Where Bears Own Matchup Edge on Vikings

It's a natural progression.

When the Bears had no one catching passes, they longed for a time when someone stepped up as the money guy for quarterback Justin Fields.

Now that DJ Moore clearly has been established, they need others to step up because double-teams are coming and it's possible they could even arrive this Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. Would the Vikings abandon their blitzing and one-on-one coverage to double-team Moore and play less coverage?

"That's a tricky question because a lot of teams like to play what they play," Moore said. "A lot of teams want to stop whoever's hot for a team, but right now we've got a few people who are hot. So I don't see them really doing too much double-teaming right now."

It could be wishful thinking on Moore's part to say more than one Bears receiver is hot.

Darnell Mooney had one stronger effort but three times he hasn't had a catch in games, including the win against Washington. Cole Kmet has been effective almost all year but is finishing this week's work at practices affected by a hamstring injury. The next receiver down in the pecking order might be Equanimeous St. Brown, but he hasn't practiced at all due to a hamstring injury.

Mooney would like to get the ball thrown more his way.

"It's always, you know, a little frustrating," Mooney said. "I mean, I'm here, I get paid to catch the ball and play receiver. So if I'm not doing my job at the end of the day it gets frustrating.

"I just continue to work. I got here based off my confidence and just being able to weigh the lows and the highs and just being able to maintain that and continue to work and staying ready."

The issue against Minnesota this week might not be which receiver Fields goes to, because the Vikings haven't been really good stopping anyone on pass defense.

They're 22nd in stopping the pass and only four teams have given up more touchdown passes than the nine they've allowed.

It's more a case of whether Fields will have time to go to his targets. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores loves going to blitzes of all types, more than any team in the league at almost 57% of plays. When you're blitzing more than half of defensive plays you have to expect more production than to be ranked tied for 19th in sacks with 13.

When you don't get there, you get burned.

There are Bears who most can burn the Vikings on both sides of the football in a battle of teams with 1-4 records.

1. QB Justin Fields

When a defense blitzes, in most cases they're playing man-to-man coverage because there aren't enough linebackers and defensive backs remaining to play effective zone coverage. Fields was good throwing against man-to-man coverage last week when Washington blitzed but the biggest weapon could be scrambling then. If he can elude the initial rush by stepping up to openings or getting outside the pocket, he can find clear sailing for the type of big gainers he had last year as a runner. Zone teams are far more prepared to stop scramblers simply because they're facing the quarterback all of the time. In this respect, Fields could have either the Vikings defense playing to his strength by blitzing him, or they'll be going against their own true nature by playing zone and staying off receivers. Pass blocking by the line but also by anyone in the backfield, either running backs or tight ends, will be critical if Minnesota is in blitz mode. Here, the Bears could be in trouble because Roschon Johnson was probably their best overall pass blocker in the backfield and also a good receiver, but he has a concussion.

2. WR DJ Moore

The Bears were able to go downfield to Moore against Washington but also hit him on short passes that led to big plays. As a result, Moore has helped the Bears reach the rank of 15th in yards after the catch, with 544, after two straight seasons last in the league. It's the wide receiver screens and short passes on hot reads that have the best chances to pop for big yardage against Minnesota. If the Vikings do double-team Moore everywhere, then this looks like the kind of team Velus Jones Jr. could be used effectively against with wide receiver screens.

3. WR Darnell Mooney

Keenan Allen and Mike Williams were targeted 28 times for 25 catches and 336 yards by quarterback Justin Herbert when the Chargers beat the Vikings 28-24. The Bears receiver duo should be able to inflict damage and Mooney is the second part of this, even if he hasn't been used much to date. Mooney shouldn't be hard to Fields to find because he's already established that connection

4. RB D'Onta Foreman

The Bears can miss Khalil Herbert against Minnesota for his breakaway ability. It can tend to discourage blitzers. Trying to run consistently against a heavy blitzing defense like Minnesota can be asking for trouble and the Vikings have been strong at stopping the run with just 60 yards allowed on average over their last three games. Whether they're really this good as run stoppers or it's a case where their last three opponents -- Kansas City, Carolina and the Chargers -- choosing to attack them with the pass more, instead, is something the Bears will find out. It usually takes longer for wide zone blocking schemes like the Bears often rely on to develop, which can also make the blitz more effective and keeps Foreman from building up a head of steam to attack properly. However, a one-cut back who runs with good power can have an impact by shedding a tackler or two. Clear sailing could be ahead if he does this. D'Andrew Swift found this with a 175-yard game against Minnesota. The Vikings found this out when they ran up against Swift and the Eagles and gave up 259 yards rushing. It was the only time the Vikings have allowed more than 83 yards rushing in a game.

5. DT Gervon Dexter Jr.

The rookie second-round pick made a bigger impact for the first time in the last game with pass rush on the inside late. They would like to see him continue this progress as the Vikings have two outstanding tackles to prevent rush pressure from the perimeter but are more susceptible to interior pressure. Kirk Cousins is at his worse when flushed and moving laterally, trying to throw. While not entirely immobile, he's not athletic enough to move laterally and also hurt teams downfield against pressure. Another player who can have an impact in this regard is Andrew Billings, who has had good push despite being on the field only a limited number of downs (50%) because he's at nose tackle.

6. MLB Tremaine Edmunds

Cousins has lost his chief outside threat. Jordan Addison can play out there but the overall tendency will be to rely more on tight end T.J. Hockenson and passing in the middle of the field. This is where Edmunds and his great height in zone can have an impact with tips or interceptions.

7. WR Tyler Scott

The slot receiver who catches the quick slant or the quick out against a blitz and turns upfield without a defender near him can put up points quickly, and Scott has that potential. The Bears haven't used him much yet, with just five targets and three catches, but if Moore attracts the kind of attention that's expected then they'll need as many alternative targets for Fields as possible. It's more likely a third wide receiver would have better success against the Vikings because the tight ends would be more of a help in the blocking game, stopping the blitz. Most teams are able to use the tight end for only shorter gains and a few catches against the blitzing Vikings defense. That is, those without Travis Kelce were able to do that. Kelce himself even didn't inflict great damage on Minnesota but he was injured in the game. The Vikings have given up 29 receptions by tight ends, or about six a game. But it's only been for 170 yards, less than 6 yards a game. So inside passes to the slot receiver or backs are the way to go.

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