The Minnesota Vikings are gearing up for a Week 11 matchup with a Chicago Bears team that looks far different from their first meeting of the season. Since that Week 1 clash, the two NFC North teams have gone in very different directions.
The Vikings sit at 4-5, stumbling after a Week 10 home loss to the Baltimore Ravens that followed their Week 9 victory over the Detroit Lions. That defeat kept them below .500 and slowed any momentum they had built.
On the other hand, the Bears have climbed to 6-3, winning six of their last seven games, with their only loss coming to the Ravens on October 26. Caleb Williams’ late-game poise has fueled several close wins this season, putting Chicago firmly in playoff contention.
While speaking to reporters on November 12, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell shared what’s different about Williams now than when they faced the young quarterback in Week 1.
“We felt it in Week 1,” O’Connell told reporters on November 12. “Some of the throws he can make are at the highest level, whether it’s a play-action pass, on the move, or in the keeper game, with different ways of attacking downfield. When he breaks containment, he can make every throw.
“He’s made some throws that haven’t ended up in completions, but you watch him on tape because of the difficulty of the throws he can make in and out of the pocket. As he accumulates more snaps and builds off what he did last year, that experience is showing up in a consistency that’s helping them win.”
The Vikings’ coach, who will be in charge of containing Williams, will be defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Ahead of the Week 11 matchup, reporters asked Flores about Williams’ late-game performances for Chicago.
“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.”
Williams knows that whatever the Vikings throw at him, he will need to be ready. Despite the rivalry between the Bears and Vikings, the young quarterback didn’t hesitate to praise Flores.
“I would say he’s probably one of the more challenging coaches that I’ve had to go against so far in my career,“ Williams said on November 12 when talking to reporters about Flores. “Obviously, I haven’t played every single team yet and every single defensive coordinator, but up to this point, he’s been that.
“It’s all 70-plus plays that you have or so. It’s a full mental test. Every single play, he challenges you to reach your full mental capacity. This is always a fun game, going against Flo and his defense and the players he has on that side of the ball. Like I said, it’s always fun going up against a defensive coordinator and a team like this.”
Getty
Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir takes the field before the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at Highmark Stadium on January 12, 2025.
The Buffalo Bills are looking to bounce back from a stunning loss to the Miami Dolphins and try to climb back into the race for the AFC East, and might need to do it with an ailing wide receiver.
The team announced on Wednesday that top pass-catcher Khalil Shakir was limited at the first practice of the week with a rib injury. Head coach Sean McDermott revealed that Shakir was hurt during the loss to the Dolphins, which dropped the Bills two full games behind the New England Patriots for supremacy in the division.
Shakir was able to finish Sunday’s game against the Dolphins, making seven receptions for 58 yards and returning one punt for seven yards. Shakir has been the top target for quarterback Josh Allen since the departure of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis prior to the 2024 season, leading the team this year with 45 receptions for 457 yards.
As SI.com’s Alex Brasky noted, the injury could be a setback even if it doesn’t keep Shakir off the field for Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“Without knowing the significance of the injury, an ailing rib is a concern for a wide receiver with a play style similar to Shakir’s,” Brasky wrote. “The slot receiver is used heavily in the screen game, which causes him to be swarmed by defenders much like a running back. His use in the return game is also something that may need to be adjusted if he continues to feel lingering effects from his injury throughout the week.”
The Bills have been hit hard by injuries, though most of the pain has been focused on the defensive side of the ball. The Bills lost several starters to long-term injuries, placing safety Taylor Rapp, defensive tackle Ed Oliver, and edge rusher Michael Hoecht on injured reserve.
The Bills have struggled to get consistent production from their wide receiving corps this season, with the group often failing to get separation from defenders and leaving Allen under increased pressure.
The team brought in some help this week, signing former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman to their practice squad. The 27-year-old is a three-time Super Bowl champion and told reporters this week that it feels a bit odd to join a former rival.
“It’s kind of weird a little bit, going against these guys for the last six years,” Hardman said, via Buffalo’s WGZR.
Hardman added that he was excited to make a difference in Buffalo and get another chance in the NFL after waiting for a call throughout the first half of the season.
“I’m excited for the opportunity,” Hardman said. “I’m glad to be here and they welcomed me with open arms, so I’m happy about that. They’re definitely joking with me about the past matches that we had in the years, but it’s fun. I’m enjoying it … I’m happy that they called and gave me a chance and opportunity, so I’m grateful for that.”