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This is a big game and gives us something relevant to talk about other than guys that are no longer on this team.

A few things:

1.) I hate playing in Chicago. Even when they sucked we always struggled to play there. But if we can start fast, I think we will fair well.

2.) I think Chicagos offense is absolute trash. I think Trubisky is trash. Granted they've only played 2 games but they are ranked 30th in total offense this year. There should be zero reason this defense starts off like they did vs. GB or have that lapse at any point in the game.

3.) This game boils down to our offense vs. their defense IMO. They will have their hands full with Cook. I think the best game plan with them would be obviously continuing to pound Cook but lean more on the short pass game given the OLs struggle to pass block. Then when they start to move up to defend that, you hit them over the top. Keep them guessing. Teams are going to start stacking the box against Cook so I would think more would open up over the top.

I think it's going to be low scoring but I'm going to say 17-10 Vikings.

Pondering Her Percy wrote: ↑Sun Sep 22, 2019 9:05 pm This is a big game and gives us something relevant to talk about other than guys that are no longer on this team.

A few things:

1.) I hate playing in Chicago. Even when they sucked we always struggled to play there. But if we can start fast, I think we will fair well.

2.) I think Chicagos offense is absolute trash. I think Trubisky is trash. Granted they've only played 2 games but they are ranked 30th in total offense this year. There should be zero reason this defense starts off like they did vs. GB or have that lapse at any point in the game.

3.) This game boils down to our offense vs. their defense IMO. They will have their hands full with Cook. I think the best game plan with them would be obviously continuing to pound Cook but lean more on the short pass game given the OLs struggle to pass block. Then when they start to move up to defend that, you hit them over the top. Keep them guessing. Teams are going to start stacking the box against Cook so I would think more would open up over the top.

I think it's going to be low scoring but I'm going to say 17-10 Vikings.

I am hoping the Bears offense plays better this week against Washington so the Vikings can get some film of them actually being successful and can game plan against it. Washington is giving up a TD every other drive and nearly 50 yards every drive, so if they don't, the Bears will likely move on from the Trubiskey experiment and we will face Daniels or whoever their backup is.

StumpHunter wrote: ↑Sun Sep 22, 2019 9:19 pm

Pondering Her Percy wrote: ↑Sun Sep 22, 2019 9:05 pm This is a big game and gives us something relevant to talk about other than guys that are no longer on this team.

A few things:

1.) I hate playing in Chicago. Even when they sucked we always struggled to play there. But if we can start fast, I think we will fair well.

2.) I think Chicagos offense is absolute trash. I think Trubisky is trash. Granted they've only played 2 games but they are ranked 30th in total offense this year. There should be zero reason this defense starts off like they did vs. GB or have that lapse at any point in the game.

3.) This game boils down to our offense vs. their defense IMO. They will have their hands full with Cook. I think the best game plan with them would be obviously continuing to pound Cook but lean more on the short pass game given the OLs struggle to pass block. Then when they start to move up to defend that, you hit them over the top. Keep them guessing. Teams are going to start stacking the box against Cook so I would think more would open up over the top.

I think it's going to be low scoring but I'm going to say 17-10 Vikings.

I am hoping the Bears offense plays better this week against Washington so the Vikings can get some film of them actually being successful and can game plan against it. Washington is giving up a TD every other drive and nearly 50 yards every drive, so if they don't, the Bears will likely move on from the Trubiskey experiment and we will face Daniels or whoever their backup is.

I highly doubt the bears bench Trubisky this early in the season

I think they need to fix the problems they had in the last game against the Bears. The defense needs to stop the run and let Trubisky try to beat them. Allen Robinson is really the only threat outside of their RBs. Likewise, the middle of the OL needs to try and not get destroyed.

I think to have a chance to win it’s going to need to be a ball control, no turnover, wear them down type of game. Similar to how GB beat them, it’s not going to be pretty or particularly exciting but this isn’t a defense you’re going to put 25+ points on.

Pondering Her Percy wrote: ↑Sun Sep 22, 2019 10:28 pm

StumpHunter wrote: ↑Sun Sep 22, 2019 9:19 pm

I am hoping the Bears offense plays better this week against Washington so the Vikings can get some film of them actually being successful and can game plan against it. Washington is giving up a TD every other drive and nearly 50 yards every drive, so if they don't, the Bears will likely move on from the Trubiskey experiment and we will face Daniels or whoever their backup is.

I highly doubt the bears bench Trubisky this early in the season

I think they do something like this:

https://www.sportressofblogitude.com/20 ... his-heart/

To give him a few weeks off and see if they have an answer on the bench.

The Redskins through 2 games are almost as bad on defense as Miami, and if Mitch can't do well against them he isn't going to do well against anyone. The Bears can't waste a season of this defense waiting to see if a 3rd year QB can figure things out.

S197 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 12:48 am I think they need to fix the problems they had in the last game against the Bears. The defense needs to stop the run and let Trubisky try to beat them. Allen Robinson is really the only threat outside of their RBs. Likewise, the middle of the OL needs to try and not get destroyed.

I think to have a chance to win it’s going to need to be a ball control, no turnover, wear them down type of game. Similar to how GB beat them, it’s not going to be pretty or particularly exciting but this isn’t a defense you’re going to put 25+ points on.

If they can score 17 meaningful pts, and avoid giving up a TD to the Bears defense, the Vikings win.

S197 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 12:48 am I think they need to fix the problems they had in the last game against the Bears. The defense needs to stop the run and let Trubisky try to beat them. Allen Robinson is really the only threat outside of their RBs. Likewise, the middle of the OL needs to try and not get destroyed.

I think to have a chance to win it’s going to need to be a ball control, no turnover, wear them down type of game. Similar to how GB beat them, it’s not going to be pretty or particularly exciting but this isn’t a defense you’re going to put 25+ points on.

The best matchup the Vikings can hope for is to get Cook 1 on 1 with their LB and hope he can make him miss. The interior of the vikes oline is going to get obliterated and I think we'll see a lot of pitch plays to hopefully create that matchup off tackle. I'm not confident that's going to lead to a ton of positive plays on the ground, just that it seems the best bet. If the vikings can somehow find a way to get the running game going between the tackles against the Bears, I'm going to become even more bullish on the Vikings this season.

S197 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 12:48 am I think they need to fix the problems they had in the last game against the Bears. The defense needs to stop the run and let Trubisky try to beat them. Allen Robinson is really the only threat outside of their RBs. Likewise, the middle of the OL needs to try and not get destroyed.

I think to have a chance to win it’s going to need to be a ball control, no turnover, wear them down type of game. Similar to how GB beat them, it’s not going to be pretty or particularly exciting but this isn’t a defense you’re going to put 25+ points on.

This is my take as well. This is a game where it will really be important to protect the football and respect the pacing that the front 7 of the Bears will demand.

The Bears barely played their offense in the preseason and it shows. I doubt that unit will struggle all season like they have in the first 2 weeks. They're likely to improve significantly as the season moves forward. With luck, they'll still be out of sync against the Vikings.

If Trubisky's not injured, I'm confident he'll be starting next Sunday.

Vikes-killer Jordan Howard is gone and that should work to the Vikings benefit. I didn't see too much of the Bears/Broncos but I thought playcalling hurt them as much as anything in week 1 against GB. It will be interesting to see what they do tonight.

I'll be stunned if the Vikes can run effectively for 4 quarters against Chicago without the benefit of some effective passing so Cousins and company will have to make plays and challenge the defense through the air too.

Winning in Chicago always seems like a tall order for the Vikings. I'll be at the game so I hope they pull it off this year!

I really want to see Irv Smith get a bigger role in the offense, think he could be a key against Chicago.

Mothman wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 9:22 am I'll be stunned if the Vikes can run effectively for 4 quarters against Chicago without the benefit of some effective passing so Cousins and company will have to make plays and challenge the defense through the air too.

Me too, which is why if they can do it I'm sold on the strategy this year and it won't have to rely on Kirk Cousins to carry the offensive load. He can play his part (which he'll still need to do. He won't be able to just hand it off), but if the defense keeps the opposing offense at bay and the score low and the Vikings can run on even good run defenses, these Vikings will represent the NFC in the Superbowl this year.

I'm not sold on either being true yet, but this upcoming game is going to tell us a lot about whether either, and hopefully both, is.

VikingLord wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 9:38 am

Mothman wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 9:22 am I'll be stunned if the Vikes can run effectively for 4 quarters against Chicago without the benefit of some effective passing so Cousins and company will have to make plays and challenge the defense through the air too.

Me too, which is why if they can do it I'm sold on the strategy this year and it won't have to rely on Kirk Cousins to carry the offensive load. He can play his part (which he'll still need to do. He won't be able to just hand it off), but if the defense keeps the opposing offense at bay and the score low and the Vikings can run on even good run defenses, these Vikings will represent the NFC in the Superbowl this year.

Those are big "ifs" and there are some good teams in the NFC. The Vikings have already failed their toughest test so far in this young season. A dominant defense and a strong running game can take a team far but the Vikes aren't the only team in the conference showing those attributes.

Sorry, I guess I'm just saying I'm not sold yet either.

VikingLord wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 9:38 am

Mothman wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 9:22 am I'll be stunned if the Vikes can run effectively for 4 quarters against Chicago without the benefit of some effective passing so Cousins and company will have to make plays and challenge the defense through the air too.

Me too, which is why if they can do it I'm sold on the strategy this year and it won't have to rely on Kirk Cousins to carry the offensive load. He can play his part (which he'll still need to do. He won't be able to just hand it off), but if the defense keeps the opposing offense at bay and the score low and the Vikings can run on even good run defenses, these Vikings will represent the NFC in the Superbowl this year.

I'm not sold on either being true yet, but this upcoming game is going to tell us a lot about whether either, and hopefully both, is.

Last year in the first game the strategy on offense was to make Cousins carry the load. That obviously didn't work out and minimized the impact our talent at RB could have on the game. In three games the tape the Vikings have put up shows that they can impact the game dramatically with their rushing attack and are more than willing to do so. That will warrant the attention of Chuck Pagano. They are too good and too smart to just sell out to stop that rushing attack though. Diggs and Thielen are not a secret in the league and the Bears know their secondary is not as dominant as their front 7.

It will be interesting to see how the Vikings offense game plans for this game. They will want to rush the ball, but they have to keep that front 7 honest. Do they attempt to hit the edges and make the bears run? Do they attempt more passes to backs in the flat? Do they mix in some shots in the passing game. I think the answer is a mixture of all of it, but how much and when are the hard parts.

On Defense do we get Barr back? Are we going to spy Trubisky and learn our lesson after last year? The teams that have stifled the bears offense so far this season have played 6 DBs in an effort to prevent Trubisky from beating them on the ground. I have to think Zimmer will have confidence in our starting secondary to contain the rather average Bears pass catchers. Can they finally get a handle on the mobile QB thing?

IMO this game is kind of a big deal for the 2019 Vikings if they want to be taken seriously this year. So far we've been that 9-7 sort of team that plays well at home, but is a disaster on the road. This is chance to keep GB honest in the divisional race and shake some of the "not able to beat a winning team" mantra. The offensive coaches need to plan and call a smart game this week if they want to win.

Time for the coaching staff to deliver the bacon IMO. I think we have the talent to win this game, but can the coaches manage it well enough for it to succeed.

mansquatch wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 12:23 pm Last year in the first game the strategy on offense was to make Cousins carry the load. That obviously didn't work out and minimized the impact our talent at RB could have on the game. In three games the tape the Vikings have put up shows that they can impact the game dramatically with their rushing attack and are more than willing to do so. That will warrant the attention of Chuck Pagano. They are too good and too smart to just sell out to stop that rushing attack though. Diggs and Thielen are not a secret in the league and the Bears know their secondary is not as dominant as their front 7.

The Bear front 7 is a lot like the Raider front 7. The Bears are probably more talented overall, but it's not a huge difference. The Bears have the big bodies in the middle of the DL with good talent on the edges and a solid group of LBs led by a proven difference-maker in Mack. Like Burfict, he's a guy who flies around, disrupts things, and makes plays.

As to how you attack that group, well, if the first 3 games are any indication, the Vikes will run inside and out. I can't say I've seen the Vikings really emphasizing one type of running play or having success with one type of running play so far. They have hurt defenses inside and out, with stretch plays, cutbacks, and even swing passes and short routes to the RBs. That is the beauty of effective zone blocking coupled with dynamic runners who have vision and can hit the holes quickly with purpose. The Bears are aggressive up front. Last year they didn't have to worry a lot about the Vikings gashing them in the run game and as a result were able to crash the LOS and cheat to stop the pass. With the running game the Vikings have displayed so far, doing that will come with serious risk this season. The Bears don't want Dalvin Cook or any of the Vikings runners consistently getting to the second level. Of course, the Bears might not believe in the Vikings running game just yet and might think they can come after Cousins like they did before.

mansquatch wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 12:23 pm On Defense do we get Barr back? Are we going to spy Trubisky and learn our lesson after last year? The teams that have stifled the bears offense so far this season have played 6 DBs in an effort to prevent Trubisky from beating them on the ground. I have to think Zimmer will have confidence in our starting secondary to contain the rather average Bears pass catchers. Can they finally get a handle on the mobile QB thing?

Well, last year Trubisky ran all over the place and his willingness and ability to do that is no longer a secret (if it ever was), so in my view there is no excuse for the Vikings allowing him to get away with that. Further, they won't have to spy Trubisky if the defensive line rushes with discipline and as a team. If guys freelance and start getting out of rush lanes, Trubisky will escape the pressure and hurt them with his feet. Just can't happen again this year. Containing Trubisky falls almost squarely on the defensive line and I expect them to get the job done. Better no sacks, but contain and pressure Trubisky than 2 or 3 sacks while the guy extends drives with his feet.

As for the rest of the Bear offense, it hasn't impressed so far, but it's not devoid of talent either. It reminds me a lot of Oakland's offense to be honest. They can hurt you with the run and have some guys who maybe aren't highlight reel receiving options, but who can get open and keep the chains moving if the defense gets sloppy. Plus, the Vikings as an overall defense have shown that same maddening inconsistency that has been a hallmark trait of the Zimmer era where they look like a top overall defense for 45 minutes, but then have stretches where the other team marches up and down the field and the Vikings seemingly have no answer. This game against the Bears will be a good test of the defense's ability to play a full 60 minutes. Keep the Bears off the board early and let the offense see if it can get a lead, then hold that lead.

mansquatch wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 12:23 pm IMO this game is kind of a big deal for the 2019 Vikings if they want to be taken seriously this year. So far we've been that 9-7 sort of team that plays well at home, but is a disaster on the road. This is chance to keep GB honest in the divisional race and shake some of the "not able to beat a winning team" mantra. The offensive coaches need to plan and call a smart game this week if they want to win.

Time for the coaching staff to deliver the bacon IMO. I think we have the talent to win this game, but can the coaches manage it well enough for it to succeed.

Totally agree. This game is every bit as big as that game against the Packers. I know the Vikings haven't enjoyed much success against the Bears as of late, and winning in Chicago has never been easy. It would be fantastic for the Vikings to go out there and show they can run on the Bears the way they've run on everyone so far, that they can get it into the endzone on offense, and play shutdown defense when they need to get off the field. A win, especially a comfortable win that follows the same basic formula employed so far, would go a long way towards convincing me that this team could be very special.

While I am not predicting that, the mere fact that I believe it is possible given what we've seen so far is encouraging. Last year, I didn't expect the Vikings to win either game against the Bears. This year, I think they could win and win comfortably if they play their game.

VikingLord wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2019 1:40 pm

The Bear front 7 is a lot like the Raider front 7. The Bears are probably more talented overall, but it's not a huge difference. The Bears have the big bodies in the middle of the DL with good talent on the edges and a solid group of LBs led by a proven difference-maker in Mack. Like Burfict, he's a guy who flies around, disrupts things, and makes plays.

Hicks and Robertson-Harris are going to be problems, and I don't think the Raiders have anything comparable on the inside of their line. Hicks basically won that week 17 matchup last year all by himself.