Kyler Murray is officially out for Week 2 against the Bears, meaning Carson Wentz steps up for his first start of the season with the Vikings. This isn’t just any start though; it’s Wentz’s fifth time facing Chicago, and he’s bringing a perfect record against them into Soldier Field. Can he keep that streak alive? You gotta wonder.
The Perfect Record: What Wentz Has Done To The Bears
This Sunday marks Wentz’s 100th career start in the NFL, and it’s his fourth against the Bears specifically. He’s faced them once with Washington and three times during his Philadelphia days. The guy has owned them, plain and simple. In those four starts, Wentz boasts a 62.5 completion percentage, averaging 188.8 passing yards per game. He’s thrown five passing touchdowns and, get this, zero interceptions. His teams haven’t just won; they’ve dominated, taking down Chicago by an average score of 23.5 to 9.5.
Remember those games? We’re talking a 12-7 win with Washington in 2022, where he threw for 99 yards and zero TDs. Then there was the 22-14 victory with Philly in 2019 with 239 yards and one TD. The absolute rout at 31-3 in 2017 saw him throw for 227 yards and three TDs. And the solid 29-14 triumph in 2016 delivered 190 yards with one TD. He even picked up some rushing yards in each of those matchups. That’s a serious history of success.
A New Bears Threat And The Midwest Rain
But hold up. This isn’t the same Bears defense Wentz used to carve up. Ben Johnson’s influence showed last season, and they are not the defense-first franchise they’ve been known as for decades. We saw a 59-point explosion in Week 1, which means Wentz isn’t going to get the same defensive “help” where his teams only gave up an average of 9.5 points per game. That Chicago offense is clicking.
Then there’s the weather. Playing at Soldier Field in late September with a rainy forecast expected all weekend? That’s going to mess with Minnesota’s offense, no doubt. Wentz looked solid stepping in for Murray in Week 1, going 12 of 19 for 133 yards and a clutch three touchdowns. But depending on how gnarly that weather gets, the Vikings might need even more from their QB against Johnson’s high-powered attack. This game projects to be a high-level chess match between Johnson and Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, two of the best play callers in the sport.
The Stakes For Wentz: History In The Balance
So, this isn’t just about keeping a streak. Wentz is looking to snag his 50th career start victory, which would finally break his .500 career record as a starter. What a moment to do it, right? Facing a team he’s never lost to, but one that looks totally different now, in what’s shaping up to be a wet, grind-it-out game. It’s gonna be a battle, that’s for sure.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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