The Minnesota Vikings are 4-5 and have little room for error if they want to get back to the postseason heading into Week 11 against the Chicago Bears. Moreover, for head coach Kevin O’Connell and his team, this feels like a must-win game, considering it’s at home.
Minnesota dropped a gut-wrenching loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 10 after the Vikings’ defense kept Lamar Jackson and Co. quiet in the first half. Nonetheless, Minnesota’s offense couldn’t capitalize on its defense’s first-half performance and pull away, as the Ravens’ offense would eventually break through in the second half.
As a result, NBC Sports NFL insider Mike Florio believes that if the Vikings want to have a shot at the playoffs, it will all depend on what transpires in these next three games.
“Their backs are kind of against the wall,” Florio told NBC Sports NFL analyst Chris Simms on the November 13 edition of “Chris Simms Unbuttoned.” “They need to win two of the next three. They’ve got the Bears, at the Packers, at the Seahawks. If they don’t win two of the next three, they’re done.
Can the Vikings Get a Win Over the Bears?
Out of the three, the game against Chicago is one of the two contests that Minnesota need to win. First, the contest is at home, so they won’t be heading into a hostile environment like the other two games against the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks.
Second, the Vikings beat the Bears in Week 1, so there’s probably a level of confidence heading into this matchup. Despite the hiccup against the Ravens, Florio believes that Minnesota will get this much-needed win to keep its playoff hopes alive.
“They need this one, right?“ Florio added. “And I think they get it by a razor-thin margin, 24-23. A late field goal from Will Reichard, maybe from 60 yards plus, won’t hit a wire or maybe it will and bank in.
“I don’t know, but I think the Vikings win this one by one point. I don’t feel good about it at all. I’ve been right about the Vikings’ losses lately, though I was wrong about the Lions game. I think this one they need too badly, and they’re going to find a way to make it happen.”
Minnesota Will Have to Contain Caleb Williams
For the Vikings to get a win over their NFC North rival, they will need to stop Caleb Williams, who has had his share of impressive late-game performances this season for Chicago.
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores was asked about Williams’ ability to help Chicago come out on top in their close games, which is something Minnesota will look to avoid.
“He’s proven that in those moments he’s come up big multiple times,“ Flores told reporters on November 11. “It looks like he thrives in those situations, which for a young quarterback is certainly an area you want to see.
“For us, we know that when it comes down to those moments—which most NFL games do—we’ve got to be at our best because he’s going to be at his best, and so are they. It’s a division game, so that’s probably what it’s going to be: A 60-minute battle. We’ve got to prepare the right way. It’s going to be a big challenge.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Vikings Get Honest Playoff Message Before Bears Game appeared first on Heavy Sports.