The Chicago Bears (2-1) will host the Minnesota Vikings (2-1) in a battle of division rivals fighting to gain ground in a stacked NFC North.
The Bears defense is coming off a five-turnover performance against the Redskins, and they’ll be focused on stopping Dalvin Cook and the Vikings’ run game to force QB Kirk Cousins to beat them.
On the other side of the ball, the Bears offense will look to build on the tempo it established Monday night against Washington, where QB Mitch Trubisky tossed three second-quarter touchdowns. But Sunday will be a tall order against Minnesota’s defense.
Here are four bold predictions for the Bears’ Week 4 contest versus the Vikings.
1. Bears defense holds Dalvin Cook to under 70 rushing yards
Chicago’s main focus on Sunday will be stopping Dalvin Cook and the Vikings’ run game, which has been one of the best in the league. Cook has amassed three straight 100-yard rushing games, against the Falcons, Packers and Raiders.
But the Bears have the fifth-best run defense this season, allowing 68.7 rushing yards per game, and have allowed just 3.07 yards per rush, good enough for fourth-best in the league. Chicago has given up only three runs of 10 yards or more and have yet to allow a rushing touchdown this season.
While Cook leads the league in rushing with 375 yards, he hasn’t faced a run defense like the Bears yet. While the Bears will be unlikely to stop Cook, they should be able to limit his explosive plays and hold him well under his 100-yard mark.
If the Bears can contain Cook, it’ll force QB Kirk Cousins to try and beat them, which is exactly what they want to do.
2. Anthony Miller has 100-yard receiving game
One of the big storylines heading into this game is the absence of WR Taylor Gabriel, who did not clear concussion protocol and has been ruled out for Sunday’s game. Outside of Allen Robinson, Gabriel has been the only other receiver that’s made an impact this season.
Which means that another receiver is going to have to step up in his absence, and why not Anthony Miller? After leading the Bears with seven touchdowns as a rookie last season, Miller has been a non-factor this season. In three games this season, Miller has two receptions for 17 yards. He’s been targeted just five times.
With Gabriel sidelined, Matt Nagy said that he anticipates Miller will get more reps, and this could be the game where he finally becomes the player everyone thought he could be in his sophomore year. The Vikings will likely try to take away Mitch Trubisky’s safety blanket in Robinson, which opens the door for Miller.
3. Khalil Mack replicates Redskins performance
The least bold of my bold predictions, Khalil Mack being an absolute game-wrecker against Vikings QB Kirk Cousins, who has been sacked 42 times and fumbled 13 times in his short tenure with the Vikings.
In the past two games, Mack has three sacks, including two strip sacks of Case Keenum in Week 3. Mack is tied for the NFL lead in forced fumbles with three, and he’ll be looking to add to that total on Sunday.
While it’s difficult to get two sacks and force two fumbles in consecutive games, if there’s anyone that can do it, it’s Mack. Especially against Cousins, who is well aware that Mack will be bearing down on him.
4. Mitch Trubisky has passer rating above 100
All eyes will be on Bears QB Mitch Trubisky entering what’s become an important division contest against the Vikings, a team that is quite familiar with Trubisky.
In the first two games of the season, Trubisky was underwhelming against the Packers and Broncos. Last week against the Redskins, Trubisky completed 25-of-31 passes for 231 yards for three touchdowns an interception, good enough for a 116.5 passer rating.
While Trubisky will face a dominant Vikings defense, all he has to do is manage the offense and protect the football while his defense takes care of business on the other side. Not unlike Vikings QB Kirk Cousins’ Week 1 performance against the Falcons, where he completed 8-of-10 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown, which was good enough for a 140.8 passer rating.
