3 things to help the Bears beat the Vikings

(3) Limit explosive plays on defense.

The Vikings are the only NFL team to boast two players with at least seven receiving touchdowns this season in Justin Jefferson (75 catches for 1,170 yards and 7 TDs) and Jordan Addison (44-708-7), who combined to catch five TD passes in last Sunday’s 42-21 win over Atlanta. Both are downfield threats capable of producing impact plays.

Jefferson is one of only four receivers in NFL history to compile 1,000 yards in each of his first five seasons, and he is the third-fastest to reach 7,000 career yards.

“I mean, he’s a problem,” Brown said. “I don’t think anybody necessarily has a true answer to how to stop elite players, so I don’t want to act like we have a magic formula because there isn’t. I think (it’s) understanding to own those matchups and winning one-on-ones but also the mix of coverage is going to be a big part when it comes to how you try to keep those guys off balance you can affect the front and affect the quarterback which clearly negates what a receiver can do.”

The Bears limited Jefferson to just two catches for 27 yards on Nov. 24, but Addison had eight receptions for 162 yards and a TD and tight end TJ Hockenson added seven catches for 114 yards.

“(Jefferson) is an explosive player, but they have a balanced offense,” Washington said. “They have other players that can really hurt you. The tight end position, the complementary receivers. Obviously, he’s somebody who can take the roof off, who can blow the top of the coverage, who can work in it area below. But at the same time, you can’t sell out everything you do to try to influence one player and then compromise what you have to do to actually get off the field and win a football game.”