NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bears are on the road this week, taking on the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on Monday Night Football in Week 15. How does their offense stack up against the Vikings’ defense? Let’s discuss.
Chicago Bears Offense
- QB: Caleb Williams
- RB: D’Andre Swift (Q)
- WR: DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze
- TE: Cole Kmet
- LT: Braxton Jones
- LG: Teven Jenkins
- C: Coleman Shelton
- RG: Matt Pryor
- RT: Darnell Wright
Minnesota Vikings Defense
- LDE: Jerry Tillery
- NT: Harrison Phillips
- RDE: Jonathan Bullard
- WLB: Jonathan Greenard
- LILB: Kamu Grugier-Hill
- RILB: Blake Cashman
- SLB: Andrew Van Ginkel
- LCB: Stephon Gilmore (Q)
- RCB: Shaquill Griffin
- NB: Byron Murphy Jr.
- FS: Camryn Bynum
- SS: Harrison Smith
(Q) = Questionable
Tale of the Tape
Chicago Bears Offense
- Points Per Game: 19.5 (24th)
- EPA Per Play: -0.06 (25th)
- EPA Per Pass: -0.12 (26th)
- EPA Per Rush: -0.01 (12th)
Minnesota Vikings Defense
- Points Per Game: 18.5 (6th)
- EPA Per Play: -0.01 (3rd)
- EPA Per Pass: -0.07 (6th)
- EPA Per Rush: -0.17 (1st)
Stats that Matter
- The Chicago Bears have struggled to get the run game going in recent weeks, and facing the top-ranked rushing defense (by EPA) in the league isn’t exactly what the doctor ordered for Thomas Brown and his rushing attack. D’Andre Swift was held to 30 yards on 13 carries (2.3) when these two teams squared off on November 24.
- Part of the Bears’ run game struggles this season are due to their lack of yards after contact. Chicago has gained 2.7 yards after contact per carry, the worst mark in the league. It also has the sixth-lowest missed tackle forced rate on designed runs (20.4%). Chicago’s explosive run rate is 6.6 percent, the second-lowest mark in the NFL.
- Minnesota’s defense has generated the second-most unblocked pressures (47) and most unblocked sacks (9) in the league this season. Caleb Williams has been sacked a league-high and franchise-worst 56 times this season.
- Despite the Vikings’ success in the pass rush, Bears Interim Head Coach Thomas Brown had a solid game plan the last time these two teams met, and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked only three times while completing 32 passes for 340 yards, two touchdowns, and a 103.1 passer rating.
What does it all mean?
The Vikings began the week as six-point favorites to win this game, and no one can blame the NFL oddsmakers for doubting the Bears can keep this one close after that beating in San Francisco last weekend. However, divisional games are always closer than what we’re led to believe on paper, and I think the Bears have a shot to cover in this one.
Chicago looked dead in the water in San Francisco on Sunday, and this Monday Night Football matchup between the Bears and the Vikings is a chance for a last gasp of air for Thomas Brown, who hopes to finish the season strong and gain some good favor in his pursuit of the Bears permanent head coaching position.
Brown had the answer for Minnesota’s ferocious pass rush when they met last month, and Caleb Williams played one of his best games of the season. Chicago came up short in overtime, but they were there, and if???and I see no reason to think they will???they buck their trend of punting on the first two quarters of football, we might have a different result.
If the Bears come out flat again and get dog-walked in primetime, this is probably the end of Thomas Brown’s hopes of becoming the permanent head coach.
