The Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings will meet in what’s become an important division contest between two teams that have more in common than just their 2-1 records.
Both teams have dominant defenses and a quarterback that hasn’t done much to inspire confidence in the first three weeks.
But Sunday’s game almost has a must-win feel to it, as every division game is important in a competitive NFC North.
Here are five storylines to watch as the Bears face the Vikings on Sunday:
1. Can the Bears run defense contain Dalvin Cook and Vikings’ run game?
The Bears defense will be looking to stop Dalvin Cook and the Vikings’ vaunted run game, where Cook has rushed for 100 yards for three straight games.
Chicago has the fifth-best run defense heading into Week 4, and they’ll be looking to contain Cook and his counterpart rookie Alexander Mattison in hopes of putting the ball in Vikings QB Kirk Cousins’ hands.
In two contests last year, the Bears held Cook to 51 yards rushing, including just 12 yards in a primetime contest in Week 11. Chicago is looking to hold Cook well under 100 yards and limited those explosive plays he’s known to break off.
2. Can QB Mitch Trubisky and offense build on last week’s success?
It took three weeks, but QB Mitch Trubisky and the Bears’ offense finally had a solid game last Monday against a bad Redskins defense. While there’s still plenty of improvement to be had, there’s definitely an air of confidence that this unit gained after a three-touchdown second quarter last Monday.
The Bears offense will face a more difficult challenge in the Vikings’ defense, who have allowed just 15.7 points per game. They’re a unit that’s familiar with Trubisky, as Sunday kicks off his fifth game vs. Minnesota, but Trubisky is also familiar with them.
A successful game against the Vikings isn’t necessarily throwing for 300 yards and three touchdowns. It’s taking what the defense gives you, keeping the chains moving, protecting the football and generating points whenever possible. Let’s see if Trubisky and the Bears’ offense is up for the challenge.
3. Who will step up at WR in Taylor Gabriel’s absence?
After his breakout game last Monday against the Redskins, which included three touchdowns in the second quarter, WR Taylor Gabriel sustained a concussion in the fourth quarter. He didn’t practice all week, and he has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against Minnesota.
Gabriel is the only receiver, aside from Allen Robinson, that has sustained success this season. So the question becomes: Who will step up in his absence? While Robinson is always an answer, the Vikings know that Trubisky will be focused on his security blanket throughout the game. So they need to take advantage of the other playmakers on offense.
Anthony Miller, who’s been a non-factor this season, is primed for that breakout game. In one game against the Vikings last season, Miller had two receptions for 25 yards and a touchdown. This is a chance for Miller to finally get involved in this offense.
If not Miller, Javon Wims is another name that comes to mind. Wims impressed in that Week 17 game against Minnesota last season, where he had four receptions for 34 yards. Could this also be the week that rookie Riley Ridley is finally active?
4. How many times will Bears pass rush get after Vikings QB Kirk Cousins?
If the Bears defense can stop Dalvin Cook and Minnesota’s run game, then they’ll put the ball in QB Kirk Cousins’ hands, which is exactly what they want.
Chicago’s defense is coming off a five-takeaway performance against the Redskins, where they had three interceptions and two fumbles, including a Ha Ha Clinton-Dix pick-six.
The Bears will be looking to do more of the same against Cousins, who is still seeing ghosts after last season. In two contests last season, the Bears brought plenty of pressure, which forced Cousins into costly sacks and mistakes. Cousins was sacked six times and tossed two interceptions in those meetings.
5. Will injuries play a significant factor for Bears?
The main concern for the Bears heading into this contest are the injuries that face the team in Week 4. While WR Taylor Gabriel and DL Bilal Nichols have already been ruled out for Sunday, there are some other starters that are questionable.
DL Akiem Hicks and RG Kyle Long are questionable for Sunday. Long has been noticeably struggling over these past couple of weeks with a hip injury, and Hicks has a right knee injury that Matt Nagy referred to as “wear and tear.” Both will be game-time decisions.
While K Eddy Pineiro is questionable with pinched nerve in his right kicking leg, he should be good to go against Minnesota. He kicked through the pain against the Redskins, although he missed his first kick of the season — from 44 yards — on Monday.
TE Trey Burton is also questionable, but that’s because he was limited during Friday’s practice on the indoor turf. He had practiced every day prior to Friday.
