WHEN THE BEARS HAVE THE BALL
What makes the chess match between Ben Johnson and Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is so compelling is how similar their complaints are about each other’s system. Johnson can be run-heavy one week and pass-happy the next, while Flores could blitz from all over the field — or, as he did in Week 1 last year, barely at all. Flores’ ability so shift tendencies is reminiscent of his mentor Bill Belichick, whom Johnson often cites as one of his favorites.
Both coordinators spent the week trying to give their players answers — both before and after the snap. The Bears, though, don’t often like to gives Flores that much time at the line of scrimmage. The Bears snapped the ball quickly more often against the Vikings than any other team last year, per ESPN. That gave the Vikings less time to communicate with each other — and to figure out Johnson’s formations and personnel groupings.
Edge rusher Dallas Turner led the NFL in pass rush win rate in Week 1. Ben Johnson singled out another player, defensive end Jalen Redmond, as one of the best in the league and veteran safety Harrison Smith, who played 38% of the snaps last week as he works his way back into shape, as a coordinator on the field.
Quarterback Caleb Williams has avoided mistakes against Flores. In four games, he’s thrown four touchdowns and no interceptions, good for a 88.1 passer rating. He was sacked nine times. Johnson likely won’t be content with more of the same — Williams needs to not only protect the ball against Flores, but be productive.
WHEN THE VIKINGS HAVE THE BALL
The Vikings’ season opening win against the Packers came at a cost — starting quarterback Kyler Murray was concussed in the first quarter and leading rusher Jordan Mason hurt his thumb, requiring surgery and a trip to injured reserve.
Carson Wentz, who helped rally the Vikings to the final 29 points against the Packers, will start Sunday. He is 4-0 career against the Bears. In his last start at Soldier Field, though, Wentz threw for just 99 yards in a 12-9 Commanders win in 2022.
He’ll has plenty of weapons to rely on, starting with receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Jefferson has 790 receiving yards against the Bears since he came into the league in 2020, the most of any Bears opponent. Since Addison was drafted in 2023, he actually has 107 more receiving yards against the Bears than Jefferson does. Addison ran 28 routes last week, the second-most on the team, but didn’t catch either of the two passes thrown his way.
Cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson will be humiliated if they play the same way they did last week. The Bears defensive line needs to help them.
With Mason hurt, the Vikings figure to lean more heaving on Aaron Jones, who had 12 carries for just 40 yards last week, and practice squad callup DeeJay Dallas. Brian O’Neill, whom the Vikings made one of the league’s highest-paid right tackles this offseason, is questionable with a knee injury.