While the Chicago Bears still have a primetime meeting with the Washington Redskins on Monday night, their Week 4 opponent the Minnesota Vikings made a statement with a 34-14 thrashing of the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.
A significant factor to Minnesota’s success in Sunday’s win — and all year — has been running back Dalvin Cook, who had his third consecutive 100-yard rushing game this season.
Cook had 16 carries for 110 yards and a touchdown in the win over Oakland. In three games this season, Cook is averaging 125 rushing yards per game and has four touchdowns.
The Bears defense will have their work cut for them next Sunday when they host Cook and the Vikings at Soldier Field. But Cook will be facing one of the league’s best run defenses in the Bears, who have allowed 68.5 rushing yards per game in the first two weeks.
Two of Cook’s 100-yard performances came against defenses that are middle-of-the-pack in stopping the run in Atlanta and Green Bay, who allowed more than 100 yards rushing per game. Oakland allowed 63 rushing yards per game heading into Week 3 before Cook and the Minnesota pummeled them with 211 rushing yards.
Next Sunday’s game against the Vikings becomes an important early divisional contest where the Bears defense will have to come up big. If they can contain Cook and force Vikings QB Kirk Cousins to beat them, they should log their first division win of the season.
