Two biggest concerns for Bears against the Vikings on Monday Night Football

While the rest of the NFL prepares for the Week 1 matchups, the Bears and Vikings will be preparing for their Monday night game. 

The extra day gives both teams time to lock into their respective game plans and prepare for what will eventually transpire under the lights. 

Here are the two biggest concerns going into this Monday night matchup

Bears Concern #1: Stopping the run

This additional day also allows for adjustments to happen, especially after injury designations have been established. For the Bears, starting middle linebacker T.J. Edwards is expected to be out for the game. He was listed as doubtful with a hamstring injury on Saturday’s injury report. Edwards sustained the injury on August 26 and hasn’t practiced since that time. 

In the two matchups against the Vikings last season, the Bears struggled to stop running back Aaron Jones. In the 30-27 overtime win at Soldier Field, he ran for 106 yards on 22 carries, scored a rushing touchdown and fumbled. He also had a game-high 41-yard run and averaged 4.8 yards per carry. 

Jones finished with the same yards per carry in the second matchup in Minnesota. Jones carried the ball 18 times for 86 yards and a score.

Stopping Jones doesn’t get any easier with Edwards likely out. Noah Sewell will likely get the start. The former fifth-round draft pick in 2023 has made some plays throughout training camp, and Monday night at Soldier Field would be his first career start. 

Rookie Ruben Hyppolite III might also get some playing time, according to head coach Ben Johnson on Saturday, but the Bears head coach did reference special teams when discussing Hyppolite. 

Bears Concern #2: Protecting QB1

Pass protection will always be front and center when facing a Brian Flores-led defense. The Vikings upgraded their interior pass rush by adding Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen, who have a combined 87.5 sacks between them. 

Flores’ defense tied for the fourth-most sacks last season with 49 and blitzed more than any other team in the NFL.

Expect the pressure to come in waves on Monday night. Caleb Williams produced against the blitz, throwing for 308 yards and three touchdowns on 27 of 39 passes. 

Read more: Bears already have a genius plan to deal with Vikings' exotic blitz packages

Can he replicate that production now that he is in a new offense with an upgraded interior offensive line that will be facing an even better defense than last season? Williams was sacked five times in the two matchups with the Vikings last season. As always, pass protection could be the determiner for this Monday night matchup.