The Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears will clash for a second time this 2025 NFL season. Moreover, the intriguing in-game matchup will be between the Bears’ offense and the Vikings’ defense.
Despite the loss in Week 10 to the Baltimore Ravens, the Vikings’ defense kept the opposition in check. Minnesota kept Lamar Jackson and Co. in check for the first half before Baltimore eventually racked up points to secure the win.
Meanwhile, the Bears’ offense is hitting its stride with head coach Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams. On November 12, Johnson spoke to the media and shared his thoughts on the Vikings’ defense led by defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
“I’m sure Flo would tell you it’s not that much defense for them, but from an offensive perspective, it feels like there’s a lot of variety in fronts, coverages, and personnel groups,” Johnson told reporters. “He does a great job mixing everything up, and each week brings a different flavor. He played us a certain way in Week 1 that was a little different from what you might have seen in recent years. Looking at the last few weeks, he’s changed things up again.
“A lot of it depends on who he has available. In Week 1, they didn’t have Harrison Smith. Guys move in and out — [Andrew] Van Ginkel in and out, [Jonathan] Greenard, we’ll see where he’s at this week. He does as good a job as anyone at putting his players in the right spots and keeping the opposing play caller guessing.”
Johnson didn’t stop there when talking about Flores and what makes him a challenging opponent to decipher. The Bears’ coach went into detail about how the Vikings’ coordinator can disguise what his defense intends to do out on the field.
“You just [don’t] know what front [a Flores defense is] going to major in or what they were keying on. I think many of those elements from how he was brought up probably carry over to his philosophy now, and it shows in his approach.
“It definitely creates issues when you’re trying to game plan because you want to make sure you’re sound and that everyone is accounted for. But if you do too much, you risk players overthinking, which slows them down, and the defense feeds on that. That’s the challenge and the balance we’re trying to find this week.”
Before the Week 11 matchup, Flores was asked about how Bears quarterback Caleb Williams could play a key role in helping Chicago win tight contests.
“He’s proven that in those moments he’s come up big multiple times,” Flores told reporters on November 11. “It looks like he thrives in those situations, which for a young quarterback is certainly
an area you want to see.
“For us, we know that when it comes down to those moments—which most NFL games do—we’ve got to be at our best because he’s going to be at his best, and so are they. It’s a division game, so that’s probably what it’s going to be: A 60-minute battle. We’ve got to prepare the right way. It’s going to be a big challenge.”
Heading into Week 9 and the Week 10 bye, it was reported that Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco was expected to return in Week 11 versus the Denver Broncos, but the latest injury update appears to confirm a recent fear that KC’s RB1 could potentially miss this key divisional matchup.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was awfully cryptic about the status of Pacheco on Monday, November 10, and rumors that the energetic playmaker may not be ready were proven accurate on November 12.
While addressing the media on Wednesday, Reid immediately announced that Pacheco (knee) would not participate in practice. Later, the Chiefs’ social media team posted confirmation of this “DNP” status, noting that star defensive end George Karlaftis (thumb) was also “limited” on November 12.
Pacheco is the bigger concern at this stage. Dealing with what was reported as an “MCL sprain,” Pacheco is now in danger of missing his second straight game and third straight week, if you include the bye.
The dismissive nature of the Chiefs ball carrier’s practice status also suggests that he’s not particularly close to retaking the field, at least not for Week 11 against the Broncos.
Perhaps the Week 12 home matchup versus the Indianapolis Colts is more realistic.
The expectation was that rookie Brashard Smith might get some more usage with Pacheco sidelined, but that wasn’t really the case in Week 9.
Smith received 12 offensive snaps against the Buffalo Bills — his third-highest snap count of the year. However, this level of involvement was comparable to most weeks of his rookie campaign.
The explosive seventh-rounder was also largely unimpactful in Buffalo. He ran the ball 3 times for a minuscule yards per carry of 2.3, and his only target was an incomplete pass.
Instead, the Chiefs leaned on veteran staff favorite Kareem Hunt, while also calling upon practice squad RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Hunt is the clear lead back without Pacheco in the mix, but Edwards-Helaire was a surprise elevation that worked in for 2 carries and 5 rushing yards.
In the end, it was Hunt who became the bell cow in Week 9. Kansas City utilized Hunt on 78.3% of offensive snaps, which equated to 47 snaps.
He also ran the ball for 4.5 yards per carry and 1 touchdown, while catching 1-of-2 targets for 6 yards. It was Hunt’s third touchdown in two games and his sixth TD of the 2025 season.
While Wednesday’s missed practice certainly isn’t a good sign, it also isn’t a final injury designation. That won’t come until Friday, as the Chiefs post their third injury report of Week 11.
To flip the script and suit up on Sunday, Pacheco would likely have to at least log a limited practice on Thursday, November 13, or Friday, November 14. If that doesn’t happen, he’ll surely be ruled out before we hit the weekend.
Of course, if Pacheco can get himself back onto the practice field in any capacity, it not only gives him a chance to play versus the Broncos but also improves his Week 12 outlook.
Fans have expressed concerns that Pacheco’s injury will linger into the Week 13 Thanksgiving Day matchup. And until he gets himself back on the practice field, there is no way to disprove those concerns as invalid.