What a difference a few weeks can make. After losing five of their first six games to start the season, the Minnesota Vikings have shown signs of life, beating the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions in their last two games to fuel their hopes of a late push for the playoffs. The Vikings head into Soldier Field to face the Chicago Bears in a game that could have huge implications for the NFC North standings. While the Vikings are on the rise, the Bears seem to be in a free fall, losing three straight after starting the season by winning five of their first six games.
Minnesota’s success against the Packers and Lions is largely because of running back Dalvin Cook, who has recorded 478 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns in the last two weeks, and was named as the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts. But Cook will face a Bears defense that ranks among the best in the league and has done well against the Vikings.
After winning their first five games by a combined margin of just 20 points, Chicago has stumbled in the endgame in narrow defeats to the Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints, with the Saints game even going into overtime. The Vikings seem to have caught the Bears at the right time heading into their game, but Minnesota has not beaten its NFC North rival in two years and four meetings.
Here are four things that could happen when Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings face their division rival on Monday Night Football:
1. Kirk Cousins throws two touchdowns passes
While the Vikings have largely been the Dalvin Cook Show during their wins over Green Bay and Detroit, Cousins has also been instrumental in those wins. The 32-year old quarterback is coming off one of his best games of the season, completing 13 of 20 passes for 220 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions against the Lions. After a three touchdown, three interception performance in a 40-23 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Cousins has not thrown an interception in the Vikings’ last two games.
The two-time Pro Bowler, however, will likely have a tougher time against the Bears, which limit teams to an average of just 218.2 passing yards per game, which ranks seventh in the NFL. Chicago has also done well in recent meetings against the Vikings, with Cousins winning just two of five previous meetings against the Bears and recording five touchdowns, three interceptions, and an 89.6 quarterback rating.
Cousins will also face pressure from Bears linebacker Khalil Mack, who has forced a fumble against him in their most recent meetings, and already has 33 combined tackles, nine quarterback hits, 6.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles this season. But with Cook taking off pressure on him and the defense, Cousins is well-positioned for another good game as the Minnesota Vikings continue their playoff push.
2. Dalvin Cook has another big game and scores two touchdowns
While the Bears defense has done well against the pass, they have been less successful at stopping the run, allowing an average of 116.9 rushing yards per game, which ranks 14th in the league. That should bode well for Cook, who has made mincemeat out of the Packers’ and Lions’ defense in their last two games and has inserted himself into the MVP conversation.
But as they have with Cousins, Chicago has also done well in previous meetings against Cook, limiting him to a combined 34 carries, 86 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown and and 13 receptions and 54 yards in three games. But the Bears will face a different Cook, who has been sensational in the Minnesota Vikings past two games, and currently leads the league with 858 rushing yards on 144 carries along with 12 rushing touchdowns while adding 16 receptions, 173 receiving yards, and one receiving touchdown.
Despite absorbing their third straight loss against the Titans in Week 9, the Bears did well against running back Derrick Henry, who is also one of the best in the NFL at his position. Against Chicago, Henry was limited to 68 rushing yards on 21 carries with no touchdowns, although Tennessee still took a 24-17 win. Cook, however, has been playing better as of late, and it remains to be seen if the Bears can replicate their success against Henry on the first-time Pro Bowler.
3. The defense does just enough to slow down Nick Foles
While the Bears defense ranks among the league’s best, the same can’t be said of their offense, which has put up an average of just 19.8 points and 317.8 yards per game, which both rank just 29th in the NFL. Chicago has been marginally better through the air, with quarterback Nick Foles and the offense averaging 235.4 passing yards, which ranks 20th in the league.
But they have particularly struggled on the ground, averaging just 82.3 rushing yards this season, the worst mark in the league. With the Bears struggling to generate points on the ground, the Vikings defense, which allows an average of 29.3 points per game, which ranks 25th in the NFL, can focus on trying to disrupt Chicago’s passing game, despite Minnesota having issues with its secondary.
Minnesota has allowed an average of 287.9 passing yards per game this season, which is one of the worst marks in the league. But if the Vikings can slow down Foles’ passing to the likes of wide receivers Allen Robinson, Anthony Miller, and tight end Jimmy Graham, then they have a good chance of picking up a win, especially if Cook and Cousins have big games on offense.
4. The Minnesota Vikings take another win against a division rival
After beating the Packers and Lions, the Vikings have another chance to move up the NFC North standings, which right now has them tied with the Lions at 3-5, just behind the Bears, which have a 5-4 record, and the Packers, which still lead the division at 6-2. A win would put Minnesota just a half-game behind Chicago, with their next three games coming against the 2-7 Dallas Cowboys, the 3-6 Carolina Panthers, and the 1-7 Jacksonville Jaguars.
Aside from ending the Bears’ recent mastery over his team, the game also presents Cousins with an opportunity to win his first game against the Bears as a Viking, while also presenting him with a chance to take his first victory on Monday Night Football as a starter, as he currently has a 0-9 record dating back to his days in Washington. Chicago has had their number in recent years and has won all their games in Matt Nagy’s time as head coach, but with Cook playing out of his mind and Cousins playing some of his best games this season, the Vikings are primed for a third straight win against another division rival.
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