Post by Danchat on Dec 29, 2017 14:23:08 GMT -6
Alright, it's time for the final game of the regular season as the Vikings will try to finish 13-3 against the rebuilding Bears.
Injury Reports:
- My thoughts -
The Bears will pose a bigger challenge than the pathetic Bengals and lethargic Packers, but with so many key players on the IR, the Bears will have trouble winning on the road. Their defense has quietly been one of the better units in the league with Akiem Hicks leading the way. They've lost 3 starters on the front seven (OLB McPhee, OLB Floyd, and DE Unrein) and their replacements haven't been competent. Danny Trevathan will be playing this time around after being suspended in the first matchup.
The Bears secondary is their strength. They've finally benched Marcus Cooper, who was a huge liability, and replaced him with a resurgent Kyle Fuller. Amukamara has been a solid CB and Callahan is one of the league's better nickel corners. They lost FS Quintin Demps but Adrian Amos has been the league's best safety outside of Harrison Smith since that injury. SS Eddie Jackson has been a playmaker and he looks like a fantastic steal drafted in this year's 4th round.
The Bears offense has had trouble with no talent at WR and injured O-linemen, so they'll use their 3 HBs liberally. Shutting down their running game will basically shut down their offense. Their starting offensive line will include some combination of Leno-Compton-Grasu-Whitehair-Sowell, which shouldn't be hard to beat, but the Vikings pass rush hasn't been very good as of late. Perhaps the Vikings should give some pass rushing snaps to Tashawn Bower and Jaleel Johnson and see if they can provide a spark.
And lastly - it seems like this'll be Fox's last game coaching the Bears, so I wonder who they'll hire next. They should keep their defensive coordinator Vic Fangio around because he's done a great job.
Any thoughts?
Injury Reports:
Vikings Friday Injury Report
Out- McDermott, Stephen, Brock Sr., Elflein
Doubtful-
Questionable-
Out- McDermott, Stephen, Brock Sr., Elflein
Doubtful-
Questionable-
Bears Friday Injury Report
Out-
Doubtful- Massie, Sitton
Questionable-Houston-Carson, Shaheen
Out-
Doubtful- Massie, Sitton
Questionable-Houston-Carson, Shaheen
- My thoughts -
The Bears will pose a bigger challenge than the pathetic Bengals and lethargic Packers, but with so many key players on the IR, the Bears will have trouble winning on the road. Their defense has quietly been one of the better units in the league with Akiem Hicks leading the way. They've lost 3 starters on the front seven (OLB McPhee, OLB Floyd, and DE Unrein) and their replacements haven't been competent. Danny Trevathan will be playing this time around after being suspended in the first matchup.
The Bears secondary is their strength. They've finally benched Marcus Cooper, who was a huge liability, and replaced him with a resurgent Kyle Fuller. Amukamara has been a solid CB and Callahan is one of the league's better nickel corners. They lost FS Quintin Demps but Adrian Amos has been the league's best safety outside of Harrison Smith since that injury. SS Eddie Jackson has been a playmaker and he looks like a fantastic steal drafted in this year's 4th round.
The Bears offense has had trouble with no talent at WR and injured O-linemen, so they'll use their 3 HBs liberally. Shutting down their running game will basically shut down their offense. Their starting offensive line will include some combination of Leno-Compton-Grasu-Whitehair-Sowell, which shouldn't be hard to beat, but the Vikings pass rush hasn't been very good as of late. Perhaps the Vikings should give some pass rushing snaps to Tashawn Bower and Jaleel Johnson and see if they can provide a spark.
And lastly - it seems like this'll be Fox's last game coaching the Bears, so I wonder who they'll hire next. They should keep their defensive coordinator Vic Fangio around because he's done a great job.
Any thoughts?