EAGAN, Minn. — After completing the AFC South slate with a sweep, the Vikings (8-2) are heading back to the NFC North Sunday when they visit the Chicago Bears (4-6).

This contest will complete a rare three-game road swing before a three-game homestand, and it is Minnesota's third of six division contests.

Vikings Uniform

Although on the road, the Vikings will wear their modern home uniform combination of purple jerseys and white pants because the Bears are opting to wear white jerseys.

4 Storylines

1. Facing No. 1 overall pick

Let's play two truths and a lie.

Caleb Williams has been sacked on an opponent's blitz 18 times in 2024. Williams leads first-year quarterbacks in touchdown passes. Williams is responsible for 73.3% of Chicago's total yards, the third-highest share by a rookie in NFL history.

The middle statement is false.

Denver's Bo Nix (14 touchdown passes) and Washington's Jayden Daniels (10) rank ahead of Williams (9), who's 23^rd in the NFL, and tied with No. 3 pick Drake Maye. (Note: Maye has made four fewer starts).

In 10 games, Williams has clipped 61.8% of his throws for 2,016 yards and rushed 49 times for 306. He recently produced the strangest stat: Williams is the first quarterback per Elias with 20-plus attempts, without a touchdown or interception in four straight contests. His last TD pass was Oct. 13, before the Bears went on bye in Week 7.

Nevertheless, Williams' skill set makes him a threat to move the chains on any down.

Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores on Tuesday touted Williams' mobility and off-script playmaking, which is what made him a near unanimous choice to be selected first in the 2024 NFL Draft.

He can extend plays with his legs, throw deep on the run and from awkward arm angles and beat defenses with rhythm and timing – when he has sturdy protection and marries his feet with his eyes. That second-to-last part is key, because Williams has been overwhelmed by the blitz this year and taken six more sacks than the next most-sacked QB (41; Houston's C.J. Stroud has been dropped 35 times).

Williams is slotted 25^th or worse against the blitz in completion rate (58.9%), pass yards per attempt (6.1), passer rating (81.7) and times sacked (18) among 36 qualified quarterbacks, per Next Gen Stats.

Hello Flores' blitz-happy scheme, which has blitzed on 39.1 percent of opponent dropbacks, per NGS, but also has recorded 23 sacks when not blitzing in 2024.

2. Good luck, rook

Flores has a track record of providing nightmare fuel for first-year quarterbacks.

Rookies are 1-7 against teams with Flores as defensive coordinator or head coach. Offenses with rookie signal-callers average 15.5 points scored and 3.8 sacks allowed per game. They have nine giveaways and seven total touchdowns.

In 2023, Flores' defense buried rookie passers Aidan O'Connell and Bryce Young (oh, whaddya know, another No. 1 overall draft pick). Combined, they generated zero touchdowns and were sacked nine times.

Let's rewind a little further, with additional context.

Since 2000, rookie quarterbacks are 4-16 against defenses ranked in the top five in points, takeaways and sacks in Week 10 or later. Minnesota is fourth (17.0 ppg), tied for first (21) and third (35) in those categories.

3. Brown's solid debut

Here's the Spark Notes version of Chicago's offense:

First-year Bears Offensive Coordinator Shane Waldron was fired from his post before Chicago's Week 11 game against Green Bay. Chicago's offense was anemic under Waldron during a 1-1 start, averaging 176.5 yards. Later, it was plagued by inconsistencies, peaking in Week 5 with 424 yards and bottoming out in Week 10 with 142. Williams was on a regression path – until Thomas Brown received a promotion.

Brown swapped responsibilities as passing game coordinator for first dibs as Chicago's new play caller last Sunday, and results for the Bears and Williams were mostly pleasant. The top pick completed 74.2% of his passes and was a focal point in the run game, finishing with a season-high 70 yards on nine carries.

Furthermore, Williams was dynamic versus the blitz, going 8-for-10 with 87 yards. On the drive that set up an attempt for a game-winning field goal, Williams converted a fourth-and-3 pass for 21 yards to rookie WR Rome Odunze – yup, against the blitz. On the next snap, Williams was unflinching against a seven-man send by the Packers defense and hit Keenan Allen for a gain of 12. According to Next Gen Stats, the rookie QB averaged 2.42 seconds from snap to throw, his quickest release in a game this year.

And now the condensed version of the condensed analysis:

Brown got the monkey off the Bears' back in his debut as OC, helping squash a skid of 25 consecutive possessions without an offensive touchdown (the club's longest drought since 2005) on the third drive.

Overall, Brown's group was balanced, with 212 passing yards and 179 rushing, and had zero turnovers.

On Wednesday, Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell credited Brown for involving Chicago's playmakers on easy throws, while still allowing Williams the freedom to make special plays that are part of his style.

4. Final stop of road trip

Three straight weeks of travel is tough.

Ending that stretch with a divisional game in hostile land is particularly tougher. That's the challenge Minnesota is up against in Week 12, trying to ensure it's 9-2 the next time it plays at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The Vikings, of course, aren't looking ahead. They're focused on outplaying the Bears. Actually, they're focused on something different, well within their control: piecing together a complete performance.

O'Connell talked Wednesday about the importance of urgency – in play style, strain and execution of every single snap. Urgency, but with a limit on making gaffes, in all three phases – offense, defense and special teams – in the Windy City could push Minnesota one step closer to its goals.

For the history nuts, try this recent nugget: The Vikings have won four in a row at Soldier Field, one shy of the longest streak of success there by Minnesota (1996-2000).

3 Things 'Bout the Bears

1. Bad news block

Bears Head Coach Matt Eberflus was right about two things regarding Chicago's blocked field goal try as time expired against the Packers in Week 11: The Bears needed to be firmer in their execution, and Green Bay got away with one.

The NFL rulebook notes that defenders aren't allowed to initiate contact with a long snapper until one second after the ball is snapped. Cairo Santos' kick was blocked up the middle, in part because Scott Daly was practically folded in half immediately after launching the ball back to Tory Taylor for the hold.

The Bears, obviously, can fault more than a botched special teams play in their first divisional game this season – as is the case with every undesirable outcome – but that doesn't make it sting any less.

Vikings Special Teams Coordinator Matt Daniels noted Tuesday that issues surrounding double-A gap penetration and long snappers were so prevalent in the preseason that coordinators around the NFL had discussions and even reached out to officials. Their ruling: It's a judgment call. Daniels admitted the Packers might've perfected the near simultaneous play, and said the trajectory of Santos' kick was low.

2. Stacked receiving corps

DJ Moore, Allen, Odunze and Cole Kmet may be the best on-paper set of pass-catchers on any team.

Production, however, has been a different story.

Moore leads the group with 47 catches and is averaging career lows in yards per catch (9.8) and per game (46.0) – this after averaging a personal-best 80.2 receiving yards per game in 2023. Allen has missed a couple games but has fewer than 50 yards in all eight he's played – a bar he was below just once in 2023. Odunze, the No. 9 overall pick, is faring better, leading the group with 479 yards, including 65-plus in two of his past three games, but hasn't reached the end zone since Sept. 22. Lastly, there's Kmet. The veteran tight end has compiled six receptions for 69 yards over the past four contests.

3. Losing streak

Chicago's last win was a 35-16 romp of Jacksonville in London – more than a month ago.

Since then, the Bears have stumbled to narrow losses against two solid opponents in Washington and Green Bay, suffered one lopsided loss at the hands of Arizona and took an 19-3 L against New England.

Chicago's 4-6 record isn't indicative of a bad team but rather inferior execution throughout games. The Bears have lost on both a Hail Mary and blocked field goal as time expired. They've lost because of breakdowns in protections and miscues in the secondary, a woeful conversion rate on the 10th-most third downs (31.9%; tied-second worst) and an underperforming but talented offense (19.4 points per game).

The Bears aren't a bad team. They're capable of beating anyone, but they are having a difficult time doing it.

2 Vikings to Track

Justin Jefferson: A week after setting the record for the most receiving yards in a player's first five seasons, Jefferson has a chance to become the fastest player to reach 7,000 receiving yards. He would need a season-high 189 to hit the mark in his 71^st career game, which would be faster than Julio Jones and Lance Alworth (72 games each). Jefferson could still hit other milestones if he doesn't get the buck-89. He needs three catches to pass Kyle Rudolph for sixth in Vikings history and needs 88 to secure his fifth consecutive season with 1,000 receiving yards.

Aaron Jones, Sr.: The first-year Viking is no-stranger to battling the Bears. Jones went 12-1 with Green Bay in 13 games against Chicago. He needs 46 yards (rushing, receiving or combo) for his fifth NFL season with at least 1,000 scrimmage yards.

1 Key Matchup

Vikings LB Blake Cashman vs. Bears RB D'Andre Swift

Minnesota knows D'Andre Swift well. The 25-year-old running back suited up in 40 games, including five against the Vikings, across his first three NFL seasons with the Lions. He's patient in navigating messes, possesses great vision and acceleration, and in 2023 exposed Minnesota's run defense on Thursday Night Football.

"The last time we saw Swift," Flores said Tuesday, "it wasn't great."

Swift popped 12 runs of 5 or more yards in last year's Week 2 meeting between Minnesota and Philadelphia. Overall, he rushed 28 times for a career-high 175 yards. With 4:35 left in the fourth quarter of that game, Swift burst for 43, essentially icing it (the Vikings trailed 27-21 and eventually lost 34-28).

There were red flags galore on that 43-yarder: Swift ran clean right off the backside of Eagles left guard Landon Dickerson, who smashed into Harrison Phillips on a down block to his right; Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata released unscathed to the second level – because Dean Lowry didn't get hands on him before engaging tight end Dallas Goedert – and knocked back Joshua Metellus a good 5 yards; Ivan Pace, Jr., tried to execute a blitz but collided with Jordan Hicks in the backside B gap, away from the play, and safeties Harrison Smith and Camryn Bynum missed tackle attempts due to leverages.

It summed up the pains of Flores' first year, which had promising schematics but an adjusting personnel.

Enter a group of lights-out defensive free-agent signings, led by green dot linebacker Blake Cashman, who isn't individually responsible for stopping Swift but will play a tremendous role softening his impact.

Cashman ranks second on the Vikings defense with 7.0 tackles per game (Pace: 7.4) and already tied his career highs with three sacks and five passes defended in seven appearances. Since returning from a bout with turf toe, which sidelined Cashman in Weeks 7-9, he's activated the full potential of Flo's unit.

Swift, meanwhile, has been a consistent force in Chicago's offense dating to Sept. 29, when he helped the Bears defeat the Los Angeles Rams. In that span, Swift has rushed 118 times for 567 yards (4.8 avg.).

Swift vs. Cashman reads more like a battle of X factors.

Friday Updates …

The following content was added Nov. 1 after initial publication.

Status Report

The Vikings ruled out tight end Josh Oliver (wrist/ankle).

He has been playing through the wrist injury for several weeks, but O'Connell said the ankle injury suffered last week at Tennessee will sideline the player former QB Kirk Cousins nicknamed "The Sears Tower" before this weekend's trip to Chicago.

The Vikings will rely on the combination of T.J. Hockenson and Johnny Mundt at tight end. Minnesota's Nick Muse (hand) remains in his 21-day evaluation window and is eligible to be elevated.

Memorable Week 12 Quotes

Wes Phillips on Brian O'Neill's impact on and off the field

"Brian is probably playing his best football of his career. … From our third year of being together, I think there's been an understanding of not only our system but just of himself and how people see him, what types of rushes he's going to get. The communication's always been there. The high level of intelligence has always been there. And then there's a reason why he gets voted a captain every year. It's the leadership in that room. Those o-line rooms are tight, and they're close, and the leadership that he brings in that room and amongst our team, you know, he had a chance to speak to the team a few Saturdays ago, and you know, you guys see Brian in the locker room – I mean, he's kind of a happy-go-lucky type guy, but every time he's gotten up there to speak, I mean, he'll give you the chills. He's really good getting up in front of the group at delivering a message. That's why he's got the 'C' on his chest. He's been playing great for us, and I expect that to continue."

Matt Daniels on Bo Richter's progression

"Yeah, I love Bo Richter. … When we got him in, we didn't really see too much of him during OTAs, because he had a hamstring and so he was really on the sideline. We didn't get a true opportunity to really evaluate him until he came back for training camp, and he really jumped off the tape from day one, when we were just in a ramp-up period.

"What I love the most about him is that you can match him up bigger body, smaller bodies. He's strong enough. He's kind of got that combo to him where he's got the good mixture of speed, power and size, and so that's really what you love. And you know, being an Air Force guy, he's gonna do exactly what you tell him to do. He's gonna be very attentive to the details, and he's going to execute at a high level. And I think he probably had one of his best games just this past Sunday. I mean, 1-on-1 blocks, he's locking guys down. He had two tackles in the cover phases, a couple knockdowns out there. I mean, this guy's playing with his hair on fire."

Brian Flores on Jonathan Greenard & Jihad Ward's camaraderie … and antics

"[Greenard is] hilarious, for starters. He and 'Haddy' (Ward), sometimes I've got to separate those two because they're like, you know, the two little kids in class when they sit next to each other – they struggle to pay attention. Whether that's on the field or in the meeting room – they're both great, I love them both, obviously, but this has really been since training camp. You can ask them – we've gotta separate these two. But, you know, we need that on the team also.

"My boys are 10 and 11, so we're at the age now where, you know, they'll just start laughing and they're probably joking on me. That's fine. I just kind of ignore it, and that's kind of how – [Greenard and Ward are] probably making fun of me in some kind of way. And who knows what. It could be about my hat, my shoes, whatever. But that's what my boys do, and it's similar in that way. So I don't really know [what they're joking about], but I do know that they're having a good time, and you know the people around them are having a good time, and I'm all for that. But you know, when we got to get down to business, we've gotta get down to business."

Sam Darnold on his resiliency following negative plays

"I think just being able to get over it as fast as possible and just having your process with that — whether it's a deep breath, whether it's smacking your hands, doing something to be able to reset — that's a tool that I use and something that I'll continue to use."

Aaron Jones, Sr., on his four-game stretch without finding the end zone

"I'm dying to get back in there. I talked to my son about it, talked to my mom, everybody. I talk about it every day and just kind of speaking it into existence, putting in the work on the field to be able to get back in there. You know, I miss it. Let's just say that — I miss it, I miss the end zone. So I'll be back soon."

Dalton Risner on handling the movement by the Bears defensive line

"They do it to make it tough on you. Teams move so they can get you out of gaps, get you to work laterally because you're worried about missing a block and whiffing and being physical. I haven't been a part of the first eight-nine games, but our offensive line has kicked [butt] in terms of the run game and moving the ball, and teams like the Bears try to move to shut that down. … The Bears have been doing that for a while, and it's something we've got to be able to control."

From the Inbox

I know this is not game related, but I was wondering if Jim Marshall made the finalist list for the Pro Football Hall of Fame? He is unofficially (sacks weren't a stat when he played) 22^nd all-time in sacks. I think he is still first all-time in fumble recoveries by a defensive lineman. Almost every player ahead of him and several behind him are in the Hall of Fame. As a Vikings fan of 50+ years, I saw what Marshall did on the field and like many, I'm curious.

— Troy Boblitt in Springfield, Illinois

Believe it or not, I can draw a line between Captain Jim and this week's opponent, whom the Vikings upset in Minnesota's inaugural game.

Much of the conversation about that day revolves around the heroics of rookie Fran Tarkenton, who dazzled with four touchdown passes and a rushing score in his pro debut. The QB reminisced on that game this week:

But what is sometimes lost in the shuffle is that Marshall joined the Vikings via a trade with the Browns the week of the game, started, and made an impact on its outcome. He never missed a start over the next 19 seasons, either!

Original Head Coach Norm Van Brocklin, who wasn't exactly known for gushing profusely, was quoted after the game, saying, "Jim Marshall has been with us only three days. He goes in there and causes two interceptions."

Captain Jim's impact on the franchise is indelible. It is known to every Vikings teammate and coach, but it was sometimes a little under the radar in an era that didn't officially count sacks. I'm hopeful the permanent Jim Marshall Vikings Captains Legacy display that was unveiled at TCO Performance Center earlier this fall continues to bring awareness to Jim's greatness, an excellence that should have earned him a bust in Canton years ago.

The latest update regarding Senior Candidates on the Pro Football Hall of Fame's website announced Marshall and former Vikings running backs Chuck Foreman and Roger Craig (he was mostly a Niner) among 31 players in consideration as of Oct. 22.

The next step for the Seniors Blue-Ribbon Committee is reducing that list to nine semifinalists, and that group is expected to be announced soon because the committee is scheduled to meet in early December to narrow that list to three finalists.

Marshall's 277 career starts rank sixth all-time and are the most by a defensive player. Everyone else in the Top 11 already is in the Hall of Fame (Brett Favre, Bruce Matthews, Jerry Rice, Bruce Smith, Peyton Manning, Darrell Green and Tony Gonzalez) or will be (Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald) not long after their eligibility.

Marshall's 130.5 career sacks are tied for 22^nd all-time on the unofficial list, and there are players with more and fewer who are in the Hall of Fame.

Believe me, we'll keep you posted if Marshall finally is recognized with the honor he's earned.

The past four weeks Sam is not leading his receivers. I think he's doing the same thing Cousins did. Either he doesn't trust his receivers, or he's limited skill wise. Anybody working on this? It seems like the coaching staff is loaded with quarterback experience.

Thanks and go Vikes,

— Russ B.

Darnold has even mentioned not wanting to overthrow receivers. He also could have thrown the ball that Jefferson caught in stride on the way to the 97-yarder against San Francisco farther than the ball traveled.

It seemed like the ball placement was more consistent against Tennessee, even when the QB was forced to play on the move.

The deep one to Jalen Nailor certainly was catchable, even if one more step may have created more space from the defender.

We'll see how he looks in this third consecutive road game, as well as what he does once Minnesota returns to U.S. Bank Stadium for a three-game homestand.

I love my Vikings. However, we really need to keep the foot on the gas pedal when it comes to scoring. I believe our defense is top-notch, but the offense needs some work.

From a fan who will always bleed purple.

— Marci F.

It's a great thing to win in the NFL, especially on the road. It's an even greater thing to win comfortably.

O'Connell mentioned wins might not be of the variety that the Lions have enjoyed over a couple of opponents, but it's hard to argue against continuing to stack victories, whatever they look like.

Had Nailor brought in that long pass, it would have made the score 30-13, which I think would have qualified as quite cozy.