Bears vs Vikings: 3 keys for Chicago's defense in Week 15

More than any other part of their football team, the Chicago Bears defense will need a massive turnaround in Week 14 on Monday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings. After being absolutely destroyed in a loss to the San Francisco 49ers where they gave up 319 yards of total offense in the first half alone, the task doesn't get easier for the Bears taking on the Vikings, who have scored 95 points combined in their past three games.

The defense of the Bears will be tasked with slowing down a high-powered offense that just put up 30 points on them three weeks ago. Coming into the 2024 season, the defense came out and was at their absolute best, holding six of their first seven opponents to under 21 points. Since the offense has turned it around, it has been the defense that is struggling the most, and they'll be tested once more taking on the high-powered Vikings offense.

Before their Monday Night Football matchup, here are three keys for the Bears defense to contain Minnesota and give them a chance to end their seven-game losing streak.

1. Find a way to contain Aaron Jones

For how good Minnesota's passing offense is, Aaron Jones is very good against Chicago, no matter what uniform he is wearing. In 14 career games, Jones has scored 12 touchdowns against the Bears, and in their first meeting this season, he rushed for 106 yards and one touchdown, he could've had a second one but fumbled at the goal-line. Fumbles have been an issue for Jones lately, but if there's anything that might fix his cure, playing against Chicago always seems to do the trick. Still, if the Bears stand a chance in this game, they're going to need to find a way to slow Jones down.

2. Tyrique Stevenson against everyone

For as good as Justin Jefferson is as an elite wide receiver in the NFL, Jordan Addison and the other receiving threats for the Vikings need to taken just as serious. Following their first matchup this season, Jefferson said it would either be him who thrives, or his teammates, and after he was held in check by Jaylon Johnson, it was Addison who thrived, scoring a touchdown and having 162 receiving yards. If Johnson continues to stay glued on Jefferson in this game, it'll be imperative for Tyrique Stevenson, to step up as the team's second-best corner, and slow down Addison. The momentum is on Minnesota's second-year receiver who is coming off a performance against Atlanta where he had eight catches, 133 yards, and three touchdowns.

3. Montez Sweat and Tremaine Edmunds need to step up

Arguably the two best and most recognized defensive players on the Bears have been MIA throughout the entire season. It may have been difficult to point out in live action, but rewatching the game tape against San Francisco showed just how poor of a game that linebacker Tremaine Edmunds had. Not just Edmunds, but the big-money man Montez Sweat has not lived up to expectations this season. Both men are highly regarded and respected, Edmunds is a captain, and both are expected to lead this defense but both have come up short in recent games. If these two have any sort of production in this game, the Bears could have a very good chance at stealing the game.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears vs Vikings: 3 keys for Chicago's defense in Week 15