Post by Danchat on Oct 14, 2023 14:00:16 GMT -6
It's time for the NFC North toilet bowl matchup, as two 1-4 teams limp into this matchup to battle for third place. Will the Vikings be able to topple a Bears team in year two of a rebuild?
Line: MIN -3
Super Sim Calculated Line: MIN -1.5
Injuries
Vikings
None
Bears
CB Smith - Out
HB Johnson - Out
HB Homer - Out
C Patrick - Questionable
FS - Questionable
*My Thoughts*
After a horrendous start, the Bears have played respectably the past two weeks. This has been against two bad teams, and it's up to the Vikings to not be added to that list. The offense has finally started to click, as they've finally made the captain obvious moves to have Fields run more and feed DJ Moore, as those two players are the only true weapons they have. Chicago hasn't had many opportunities to run the ball as they've constantly trailed, and now Herbert and Johnson are hurt. This makes D'Onta Foreman the starter, who is a bulldog running between the tackles. He's the type of classic back who gets better the more he carries the ball in the game. The Vikings have stopped the run very well so far, and I think they can contain him.
In the passing game, the Bears need more than just Moore, who is a stud. Mooney hasn't been the same since his ACL tear and has been ineffective when Fields throws to him. Rookie Tyler Scott is stepping into the #3 role. He's got wheels and is dangerous with the ball in his hands, but still very raw. Kmet is a fine TE who is better at blocking, but can find open space every once in a while. With Herbert and Johnson out, the Bears have nothing worthwhile in the backfield to throw to.
While the offensive line could be a decent one, they've been churned by injuries and been more ineffective than they should. With LT Braxton Jones on the IR, Larry Borom is filling in there and has been a massive liability. They've just gotten Jenkins off the IR and he needs to pick up from where he left off in 2022, as a top 10/15 guard. Whitehair has always been reliable at LG or C. Nate Davis was a decent guard for the Titans but has been bad since joining the Bears, and they need him to turn things around. 1st rounder Wright has been up and down so far, which is common for rookies but they need more consistency from him.
Defensively, this is clearly a rebuilding unit. The DL is a clear weak point, with no plus pass rushers. Walker is a nice rotational pass rusher but has been overmatched as a starter, and Ngakoue sells out so much for the pass that he is as effective as a punter would be against the run. The backups provide nothing, and the DTs don't rush the passer either. Billings is at least stopping the run well, while Jones isn't doing anything (again). Dexter and Pickens have upside, but aren't quite there yet.
The Bears opted to splurge on LBs Edmunds and Edwards, which makes the LB unit a solid one but compared to DL and DBs, they aren't quite as important (or hard to find). I don't understand the point of not paying Roquan Smith just to pay Edmunds a similar amount, while he is several steps below him. Edmunds is outplaying him and was far cheaper to acquire, too. Sanborn is an underrated tackle generator who functioned decently well in a full-time role last year.
The DBs are another unit stricken by injuries, but is nearly back to full health. Johnson is a capable starting CB but has question marks surrounding him, as 2022 2nd rounder Kyler Gordon just got off the IR but has been very bad so far, while 2023 2nd rounder Stevenson is off to a rocky start. Stroman is coming off a career game and could factor in as well. Eddie Jackson has had an up-and-down career and is also coming off an injury, and should be a major upgrade from Hicks. Brisker had a nice rookie year but is playing far worse so far.
Prediction: Vikings 23, Bears 20
I think we see a 2022-esque one score win with the Vikings taking and holding an early lead, but fail to pull away with it. Down Jefferson, this is a prime matchup for the Vikings to run the ball effectively - and with the wind ranging form 20-30mph passing the ball could be more difficult. This should benefit the Vikings defense as they can focus on stopping the run, and while DJ Moore is great, Flores' defense can focus down on him without worrying too much about the other receivers.
Any thoughts?
Line: MIN -3
Super Sim Calculated Line: MIN -1.5
Injuries
Vikings
None
Bears
CB Smith - Out
HB Johnson - Out
HB Homer - Out
C Patrick - Questionable
FS - Questionable
*My Thoughts*
After a horrendous start, the Bears have played respectably the past two weeks. This has been against two bad teams, and it's up to the Vikings to not be added to that list. The offense has finally started to click, as they've finally made the captain obvious moves to have Fields run more and feed DJ Moore, as those two players are the only true weapons they have. Chicago hasn't had many opportunities to run the ball as they've constantly trailed, and now Herbert and Johnson are hurt. This makes D'Onta Foreman the starter, who is a bulldog running between the tackles. He's the type of classic back who gets better the more he carries the ball in the game. The Vikings have stopped the run very well so far, and I think they can contain him.
In the passing game, the Bears need more than just Moore, who is a stud. Mooney hasn't been the same since his ACL tear and has been ineffective when Fields throws to him. Rookie Tyler Scott is stepping into the #3 role. He's got wheels and is dangerous with the ball in his hands, but still very raw. Kmet is a fine TE who is better at blocking, but can find open space every once in a while. With Herbert and Johnson out, the Bears have nothing worthwhile in the backfield to throw to.
While the offensive line could be a decent one, they've been churned by injuries and been more ineffective than they should. With LT Braxton Jones on the IR, Larry Borom is filling in there and has been a massive liability. They've just gotten Jenkins off the IR and he needs to pick up from where he left off in 2022, as a top 10/15 guard. Whitehair has always been reliable at LG or C. Nate Davis was a decent guard for the Titans but has been bad since joining the Bears, and they need him to turn things around. 1st rounder Wright has been up and down so far, which is common for rookies but they need more consistency from him.
Defensively, this is clearly a rebuilding unit. The DL is a clear weak point, with no plus pass rushers. Walker is a nice rotational pass rusher but has been overmatched as a starter, and Ngakoue sells out so much for the pass that he is as effective as a punter would be against the run. The backups provide nothing, and the DTs don't rush the passer either. Billings is at least stopping the run well, while Jones isn't doing anything (again). Dexter and Pickens have upside, but aren't quite there yet.
The Bears opted to splurge on LBs Edmunds and Edwards, which makes the LB unit a solid one but compared to DL and DBs, they aren't quite as important (or hard to find). I don't understand the point of not paying Roquan Smith just to pay Edmunds a similar amount, while he is several steps below him. Edmunds is outplaying him and was far cheaper to acquire, too. Sanborn is an underrated tackle generator who functioned decently well in a full-time role last year.
The DBs are another unit stricken by injuries, but is nearly back to full health. Johnson is a capable starting CB but has question marks surrounding him, as 2022 2nd rounder Kyler Gordon just got off the IR but has been very bad so far, while 2023 2nd rounder Stevenson is off to a rocky start. Stroman is coming off a career game and could factor in as well. Eddie Jackson has had an up-and-down career and is also coming off an injury, and should be a major upgrade from Hicks. Brisker had a nice rookie year but is playing far worse so far.
Prediction: Vikings 23, Bears 20
I think we see a 2022-esque one score win with the Vikings taking and holding an early lead, but fail to pull away with it. Down Jefferson, this is a prime matchup for the Vikings to run the ball effectively - and with the wind ranging form 20-30mph passing the ball could be more difficult. This should benefit the Vikings defense as they can focus on stopping the run, and while DJ Moore is great, Flores' defense can focus down on him without worrying too much about the other receivers.
Any thoughts?
... and neither is this Chris guy.