Sunday, noon at U.S. Bank Stadium (Ch. 9 and KFAN-FM 100.3)
ABOUT THE BEARS
• The Bears (6-7) ended a six-game losing streak with a 36-7 win last week against the Houston Texans, keeping Chicago's NFC playoff hopes alive. A struggling offense has found a spark in the past two games under quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.
• Also boosting the Bears has been the return of running back David Montgomery, who missed the Vikings' 19-13 win at Soldier Field last month because of a concussion. He's led the offense's turnaround with 409 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns in the last three games.
• Receiver Allen Robinson remains one of the NFL's best, and Trubisky is averaging 11 throws his way since resuming as quarterback. Robinson trails only eight receivers with 1,027 yards, but Robinson has yet to catch a touchdown against the Vikings in five career games.
• The Bears defense returned to form against Houston, allowing a season-best seven points. But Chicago's secondary could be without a couple cornerbacks as Buster Skrine (concussion) has been ruled out and Jaylon Johnson (shoulder) is listed questionable to play. Edge rusher Khalil Mack (shoulder) is also listed questionable after a limited practice on Friday.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT | QB Mitchell Trubisky
• Trubisky, the second-overall pick in the 2017 draft, regained his starting job after Nick Foles suffered a hip injury last month against the Vikings. Since committing three turnovers in a 41-25 loss to the Packers, Trubisky has thrown for 534 yards, four touchdowns and lost one fumble against the Lions and Texans.
• He's won four straight starts against the Vikings, including two December trips to U.S. Bank Stadium. But he's averaged just 168 passing yards against Minnesota in his career. Trubisky has only once topped 200 passing yards against the Vikings, with 207 yards against backups in last year's regular season finale.
• Bears head coach Matt Nagy on Trubisky's involvement in offensive planning: "We've actually gotten a lot better in the procedure. With Mitch, too, having him a little bit more involved with the things he likes, with the little bit of a change with the identity of this offense, it's kind of helped out. It's been good, and I think that's probably why we're all working better together."
• Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer on Trubisky: "He's been making good throws, good decisions. Quite a few movement passes. I think they've been running the ball well. I think that helps as well. Montgomery had an 80-yarder against Houston and like a 40-yarder against Green Bay. So all those things. He's getting the ball out quick on the run-pass options, knowing where he wants to go."
COACH SPEAK | Matt Nagy
• Nagy is in his third season as Bears head coach with a 26-19 record in the regular season and 0-1 in the playoffs. Chicago's offense under Nagy, the former Chiefs offensive coordinator, hasn't ranked better than the 21st-place finish in his first season. The Bears' 320 yards per game rank 28th this year.
• Nagy delegating play-calling duties to coordinator Bill Lazor has led to improvement. The Bears' 43% run rate in the last two games is well above their 34% season average, taking pressure off Trubisky as he's reclaimed the offense. Former Vikings first-round pick Cordarrelle Patterson remains a role player in the Bears' rushing attack behind Montgomery.
• Nagy on whether the Bears have turned around the offense: "I hope so. Some of it was injuries and some of it was all of us. Right now, we're hoping we've found something that's fitting, and we found something that offensively you feel good about and now you get a second chance to play a good football team."
• Nagy on potential replacement corners Duke Shelley and Kindle Vildor: "I have a lot of faith in them. They're young guys who could get an opportunity, and I thought last week when they were forced into action they did well. I like [Shelley's] confidence. He's a smaller-sized guy, but he doesn't play that way. … [Vildor] can cover in man and has zone skills."
