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EAGAN, Minn. (KMSP) - After enjoying a week away from football, the Minnesota Vikings are scheduled to return to action this Sunday.
The stretch drive in their season begins in Chicago as the Vikings hit the road to take on the first place Bears.
A win would put Minnesota in first place in the NFC North, but the players say the key to getting a win is overcoming that vaunted Bears defense.
With the bye week behind them, the Vikings are ready to get back to work against a familiar foe.
"I think the Bears are a really good football team,” said Head Coach Mike Zimmer.
If the Vikings want to get back in first place in the NFC North, it starts with taking care of the football against a very talented Bears defense.
"Their points off turnovers are huge, I think it's second in the league so we're going to have to do a great job of possessing the ball and keeping it and making sure we do a good job with being patient in a lot of ways,” Zimmer added.
"We want to win the turnover battle this week so it'll be a defensive game but we're hoping our offense can make some plays for sure,” said Wide Receiver Laquon Treadwell.
The offense will have to find a way to make plays and it'll be up to Kirk Cousins to guide them.
The Vikings QB has had issues with turning the ball over at times this season but even with Khalil Mack breathing down his neck, Cousins isn't worried about making a mistake.
"I don't know that I drop back saying, ‘Don't fumble, don’t fumble,’ or ‘Don't throw a pick.’ You still have to play but you're just aware that this is one of the ways they've been able to win some football games is by creating turnovers again and again and again and at this point of the year it's not a coincidence, it's not an anomaly, it's because they're a good defense and that's what they do,” said Cousins.
A low scoring defensive battle may not be out of the question for Sunday’s contest and as the Vikings defense hopes to do its part in helping win the turnover battle, the players say a good old defensive clash is just fine with them.
"TV wise, it's probably boring,” said Sheldon Richardson. “It's probably boring. Guys don't want to sit there and watch and 8-7 game but those games be fun for us. Might not be good for the offense but they still fun for us."