Vikings at Bears Depth Chart Preview - W15 2021
Dec 19, 2021 22:55:59 GMT -6
Funkytown and MidwinterViking like this
Post by Danchat on Dec 19, 2021 22:55:59 GMT -6
After a roller coaster win on primetime TV against the Steelers, the Vikings find themselves still in a race for one spot against a bunch of mediocre teams. They now encounter a husk of a team formerly known as the Bears, not only afflicted with a knack for playing poorly, but also infected with COVID. Can the Vikings push the Soldier Field curse aside and take care of business on MNF?
Injury Report
Vikings
WR Thielen - Questionable
WR Westbrook COVID
WR Chisena COVID
RB Mattison COVID
Bears
WR Goodwin - Doubtful
LT Peters - Out
S/LB Houston-Carson - Out
NT Tonga - Doubtful
LB Smith - Questionable
DE Hicks - Questionable
COVID --------- (as of Sunday night)
RT Borom
DE Edwards Jr
CB Burns
QB Dalton
LB Iyiegbuniwe
FS Jackson
TE James
RB Nall
WR Robinson
CB Shelley
SS Gipson
CB Johnson
Line: Vikings -6.5 (69% of money on Vikings)
* My Thoughts *
QB - Justin Fields has been a complete mess as a passer, but it should be no surprise that he's floundering in Nagy's poorly coached system. He is a dangerous scrambler and will challenge the defense on the ground. I could see him beating our poor secondary, but he's prime to turn the ball over and struggle against the blitz with his OL missing so many bodies.
RB - Montgomery has had another pretty good year, but he missed a good chunk of the year with an injury. Rookie Khalil Herbert had a really good run as the starter when he was out, but they're only using Montgomery as the feature back. Their OL may be too weak to run the ball consistently.
WR/TE - Allen Robinson has had a bad year while on the franchise tag, getting sidetracked by an injury. Sophomore Darnell Mooney has a decent year in his place, as the 5th rounder from Tulane had a nice combination of size and speed. Byrd is a scrappy veteran who has flashed every once in a while. Jakeem Grant is a returner-first who had a huge week against the Packers last week, but that was probably his one big game of the year. Kmet is a solid receiving TE who could potentially break out next year (with how slowly TEs develop). Graham is somehow getting $8M to do very little.
OL - With the tackle situation decimated, 2nd rounder Teven Jenkins and former Bronco Wilkinson will probably handle LT/RT. Jenkins has missed basically the whole year with a back injury and will make his first start today, but he debuted last week and was atrocious. Wilkinson is also bad in both phases of the game. The good news is that Whitehair and Daniels are both consistently good players. C Mustipher seemed like a find as he broke out as a starter last year, but he's rated as a poor pass blocker and an abysmal run mover.
DL - The run defense of the Bears isn't what it quite was, despite the depth chart looking decent. Hicks is still good but no longer in his prime, while Nichols has taken a step back after playing well at NT in 2020. Goldman has not played like his old self after opting out in 2020. There is no depth here.
LB - PFF doesn't like Roquan Smith very much, but I think he's a stud. He's shockingly fast and a playmaker in coverage. Ogletree has resurfaced as a starter, but has not been good. Quinn has recovered from a very bad 2020 season and somehow has 14 sacks - he has a legitimate case to be Comeback Player of the Year. 2020 5th rounder Trevis Gipson (of whom the Bears took with a Vikings pick that we traded down with) is having a good debut as a starter.
DB - I can't say anything about this position. Only 2 CBs are healthy, while the safeties have made a combined 3 starts this year. They will be fielding a practice squad for a secondary.
Prediction: Vikings 26, Bears 14
Predicting a two possession win seems to be a fool's errand, but comparing the two teams, it is clear the Vikings are better in the first place and are far healthier. A huge factor here is that the team has mostly given up on Nagy and likely won't fight hard like the Lions have. Down 15+ players and more coaches, the Vikings should not lose this game, even at Soldier Field.
Any thoughts?
Injury Report
Vikings
WR Thielen - Questionable
WR Westbrook COVID
WR Chisena COVID
RB Mattison COVID
Bears
WR Goodwin - Doubtful
LT Peters - Out
S/LB Houston-Carson - Out
NT Tonga - Doubtful
LB Smith - Questionable
DE Hicks - Questionable
COVID --------- (as of Sunday night)
RT Borom
DE Edwards Jr
CB Burns
QB Dalton
LB Iyiegbuniwe
FS Jackson
TE James
RB Nall
WR Robinson
CB Shelley
SS Gipson
CB Johnson
Line: Vikings -6.5 (69% of money on Vikings)
* My Thoughts *
QB - Justin Fields has been a complete mess as a passer, but it should be no surprise that he's floundering in Nagy's poorly coached system. He is a dangerous scrambler and will challenge the defense on the ground. I could see him beating our poor secondary, but he's prime to turn the ball over and struggle against the blitz with his OL missing so many bodies.
RB - Montgomery has had another pretty good year, but he missed a good chunk of the year with an injury. Rookie Khalil Herbert had a really good run as the starter when he was out, but they're only using Montgomery as the feature back. Their OL may be too weak to run the ball consistently.
WR/TE - Allen Robinson has had a bad year while on the franchise tag, getting sidetracked by an injury. Sophomore Darnell Mooney has a decent year in his place, as the 5th rounder from Tulane had a nice combination of size and speed. Byrd is a scrappy veteran who has flashed every once in a while. Jakeem Grant is a returner-first who had a huge week against the Packers last week, but that was probably his one big game of the year. Kmet is a solid receiving TE who could potentially break out next year (with how slowly TEs develop). Graham is somehow getting $8M to do very little.
OL - With the tackle situation decimated, 2nd rounder Teven Jenkins and former Bronco Wilkinson will probably handle LT/RT. Jenkins has missed basically the whole year with a back injury and will make his first start today, but he debuted last week and was atrocious. Wilkinson is also bad in both phases of the game. The good news is that Whitehair and Daniels are both consistently good players. C Mustipher seemed like a find as he broke out as a starter last year, but he's rated as a poor pass blocker and an abysmal run mover.
DL - The run defense of the Bears isn't what it quite was, despite the depth chart looking decent. Hicks is still good but no longer in his prime, while Nichols has taken a step back after playing well at NT in 2020. Goldman has not played like his old self after opting out in 2020. There is no depth here.
LB - PFF doesn't like Roquan Smith very much, but I think he's a stud. He's shockingly fast and a playmaker in coverage. Ogletree has resurfaced as a starter, but has not been good. Quinn has recovered from a very bad 2020 season and somehow has 14 sacks - he has a legitimate case to be Comeback Player of the Year. 2020 5th rounder Trevis Gipson (of whom the Bears took with a Vikings pick that we traded down with) is having a good debut as a starter.
DB - I can't say anything about this position. Only 2 CBs are healthy, while the safeties have made a combined 3 starts this year. They will be fielding a practice squad for a secondary.
Prediction: Vikings 26, Bears 14
Predicting a two possession win seems to be a fool's errand, but comparing the two teams, it is clear the Vikings are better in the first place and are far healthier. A huge factor here is that the team has mostly given up on Nagy and likely won't fight hard like the Lions have. Down 15+ players and more coaches, the Vikings should not lose this game, even at Soldier Field.
Any thoughts?
... and neither is this Chris guy.