Keys To Victory: Chicago Bears Face Their Toughest Test Yet

3. Shutdown the Vikings Running Back Duo

The Vikings running back duo features Latavius Murray and Dalvin Cook, giving the team a solid one-two punch. The latter, Dalvin Cook while dealing with hamstring issues all year, posted his best game of the season in week nine against the Lions, averaging 8.90 yards per carry. Murray, on the other hand, has averaged 4.5 yards per carry this season.

While Cook and Murray both are known for their impact in the running game, they both also impact the passing game. Usually, they will run routes towards the flat or run simple wheel routes. Latavius Murray has averaged 7.3 yards per reception while Dalvin Cook averages 9.8 yards per reception. To stop both, the Bears defense will need to close up any gaps in the Vikings offensive line, while also making sure Cook and Murray don’t get out towards the sideline as this could lead to big gains.

It’s clear that the Vikings running game is one of the staples of their offense. As a team, Minnesota has averaged 4.2 yards per carry. As good as the Vikings ariel attack is, the running game is also something that has the potential to be a spark for this offense.

The Bears Defense has proven to be up to the task of stopping opponents all year long. When most talk about the Vikings, the focus is mostly on wide receivers Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs. However, Cook and Murray are arguably a bigger part of the Vikings offense than Diggs and Thielen.