Viktor
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- Mar 19, 2019
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Minnesota hurt by 'porous' defense
The Vikings struggled to contain the Bears Sunday in what Head Coach Mike Zimmer called a disappointing defensive performance.
Sam Ekstrom of Zone Coverage echoed those thoughts, saying that the Vikings were "doomed" by potentially the defense's weakest outing of the season. Ekstrom wrote:
A Chicago team that was hapless offensively when the teams met in Week 10 looked rejuvenated with [its] former first-round pick (Mitchell Trubisky) back under center as he defeated the Vikings for a third straight year at U.S. Bank Stadium. Despite a porous performance, Cameron Dantzler's interception in the end zone with just over three minutes left gave Minnesota hope in the closing moments — Trubisky's one notable blunder on the afternoon.
Ekstrom pointed out that the Bears "were hardly stoppable" after going three-and-out on their first possession.
Trubisky used a steady diet of bootlegs and play-actions to challenge the Vikings linebackers and young corners, while David Montgomery eclipsed 100 yards on the ground and scored two touchdowns. Minnesota was missing linebacker Eric Kendricks for a third straight week and clearly missed him in coverage and in run defense. Backup linebackers Todd Davis and Troy Dye also missed time Sunday with injuries, leaving the middle of the Vikings defense extremely short-handed.
At one point Chicago scored on six consecutive possessions not counting the expiration of the first half, building a 30-20 lead. It was a far cry from the fading team Minnesota saw at Soldier Field with Nick Foles at the helm. The Bears were 6-of-12 on third down and only committed one offensive penalty, a perfect recipe to win on the road.