Post by Danchat on Nov 14, 2020 17:41:44 GMT -6
The Vikings and Bears clash for the first time on Monday Night Football, and the season may not quite be over for our Vikings if they can get a win here. Will they be able to pull of a third straight 3rd divisional win?
Line: Vikings -2.5
Injury Report
Vikings
TE Smith Jr. - Out
CB Dantzler - Questionable
Bears
DT Jenkins - Out
TE Kmet - Questionable
HB Montgomery - Out
DB McManis - Out
C Mustipher - Doubtful
RT Spriggs - Questionable
QB Trubisky - Out
OLB Mingo - Questionable
WR Robinson - Questionable
*My Thoughts*
The Bears have perenially bad offenses and good defenses, and this year is no exception. The Bears offense has only been a top 10 unit in 3 of the past 35 seasons! Transitioning from Trubisky to Foles helped in the short term, but lately Foles has looked like a mediocre QB again. He has poor mobility and has not been able to thrive behind a porous O-line, and has been consistently padding his stats in garbage time. He's had no run game to support him, with Montgomery plodding to a 3.6 YPC. He's out with a concussion, so we will see our old friend Cordarrelle Patterson get some reps. He's been a lackluster weapon out of the backfield, with a pitiful 3.0 YPC and an embarrassing 6.2 yards per catch. Nall will likely fill in on passing down, with UDFA Pierce potentially snagging some 1st-2nd down carries.
It's not like Foles has nobody to throw to, as Allen Robinson has been operating as a true #1 WR, with a respectable 57/712/3 line. I see the Vikings having a hard time covering him. Darnell Mooney, a 5th rounder out of Tulane, has surprised everyone by seizing the #2 job and doing quite well, with 348 yards in just 3 starts. Anthony Miller hasn't stepped up as expected, but is a solid 3rd WR. Jimmy Graham is having a rebound year in the passing game (35/302/5), but has been an abysmal blocker. I don't know how Rodgers had such poor chemistry with him in Green Bay. 2nd rounder Cole Kmet will rotate with Demetrius Harris frequently in 2/3 TE packages, but Kmet has been far better than Harris.
The primary problem for the Bears' offense the past couple years has been their offensive line. Key players like Leno and Whitehair have regressed, Massie and Daniels are on the IR, and their replacements aren't good. 7th round guard Hambright has been a terrible pass protector and is slated to start again. Coward failed at guard last season and is now trying RT, and has been getting whipped in the run and pass blocking phases. Ifedi has been much better at guard than he was at RT in Seattle, but is still a middling blocker. Mustipher may have to start at center and has Samia-esque grades so far. It was baffling why Chicago didn't address their O-line at all over the offseason (outside of Ifedi).
Defensively, this is a sound unit with few weaknesses. Their running game has regressed somewhat since losing Eddie Goldman to an opt-out, but there are few in the front seven who can be exploited. Hicks has been a phenomenal pass rusher, but has a below average run defense grade. Nichols has held the fort down well, and is decent in both phases. Urban is filling in for Robertson-Harris, but has been a great run stuffer. Edwards Jr. and Vaughters also have great run stuffing scores. Roquan Smith has always been given poorer than expected grades from PFF, but he's comparable to Eric Kendricks with his way of making tackles all over the field. Trevathan has been regressing sharply and is a liability on passing downs. Khalil Mack is back to being elite again, and is dominating in both phases. They paid Quinn a ton of money to bookend Mack, and despite his high grade, he's been a non-factor as a pass rusher with a single sack and 5 pressures. Vaughters might be the better player at this point.
The Vikings have to be jealous of Jalyon Johnson, Chicago's 2nd round rookie CB, who has allowed only 48.1% of passes thrown his way to be completed. He has given up a team high 418 yards, but he's developing quickly and I like his chances more than Gladney's. Kyle Fuller is still a fine #1 CB, giving up just 46.6% completion. Skrine is still a mediocre nickel who's been picked on for a team high 35 completions. Eddie Jackson hasn't been the playmaker he used to be, but he's been a standout tackler. Gipson has taken Clinton-Dix's place but has disappointed with a very poor coverage score.
Prediction: Bears 23, Vikings 16
The Vikings have won 3 of their last 18 games at Soldier Field, and Kirk is 0-9 on Monday Night Football. Their entire offense is now predicated on running the ball with Dalvin Cook, who's ran for 47 yards (23 carries) at Soldier Field. The Bears' offense may be a joke at this point, but I think they will be able to move the ball enough throwing to their WRs/TEs.
Any thoughts?
Line: Vikings -2.5
Injury Report
Vikings
TE Smith Jr. - Out
CB Dantzler - Questionable
Bears
DT Jenkins - Out
TE Kmet - Questionable
HB Montgomery - Out
DB McManis - Out
C Mustipher - Doubtful
RT Spriggs - Questionable
QB Trubisky - Out
OLB Mingo - Questionable
WR Robinson - Questionable
*My Thoughts*
The Bears have perenially bad offenses and good defenses, and this year is no exception. The Bears offense has only been a top 10 unit in 3 of the past 35 seasons! Transitioning from Trubisky to Foles helped in the short term, but lately Foles has looked like a mediocre QB again. He has poor mobility and has not been able to thrive behind a porous O-line, and has been consistently padding his stats in garbage time. He's had no run game to support him, with Montgomery plodding to a 3.6 YPC. He's out with a concussion, so we will see our old friend Cordarrelle Patterson get some reps. He's been a lackluster weapon out of the backfield, with a pitiful 3.0 YPC and an embarrassing 6.2 yards per catch. Nall will likely fill in on passing down, with UDFA Pierce potentially snagging some 1st-2nd down carries.
It's not like Foles has nobody to throw to, as Allen Robinson has been operating as a true #1 WR, with a respectable 57/712/3 line. I see the Vikings having a hard time covering him. Darnell Mooney, a 5th rounder out of Tulane, has surprised everyone by seizing the #2 job and doing quite well, with 348 yards in just 3 starts. Anthony Miller hasn't stepped up as expected, but is a solid 3rd WR. Jimmy Graham is having a rebound year in the passing game (35/302/5), but has been an abysmal blocker. I don't know how Rodgers had such poor chemistry with him in Green Bay. 2nd rounder Cole Kmet will rotate with Demetrius Harris frequently in 2/3 TE packages, but Kmet has been far better than Harris.
The primary problem for the Bears' offense the past couple years has been their offensive line. Key players like Leno and Whitehair have regressed, Massie and Daniels are on the IR, and their replacements aren't good. 7th round guard Hambright has been a terrible pass protector and is slated to start again. Coward failed at guard last season and is now trying RT, and has been getting whipped in the run and pass blocking phases. Ifedi has been much better at guard than he was at RT in Seattle, but is still a middling blocker. Mustipher may have to start at center and has Samia-esque grades so far. It was baffling why Chicago didn't address their O-line at all over the offseason (outside of Ifedi).
Defensively, this is a sound unit with few weaknesses. Their running game has regressed somewhat since losing Eddie Goldman to an opt-out, but there are few in the front seven who can be exploited. Hicks has been a phenomenal pass rusher, but has a below average run defense grade. Nichols has held the fort down well, and is decent in both phases. Urban is filling in for Robertson-Harris, but has been a great run stuffer. Edwards Jr. and Vaughters also have great run stuffing scores. Roquan Smith has always been given poorer than expected grades from PFF, but he's comparable to Eric Kendricks with his way of making tackles all over the field. Trevathan has been regressing sharply and is a liability on passing downs. Khalil Mack is back to being elite again, and is dominating in both phases. They paid Quinn a ton of money to bookend Mack, and despite his high grade, he's been a non-factor as a pass rusher with a single sack and 5 pressures. Vaughters might be the better player at this point.
The Vikings have to be jealous of Jalyon Johnson, Chicago's 2nd round rookie CB, who has allowed only 48.1% of passes thrown his way to be completed. He has given up a team high 418 yards, but he's developing quickly and I like his chances more than Gladney's. Kyle Fuller is still a fine #1 CB, giving up just 46.6% completion. Skrine is still a mediocre nickel who's been picked on for a team high 35 completions. Eddie Jackson hasn't been the playmaker he used to be, but he's been a standout tackler. Gipson has taken Clinton-Dix's place but has disappointed with a very poor coverage score.
Prediction: Bears 23, Vikings 16
The Vikings have won 3 of their last 18 games at Soldier Field, and Kirk is 0-9 on Monday Night Football. Their entire offense is now predicated on running the ball with Dalvin Cook, who's ran for 47 yards (23 carries) at Soldier Field. The Bears' offense may be a joke at this point, but I think they will be able to move the ball enough throwing to their WRs/TEs.
Any thoughts?
... and neither is this Chris guy.