The Chicago Bears face the Minnesota Vikings for the second time this season Monday night at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The Vikings won the first meeting 19-13 after Bears quarterback Justin Fields was knocked out of the game with a dislocated thumb. Now Fields is back to make his second start since the injury, and the Vikings (6-5) are trying to make a playoff push without starting quarterback Kirk Cousins.

As kickoff approaches, here’s our snapshot look at the game.

Player in the spotlight

Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs

Dobbs rightfully captured national interest as he jumped in during an injury crisis to help the Vikings win two of their last three games despite spending little time with the team.

After starting eight games for the Arizona Cardinals earlier this season, Dobbs joined the Vikings via trade Oct. 31 as they looked to fill the void left when Cousins went down with an Achilles injury.

The next Sunday, Dobbs — a seventh-year NFL veteran who majored in aerospace engineering at Tennessee — needed to play when rookie starter Jaren Hall suffered a concussion. The Vikings beat the Atlanta Falcons that day and the New Orleans Saints the next week before losing 21-20 to the Denver Broncos in Week 11.

Dobbs’ story, which includes spending time with five teams over the last calendar year and three this season, is impressive to Bears coaches and players.

“A lot of appreciation, a lot of respect for a guy that’s been on a journey like that,” defensive end Montez Sweat said. “I’ve got a lot of respect for it because I got traded in the middle of the year. I understand how that feels to go from team to team to team.”

With the Vikings, Dobbs has completed 63 of 96 passes for 647 yards with four touchdowns and one interception and has rushed for 131 yards and three touchdowns with six fumbles.

The Bears defense, which looks to build on three interceptions in Week 11, is cognizant of Dobbs’ smarts and mobility.

“Definitely a quarterback that can extend plays,” linebacker Tremaine Edmunds said. “Getting the job done throwing the ball, running the football, all types of ways. Anytime you have a guy back there that’s dual-threat like that, obviously it presents a lot of challenges.”

Pressing question

Can the Bears bounce back — and finish?

The talk all week at Halas Hall was about how the Bears would recover from a rough Week 11 loss in which the Detroit Lions came back to win 31-26 after trailing by 12 points with less than five minutes to go.

Coach Matt Eberflus said he addressed the “painful” nature of the loss Monday and challenged his players to rebound by Wednesday’s practice.

“You’ve got to really think about your body and your spirit. Get your body right, get the spirit right to come back Wednesday,” Eberflus said. “That was my charge to those guys, to make sure they rejuvenate to get ready to go and have passion when they come into the building and enthusiasm to really put it out on the practice field. … They were driven, they were determined and they were locked in.”

Safety Jaquan Brisker said “guys seem a little pissed off, seem like they want to play the next game, play the next practice.”

Quarterback Justin Fields, who returned from his thumb injury to throw for 169 yards and rush for 104 against the Lions, said he thought the Bears showed who they were through the first 3 1/2 quarters. But they need to show it through four, and they need to do it against a Vikings defense that gave Fields fits in the first meeting.

“Focus on finishing better and finishing out the game when it counts and when a drive comes up, making that big play when it matters,” Fields said. “The Vikings have been playing great these past few weeks. Definitely excited for the opportunity we have on Monday night to go out there and ball out.”

Keep an eye on …

Justin Jefferson’s status

The Bears didn’t have to face the All-Pro Vikings wide receiver in the first meeting. Jefferson suffered a strained right hamstring the week before, and the Vikings put him on injured reserve. He has been on IR since but practiced in a limited capacity this past week.

The Vikings listed him as questionable for Monday’s game. Jefferson told Minneapolis reporters that his absence, now at six games heading into Week 12, has been frustrating as he and the team try to make sure he’s fully recovered.

If Jefferson sits out Monday, he would have an extra week of recovery because of the Vikings’ Week 13 bye, which coach Kevin O’Connell noted to reporters Saturday.

“It’s tough to be patient and try to make sure that an injury heals properly,” Jefferson told reporters. “It’s definitely not something I want to do, but it comes with the game, it comes with trying to be healthy, trying to be 100% and (following) the safe route.”

In six career games against the Bears, Jefferson has 41 catches for 585 yards and two touchdowns.

Tight end T.J. Hockenson (75 catches, 736 yards) and wide receiver Jordan Addison (48 catches, 647 yards, seven touchdowns) have led the Vikings with Jefferson sidelined.

Eberflus said the Bears would prepare as if Jefferson is playing and adjust if he doesn’t.

“You’re always mindful of what the other team is doing and saying,” Eberflus said of monitoring the Vikings’ comments from afar. “We’ll see where it is. Certainly a great player. One of the best receivers in the business. We’ve worked on if he is and if he isn’t (playing). We’ll be ready.”

Rookie corners

Bears rookie cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, who had an interception and a forced fumble against the Lions, tweaked his ankle at practice Saturday in the Walter Payton Center and is listed as questionable to play against the Vikings.

Eberflus said the Bears still were evaluating the severity of the injury to Stevenson, who has weathered ups and downs during his first 11 games.

“You play corner in the NFL as a rookie, they’re going to highlight you and they’re going to come at you the first half of the season,” Eberflus said. “They’re going to test your water and see what it’s like, and I think he has responded. He’s had some battles. He’s lost some of those battles. He’s won a good portion of those.

“You have to keep learning and put it in your file so you become a better pro. What’s really good about him is he plays one play at a time. He flushes the play and goes to the next one, good bad or indifferent. You have to have a short memory and keep moving.

“Every single week, every single down, it’s a different set of people you’re covering. Everybody puts a different set of circumstances in front of you in terms of their skill level. He’s learned how to adapt his skill to the people he’s covering and what’s effective against that particular receiver.”

Rookie cornerback Terell Smith, who was coming back from mononucleosis, played 13 of the Bears defense’s 62 snaps against the Lions as the team wants to make sure he gets experience. Smith could be in line to play more if Stevenson is limited.

“He’s mature beyond his years,” Eberflus said of Smith. “He takes things in stride. He takes coaching really well. … He really soaks everything in. He’s technique-sound, fundamentally sound and he’s got really good speed. We like his size, being able to play against bigger receivers.”

Injury report

Along with Stevenson’s status, the Bears will monitor running back D’Onta Foreman (ankle/shin) and offensive tackle Larry Borom (illness), both listed as doubtful. Linebacker Noah Sewell is out with a knee injury.

Center Lucas Patrick (back) and fullback Khari Blasingame (shoulder) are good to play. Eberflus also said linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, who was on a snap count against the Lions, should be back to full strength Monday.

For the Vikings, Jefferson (hamstring), cornerback Akayleb Evans (calf) and defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga (knee) are questionable.

Predictions

Brad Biggs (7-4)

It seems counterintuitive to pick the Bears in a road game with a hostile crowd against a defense that thoroughly flustered Justin Fields in the first meeting. But the Bears can learn plenty of things from that experience and their offensive line has been better of late. Eventually they’re bound to break through against an NFC North foe. This seems like it could be the spot.

Bears 24, Vikings 20

Colleen Kane (7-4)

Which Bears will show up Monday? The team that forced four turnovers on defense and special teams and looked competent on offense for 3 1/2 quarters against the Lions? Or the one that frittered away a 12-point lead in the final five minutes in Detroit? Or both! The previous meeting with the Vikings — and the offense’s struggles in that game — should make me pick the Vikings. So should the Bears’ proven ability to blow winnable games. But the early showing against the Lions has stuck with me enough to believe the Bears’ two-year NFC North losing streak finally might end.

Bears 24, Vikings 21

Dan Wiederer (8-3)

For 55 minutes last week, the Bears played winning football. They were sharp offensively, aggressive on defense and played with a belief they could compete against a high-quality opponent. Then it all unraveled. A great opportunity to respond awaits in Minneapolis. But until the Bears consistently show an ability to excel in the late stages of close games, it’s hard to pick them to excel in the late stages of a close game.

Vikings 23, Bears 20

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