The Chicago Bears will travel to Minnesota on Sunday to play the Vikings in an attempt to win their third game of the 2022 season. Chicago’s offense has struggled significantly through the first four games, as the passing offense ranks dead last in most NFL categories. Regardless of the outcome on Sunday, offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and quarterback Justin Fields will need to get the Bears’ passing attack going, given the upcoming circumstances.

Minnesota Has Struggle To Defend Against The Pass

The Bears will be playing a Vikings’ defense that has undergone a scheme change as they have changed from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defensive base. The transition to a 3-4 defense under defensive coordinator Ed Donatell has been difficult for the Vikings, as opponents are averaging 264 yards passing per game this season. Additionally, Minnesota has allowed a pass reception of 25 yards or longer in their four games this year.

#DaBears v Vikings Thread: #DaBears Offense:

Where Chicago excels on Offense, MIN struggle in defense. Vikings have allowed 524 Yds on the Ground (#23) & 7 Rushing TDs.

While they allow a lot of air yards, they are good against the pass in the RZ, allowing only 2 Passing TD

— The Irish Bears Show (@IrishBearsShow) October 7, 2022

Chicago’s passing offense has struggled to begin the 2022 season as Fields has thrown for only 471 yards and is averaging 117 passing yards per game, both of which are currently rank last in the NFL. The Bears’ second-year quarterback had his best performance of the year so far against the Giants last Sunday as he completed several passes longer than 20 yards, including a 51-yard pass to wide receiver Darnell Mooney. Fields was throwing with more confidence and precision against New York, something that didn’t happen in the previous two games.

Getsy will need to be better against the Vikings, as Chicago’s offense has failed with pass-blocking and getting their wide receivers open on passing plays. Fields has been sacked 16 times as he has had little time to throw from a clean passing pocket. Minnesota’s defense has recorded only nine sacks in their four games this season, as linebacker Za’Drius Smith leads the team with three.

The one advantage the Bears’ will have at the beginning of Sunday’s game against the Vikings is the team’s success running the ball. Chicago currently ranks second in the NFC in rushing offense and called rushing plays 12 of their 15 first down plays against the Giants in the first half last week. Getsy can use the Bears’ running ability to set up play-action passing plays on first down to help give Fields more time to throw and wider open targets to throw to.

I honestly believe a major contributor to the pass rush is Luke Getsy’s obsession with running on every 2nd down play (even if it’s 2nd and long). Every single drive the #Bears offense is put in obvious passing situations where the defense can pin their ears back and pressure. https://t.co/Dx8Mc7Eakk

— JJ LaPlante (@JJLaPlanteeee) October 3, 2022

Chicago’s offense also ranks last in passing attempts, as Fields has only attempted 67 throws while completing only 34 passes. Due to the Vikings potent offense led by quarterback Kirk Cousins, running back Dalvin Cook, and wide receiver Justin Jefferson, Minnesota’s offense could put a good number of points against Chicago’s defense, especially with cornerback Jaylon Johnson unlikely to play. If the Bears are trailing by multiple scores, this could result in Fields having to throw over 25 times and potentially have easier passing opportunities late in the game.

Both Getsy and Fields need to have Chicago’s passing offense make some form of progress against the Vikings, regardless of a potential win or loss. In Minnesota’s last three games, they have allowed 24 points or more and three touchdowns in each of those games. Fields hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass since week one against the San Francisco 49ers and can’t afford to go four straight games without a touchdown pass.

Justin Fields has 297 passing yards in 3 games. QBs have exceeded that in ONE game 19 times this season.

4 QBs have done it multiple times.

Geno Smith has done it.

This is historical futility passing from the Bears.

— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) September 29, 2022

Getsy and Fields Are Due For A Breakout Game

Sunday’s game against the Vikings needs to be a positive performance for the Bears due to what has transpired over the past three games and with what was seen during the preseason. During the preseason, Chicago’s passing offense moved the ball with notable success. Fields had a pass completion of 20 yards or more in each preseason game and threw three touchdown passes against the Cleveland Browns.

Justin Fields with his 3rd touchdown of the first half. He's absolutely balling out.

Love the bootleg, as usual. He did a very good job of scanning the field on the move and letting the play develop to find Cole Kmet wide open in the end zone. #Bears

— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) August 28, 2022

Although a high level of production was seen in the preseason has yet to be seen in the regular season, the potential for that production needs to materialize sooner or later. In last week’s game, Getsy did a great job mixing in different passing plays as the Bears’ offense completed two screen passes for ten yards or more and had three deep-ball completions for 20 yards or more. The mix of screen and play-action passes against the struggling Vikings’ passing offense could be enough to get Fields over 200 passing yards for the first time in 2022.

During Fields’ rookie season last year, the Bears faced a Buccaneers defense in Week 7 that ranked as the worst pass defense in the league. Despite the low ranking, the Buccaneers intercepted Chicago’s rookie quarterback three times and held them to 184 passing yards. Although Minnesota’s pass defense isn’t the worst, Fields and the Bears’ offense need to move the ball through the air and cannot turn in a similar performance.

The Buccaneers rushed four, the Bears protected with six, and Justin Fields still had no time. Lachavious Simmons was beat badly once again. Three strip-sacks early in the second quarter.

— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) October 24, 2021

Passing yards, reducing sacks, and more passing attempts are all that should matter for the Bears’ offense against the Vikings. If the game becomes lopsided in Minnesota’s favor, it should lead to Getsy calling more passing plays for Fields, not just to make the game closer but also to provide his quarterback more live reps to better learn the new offense. Even if the Bears’ offense has a few meaningless scoring drives late in the game, the experience gained could be invaluable for the team’s young quarterback.