3 Keys to a Bears victory over the Vikings in Week 15

For the first time all season, Monday Night Football will feature the Chicago Bears, who are circling the drain. A season that started with such promise has seen two coaches fired amidst a seven-game losing streak, including three straight one-score losses to division rivals. This week, they’re traveling to US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis for their second matchup with the Minnesota Vikings.

If you recall, that first matchup in Week 12 saw Caleb Williams lead a furious second-half comeback, a recovered onside kick, and a last-second field goal to force overtime. That’s when the wheels came off. Williams took a bad sack on the opening drive that led to a punt, and the defense offered no resistance whatsoever as Sam Darnold marched his team into field goal range to escape Soldier Field with a win.

Can the Bears return the favor and swipe a win in the Vikings’ own home? Will their losing streak end at seven? Let’s take a look at how they can get it done.

1. Start fast and stay fast.

Chicago has scored first just one time all season, and that was in their first game against Minnesota. Despite finally starting a game with a bang, they quickly came unglued. Minnesota scored a touchdown three plays and 59 seconds later to regain momentum and eventually won the game. The Bears can’t give up an early lead like that again.

If the Bears want to dodge the season sweep, they must play more consistently. That means coming out of the gate ready to play tough NFC North football and not letting up until the final whistle.

2. Beat the blitz.

Lost in the insanity of the Chicago Bears’ losing season has been the ray of light that Caleb Williams has provided. He’s quietly put together one of the best seasons in franchise history, broke the NFL rookie record for most consecutive passes without an interception, and has gotten really good against the blitz, which is almost unheard of for rookie quarterbacks.

MORE: READ: Darnell Wright continues to be lone bright spot on Bears offensive line

Minnesota’s defensive coordinator Brian Flores loves to blitz, and he will bring the heat on Monday night. Williams needs to be ready to get the ball out quickly, and interim head coach and play-caller Thomas Brown needs to make sure he has quick routes drawn up for the offense as well as some “hot routes” to the running back to make life easier for Williams.

3. Find some pride.

I don’t want to directly accuse anyone of “quitting” on the team, but I watched their game against the San Francisco 49ers last Sunday, and it was hard to see that as anything other than one team that’s still in the playoff race dismantling a team that’s already planning their offseason vacation. Isn’t anyone in that locker room fed up with losing? Between 2022 and 2023, they lost 14 straight games, and they’re halfway to that total one year later.

I don’t know if they don’t care about this season anymore or if they’ve become numb to losing, but this team desperately needs some pride. They need to show some fight on the football field and win some games. It won’t get them to the playoffs, and it won’t make the waste of such a promising season feel any better, but finishing this season on a four-game win streak, including three division wins, would have to feel pretty good, right?

They can do it. These four remaining games are, in theory, all winnable. As mentioned, Chicago was just one or two plays away from being 3-0 in their division. It’s time to put it all together now and finally get a win.

Final Prediction: Vikings win 34-20

No amount of rah-rah speeches or careful analysis of their opponents will change the fact that the Chicago Bears have lost seven straight. I expect them to lose this one, too. The Vikings, who were supposed to take a step back this season, are instead in the thick of the race for the NFC North crown. They will beat the Bears back down to the division basement, and the calls of Ryan Poles to be shown the door will crescendo all through the week.