Bears vs. Vikings Prediction: Can Bears pull off the upset? |
As we continue to push on through another NFL season, it's hard to believe that after this weekend, we will be two-thirds of the way through. What was once a promising-looking season filled with hope and jubilation for the Bears has once again turned into a nightmare. This team is sitting at 4-6 and is on pace to finish 6-11 this season.
That won't get the job done, and if that doesn't get Matt Eberflus fired, nothing will. Despite the struggles and heartbreak thus far, the season is far from over, and the Bears still have a chance to get off the mat and make things interesting. For that to happen, they will need to find a way to win some games through this grueling stretch, and that all starts with the Minnesota Vikings this weekend. Make no mistake about it. Minnesota is a good team at 8-2 and has been one of the biggest surprises in the NFL. However, after starting the season 5-0, they have come back down to earth and aren't playing well right now. Could that be a case of playing down to the competition? Maybe, and the Bears can use that to their advantage as they try to pull off the upset this weekend.
One of the Vikings' biggest question marks heading into the season was whether Sam Darnold could handle another starting job. Through five weeks, he more than proved he could, leading the NFL in TD passes with 12 while only throwing three interceptions. Since then, Darnold has started to revert back to the Darnold of old. He has just seven touchdowns in his last five games and seven interceptions. That gives him 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for the season, although seven of his 10 interceptions came in three games. That tells you that Darnold may be an improved quarterback, but put some pressure on him, and he will still make mistakes against a good defense. Should the Bears find a way to force some mistakes, they can keep things close. They need to find a way to capitalize on those mistakes, as field goals won't cut it anymore. Justin Jefferson projects as a top target against the Bears defense
Regardless of how good or bad either of these teams is when they play each other, Soldier Field has been a house of horrors for the Vikings and has become a difficult place to play. Sure, they have had some success the past two seasons, but with a 6-14 mark at Soldier Field in their last 20 meetings, this is one place the Vikings hate coming to. The Bears know that all too well. Coming off a long home winning streak that was snapped a few weeks ago, the Bears would love nothing more than to get back on the winning track against one of their biggest rivals. With Snow coming through the area throughout the week and possible rain this weekend, weather will be a factor.
For the first time all season, the Chicago Bears saw their franchise quarterback look like the player he is capable of against the Green Bay Packers. Apparently, all it took was Shane Waldron firing to get that level of play, as Williams racked up 231 yards through the air and another 70 yards on the ground. That is the way the Bears need him to play if they want to turn their season around, and it is up to new Offensive Coordinator Thomas Brown to continue letting him play like that over the final two months of the season. Although there was a lot of good last weekend, there was some bad, as Williams once again went another game without throwing a touchdown. He is still stuck on nine TDs and five INTs for the season. Ironically, those were the same numbers the last time the Bears won a game, as he hasn't thrown a touchdown or an Interception in either of the last four games. That is amazing when you think about it, and at some point, he will bust out of that streak and start to make things happen. Prediction: This has Trap game written all over it for the Vikings as the Bears are extremely confident coming in. Records aside, both of these teams are very close in talent. However, you must give the Vikings an edge mainly because of Justin Jefferson and TJ Hockenson. Still, the Bears have shown on several occasions that they can play with the best in the league, and they did that again last week against the Packers, only to come up short. This is one of those games they need to have, as it will be a short week for the Bears with the juggernaut Lions awaiting them for Thanksgiving. Look for this to be another tight one for the Bears, but the Vikings find a way to get the job done 20-17 on a late John Parker-Romo field goal.Make Sam Darnold see ghosts
Jefferson ranks 1st among all WR in target rate when the offense is facing pressure. He'll face a Chicago defense that ranks 9th in pressure rate this week. pic.twitter.com/swGowjAAGAWill history repeat itself?
Let Caleb Williams be Caleb
