The Minnesota Vikings will hit the road this week to take on the Chicago Bears and the result of Sunday’s game could decide their direction for the rest of the season.
With trade rumors swirling, the Vikings could take a step toward relevancy entering a Week 7 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers. But a loss in Chicago could also lead the Vikings to look toward the future, leaning toward their young players and aiming for a high draft pick.
Any trip to Soldier Field is sure to be unpredictable but here’s a look at five things you can count on when the Vikings visit the Bears.
A monster game for K.J. Osborn
The biggest question entering Sunday’s game is who will step up in the absence of Justin Jefferson. With the Vikings star receiver out for the next four games due to a hamstring injury, many expect first-round pick Jordan Addison to pick up the slack but it could be K.J. Osborn who has the biggest game on Sunday.
Osborn has been a focal point for Kirk Cousins, who targeted him nine times in last week’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Although Osborn has caught just 50 percent of his targets this season, he has an established rapport with Cousins, ranking fourth on the team with 26 targets.
Osborn’s playing time figures to go up in Jefferson’s absence and he’s shown that he’s capable of big games including a 10-catch, 157-yard performance against Indianapolis last December. With Chicago’s pass defense allowing a league-high 7.7 yards per reception, he could be in store for another big game.
Plenty of targets for T.J. Hockenson
While Cousins is comfortable throwing to K.J. Osborn, he is even more comfortable throwing to T.J. Hockenson. Hockenson is second on the team with 39 targets but his average depth of target of 6.6 yards ranks 28th out of 41 qualifying tight ends this season.
While Hockenson does rank 14th with 1.45 yards per route run, he has turned into the Vikings’ possession target, ranking second among tight ends with 14 receptions for a first down his season.
Kevin O’Connell hinted at Monday’s press conference that the Vikings may need to shift their offensive philosophy in Jefferson’s absence and going to Hockenson with more short passes could be a possible adjustment.
With Hockenson suggesting that more reps with Cousins could cut down on the three drops he’s had this season, Sunday could be a perfect opportunity to “get on the same page.”
A big day for the Vikings running game
The Vikings could also lean on the running game while Jefferson is on injured reserve and it could be the best way to attack the Bears.
The Bears rank 11th with 3.7 yards allowed per carry and have only allowed four touchdowns on the season but they’ve allowed over 150 yards in each of their last two games including 178 yards in last week’s win over the Washington Commanders.
While there’s a good chance the Vikings will have success on the ground, it’s hard to tell who will benefit. Alexander Mattison ran for just 26 yards on eight carries and had a crucial drop on a screen late in the loss to the Chiefs. But Cam Akers wasn’t much better, picking up 15 yards on five carries.
Whoever leads the backfield, they should have plenty of room to run and it could help the Vikings finally win the time of possession battle.
Justin Fields having success against the Vikings defense
Justin Fields has been a punchline for most of his NFL career but he’s been able to hold his own against the Vikings defense.
In two career starts, Fields has completed 68 percent of his passes while throwing for 493 yards and two touchdowns. But he’s also added 15 carries for 82 rushing yards which could create a problem for Brian Flores’s defense.
The Vikings have improved from last season, allowing 6.3 net yards per passing attempt in their first five games. But they’ve allowed a 76.4 percent completion rate that is tied with the Denver Broncos for the highest this season.
While the Bears are far from a functional offense, they do have weapons such as wide receiver D.J. Moore and tight end Cole Kmet. If the Vikings can’t figure out how to stop the pass, it could lead to another big game for Fields and the Bears.
The Bears winning one for Dick Butkus
Sunday will mark the first game at Soldier Field since Dick Butkus died on Oct. 12 and the Bears will be ready to give him a tribute on the field.
While the emotional aspect can be overrated, the Vikings’ issues this season can’t be understated. The Vikings are tied for last with a minus-9 turnover margin and they can’t seem to do the simple things right such as getting lined up or just receiving the plays in their head set.
The Bears might be dysfunctional but the Vikings are far from a legitimate team right now. With Jefferson on the sidelines, it could be enough to swing things in the Bears favor and create even more questions about the Vikings’ future.
Prediction: Bears 27, Vikings 20
