Dalvin Cook & Kirk Cousins Ahead of MNF at Bears

Scott also asked if Kirk Cousins will “continue his clean play” for Minnesota.

Save for a shoddy showing in Week 14, the Vikings quarterback has been on a roll as of late, tossing 11 touchdowns and one interception while completing [more than 60 percent] of this throws in Weeks 9-13. On Monday night, he’ll face a back end that’s given up eight TD passes over their last three and will be without six key pieces, including Eddie Jackson and Jaylon Johnson (COVID list). The lack of depth makes them prime targets for Cousins and Justin Jefferson, a.k.a. the league’s best downfield passing tandem. The star receiver ranks first in receptions (45) and yards (1,002) on passes of 10-plus air yards, per Next Gen Stats.

As for the Bears, Scott is wondering if rookie QB Justin Fields will notch his first prime-time win. Tonight’s Week 15 contest will mark Fields’ third prime-time appearance.

His Week 14 return from a two-game absence produced a mixed bag big enough to make up for the lost time. Facing a game Packers defense at Lambeau, Fields again flourished (18-of-33, 224 yards, two TDs) in some moments – and flopped in others (fumble, INT, pick-six) – as Chicago lost its seventh game in eight tries.

With [Bears Head Coach Matt] Nagy back to calling plays and a postseason berth out of reach, the Bears are essentially playing with house money against a D that’s given up 28 or more in [the Vikings past] four. Despite his recent struggles, Darnell Mooney will likely draw extra attention from a secondary that lost one of its starters over the weekend, which could allow Fields and David Montgomery to exploit Minnesota underneath to great success.