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Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings battle of top defenses

It is quite possible that the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings boast the two best defenses in the NFL.

The problem with statistics this early in the season is the sample size from three games against different opponents is just too small to form any definitive conclusions. But there is little denying these two groups are as loaded with star power as any in the league.

For Minnesota, Linval Joseph, Xavier Rhodes and Harrison Smith are all-pro talents, and Danielle Hunter, Anthony Barr and Everson Griffen all have legit Pro Bowl ability.

In Chicago, Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, Kyle Fuller and Eddie Jackson are among the best at their positions, and Eddie Goldman, Roquan Smith, Leonard Floyd and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix are Pro Bowl-level competitors.

Going into Sunday's game at Soldier Field, the Vikings rank 12th in total defense and eighth in average gain per play, 13th vs. the run, 11th vs. the pass, seventh in QB sack percentage, 10th in interception percentage, sixth in third-down conversions allowed and tied for fifth in points allowed.

The Bears are eighth in total ‘D,' fifth vs. the run, 14th vs. the pass, sixth in QB sack percentage, seventh in interception percentage, third getting off the field allowing just 22.9% conversions on third down and third in points allowed.

Obviously, these two defenses are tough to split, and the significance here is that with both clubs having flawed offenses and little or barely more than no confidence in their quarterbacks, the defense that performs the best Sunday is almost certain to be on the winning side.

If there is a plus for either club, it almost has to favor the Bears because of their slight edge in game-changing playmakers, led of course by Mack.

I can't imagine anyone arguing that Mack, Aaron Donald and J.J. Watt aren't the three best defensive players in the game, and choosing one is kind of like deciding between chocolate, vanilla and strawberry.

All are great, and the winner is strictly a question of taste.

Bears defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano spoke Thursday about the influence Mack has on the rest of the Bears' defense.

“It's huge. I mean, it's blood in the water,” Pagano said. “When that stuff starts to go, it's momentum, for your entire defense, for your entire team. You can feed off of that.

“They say the speed of the lead determines the rate of the pack. Everybody's just trying to keep up and match his intensity and match his play. He's a humble, humble guy. He just wants to win. He wants his teammates to do well.”

Hunter and Smith for the Vikings have similar big-play ability, but neither as of yet has taken over games the way Mack does.

As Bears head coach Matt Nagy explains it, “He helps everybody else out, he's a multiplier, and he can make us good coaches. They (superstars) change the game.”

That, however, is definitely not to say Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky and Co. can sleep for a second on the Vikings' ‘D.'

The Bears did defeat Minnesota twice convincingly last year, but neither game was a rout. Nagy said the key was executing against that Vikings defense on third down.

“You have to do that against these guys, (who) are really good on third down,” Nagy said. “So you want to have a clean third-down plan, you want to be smart with that.”

There is one other edge for the Bears: no soft spots. Their defense is outstanding at all three levels.

The Bears boast one of the best 30 fronts in the NFL and a ton of options when they go to 40 in their sub packages, one of the NFL's best secondaries and almost certainly the NFL's best four-man linebacking crew.

The Vikings, I believe, have the best four-man defensive line in football, and their secondary, if not better than the Bears, is deeper.

But while Anthony Barr is a very good SAM linebacker, as a group he, Eric Kendricks and Ben Gedeon are good but not great, and that's sure to be where the Bears try to attack.

We know running back Dalvin Cook will be the Vikings' main weapon, and a special one, but where to attack the Bears with him is a real puzzle.

• Hub Arkush, the executive editor of Pro Football Weekly, can be reached at harkush@profootballweekly.com or on Twitter @Hub_Arkush.

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