NFL 2025 Week 11: Minnesota Vikings Must Muzzle Chicago Bears
No Minnesota Vikings fan is happy after 10 weeks of the 2025 NFL season. Their team has underperformed expectations, and their brief flashes of hope have quickly been dashed just a game later. The Week 10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens was another example of that pattern, following the Vikings’ Week 9 win over the Detroit Lions.
The Vikings can’t dwell on the past, however–their playoff window is quickly shutting. The Vikings have a pivotal Week 11 home game against the Chicago Bears. A win could mean everything, but a loss could signal a painful end. Here’s what to watch for when the Vikings battle the Bears in U.S. Bank Stadium.
Keys to the Game for KOC’s Crew:
Can J.J. McCarthy Play Smart?
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy has flashed his potential, but he’s also shown his inexperience with bad turnovers and off-the-mark throws. While it might be acceptable for a team in rebuild mode, it’s not something the Vikings should settle for with their current roster. If it weren’t for injuries, this team would’ve had dangerous difference makers available at almost every position for every game thus far, except for, as it turns out, quarterback.
The other units provide few excuses for McCarthy to hide behind now. The defense could’ve handled the rush better in the second half last week, but they were playing a brutal Ravens backfield. Receiver Justin Jefferson had a surprisingly off outing in Week 10, with just four catches and 37 yards on twelve targets, but he’s the best receiver in the world–he can be counted on to rebound quickly. The pass catchers are there. The offensive line is finally almost fully healthy. Aaron Jones has been surprisingly explosive at running back after his stint on IR. There’s no one left to save J.J. McCarthy. He needs to bury the alter ego nonsense and go out and play football. No gimmicks, no “Nine” taking over his mind. Just good, smart football, like the Vikings drafted him to do.
Can the Defense Make Caleb Williams Uncomfortable?
Last time the Vikings met the Bears, I expected the Vikings to wreak havoc on a newly remodeled Bears’ offensive line. Instead, that new o-line showed its promise, protecting quarterback Caleb Williams from a scary, blitz-heavy Vikings defense. The Vikings got only two sacks on Williams last time they faced him — this time, they need to make him taste the turf of U.S. Bank Stadium often.
Can the Vikings Avoid Self-Inflicted Mistakes?
Week 10’s game against the Ravens was less like watching a car crash and more like watching a car get slowly broken down, bit by bit, by an angry man with a baseball bat (I may or may not be wishing I was that angry man after Sunday’s loss).
The worst part was that the Vikings inflicted the breakdown on themselves. The eight false starts were embarrassing, as were the fumbled kickoffs, and of course, McCarthy’s baffling interceptions. The Vikings must win the turnover battle — they must preach ball security to defend their home turf.
My Prediction: Vikings Break the Bears 20-17
With the Vikings now sitting at 4-5 and a hard road to the playoffs ahead, it’s hard to overstate just how much the Vikings need this win. Like last week, a win would be a huge confidence boost and keep them from quitting on the season. A loss would mean devastation and a potentially ugly collapse to end the year. The choice is up to the team. They can make an unlikely playoff push, or they can lie down and secure a high draft pick. I think they get it done with a scrappy 20-17 win. Let’s see what choice they make this Sunday.