Vikings vs. Bears: Odds and Ends
Drew Mahowald
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The Minnesota Vikings are 11.5-point favorites for their Week 17 NFC North home matchup with the Chicago Bears, according to MyBookie.
For readers from the UK: Check out betting lines for American football matches at William Hill.
The line is the largest spread in favor of the Vikings all season long. The previous high was 10 points when Minnesota traveled to London to play the Cleveland Browns.
Minnesota enters Sunday’s contest needing a win to secure the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs. Chicago, meanwhile, is in rebuilding mode behind starting quarterback and rookie No. 2 overall pick Mitchell Trubisky and enters Sunday with a 5-10 record.
The Vikings would still likely secure the No. 2 seed if they lose Sunday thanks to a plethora of additional teams that would have to lose, including the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams — both of which hold playoff spots already.
Minnesota’s defense jumped to No. 1 in both fewest points allowed and fewest yards allowed following the Week 16 shutout of the Packers. Mike Zimmer’s defense also has allowed the fewest passing touchdowns in the NFL this season. Meanwhile, Minnesota’s offense is holding steady at 10th in both points scored and yards accumulated.
Chicago boasts a talented defense that has hovered around the Top 10 in several significant statistical categories all year. Vic Fangio’s unit ranks 10th in points allowed and eighth in yards allowed while tallying the most fumble turnovers of any defense in the NFL. The Bears offense has not been as successful, ranking 29th and 30th in points scored and yards accumulated, respectively. However, the running back combo of Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen has the Bears 11th in both rushing yards and yards per carry.
Matchup History
The Vikings lead the all-time matchup with a 59-52-2 in 113 meetings. Since 2013, the Vikings are 6-3 against the Bears, thanks to winning five of the last six matchups.
In the most recent meeting, the Vikings squeaked by the Bears 20-17 at Soldier Field thanks to a late-game interception by Harrison Smith that led to a game-winning field goal by Kai Forbath.
TV Info
Kickoff Time: Noon CST
Station: FOX
Commentators: Kevin Burkhardt and Charles Davis
Injury Report
Vikings
Minnesota’s biggest hit to the injury report is long snapper Kevin McDermott, who was placed on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury. David Morgan filled in as a stopgap long snapper last week against Green Bay and the Vikings signed long snapper Jeff Overbaugh to replace McDermott for the season.
Rookie center Pat Elflein has been ruled out this week also due to a shoulder injury. Reports suggest that this is more of a precautionary measure to assure he is ready to go in the playoffs.
OUT: C Pat Elflein, LS Kevin McDermott, DT Shamar Stephen, CB Tramaine Brock
Bears
Chicago’s already-decimated offensive line with likely be without two more starters on Sunday as guard Josh Sitton and tackle Bobby Massey are listed as doubtful.
DOUBTFUL: G Josh Sitton, T Bobby Massey
QUESTIONABLE: S DeAndre Houston-Carson, TE Adam Shaheen
Prediction
Minnesota still has yet to officially lock up the No. 2 seed in the NFC, so it’s best to assume Mike Zimmer will have his team competing just like every other week. Chicago has been drilled all season by a lethal combination of devastating injuries and poor coaching — particularly on the offensive side of the ball.
The Vikings are the superior team playing in one of the strongest home-field advantages in the NFL. This game won’t get out of hand like the Bengals game did, thanks to a solid Bears defense, but the Vikings should handle their business and get the win.
Vikings 23, Bears 10