Bears: 3 players to watch vs Vikings
The Chicago Bears are getting set for another NFC North showdown and another primetime game on Monday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 12. After losing to the Detroit Lions in Week 11, the Bears are now 0-9 against divisional opponents under the Matt Eberflus Era. That includes a Week 6 loss to […]
The Chicago Bears are getting set for another NFC North showdown and another primetime game on Monday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 12.
After losing to the Detroit Lions in Week 11, the Bears are now 0-9 against divisional opponents under the Matt Eberflus Era.
That includes a Week 6 loss to the Vikings earlier in the season. The Bears are looking to finally snap the losing streak while getting some revenge against their division rival on Monday night. In order to do so, these three players will need to stand out.
1. CB Kyler Gordon
The Bears slot cornerback plays a very critical role in Eberflus' defensive scheme. The team's honorary captain from Week 11 has been playing solid over the last few weeks, including having a game changing performance in Week 10 against the Carolina Panthers in which he recorded six defensive stops, per PFF.
Gordon has allowed just one touchdown in the 2023 season and has been one of the team's most reliable tacklers in space over the past three weeks. According to Pro Football Focus, Gordon has received an 80+ tackle grade in each of his last three games.
Gordon will be called upon once again to make some big plays defensively for the unit against the Vikings on Monday. The defensive back has the ability to come up with some huge plays in critical situations and will need to do so once again.
2. LB Tremaine Edmunds
The Bears high-priced linebacker is hoping to have a bounce back week on Monday after an up-and-down game against the Lions last Sunday. Tremaine Edmunds returned in Week 11 after missing the prior two weeks but didn't blow away fans with his performance despite logging an interception against Jared Goff.
Edmunds has been extremely out-played by fellow linebacker T.J. Edwards despite their major pay discrepancy. Edmunds signed a 4 year, $72 million deal with the Bears during the offseason but hasn't shown a performance worthy of the major deal.
The Bears showed last Sunday that they can get real creative with their three linebackers and how they utilize them on defense. Edmunds needs to step up on Monday night with a full complete game proving he is worth the contract the team gave to him.
3. K Cairo Santos
Cairo Santos has been a special player for the Bears this season, and even single-handedly won them the game in Week 10 against the Panthers. The Bears kicker has made 19 of his 20 fields goal attempts this season and has the sixth-highest field goal percentage in the NFL (among kickers with 10+ attempts).
Santos is 5/5 on field goal attempts over 50+ yards throughout the first 11 games of the season. In Week 6 against the Vikings, Santos was 2/2 on field goals, including a 53-yarder he made in the second quarter.
This game has all the makings of being a low-scoring defensive chess match on Monday Night Football. If it comes down to it, Santos has proven he can be trusted upon to win the game late if need be. With 3 field goals on Monday, Santos will also pass Mac Percival for the 5th-most field goals made in Bears franchise history.
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