CHICAGO — The Minnesota Vikings reached for rarefied air on Sunday, successful their 13th recreation of the season in a 29-13 victory over the Chicago Bears. The win marked simply the third time in franchise historical past that they surpassed 12 wins, with 1998 and 2017 being the one different seasons to surpass that mark. Let’s check out the important thing takeaways from Sunday’s recreation…
Whats up once more, Giants
With the San Francisco 49ers’ 38-13 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, the Vikings have been locked into the No. 1 seed. three, the place they may face the New York Giants at US Financial institution Stadium within the first spherical of the playoffs. The Vikings beat the Giants 27-24 on a last-second discipline purpose in Week 16. The Giants did not play their starters towards the Eagles and misplaced 22-16 behind quarterback Davis Webb.
Elsewhere, the Seattle Seahawks’ extra time win over the Los Angeles Rams helped the Detroit Lions out of the postseason, and the Seahawks acquired in due to the Lions beating the Packers.
Well being replace
Within the midst of the Vikings’ convincing win, two gamers limped off: Dalvin Prepare dinner and Chandon Sullivan. Head coach Kevin O’Connell stated Prepare dinner has been ironed and shall be high quality for subsequent week’s recreation. He returned to the sport after going to the harm tent. Additionally, Sullivan was not significantly injured and there aren’t any future issues.
Za’Darius Smith missed follow Friday as a result of a private matter. He did not play, however he was in attendance at Soldier Discipline. O’Connell stated he’ll play towards the Giants. Harrison Smith additionally sat out after being sore from Friday’s follow. There aren’t any issues about his standing, in line with O’Connell.
As for beginning heart Garrett Bradbury, O’Connell was much less optimistic, saying he’ll should see if Bradbury can follow this week.
“There’s an opportunity we’ll have him subsequent week,” O’Connell stated. “That is to be decided as to how he responds to getting some actual follow reps in his preparation for subsequent week. In order that’s one thing I will replace you on because the week goes on.”
Patrick Jones performs for Damar Hamlin
Vikings outdoors linebacker Patrick Jones had one in every of his greatest video games as a professional after every week wherein he feared for the well being of his former Pitt teammate and shut buddy Damar Hamlin. Jones stated he had an opportunity to talk with Hamlin earlier than Sunday’s recreation.
“Having the ability to speak to him yesterday meant a lot to me,” Jones stated. “He instructed me he was getting higher and stated, ‘You understand how we play, we deal with enterprise.’
The offensive line creates chemistry
Towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers, the Vikings’ offensive line was thrown into disarray after heart Austin Schlottmann and proper deal with Brian O’Neill went down with accidents. In Chicago, backup heart Chris Reed and proper deal with Oli Udoh have been way more snug, albeit in a much less difficult surroundings.
O’Connell stated he wished to see how the beginning line responded to the forms of pre-snap appears to be like the Bears gave them.
“There’s some communication stuff with a protection like that, with the kind of motion you see up entrance,” the Vikings head coach stated. “That is what I wished to see. May we be bodily? May we win the road of play regardless of the gender of that shifting goal by typically altering the calculation to the road of play they’re attempting to make? Our boys did properly. They actually did.”
On 20 dropbacks, Cousins was hit simply twice and never sacked.
Justin Jefferson’s ultimate stat line
Justin Jefferson performed solely the primary half and caught 4 passes for 38 yards, so he did not threaten Calvin Johnson’s NFL report, however he turned one in every of six receivers to surpass 1,800 yards in a single season with 1,809 on 128 receptions. .
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“The totally different variety of methods he makes these performs,” Cousins stated. “A few of them are balls. A few of them are a display. A few of them are a 3rd decrease in site visitors. So the flexibility as a participant that he provides us as a receiver, the place it is not only a sure trick that he does, it is actually the totality of what you ask a receiver to do.”
“I am excited to see what he can do going ahead,” Cousins continued. “After which in playoff soccer, proper? That’s, when the lights get even brighter, permitting him to shine there too. So enthusiastic about this and the large video games he has in his profession. And so, so grateful that I picked him, that we have now him and that I get to play with him and throw him the soccer.”
Duke
The Vikings introduced in Duke Shelley earlier than Week 1 after he was minimize by the Bears. Since getting a possibility as a result of accidents within the secondary, he has change into one in every of their most useful defensive backs. He put the cherry on high of his season Sunday by intercepting a go late within the fourth quarter. After the decide, he walked to the Bears emblem at midfield and celebrated. And after the sport, O’Connell awarded him a recreation ball.
“The whole lot that man has finished since he acquired to Minnesota is be an amazing teammate, work extremely onerous, be as dependable as any participant I’ve ever been round,” O’Connell stated. “He is as aggressive as any participant I’ve ever met and it is an absolute pleasure to have him on our soccer crew.”
KJ Osborn’s huge day
The Vikings have struggled at instances to seek out secondary choices behind Jefferson, however they are going to be heading into the playoffs with a giant day arising for one in every of their very own in KJ Osborn. He caught 5 passes for 117 yards towards the Bears, together with a 66-yarder on the opening kickoff.
“One of many issues about KJ is he has so many roles in our offense,” O’Connell stated. “His position is an evolving factor, it comes out and in. He is extremely precious as a play caller for the coaches, but additionally for the ten guys within the group, understanding the totally different jobs he’ll be doing. When known as upon, he is as explosive and dependable as anybody we have now.”
The Return of Irv Smith Jr
For the reason that commerce deadline, the Vikings have been with no protection, Irv Smith Jr. Towards the Bears has recovered after weeks of rehab. Smith Jr. caught three passes for 14 yards and noticed the sphere for the complete second half. Whereas TJ Hockenson is the undisputed starter, the presence of Smith Jr. provides them a further weapon in the event that they wish to use two-TE packages within the playoffs they usually have each tight ends and threats.
Offensive chemistry
General, the Vikings racked up 482 yards of offense at a formidable 6.eight yards per recreation clip. Cousins stated he lately felt his understanding of O’Connell’s offensive system clicked extra within the ultimate stanza of the season.
“It is a gradual course of,” Cousins stated. “The Detroit recreation in Detroit, I felt like we form of turned a nook there. I walked off the sphere and stated, OK. This recreation felt like once we’ve been in a system for 2 or three years, once you begin to actually perceive the place we’re attempting to go together with it. However then you will have, you realize, setbacks and you’ve got challenges. Even at the moment within the low crimson zone, feeling like I did not function properly sufficient. So, you realize, we’re getting there. We’re getting there.”
Cousins’ solely criticism of his efficiency was his failure to provide touchdowns within the crimson zone on the ultimate two drives of the primary half.
Alternative no. 1 of the Bears
Probably the most compelling story of the day for Bears followers did not occur in downtown Chicago. It came about in Indianapolis, the place the Texans got here again to beat the Colts with a last-second two-point conversion that clinched the No. 1 total decide for the Bears.
Half 1 of Chicago’s tear down and rebuild purpose is formally over. Now the Bears must resolve whether or not to choose on the high or commerce with a QB-needy crew.
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