Attack the outside
Stud rookie Jaylon Johnson won’t be available for the Bears through injury, which is a big boost to the Minnesota Vikings and their chances of moving the ball through the air. Providing Kirk Cousins gets the openings he needs, then there might be more holes than usual in Chicago’s secondary.
Fortunately for the Vikings, they have two potential Pro Bowlers on the outside who are more than capable of making their presence felt. Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson have emerged as one of the NFL’s best wideout tandems and if they can get themselves open quickly, it should come with some eye-catching numbers.
Thielen’s credentials are there for all to see after emerging from relative obscurity to a reliable pass-catcher that can impact the game all over the field. Jefferson has burst onto the scene during his first season in a professional environment and his high level of production has ensured Minnesota hasn’t missed Stefon Diggs after they traded him to the Buffalo Bills this offseason.
Although the Vikings should still look at Chicago’s cornerback unit with a sense of caution, they can definitely be got at. They are giving up 232-yards-per-game through the air – which is middle of the pack in NFL terms – but their success is predicated on the Bears’ front seven causing havoc in opposing backfields.