Aug 10, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell talks to fans before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings have been playing with their food of late. Against both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans, Kevin O’Connell’s team has done little to generate distance. They have failed to win comfortably, and there hasn’t been a convincing result since the squad took on the Houston Texans during the early part of the season. That needs to change.
The Chicago Bears are not among the worst teams in the NFL, but they certainly aren’t good either. Changes to the coaching staff have helped to make some difference, but Caleb Williams is still taking his lumps at this level. The defense is definitely beatable, and the offense isn’t going to put up points in droves.
Brian Flores should have his entire defensive unit licking their chops at the prognosis of sacking the quarterback. No one has been taken down more than Williams this season, and Andrew Van Ginkel can continue to ascend the yearly leader rankings. If there’s a spot you’d love to see everything get put together, then it’s certainly on the road against a divisional opponent.
So far, Minnesota is 1-1 in the NFC North. They unquestionably looked better than the Green Bay Packers on the road, but they looked less than prepared for the Detroit Lions at home. Fortunately for the Vikings, a mulligan can be called against the Motor City Kitties, given their overall status across the league. No such favor will be granted if they drop a game to the lowly Bears.
Soldier Field has a way of leveling the results. It’s generally a slop fest waiting to happen, and the Vikings need to also focus on leaving Chicago with a relatively clean bill of health. If they can do so convincingly, however, the needle and belief in their future the rest of the way will be pointing straight up.
At 8-2, there is no reason to believe that the Vikings aren’t going to make the playoffs. How far they go or how well-positioned they are probably reflects the additional winning they can do from here. Chasing down the Lions within the division is going to be difficult. They certainly can’t drop games against the opponents they should be expected to beat, though.
Put up a laugher on Sunday, and the momentum ratchets up again. Winning in style is always more fun.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.