Vikings vs. Bears Week 2 preview: Kevon O’Connell doesn’t need a new identity. He needs a wrinkle. Brian Flores trusts rookies, Dallas Turner explodes, Mason’s thumb breaks & Wentz starts at Soldier Field. The Minnesota Vikings face the Chicago Bears in a critical NFC North showdown with a backup quarterback, a fractured running back depth chart, and a defense that finally showed signs of youth.
In this episode of Two Old Bloggers, Darren Campbell and Dave Stefano break down Brian Flores’ evolving
trust in rookies, the devastating loss of Jordan Mason to injured reserve, Dallas Turner’s breakout performance, and a comprehensive Week 2 Bears preview with Drew Bunting. Flores played three defensive rookies against Green Bay — Domonique “Big Citrus” Orange (22 snaps), Caleb Banks (16), and Jacob Thomas (10) — marking a philosophical shift for a coordinator long criticized for favoring veterans. “Brian Flores is not going to give him playing time or any rookie playing time or any player playing time that they don’t earn,” Campbell noted, emphasizing that the door is cracking open.
The injury news darkens the outlook: Mason’s fractured thumb sidelines him for four games, leaving Aaron Jones Sr. and journeyman DeeJay Dallas to carry the load. “This is a big loss for the Vikings,” Campbell said. Meanwhile, Turner’s nine-pressure, 89.5 PFF-graded performance validated his first-round pedigree. “Sometimes you just need one guy to beat the guy that is trying to block him, and Dallas Turner did that a lot last Sunday,” Campbell added.
Drew Bunting delivered a fiery preview, picking the Bears despite wanting a Vikings win. “Kevin O’Connell has to grow a pair and move the ball,” Bunting declared, calling for offensive wrinkles to counter Dennis Allen’s defense. He emphasized turnovers as the ultimate stat: Kevin O’Connell is 36-4 when winning the turnover margin. “If they lose the turnover battle Sunday, they have no chance,” Bunting warned.
Key Points:
- Brian Flores played 3 defensive rookies vs. Green Bay — his most rookie snaps in a meaningful game
- Jordan Mason (fractured thumb, IR) out 4 games; Aaron Jones and DeeJay Dallas must step up
- Dallas Turner: 9–10 pressures, 89.5 PFF grade, looking like an elite edge rusher
- Josh Metellus’ PFF grades declining — 29.6 in Week 1, 55.4 in 2024 — usage change may be the cause
- Kyler Murray’s concussion sparks dirty-hit debate; Tedy Bruschi called Javon Bullard’s hit “dirty”
- Drew Bunting picks Bears: Caleb Williams’ advantage over Carson Wentz too large to ignore
- Drew’s point: this is a “wrinkle game.” Base flare screens and two-yard throws play right into Dennis Allen.
- Historic example Drew used: 1978 in Dallas. Bud Grant (via Jerry Burns) put Sammy White in the backfield with Foreman and Ricky Young. Never handed it to him. Cowboys linebackers pointed at each other the rest of the afternoon. Vikings won as heavy underdogs.
- Vikings on a 6-game win streak at Soldier Field — longest ever
- Turnover battle: Kevin O’Connell is 36-4 when winning or tying turnover margin
- Weather could factor — 20–30 mph winds, heavy rain expected at Soldier Field
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This episode has everything a Vikings fan needs before kickoff — film breakdown, stats, hot takes, and Drew Bunting’s unfiltered preview. Two Old Bloggers is your home for Minnesota Vikings analysis, part of the Vikings 1st & SKOL network and the Bleav Podcast Network. Subscribe, rate, and ring the bell so you never miss a show.
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So here’s the question:
Can Kevin O’Connell cook up enough wrinkles to out-scheme Ben Johnson (actually DC Dennis Allen), or will the Bears’ offensive firepower be too much for a Wentz-led Vikings offense at Soldier Field?
