3 Requirements for the Vikings to Handle the Bears
The Minnesota Vikings lost in Week 10 due to too many penalties, a poor third-down conversion rate, and general futile performance when it mattered most. This weekend, they face the Chicago Bears in an effort to get right.
Three key requirements for the Minnesota Vikings to handle the Chicago Bears in Week 11, breaking down the essential fixes and matchup priorities.
The Bears aren’t unbeatable by any stretch of the imagination, and here’s how Minnesota can topple Caleb Williams and friends on Sunday.
How the Vikings Can Beat the Bears in Week 11
The blueprint for the NFC North battle.
1. For All That Is Good and Holy, Run the Football
Minnesota ripped off 6.7 yards per carry in the loss to Baltimore — an absurdly good number that should’ve tilted the entire game plan. But it did not.
Instead of leaning into what was clearly working, Kevin O’Connell asked his 22-year-old quarterback to drop back 42 times to throw, while ball carriers ran the ball only 18 times. That’s the ratio of a team abandoning success, not channelling it.
If you’re getting nearly seven yards a pop on the ground, the math isn’t complicated. You run it 40-something times and throw it 18. Flip the script. Make the defense beg for mercy. This isn’t revolutionary thinking.
O’Connell was asked about the imbalance this week and didn’t commit to making many changes, at least publicly. But the message should be evident by now. Whether he embraces it on Sunday is the real test.
Run, The. Damn. Ball. It. Is. Not. Complicated.
All O’Connell has to do is open the can of soup and pour it into a bowl. We don’t need lobster souffles stuffed with Parmesan risotto. Pour soup from the can into a bowl, then microwave for one minute.
Zone Coverage‘s Mason Klemm also called for Jordan Mason to take on a larger role this week.
He wrote, “If the Vikings want to run the ball more effectively, they need to get Mason more involved. Not only will it provide much-needed rest for Jones, but it could provide a spark to a Minnesota running game that has struggled to get going in its last two losses.”
“Mason excels at running between the tackles and turning broken plays into positive gains, and the hope coming into the year was that the two could co-exist and elevate the usually calm Vikings’ rushing attack. The lack of Mason could be a byproduct of the dearth of runs Minnesota calls.”
Mason performed quite well in the first five games of 2025, cooling off a bit since.
“Most of the drives after halftime last Sunday involved a first-down run that picked up over 10 yards, followed by three-straight passing plays that led to a punt, a field goal, or a turnover on downs. Kevin O’Connell’s strength is the passing game, but the ground game was working, and it felt like he abandoned it later in the game. In fairness, Mason hasn’t been as advertised since coming over from San Francisco,” Klemm added.
“The stats he led in last year, particularly rush yards over expected and yards per attempt, are way down, even when he was getting the bulk of the work with Jones sidelined. Still, every time Mason has gotten 20 carries or more in a game during his career, he’s run for 100 yards. It might be a lack of opportunity more than a lack of efficiency that’s holding him back, and now that Ryan Kelly is returning to the offensive line, it could be time for Mason to earn his keep.”
2. Win the Turnover Battle
It feels redundant to list this key to the game, but it’s just so damn bulletproof. No matter what comes of O’Connell’s tenure in the Twin Cities, the first four seasons will be remembered by stat fiends for the turnover differential litmus test.
If you’re new to this phenomenon, it’s simple. When O’Connell’s team wins the turnover battle or breaks even, it wins. When it loses the turnover split, the Vikings lose. Plain as day. Put a fork in them. Not gonna happen that Sunday.
These are the numbers:
Vikings,
under Kevin O’Connell,
Win-Loss Record:
Win TO Battle or Break Even: 33-4 (.892)
Lose TO Battle: 5-18 (.217)
The 89.2% versus 21.7% is a ghastly variance, and most NFL teams don’t have a pendulum quite like that.
Therefore, on Sunday, Minnesota must intercept Caleb Williams or jar the ball loose from ball carriers. Minnesota ended 2024 with 24 interceptions. It has 3 so far in 2025.
3. Consistent Quarterback Play from Start to Finish
Vikings fans have learned that J.J. McCarthy can peform well in crunchtime: the wins in Week 1 over the Bears and Week 9 against the Lions are examples. The same group also saw McCarthy play well in the 1st Quarter of contests versus the Lions and Ravens.
Now, McCarthy needs a full performance, with no serious ruts in Quarters 2 and 3. The Vikings lost to Baltimore because the team started a gaffe parade after the 1st Quarter, and McCarthy did little to change the narrative.
Sooner or later, McCarthy will put together a complete game. Minnesota will win that one. Here’s to hoping that it’s Sunday at home versus Chicago.
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