Bears vs. Vikings predictions: Is Matt Eberflus' job on the line this week?

We’re all aware that the Chicago Bears have never fired a head coach during a season. It’s not the style of the McCaskey family.

Marc Trestman had lost control of the locker room by this point in the 2014 season, but even the Canadian Football League coaching legend was kept until the end of the season.

The writing was on the wall for Matt Nagy at 3-7 and 4-10, but the organization left the lame-duck head coach in charge for a few more weeks in 2021.

But Matt Eberflus firing offensive coordinator Shane Waldron just nine games into the season indicated a potential shift from the status quo. Eberflus not only recognized that the quarterback drafted No. 1 overall last April tasked with pulling the franchise from despair wasn’t acclimating to the NFL, but that his own job might be in danger sooner than later.

Waldron’s replacement, passing game coordinator Thomas Brown, put a stop to the bleeding with the offense on short notice – just five days after Waldron’s firing – despite only scoring 19 points.

Caleb Williams looked confident, the offense found its rhythm and for the first time since Week 8, Chicago reached the end zone. The Thomas Brown affair, while it didn’t result in a win, was palpable. The players responded.

So, would the Bears consider handing the reins to Brown to motivate the entire team the rest of the way if things go sideways on Sunday? Eberflus can’t control discussions he’s not a part of, but he can buy himself time, possibly enough for the rest of the season with a win on Sunday at home against the Minnesota Vikings.

Adam Hoge (5-5) | Bears 20, Vikings 16

This feels like it will either go really well or really bad on offense. But if there’s one thing that Eberflus has on his Bears’ resume, it’s beating bad quarterbacks. Sam Darnold isn’t bad anymore, but he has also come down to Earth lately. Eberflus seemingly has run out of “big games” but this is still an important one for him because his defense should be able to get stops and takeaways against this Vikings offense. And if they don’t, it won’t help Eberflus’ case to keep his job.

🔎 GO DEEPER | Check out Adam Hoge’s latest ‘Bears Things’ newsletter on why things are getting interesting for Thomas Brown.

Nicholas Moreano (6-4) | Vikings 27, Bears 24

Is it crazy that I’m not too worried about Caleb Williams and the offense on Sunday against Brian Flores’ defense? I think offensive coordinator Thomas Brown will have a plan that involves plenty of motion on quick reads for his rookie quarterback. The offense will take another step in the right direction, and Williams throws two touchdowns on Sunday. What worries me the most is this Bears defense. Kevin O’Connell will create advantageous positions for Justin Jefferson to line up against anybody not named Jaylon Johnson. The Bears’ pass rush has also been lacking over the last four weeks, which will allow Sam Darnold to find his pass catchers and extend drives.

🎥FILM ROOM | Nicholas Moreano talks to DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Kevin Byard after Week 11.

Corey Wootton (6-4) | Vikings 28, Bears 20

Competitive game down to the wire. Bears haven’t been able to stop the run or generate pressure. To take pressure off of Darnold, they are going feed Aaron Jones and work play-action off of that.

Mark Carman (8-2) | Bears 27, Vikings 17

The 8-2 Vikings have won 3 straight. They boast the top run defense in the NFL. D’Andre Swift has been battling a groin injury but is expected to play. Roschon Johnson should see more carries. Montez Sweat is due for a breakout game. So are the Bears. Thomas Brown’s emerging offense leads the way as the Bears don’t let their season die easily.

Greg Braggs Jr. (6-4) | Bears 24, Vikings 20

I have no idea what to expect from this team week-to-week now. Makes sense with a team that has no identity, I guess. The Vikings defense with Brian Flores will certainly present some new challenges to Thomas Brown but I think they’ve figured out what they want to do on offense with Caleb Williams and company.

The real test between a win or a loss will be between Kevin O’Connell and Matt Eberflus. The Vikings haven’t looked all that impressive in their last 3 wins over AFC South teams. Seems like a good spot for the Bears to end their losing skid.

The Vikings have the edge with the coaching staff but throw the records out with a home game at Soldier Field in the cold and wind. Again, it’s impossible to anticipate what this team will do week-to-week other than this team driving us all crazy.

Patrick Norton (4-6) | Vikings 21, Bears 18

How much praise can we reasonably give Thomas Brown when the Bears lost to the Packers and scored just 19 points? Don’t get me wrong, Brown’s positive impact on Caleb Williams was real. But Brown even said on Thursday that there are no “atta-boys” in the NFL and that his unit didn’t do enough to win the game. The new OC certainly brings the right attitude.

But the Bears are still reeling after another sucker-punch loss. We’ve seen their response when they’ve struggled to move on already – a blowout in the desert after the Fail Mary against Washington. I don’t think enough has changed to expect the Bears to mentally bounce back quicker and play their best against a good Vikings team. Won’t be a blowout, but won’t be enough.

🗞️ SUBSCRIBE | Patrick Norton’s CHGO Digest is FREE. Subscribe to receive his perspective on the Bears’ season every Monday and Thursday morning.

Stephen Nicholas (6-4) | Vikings 21, Bears 20

Brace yourself Bears fans…another narrow loss. This one won’t look like last week. Caleb moves the ball through the air against a beatable Vikings secondary and throws his first TD pass since Week 6 in London. Caleb’s aggressiveness plays into the Vikings hands as they pick him off (Vikings defense leads NFL with 16 INTs), which also happens for the first time since Week 6. Don’t expect much on the ground. Vikings allow just 74.4 rush ypg, including just 62 rush yards on the season to opposing QBs. Aaron Jones continues to haunt Chicago as he scores his 12th career TD against the Bears.

Kevin Kaduk (6-4) | Bears 16, Vikings 14

Am I insane for predicting a one-score win for Matt Eberflus? Perhaps. But I still don’t think the Bears are a bad enough team to lose five straight games and that Vikings record is pretty fat after feasting on the dismal AFC South the past month or so.  Right now, I think this game and the December 26 game against the Seahawks look like the remaining two wins left on the Bears’ schedule.

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