Week 5 Bears Preview: Bears Visit Division-Leading Vikings
Fields and company set sights on a first-place tie atop the NFC North
As I prepped for Bears coverage last Sunday morning, I turned on the Vikings-Saints game that was taking place in London.
I watched as Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins marched downfield late in the fourth quarter for the second straight week and put his team ahead of their opponent. A win was again in the cards, but to finish off the Saints Cousins and his guys would need help from the football gods.
With Minnesota up 28-25, former Bears sign-caller Andy Dalton and the Saints needed their kicker, Will Lutz, to make a 61-yard kick through the English air. Lutz kicked away and the ball sailed, eventually hitting the upright and crossbar before falling short.
Yes, it was a double-doink.
Anyway, following that victory across the pond first-year head coach Kevin O'Connell and the Vikings are now 3-1, another first-year coach who secured a winning record in his opening month, much like the Giants’ Brian Daboll did last week in beating the Bears.
This Sunday, the 2-2 Bears look to bounce back from their disappointing effort in the Meadowlands by entering US Bank Stadium with an intention on leaving Minnesota with a piece of the NFC North lead.
Vet to Watch
Quarterback Justin Fields is playing in just his second season in the NFL while his counterpart this week is playing in his 11th campaign.
Kirk Cousins has seen it all.
The 34-year-old has thrown for over 4,000 yards in six of his last seven seasons. Last year, he threw 250 of those yards in a 31-17 defeat of the Bears that completed a season sweep, the first time Minnesota has swept the Bears since 2017.
Cousins has a record of 5-4 against the Bears and has won three of the last four battles.
In this latest chapter of the Bears-Vikings rivalry, Cousins will take on a Bears pass defense that has allowed the fourth fewest yards in the NFL.
The main passing threat for Minnesota is one of the best wide receivers in the league - 23-year-old Justin Jefferson. The LSU product has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in his first two years in the league.
More of the Same
Another week, another star running back.
The Bears' defense is going from facing New York’s Saquon Barkley to facing Minnesota’s Dalvin Cook and they are going to have to step it up.
Going into Week 5, the Bears have given up the most rush yards in the league.
Luckily when you have a guy like Roquan Smith, running backs always have to be on top of their game as well.
After four weeks, Smith, still playing without a contract agreement beyond this season, leads the NFL in tackles with 46.
Progress
It has been a struggle all season long for the Bears’ offense, which has accumulated the least amount of points and least amount of passing yards in the NFL.
When asked if he believes he has seen progress from week to week, Justin Fields responded with:
“I do.”
Last week, saw the Bears' quarterback unleash his arm a bit more with some big throws, including a 56-yard bomb to Darnell Mooney.
There is still plenty of room to grow and this week Fields will take on a team that he played in his final appearance last season in which he threw for a career-high 285 passing yards.
The best part of the Bears' offense has been the rushing game.
David Montgomery who missed last week's game with an ankle injury returned to practice this week and is questionable to play on Sunday.
If Montgomery cannot go, then once again it will be Khalil Herbert who will get the start.
Following a career game against the Texans, Herbert ran for 77 yards on 19 carries in Week 4.
The Bears will try to jump-start their offense and as well as notch their second upset of the 2022 season.
Kick-off on Sunday between the Bears and Vikings is set for noon in Minneapolis.
Bear Tracks
Cornerback Jaylon Johnson remains doubtful (hamstring)
Center Cody Whitehair was placed on injured reserve (knee)
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Saul Rodriguez is WARR Media’s associate producer and lead Bears reporter