5 things to know about the Vikings and Bears for Week 15
By Dustin Baker
Chicago’s defense is still really good, even with a 6-7 record
Yes, it is odd that the 2020 Bears throw the football like the 1990s Houston Oilers. It’s close to unfathomable. Yet, the reason they are flirting with playoff football isn’t related to the offense. It’s the defense. The defense does its job. Death, taxes, and Chicago Bears defense, indeed.
Chicago allows 22.4 points per game to opponents, which ranks ninth in the NFL. That may not be as suffocating as Bears defenses of yesteryear, but the ranking is high enough to inspire some fear. The primary difference between this year’s Bears defense and the deadly ones from the past is that the current group does not force many turnovers. The team ranks 23rd in the business for takeaways. Matt Nagy’s bunch essentially plays stingy defense while turning over the ball defensively very little.
Minnesota’s offense will present a challenge in Week 15. The Vikings rank seventh leaguewide in yards gained. It won’t be quite an “unstoppable force meets immovable object” moment in Minneapolis, but a profitable offense for Minnesota will find resistance from Khalil Mack and the Bears.