{"time":1789767671759,"blocks":[{"id":"SH6fHIW-Sf","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Week 2 of the NFL season is under way and only two matchups between undefeated teams coming out of Week 1 remain on the books. That leads to this week's Roundtable NFL Game of the Week between the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings."}},{"id":"hxYhsKXRuq","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Both teams surprised in their season openers. The Bears were expected to win, but doing so while putting up 59 points and five rushing touchdowns exceeded expectations in a good way as they opened their season against the reigning NFC South champion Carolina Panthers."}},{"id":"7FSoUG09ne","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Meanwhile, the Vikings came up with a big upset over a high-and-mighty Green Bay Packers team despite losing starting quarterback Kyler Murray to injury early in the bout and having to turn to veteran passer Carson Wentz in the process."}},{"id":"zZ9sdD2fhZ","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Now, each team looks to compete for the final undefeated spot in the NFC North in this week's matchup between old division rivals."}},{"id":"5N40uNeaL-","type":"header","data":{"text":"What is the biggest story for each team heading into the matchup?","level":1,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"Ao1Z72ZXoI","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Bears RTB: Can the defense show signs of life? "}},{"id":"tblmp7_ia9","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"With all of the hype surrounding this Bears offense and a 59-point effort in Week 1, it will be the defense under the microscope at Soldier Field in Week 2."}},{"id":"ejTODuOygj","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Bryce Young and the Panthers put up 478 total yards and 37 points against Chicago on Sunday. Some of that could be chalked up to your typical Week 1 glitches, but Bears fans will want to see noticeable progress, especially with Jordan Mason landing on IR and Carson Wentz likely at quarterback for the Vikings."}},{"id":"4nPTGE1xU5","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Vikings RTB: The biggest story is whether Minnesota’s defense can limit the big plays. The Vikings were able to create turnovers last week against the Packers and obviously outscore them by a wide margin, but Green Bay’s offense still had a lot of success, especially through the air. Against a Bears team that arguably had the best offensive showing of any team in Week 1, the defense is going to have to buckle down because you can’t rely on the offense to put up 39 points again this week."}},{"id":"cIxvfmOlwL","type":"header","data":{"text":"2. What is the most important matchup in this game?","level":1,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"hZrtSqsZQf","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Bears RTB: Ben Johnson vs. Brian Flores"}},{"id":"cIYcy99iyv","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The chess match between Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson and Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores is the matchup to watch. These are two of the best play callers on their respective sides of the ball in the league."}},{"id":"WQ5A9sXQg4","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Johnson talked earlier this week about the trap of overthinking when taking on such a creative defensive mind."}},{"id":"i2sJkzHr7b","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Vikings RTB: Containing Caleb Williams and forcing him to be a passer. That’s not to say he isn’t a very capable quarterback through the air, but what gives defenses the most trouble is when he’s hurting you both as a passer and a runner. If Minnesota can limit him on the ground and force him to primarily air it out, at least then the Vikings can scheme around one dimension instead of trying to shut off both."}},{"id":"uoYUqy5s3Y","type":"header","data":{"text":"3. Which player from each team isn’t talked about enough but could play a huge role?","level":1,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"oYNPLgASkX","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Bears RTB: Colston Loveland still exists, by the way "}},{"id":"ScXXkl7AR3","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"It’s impossible to talk about the Bears without mentioning tight end Colston Loveland, but we didn’t hear his name called at all in Week 1. Chicago scored eight offensive touchdowns and had 552 yards of total offense, but Loveland, the team’s leading receiver from 2025, did not have a single catch."}},{"id":"YAENoK3LW9","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Over his final four games of the 2025 season, including two playoff games, Loveland had 10 or more targets in each of those contests and averaged 94.5 receiving yards."}},{"id":"TW9-xjPg2F","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"A bounce-back game is definitely on the table after watching the Vikings' defense surrender five catches and 115 yards to Green Bay’s tight end tandem last week."}},{"id":"gJus6aHrl9","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Vikings RTB: Linebacker Dallas Turner, definitely. He really burst onto the scene last week and was a game-changer, finishing with a sack and a forced fumble. Those are the type of plays that can completely flip a game, and while a team can’t expect that kind of production every single week, it does feel like opposing fan bases may not know much about Turner yet. They might by the end of the game."}},{"id":"-zvlwoAzQk","type":"header","data":{"text":"4. What is each team’s biggest Achilles heel?","level":1,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"Gf7rx0GbC7","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Bears RTB: Bears secondary "}},{"id":"Mkd7HVREW6","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The pass defense has given Bears fans little reason for confidence. Tyrique Stevenson still doesn’t look like a starting-caliber cornerback. And while healthy in 2026, Jaylon Johnson got beat deep on more than one occasion and didn’t look like his Pro Bowl-caliber self in Week 1."}},{"id":"wHawmmUIc1","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"With an explosive wide receiver on the other sideline in Justin Jefferson, the Bears’ secondary will continue to be the team’s Achilles’ heel until it proves otherwise."}},{"id":"ovhMRzDymL","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Vikings RTB: The deep ball and the secondary. Christian Watson had a field day against Minnesota last week with 147 yards and two touchdowns. Much of that production came from chunk plays. The Vikings were able to score enough points to counter it last week, but can’t rely on their offense to consistently put up huge numbers. At some point, the defense has to show it can shut those plays down."}},{"id":"HSUcF_2GjY","type":"header","data":{"text":"5. Score Predictions","level":1,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"kj13iTgxZH","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Bear RTB: Bears 31, Vikings 27"}},{"id":"ySwb-5-qbH","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Vikings RTB: Bears 31, Vikings 20"}},{"id":"ezkplqq1Om","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"
"}}],"version":"2.31.6"}

Game of the Week: Bears, Vikings Clash To Claim Top Spot In NFC North