(3) Limit explosive plays on defense.

The Vikings are the only NFL team to have two players with at least seven touchdowns this season: Justin Jefferson (75 catches for 1,170 yards and 7 touchdowns) and Jordan Addison (44-708-7), who combined for five touchdowns. Passes caught in last Sunday’s 42-21 win over Atlanta. Both are downfield threats that can lead to impactful plays.

Jefferson is one of only four receivers in NFL history to amass 1,000 yards in each of his first five seasons, and he is the third fastest to reach 7,000 yards in his career.

“I mean, he’s a problem,” Brown said. “I don’t think anyone necessarily has a real answer to how to stop elite players, so I’m not going to pretend we have a magic formula because there isn’t one. I think it’s the understanding of controlling these games and winning one-on-one battles, but also the mix of coverage will play a big role in trying to keep these guys off balance bring, the more you talk about the passing game, the more you can influence that up front and influence the quarterback, that obviously negates what a receiver can do.

The Bears limited Jefferson to just two catches for 27 yards on Nov. 24, but Addison had eight catches for 162 yards and a TD and tight end TJ Hockenson added seven catches for 114 yards.

“(Jefferson) is an explosive player, but they have a balanced offense,” Washington said. “You have other players who can really hurt you. The tight end position, the complementary receivers. Obviously he’s a person who can tear the roof off, who can blow the top of the cover, who can work at the bottom. But “At the same time, you can’t sell out everything you do to influence a player and then compromise on what you have to do to actually get off the field and win a football game.”