Good morning, Chicago.

Sometimes it’s not about who you play, but when you play them. 

That seems relevant this week with the Bears hosting the Vikings at Soldier Field on Sunday. The Bears appear to be trending up, while the Vikings are trending down. And while both teams are dealing with injuries, the Bears are actually getting a number of key players back this week, while the Vikings lost star wide receiver Justin Jefferson.

Nickelback Kyler Gordon and cornerback Jaylon Johnson are expected to return Sunday. Safety Eddie Jackson could also return, but his status is unclear. Regardless, that matchup — the Bears’ secondary vs the Vikings’ wide receivers — looked much more daunting just five days ago. 

Of course, I’m not here to completely dismiss the Vikings. Last year, they won 13 games with a team with 9-win talent. I’m not sure they’re much different this year. Now they’re a 1-4 team with 9-win talent (maybe seven wins without Jefferson). But, theoretically, isn’t that what the Bears are supposed to be right now?

We’ll certainly learn more about the Bears this week. Are they really a team that could improve as the season goes on? Will Justin Fields continue improving as he has the last two weeks? The answer to those questions should be yes. And if they are, the Bears should probably win this game, despite being 2.5-point home underdogs.

My prediction: Bears 31, Vikings 21. 

Up Next: The CHGO Bears Podcast will give you an in-depth preview of this game at Noon CT today, as Mark Carman joins Nicholas Moreano. I’ll continue to provide coverage from Halas Hall today. And don’t forget, another one of our amazing CHGO Bears tailgates is happening Sunday morning. Get your tickets and join us!