Getty
(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Vikings dropped to 4-5 after a 27-19 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on November 9 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Their offense struggled, committing eight false start penalties in front of the home crowd.
Second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy tried to build on his strong performance against the Detroit Lions but faced challenges, completing 20 of 42 passes for 248 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Minnesota will look to regroup for Week 11 as they face the Chicago Bears for the second time this season. The Bears enter the matchup 6-3, fresh off a Week 10 win over the New York Giants.
Ahead of the NFC North divisional showdown, Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel shared his honest thoughts on Bears head coach Ben Johnson and the challenges he brings to their defense.
“He’s been doing this for a long time,” Van Ginkel told reporters on November 10. “A great mind, great football coach, and we had our struggles with him when he was in Detroit; he just finds ways to attack you in a different style that you might not have seen.
“He gets his playmakers the ball in space, is very good at coaching the quarterback position, and just seeing the growth that Caleb Williams has had, it’s evident that Ben Johnson plays a role in that.”
Vikings’ Defense Warned About Caleb Williams’
While Minnesota’s defense is familiar with what Chicago brings, former NFL coach Dave Wannstedt has offered a warning ahead of their November 16 matchup against the Bears.
“The last two minutes of the game, I’ll tell you what, the first thought that comes to my mind is Caleb Williams almost performs better when he’s under pressure than when he’s in the flow of the game, if that makes sense,” Wannstedt said on November 9 on Marquee Sports Network. “You talk about avoiding the rush. I think the guy avoided six sacks today. Not just sacks where guys ran by, I’m talking about where they had a hand on him.
“It’s just incredible what he can do to keep a play alive. And these are unscripted plays. If you’re a wide receiver, tight end, or running back on our team, we’re going to call the play in the huddle. This is it. This is what we’re all trying to do. Everybody got it? Good.”
Vikings’ Defense Gets Good News
The Vikings might be getting a lift, as Head Coach Kevin O’Connell shared during a Monday press conference that there was “good news” following a closer look at the shoulder (h/t Pro Football Talk).
O’Connell added that the team will “see how he does throughout the week” and that he could potentially play against the Bears in Week 11.
Greenard has totaled 31 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble while starting every game for the Vikings this season. O’Connell also said that safety Theo Jackson has cleared the concussion protocol and should return to action this week.
It will be interesting to see if the Vikings’ defense has enough to stifle the Bears’ offense, as they did against the Ravens, and can limit the scoring over the course of four quarters.
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports journalist covering the NFL for Heavy.com. He previously covered the league for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has contributed as a freelance writer for The Sporting News. He also served as an editor for Athlon Sports and Heavy Sports focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo
More Heavy on Vikings
Loading more stories
