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Can the Chicago Bears Stop a Surging Vikings Team?

By Wanda Wiedman

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Dec 1, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings tight end Rhett Ellison (40) watches a pass intended for him is deflected by Chicago Bears safety Craig Steltz (20) and linebacker James Anderson (50) in the fourth quarter at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. The Bears intercept the pass . Vikings win 23-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Vikings are 4-2 in the NFC North, trailing an undefeated Green Bay Packers team. But hanging on for dear life are the Chicago Bears, coming off of a bye week at 2-4 in third place.  This is the first time this season that they are playing against the Vikings, so their defense and offense will be new to all the rookies.

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Without a thought, the Bears concentration will be keeping running back Adrian Peterson at a standstill. Against the Lions last week, Peterson was held for the majority of the game, until the fourth quarter when he broke out and took it to the house. The Bears can stuff Peterson if they don’t give him anywhere to go. However, the downside is that by holding Peterson, wide receiver Stefon Diggs will dominate the field as he did with the Lions.

The danger to the Bears is that the Vikings are successful when they run the play action pass. This is what has made quarterback Teddy Bridgewater so successful in the air. With the play action pass, Bridgewater was able to hit tight end Kyle Rudolph and Diggs with ease. The both of them were wide open throughout the day when Peterson was held.

The momentum of the game has to start with the Bears defense coming fast and hard against

Nov 16, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) and Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) on the sidelines after Jeffrey scored a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Bridgewater, putting pressure on him and forcing him to scramble. Now history has shown that Bridgewater can be elusive in the pocket and still hit his target, but the Bears need to be in a position where he has nowhere to go.

The most crucial area will be in space, which has been the Bears Achilles heel. The linebacker and safety core have had their share of difficulty in this area, allowing the receiver to cut on the inside instead of pressing him to the line.  Hopefully, this is something that all the defensive coaches have been drilling at practice this week.

With that being said, it is obvious that defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is concerned about cornerback Kyle Fuller’s confidence. Fuller has become a pass interference penalty machine and the defense cannot continue to afford to hand over large yardage in penalties to opposing teams. Against the Vikings, this could be dangerous.He needs to press the receivers more and watch his timing to avoid penalties.

On the offensive side, quarterback Jay Cutler will have to continue to spread the ball around the field and find his open receiver, avoiding costly interceptions. He has done much better in that area and looks a lot more confident in the pocket. With all his favorite receivers healthy and available (with the exception of Kevin White), the Bears should be able to get points on the board. Cutler must look to Bennett a lot more as the Vikings have struggled to cover tight ends this season.

The Vikings will do everything to stop running back Matt Forte, but if the offensive line can give him that 6 inches of daylight, he can make the necessary cuts and run down the field.  That will only happen if the front seven make it happen and clears the way. Offensive coordinator Adam Gase will need to mix it up with his running backs, receivers, and tight ends. A strong and effective offensive line can give Cutler time, allowing him to move the chains down the field and dominate in all quarters.

Dec 28, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte (22) catches a pass between Minnesota Vikings linebacker Audie Cole (57) and linebacker Audie Cole (57) in the first quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 13-9. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

The time has come for the Bears to prove that they are a team on the rise. There is no doubt that the defense can cover or at least slowdown Peterson, but the defense will have to balance that with controlling the play action pass and protect the end zone. It is when the Bears do their job with passion and ferociousness that they can stop a surging Vikings team.

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