The Chicago Bears didn't need Colston Loveland to pull out a win against Carolina, but the Minnesota Vikings could pose challenges that the Panthers didn't. The Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores has been known for his tremendous pressure on the quarterback, and that creates a distinct possibility that Loveland could find an elevated role in the passing game for Week 2.
The Vikings push Caleb Williams directly toward Colston Loveland
One of the primary reasons the Vikings beat the Packers in Week 1 was Minnesota's defense. Flores has a reputation for an aggressive, blitz-heavy approach to the line, and it can easily overwhelm a quarterback with a line that can't stand up to it.
The Bears boast a talented offensive line, with Joe Thuney chief among them. It shouldn't be as easy for the Vikings to blitz through the Bears as it was against Green Bay, and that doesn't even approach Williams' blitz-killing ability.
If the Vikings take this approach as expected, Williams will frequently be under pressure, and while the line should be trusted to give him time, he'll need to get the ball out fast.
That's where Loveland comes in.
With Williams in need to get the ball out quickly, Loveland becomes an ideal target. The burly tight end's ability to get open in short spaces has been one of his biggest assets for the Bears, and it could easily become a key component of success against the Vikings.
It's important to not underestimate the pressure that Flores brings. The Vikings blitzed on almost 74% of snaps. That's an insane amount of pressure. That manufactured urgency could make Loveland one of Williams’ most important safety valves.
Think about how much the offensive line would need to put up with for an entire game. The Vikings scored 29 unanswered points toward the end of the game. It makes perfect sense to think that by the fourth quarter, the Packers offensive line was exhausted. Of course they didn't score any points.
It's possible that Flores takes a different approach with Williams under center. Given the Vikings' coaching staff's extensive experience against Ben Johnson and Williams alike, undoubtedly they'll have plenty of tricks up their sleeve.
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