WHAT TO WATCH 4
Key matchup
Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter has continued to develop into one of the best pass rushers in the league since signing a five-year, $72 million extension in June. He has 11½ sacks and 15 quarterback hits, including 3½ sacks in his last game against the Lions.
“The biggest thing with Danielle is he’s kind of playing more free now,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. “Sometimes with young defensive linemen, it’s a little bit paint by the numbers. But now he just kind of reacts. If a tackle oversets, then he comes underneath. If he sets him short, he beats him there. If he sets down on him, he tries to power him and then work off the second move.”
Bears right tackle Bobby Massie figures to see the most of Hunter. Massie and left tackle Charles Leno have been solid throughout the season. But with the Vikings coming off a 10-sack game against the Lions — all but one from defensive linemen — this will be the biggest test yet.
Trending
The Bears lead the NFL in turnover margin at plus-13 (24 takeaways, 11 giveaways) after back-toback plus-3 differentials against the Bills and Lions. The Vikings are 16th in turnover margin at plus-1 (14 takeaways, 13 giveaways).
After ranking 25th in the NFL in passer rating (77.8) in the first three weeks, Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky ranks fifth (114.8) over the last seven weeks. But that doesn’t account for Trubisky’s mobility and escapability. Trubisky is second in the NFL among quarterbacks in rushing yards (320 yards on 41 attempts, three touchdowns). But after totaling 232 rushing yards in four consecutive games against the Buccaneers, Dolphins, Patriots and Jets, Trubisky has picked his spots the last two weeks — one rush for six yards against the Bills; three for 18 against the Lions.
“We knew he was a good scrambler last year,” Zimmer said. “But some of the runs he has made this year have been unbelievable. The other thing I think he’s done really well this year is he had some free runners on him, and it looks like they’re saying, ‘You’ve got to get the ball out and get it to this guy.’ I think he’s done a good job with that, as well.”
X-factor
The Vikings are coming off a bye week, which has allowed some key players, including linebacker Anthony Barr, wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen, running back Dalvin Cook, defensive tackle Linval Joseph, cornerback Xavier Rhodes and guard Tom Compton, to heal.