Lunchbreak: The Athletic Highlights Key Matchups for Vikings-Bears on 'MNF'

[Viktor]

Hasan wrote:


Vikings receivers vs. Bears corners. Both units are having amazing years, and the tandem of Jaylon Johnson and Kyle Fuller has been one of the best cornerback duos in the NFL this year. Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson could be more than a match for them, but they'll need to win consistently for Cousins to have a chance against this tough Bears passing defense. How this matchup goes probably determines the game.


Krawczynski, meanwhile, has his eye on a coaching matchup. Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer calls Minnesota's defensive plays, and he'll be going up against Bears Offensive Coordinator Bill Lazor, who is taking over play-calling duties for Chicago's offense.


Krawczynski wrote:


It sure looks like the Vikings wily old defensive coach is rounding into form over the last couple of weeks. Now he faces a beleaguered Bears offense with a new play caller after Head Coach Matt Nagy handed those duties to Lazor this week. Zimmer's ability to scheme with a defense that continues to be short-handed will be aimed at prolonging the Bears offensive misery.


The Bears rank 30th in the NFL at 19.8 points per game, while the Vikings defense ranks 27th at 29.3 points allowed per game.


As for the final score, Graff (21-20) and Hasan (20-17) picked the Vikings to win. Krawczynski went with a 20-17 Chicago victory.


Graff noted that while he is aware of Minnesota's struggles at Soldier Field — four wins in the past 20 trips — he believes Zimmer's squad is getting hot at the right time.


I've picked the Vikings to go to Soldier Field and beat the Bears plenty of times in the past, and by the third quarter, I typically feel pretty silly for doing so. But these are two teams heading in different directions. So I'm taking what feels like the better team in this one, even if the Vikings never seem to win in Chicago.


Krawczynski wrote that while he didn't pick Minnesota to win, a Vikings victory could set them up for a wild finish in the second-half of the 2020 season.


I want to pick the Vikings. I really, really do. But the PTSD of the Vikings at Soldier Field over the years just isn't allowing me to do it. The Bears are reeling and the Vikings are rolling, but this is still the kind of game that the Vikings have stubbed their toes on so many times in the past. I will say that if they do win, they are poised to make things VERY interesting in the coming weeks. This is the fork-in-the-road moment for their season.


Kickoff on ESPN's Monday Night Football is at 7:15 p.m. (CT). The game will be simulcast on WCCO in the Twin Cities.