Post by Danchat on Dec 28, 2019 12:21:33 GMT -6
The Vikings and Bears will face off in a game that's... honestly not important at all. I can't hype this one up.
* my thoughts *
There's not a whole lot to be said here, as the Vikings are planning on sitting most of their starters. That being said, the Bears will also be missing a whole host of starters, including WR Gabriel, TEs Burton & Shaheen, RG Coward, RT Massie, ILBs Smith & Trevethan, DT Hicks & NT Goldman, and others. This is likely going to look like a preseason game.
The Bears will be evaluating their starters, and it'll be interesting to see if Trubisky has a good game. He's been Jekyll and Hyde all season, and while he certainly looks like a slightly better version of Christian Ponder at times, his decline from 2018 to 2019 has been caused by a far worse O-line and HC Nagy calling poor plays and refusing to have Trubisky use his legs to beat defenses. The running game has also been non-existent, as David Montgomery has been mediocre and hasn't had any running lanes.
Speaking of the O-line, the Bears unit will likely be Leno-Whitehair-Daniels-Larsen-Lucas. Every single player on this unit has played worse as compared to their 2018 season, as they've simply been horrible at run blocking. You almost have to wonder if they need an offseason to get healthy and run it back out there in 2020.
The Bears defense also isn't what it used to be. The D-line won't be quite as scary without Hicks and Goldman, though it's worth mentioning that Nick Williams killed our O-line back in Week 4. They will also be missing their top ILBs, but Nick Kwiatkoski has played very well in relief. Khalil Mack isn't quite the threat he was back in 2018, but he can be double-teamed, and the Bears don't have Hicks or another threat to get the QB when Mack is removed from the equation. Leonard Floyd may be getting good grades from PFF, but he has been a big disappointment for the Bears.
The secondary has also regressed, as Fuller went from Great to Average in a season, and Eddie Jackson went from Elite to Above Average. Clinton-Dix and Amukamara have still had strong seasons. Skrine has improved to Below Average as opposed to being Poor, but he's still a mediocre nickel corner.
Prediction: Bears 17, Vikings 13
If the Vikings planned to use their starters, I would certainly pick them to win. However, the Bears will be facing the Vikings backups, and I don't think Mannion & Co. will be able to move the ball on this defense. I also don't think Trubisky is as bad as advertised and should be able to move the ball against the likes of Kentrell Brothers and Kris Boyd.
Any thoughts?
Bears
WR Taylor Gabriel Out
NT Eddie Goldman Out
DT Akiem Hicks Out
RT Bobby Massie Doubtful
RG Rashaad Coward Doubtful
CB Prince Amukamara Questionable
Vikings
LB Eric Kendricks Out
HB Dalvin Cook Out
HB Alexander Mattison Questionable
FS Jayron Kearse Questionable
CB Mack Alexander Questionable
WR Taylor Gabriel Out
NT Eddie Goldman Out
DT Akiem Hicks Out
RT Bobby Massie Doubtful
RG Rashaad Coward Doubtful
CB Prince Amukamara Questionable
Vikings
LB Eric Kendricks Out
HB Dalvin Cook Out
HB Alexander Mattison Questionable
FS Jayron Kearse Questionable
CB Mack Alexander Questionable
* my thoughts *
There's not a whole lot to be said here, as the Vikings are planning on sitting most of their starters. That being said, the Bears will also be missing a whole host of starters, including WR Gabriel, TEs Burton & Shaheen, RG Coward, RT Massie, ILBs Smith & Trevethan, DT Hicks & NT Goldman, and others. This is likely going to look like a preseason game.
The Bears will be evaluating their starters, and it'll be interesting to see if Trubisky has a good game. He's been Jekyll and Hyde all season, and while he certainly looks like a slightly better version of Christian Ponder at times, his decline from 2018 to 2019 has been caused by a far worse O-line and HC Nagy calling poor plays and refusing to have Trubisky use his legs to beat defenses. The running game has also been non-existent, as David Montgomery has been mediocre and hasn't had any running lanes.
Speaking of the O-line, the Bears unit will likely be Leno-Whitehair-Daniels-Larsen-Lucas. Every single player on this unit has played worse as compared to their 2018 season, as they've simply been horrible at run blocking. You almost have to wonder if they need an offseason to get healthy and run it back out there in 2020.
The Bears defense also isn't what it used to be. The D-line won't be quite as scary without Hicks and Goldman, though it's worth mentioning that Nick Williams killed our O-line back in Week 4. They will also be missing their top ILBs, but Nick Kwiatkoski has played very well in relief. Khalil Mack isn't quite the threat he was back in 2018, but he can be double-teamed, and the Bears don't have Hicks or another threat to get the QB when Mack is removed from the equation. Leonard Floyd may be getting good grades from PFF, but he has been a big disappointment for the Bears.
The secondary has also regressed, as Fuller went from Great to Average in a season, and Eddie Jackson went from Elite to Above Average. Clinton-Dix and Amukamara have still had strong seasons. Skrine has improved to Below Average as opposed to being Poor, but he's still a mediocre nickel corner.
Prediction: Bears 17, Vikings 13
If the Vikings planned to use their starters, I would certainly pick them to win. However, the Bears will be facing the Vikings backups, and I don't think Mannion & Co. will be able to move the ball on this defense. I also don't think Trubisky is as bad as advertised and should be able to move the ball against the likes of Kentrell Brothers and Kris Boyd.
Any thoughts?
... and neither is this Chris guy.