Bears at Vikings Depth Chart Preview W5 '22
Off to a 3-1 start despite questionable play, the Vikings look to retain first place in the NFC North with a win against the rebuilding Bears. Dropping this one would vault the Bears over them, so winning this one is imperative - besides, losing even to this team in Solider Field is one thing, losing this one is another.
Injury Report
Vikings
TE Ellefson - Out
WR Nailor - Questionable
CB Booth - Questionable
Bears
HB Montgomery - Questionable
CB Johnson - Doubtful
S Cruikshank - Doubtful
Line: Vikings -7.5 (71% of bets on Vikings)
Simulator's Line: Vikings
* My Thoughts *
The Bears finally fired Nagy and Pace, and new GM Ryan Poles hit the nuclear button. Justin Fields, as questionable a QB as he looks now, has been put in a horrible situation - he now has the league's worst pass blocking O-line and the league's worst receiving corps. Not only that, but they didn't bother to bring in a offensive guru to help out, hoping that the Packers QB coach Luke Getsy can coach him up. The offense is built upon the run game, but David Montgomery is on the more doubtful side of questionable. They do have a great backup in Khalil Herbert, who has looked good enough to be a starter.
There's almost nobody to throw to, as Darnell Mooney had a strong second year in 2021 but is simply not a guy who can go up against other teams' best CBs. Not to mention that he put up far more stats with Dalton at QB... the same goes for Cole Kmet, who was a breakout candidate, but isn't even getting thrown to now. Behind those two, the Bears have nothing. St. Brown has the combine measurables and nothing else, and was never productive when he had Rodgers throwing to him. Pettis was a 2nd round flop who is more returner than receiver. 3rd rounder Velus Jones Jr has some upside, but hasn't played yet due to injury. Maybe Smith-Marsette gets some snaps? They also have nothing at backup TE.
On the O-line, the Bears are going forward with 5th roudn rookie Braxton Jones, but he's holding up decently so far. The same goes for RT Larry Borom, who's taken a big step up after a rough rookie year. The interior has been a tire fire and they no longer have Whitehair (IR). Jenkins has moved to guard and he's got Bradbury-like grades, a sold run blocker but he's been a sieve in pass protection. Patrick has been a flop as a FA acquisition, and Mustipher has been exceptionally bad with a 22.7 pass blocking score. The Vikings should be getting plenty of pressure on Fields.
On defense, the front four is simply not getting it done. Robert Quinn has not been getting pressure like he did last year and has been comprimised in the run game, and the rest of the players here should be backups. Muhammad is a solid run stuffer who has never been able to create any pass rush, and should be a rotational guy. Gipson and Robinson are promising part-time pressure makers. The interior is a major weakness, with Blackson being a consistent non-factor, Jones being bad in all departments, and Pennel has been terrible so far. Watts has been fine, but hasn't done much since a strong Week 1 outing.
The LB corps is Roquan Smith and a bunch of bodies. PFF has never liked him, but personally I'd give him a Good grade. Morrow is the other full-time LB and he's not playing that well - he's missed 7 tackles already. Thomas is a career backup who has good coverage grades so far.
The Bears spent 2 2nd rounders on DBs, that being Brisker and Gordon. Gordon has been very bad so far, giving up 74% of passes thrown his direction. Nickel CB Vildor is also getting ripped up. This has lead to teams staying away from Johnson, who looks like a keeper... but he's not playing in this game. Brisker has been fine so far minus missing 8 tackles. After two lacking seasons, Eddie Jackson finally seems to be rebounding, having 3 interceptions so far.
Prediction: Vikings 24, Bears 10
Even with the Vikings playing some rough football lately, it is time they brought the smackdown to an inferior team. The Vikings are a better team at literally every position, and will be at home playing a noon game. This is the easiest game on the schedule... which of course makes it a perfect trap game. Still, the Vikings are healthy, playing disciplined football, and should be able to move the ball on a defense that isn't as good as the numbers have shown so far. There will be a time when I predict we get upset, but I don't think it happens this week.
I'm 4-0 predicting games so far, by the way! I believe that makes me 27-10 since 2020 when I make predictions on who wins in my depth chart preview.
Any thoughts?
Injury Report
Vikings
TE Ellefson - Out
WR Nailor - Questionable
CB Booth - Questionable
Bears
HB Montgomery - Questionable
CB Johnson - Doubtful
S Cruikshank - Doubtful
Line: Vikings -7.5 (71% of bets on Vikings)
Simulator's Line: Vikings
* My Thoughts *
The Bears finally fired Nagy and Pace, and new GM Ryan Poles hit the nuclear button. Justin Fields, as questionable a QB as he looks now, has been put in a horrible situation - he now has the league's worst pass blocking O-line and the league's worst receiving corps. Not only that, but they didn't bother to bring in a offensive guru to help out, hoping that the Packers QB coach Luke Getsy can coach him up. The offense is built upon the run game, but David Montgomery is on the more doubtful side of questionable. They do have a great backup in Khalil Herbert, who has looked good enough to be a starter.
There's almost nobody to throw to, as Darnell Mooney had a strong second year in 2021 but is simply not a guy who can go up against other teams' best CBs. Not to mention that he put up far more stats with Dalton at QB... the same goes for Cole Kmet, who was a breakout candidate, but isn't even getting thrown to now. Behind those two, the Bears have nothing. St. Brown has the combine measurables and nothing else, and was never productive when he had Rodgers throwing to him. Pettis was a 2nd round flop who is more returner than receiver. 3rd rounder Velus Jones Jr has some upside, but hasn't played yet due to injury. Maybe Smith-Marsette gets some snaps? They also have nothing at backup TE.
On the O-line, the Bears are going forward with 5th roudn rookie Braxton Jones, but he's holding up decently so far. The same goes for RT Larry Borom, who's taken a big step up after a rough rookie year. The interior has been a tire fire and they no longer have Whitehair (IR). Jenkins has moved to guard and he's got Bradbury-like grades, a sold run blocker but he's been a sieve in pass protection. Patrick has been a flop as a FA acquisition, and Mustipher has been exceptionally bad with a 22.7 pass blocking score. The Vikings should be getting plenty of pressure on Fields.
On defense, the front four is simply not getting it done. Robert Quinn has not been getting pressure like he did last year and has been comprimised in the run game, and the rest of the players here should be backups. Muhammad is a solid run stuffer who has never been able to create any pass rush, and should be a rotational guy. Gipson and Robinson are promising part-time pressure makers. The interior is a major weakness, with Blackson being a consistent non-factor, Jones being bad in all departments, and Pennel has been terrible so far. Watts has been fine, but hasn't done much since a strong Week 1 outing.
The LB corps is Roquan Smith and a bunch of bodies. PFF has never liked him, but personally I'd give him a Good grade. Morrow is the other full-time LB and he's not playing that well - he's missed 7 tackles already. Thomas is a career backup who has good coverage grades so far.
The Bears spent 2 2nd rounders on DBs, that being Brisker and Gordon. Gordon has been very bad so far, giving up 74% of passes thrown his direction. Nickel CB Vildor is also getting ripped up. This has lead to teams staying away from Johnson, who looks like a keeper... but he's not playing in this game. Brisker has been fine so far minus missing 8 tackles. After two lacking seasons, Eddie Jackson finally seems to be rebounding, having 3 interceptions so far.
Prediction: Vikings 24, Bears 10
Even with the Vikings playing some rough football lately, it is time they brought the smackdown to an inferior team. The Vikings are a better team at literally every position, and will be at home playing a noon game. This is the easiest game on the schedule... which of course makes it a perfect trap game. Still, the Vikings are healthy, playing disciplined football, and should be able to move the ball on a defense that isn't as good as the numbers have shown so far. There will be a time when I predict we get upset, but I don't think it happens this week.
I'm 4-0 predicting games so far, by the way! I believe that makes me 27-10 since 2020 when I make predictions on who wins in my depth chart preview.
Any thoughts?
Seriously, do we win this game if he doesn't? The Fields TD doesn't get called back, and they would only need a FG to beat us on that final drive.
Oooo maybe we get to see another rookie make his debut? Sam Howell, come on down, you're the next scrub on Onatell's make you look good tour.
