{"id":812197,"date":"2024-12-16T20:48:28","date_gmt":"2024-12-17T02:48:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/16\/vikings-vs-bears-key-personnel-battles\/"},"modified":"2024-12-16T20:48:28","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T02:48:28","slug":"vikings-vs-bears-key-personnel-battles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/16\/vikings-vs-bears-key-personnel-battles\/","title":{"rendered":"Vikings vs. Bears | Key Personnel Battles"},"content":{"rendered":"

Football <\/p>\n

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Dec 31, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) warms up before the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.<\/p>\n

” data-medium-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/jjetsweek1.jpg” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1180,height=699,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/jjetsweek1.jpg”>

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s divisional football again as US Bank Stadium hosts the Vikings against the Bears in Week 15. This is the return fixture from Minnesota\u2019s win over Chicago in Week 12. The 11-2 Vikings could secure a playoff berth if they can complete the double over their division rival, whom they beat just three weeks ago.<\/p>\n

Vikings vs. Bears | Key Personnel Battles<\/h4>\n

The Vikings want to keep pace with the Detroit Lions at the top of the NFC North. The Bears\u2019 ninth loss of the season last week meant a losing season for the fourth season in a row. The last time the Bears had a winning season was 2018 \u2013 the only time they have achieved that feat in the last 12 seasons. Minnesota has it all to play for, while Chicago desperately needs something to boost morale. Here are my key personnel battles that I believe will go a long way in determining the result.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Football Brian Flores vs. Thomas Brown<\/h2>\n

I had this as a key battle in the reverse fixture when Thomas Brown<\/a> was recently named the Bears offensive coordinator. He is now the head coach in Chicago. Brian Flores had his defense dominating the game at Soldier Field, with Chicago only managing 10 points and having less than five minutes left in the game. The Vikings allowed the Bears to score 11 points in less than two minutes to take the game to overtime. After the Vikings defense forced a three-and-out, the Vikings marched up the field for the game-winning field goal.<\/p>\n

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Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores addressed the media from the TCO Performance Center on October 16th, 2024. Flores was hired in February 2023 to take over for Ed Donatell after Minnesota finished 30th in points allowed.<\/p>\n

” data-medium-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/floresweek7.jpg” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1180,height=587,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/floresweek7.jpg” src=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/floresweek7.jpg” alt>

Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores addressed the media from the TCO Performance Center on October 16th, 2024. Flores was hired in February 2023 to take over for Ed Donatell after Minnesota finished 30th in points allowed.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Flores needs his defense to do what they did last time, just without the end-of-game collapse. Despite the coaching change, the Bears\u2019 run of losses is now seven, and those defeats have become heavier in recent weeks against the Lions and 49ers. The early promise of the season evaporated in Chicago, and Flores will look to pile on the misery this week against a team he has been linked with as their\u00a0future head coach<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Football Justin Jefferson vs. Jaylon Johnson<\/h2>\n

Jefferson posed the question to Chicago\u00a0<\/a>this week: either concentrate on stopping him and let everyone else go off, or don\u2019t, and he will go off. It was almost as if Jefferson was goading them into trying to stop him in man coverage. The Bears have one of the best cornerbacks in the league, Jaylon Johnson, but it\u2019s a huge ask, even for someone of his caliber, to go up against Jefferson one-on-one. In the reverse fixture, Chicago held Jefferson to two catches and 27 yards.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Oct 1, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) reacts after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports.<\/p>\n

” data-medium-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/toosmall.jpg” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1180,height=664,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/toosmall.jpg” src=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/toosmall.jpg” alt>

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson combined for 276 yards and a touchdown as the Vikings won the game. Just stopping Jefferson wasn\u2019t a recipe for success, so will the Bears change their gameplan this time around? I would still expect Jefferson to receive plenty of attention, but will they risk putting Johnson in single coverage for him at times? Jefferson is eager to prove he can have a big day himself against this defense, which sets everything up for an intriguing battle.<\/p>\n

Football Vikings Rushing Attack vs. Bears Rushing Attack<\/h2>\n

The Vikings offense works much better when there is balance. In the last meeting, Aaron Jones had 106 rushing yards and a touchdown, averaging 4.8 yards per rush. It set the table for 100-yard games for Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson and a Vikings win \u2013 even if they nearly made a mess of it at the end. On the flip side, Chicago\u2019s backs only managed 32 yards from 15 carries. Roschon Johnson had 2 yards on 2 carries and a touchdown, but the Bears RB2 has been ruled out of the game due to a concussion.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Nov 17, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears running back D\u2019Andre Swift (4) runs for a 39 yard touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the third quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images.<\/p>\n

” data-medium-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/USATSI_24786550.jpg” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1180,height=787,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/USATSI_24786550.jpg” src=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/USATSI_24786550.jpg” alt>

Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

D\u2019Andre Swift struggled to 30 yards off of 13 carries and is currently hampered by a groin injury that limited him to just one limit in practice this week. His status for the game is questionable, and if Swify can\u2019t go on Monday night, it will be Travis Homer in line to lead the Bears\u2019 rushing attack. Homer has only had three rushing attempts so far this season. The Bears have been dealt another massive blow that will assist the Vikings\u2019 run game. Gervon Dexter has been ruled out of the game with a knee injury, leaving a big hole in the Bears defensive line that the Vikings should look to exploit.<\/p>\n

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\"Football<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Read More<\/a> Adam New<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports. It\u2019s divisional football again as US Bank Stadium hosts the Vikings against the Bears in Week 15. This is the return fixture from Minnesota\u2019s win over Chicago in Week 12. The 11-2 Vikings could secure a playoff berth if they can complete the double over their division rival, whom they beat<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":812198,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[813,3790,3516],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-812197","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-bears","8":"category-football","9":"category-vikings"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/812197","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=812197"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/812197\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/812198"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=812197"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=812197"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=812197"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}