears lightly and Chicago comes out with the W.
All Bears fans are welcome here, by the way... the more the better. I appreciate all comments from all L4SN posters. So, bring the noize! Turn it up!
Now that is very TRUE you never know which Vikings team will show up just wish they would be more consistent
There's the potential for the Vikings to put up a lot of points in this game i think. If the Bears dont come out and play well(up to their own talent level at least) a blowout would not shock me at all. There's a clear talent disparity between these two teams. The Bears desperately needed Jaylon Johnson to be healthy for this game and he's not gonna be. That puts the Bears CB's in a world of trouble. I have no idea who's gonna cover Theilen let alone Jefferson! I don't wanna say the Bears have Dalvin Cook's number cos thats not really true, but they've often played him well and had a measure of control that they never had with AP. But i think in this game a very good back like Cook could have a big day. Teams have been running all over the Bears with far less talent than Cook. I would expect the Vikings to establish the run with success early, before hitting up PA and possibly throwing more as the game goes on. Bears could get boat raced in the 2nd half. Monty is listed as questionable, i think they'd be wise to sit him another week. Its not like Herbert can't carry the load. All Bears fans are just sitting here with fingers crossed hoping Fields can have a good game.
The Vikings make me so nervous cause I just don't know will the defensive backfield play well and a pass rush it can be pretty bad at times will Capt Kirk have a good day? Division games are always a hard fought affair just hope there not flat
