The Viking Age
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5 keys to victory: Minnesota Vikings vs Chicago Bears in week 17

By Adam Carlson

Oct 31, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Cornelius Washington (90) pressures Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford (8) during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Cornelius Washington (90) pressures Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford (8) during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 31, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard (24) rushes the ball against the Minnesota Vikings during the first quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard (24) rushes the ball against the Minnesota Vikings during the first quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /

#2. Focus on stopping the run

The Vikings secondary is a good unit. They should be able to contain the struggling passing game of Matt Barkley, even though they have fallen to the #4 spot in passing yards allowed per game from previously being in first or second place.

Last time these teams met up, Bears running back Jordan Howard was an unstoppable monster. He rushed for 153 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries in week 8, adding in 49 yards on 4 catches.

Minnesota can’t allow 5.9 yards per carry in this contest. They need to do a much better job at forcing the quarterback to make throws. That won’t be easy, as the Vikings run defense is middle-of-the-road, ranking 18 in yards per game allowed (101.9) and 17th in yards per carry allowed (4.2).

Making the Bears one-dimensional to play into a weakness would be a great move, and one that teams used early and often against the Vikings when the passing game wasn’t up to par earlier in the season, but Barkley is much less likely to make defenses pay compared to a veteran like Sam Bradford.

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