Holding onto the football has been a problem for the Vikings for much of the 2023 season.
And it might cost at least one running back some playing time.
The Vikings have lost 14 fumbles so far, more than any other team in the National Football League.
Two of them happened last week in a 21-20 loss at Denver that snapped Minnesota's five-game winning streak.
One of them, by Alexander Mattison, was a third-quarter momentum-changer that prevented the Vikings from taking a two-score lead and led to the Broncos closing to within five points.
"There's an accountability factor," said Dane Mizutani of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press, appearing on the WCCO Morning News with Vineeta Sawkar.
"I would not be surprised in Alexander Mattison has some sort of playing time repercussions for putting the ball on the ground last week," Mizutani said. "Maybe that means more carries for Ty Chandler."
Mattison became the Vikings' number one running back following the departure of Dalvin Cook and has started all 11 games this season.
He leads the team with 542 yards, while Chandler has 160 yards in limited play.
This comes as the Vikings need to resume winning to stay in the playoff race.
“They understand the week-in, week-out urgency,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said. “Preparation has been something we like to hang our hat on around here — make sure we understand that every moment matters.”
The Vikings also will prepare for Monday night without star wide receiver Justin Jefferson once again. He's been out for the last six games with a hamstring injury, but reports on Monday say the team will "play it safe" and keep him out of the lineup with a bye next week. That means Jefferson is expected to be 100% and fully healthy for the December 10 game in Las Vegas.
The Vikings remain alive for a spot in the playoffs with a 6-5 record, while the Bears are dead last in the NFC North with three wins and eight losses.
The teams met last month in Chicago, with the Vikings winning 19-13.
