4 most disappointing Vikings in the Week 18 win over the Bears

(Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) Tyler Conklin
(Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) Tyler Conklin /
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Minnesota Vikings
(Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) Garrett Bradbury – Minnesota Vikings /

Garrett Bradbury – C

Garrett Bradbury had another disappointing game and it came against the team that he usually performs the worst against. The Bears’ defensive line is made up of big, quick, and powerful defensive linemen.

To slow them down, one needs to be extremely strong, especially in the lower half. A lineman needs to be able to anchor and hold his ground against these guys with quick feet, and a stout base. Bradbury can’t do that and was exposed in a major way.

Cousins had no chance in the first half as the Bears defenders blew past Bradbury. The constant pressure and duress were a huge reason why the Vikings had -6 passing yards until just before the half.

The running game also struggled to get going as Dalvin Cook had two defenders on him before he could get back to the line of scrimmage. These defenders, not surprisingly, came right through the middle where Bradbury was supposed to be protecting.

It is safe now to call Bradbury a bust. He was taken 18th overall, and to get value from taking a center that high, that player needs to be a Pro Bowler from day one. Bradbury hasn’t been close to that.

With both Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman now gone, the new regime won’t have any ties to Bradbury. He’ll need to up his game, or he may not make it through the preseason.