The Chicago Bears have been playing some great football as of late, but they’ll be in for their biggest test of the year when they face the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night at Soldier Field.
The Bears, who have won their last three games and sit at 6-3 on the year, have not beaten a team with a winning record yet this season, but they’ll hope to reverse that trend and take a step forward in the divisional race on the national stage.
In order for the Bears to accomplish that goal, here are five key players that fans should watch in Sunday’s game:
Kyle Fuller
The Bears’ cornerbacks are going to have their hands full with Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs this week, and Fuller is going to have one of his biggest tests of the season. He has had a strong season so far, with 11 defended passes, four interceptions, and 27 combined tackles, but he and Prince Amukamara will have to be in top form for the Bears to win this one.
Eddie Goldman
The Vikings aren’t known for their rushing attack, generating just over 90 yards per game on the ground, but if they want to try to keep the Bears from spreading the field on defense, they will have to keep Goldman out of the backfield. The Bears’ nose tackle has been outstanding this season, and with talented edge rushers demanding attention as well, he could be in for a big game.
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Charles Leno Jr.
The Vikings have one of the league’s best pass rushes, and they will have their eyes set on Mitchell Trubisky in this game. The Bears have done a great job of keeping their quarterback upright, giving up only nine total sacks in their last six games. Trubisky’s athleticism has helped in that regard, but look for Leno to be tested on the edge all night long.
Danny Trevathan
Trevathan isn’t exactly lighting up the scoresheet this season, registering two sacks and 65 tackles on the year, but on a defense full of weapons, he is in a position to have a big impact in this game. Whether that’s limiting Kyle Rudolph in the Minnesota passing game or trying to rush Kirk Cousins, Trevathan should see a lot of one-on-one matchups, and the Bears have got to be rooting for him to have a big night.
Mitchell Trubisky
This one seems so blatantly obvious, but it cannot be overstated: now that Mitch has his first win against an NFC North opponent, it’s time to do something the Bears have yet to do this season: beat a team with a winning record. Trubisky can help make that happen, and his ability to protect the football and his athleticism should be big boosts to the offense as they take on a tough Minnesota squad.
