PLAYER NOTES
–LB Eric Kendricks was held out of practice again Wednesday with a hamstring injury. Kendricks, who leads the team with 108 tackles, missed last week’s game with the injury.
–CB Xavier Rhodes was one of six players held out as the team returned to practice on Wednesday. Rhodes was added to the injury report with a groin injury.
–DT Linval Joseph did not practice on Wednesday with a knee injury. Joseph was held out last Thursday before being limited on Friday and playing in last week’s game.
–CB Marcus Sherels did not practice on Wednesday. The team’s top punt returner, Sherels sustained a foot injury in last week’s game.
–FB C.J. Ham was held out of Wednesday’s practice with an elbow injury. He’s is new to the injury report.
–RG Mike Remmers didn’t practice on Wednesday because of a lower back injury.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: QB Kirk Cousins. Here is the reason Minnesota gave Cousins the three-year, $84 million guaranteed contract in the offseason. It was to win games like these and the potential matchups ahead in the playoffs. Cousins’ teams are 12-12 in December and January games, and are 0-2 in the playoffs. The Vikings’ playoffs begin now and Cousins will need to be at his best – and avoid the turnovers like he committed in the first game against Chicago – against the Bears’ fourth-ranked defense. Chicago has a league-high 27 interceptions.
GAME PLAN: As much as Minnesota paid Cousins to win playoff-type games, the offense will likely stick to the recent play-calling under new offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski. The Vikings will try to run the ball with Cook and Murray. Chicago has the league’s second-best run defense. Cousins will need to make plays against the Bears’ stout defense. Aided by a more efficient running game, effective play-action and being under center more, Cousins has made good decisions the past two weeks and has a passer rating of at least 112.2 the past two games, including a season-best 137.9 against Detroit.
Chicago quarterback Mitchell Trubisky threw two interceptions in the first meeting between the teams. Minnesota will look to do the same and also keep Trubisky from getting out and running, something he was effective doing early in the first matchup.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Vikings Ts vs. Bears LB Khalil Mack. Two of the league’s best pass rushers can go a long way to wrecking Sunday’s game for the opponent. Mack, who is tied for sixth in the NFL with 12.5 sacks, will move around the line of scrimmage, facing off against LT Riley Reiff or rookie RT Brian O’Neill. Minnesota will have its eyes on Mack. Mack had one sack in the first game, rushing from Reiff’s side, but coming inside on a stunt.
–Vikings DE Danielle Hunter vs. Bears LT Charles Leno. On the other side is Minnesota’s Danielle Hunter. Hunter, too, will switch sides at times as the Vikings rotate defensive ends, but he’s most often on the left side. He was held without a sack in the first meeting, one of just six games without a sack this season.
