The Bears and Vikings meet in Week 2 with both sides riding into the game on opening-week wins, but Minnesota could hand Chicago a few openings if it leans the wrong way in its plan.
One of the biggest questions is how heavily the Vikings lean on Aaron Jones. With Jordan Mason out, Kevin O'Connell has already said Jones will get a heavy workload, but the 31-year-old back may not be built to absorb even 18 to 20 carries in the game. If Minnesota goes that route, Chicago can crowd the box early and try to force the Vikings into a one-dimensional attack.
The passing game brings its own risk. Carson Wentz can still push the ball, and Justin Jefferson is the kind of receiver who can win a game on sheer talent.
But the margin for error shrinks fast if Minnesota keeps asking Wentz to go deep to Jefferson over and over. Chicago forced three turnovers last week, and there’s reason to think it can create more trouble if Wentz starts pressing.
Defensively, the Vikings may be tempted to bring the same heat they used against Green Bay. Brian Flores blitzed on more than 80% of the Packers’ snaps last week, and while that helped shut down the run, it also left Minnesota giving up over 350 yards.
That approach is a much tougher sell against Caleb Williams. If the middle of the field opens up, Williams has options in Kalif Raymond, Cole Kmet, and Colston Loveland, and he could make Minnesota pay for selling out.
Chicago also has a matchup it can exploit on the outside. Rome Odunze’s 47-yard catch against the Panthers, when he “absolutely Mossed a defender,” showed what he can do in one-on-one situations. The Vikings’ secondary didn’t look sturdy after Jordan Love threw for 353 yards on them last week, and Odunze has a real chance to be a major part of the Bears’ game plan.
Loveland is another problem Minnesota has to account for. His quiet start in Week 1 had a familiar feel, but the Bears are unlikely to let that linger. If the Vikings key on Odunze and Luther Burden III, Loveland can find space underneath and make life difficult for a young linebacker group that may not be equipped to handle a tight end of his caliber.
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Now the Bears have a decision that feels larger than a typical depth-chart wrinkle. Thomas may not have gotten a return chance yet, but the staff clearly sees the same threat the preseason hinted at, and the next step is figuring out how to use him without forcing the issue. For a team always looking for hidden yardage and a spark on special teams, his role looks like one of the more interesting things to watch in the coming weeks. [Read more 🡒]