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Vikings vs. Bears By the Numbers

By Sean Borman

Image courtesy of Vikings.com

Week 17 – Vikings vs. Bears

The Vikings have won the division for the second time in three years. The Bears have finished last in the NFC North for three straight seasons.

A win by Minnesota secures a first-round bye in the playoffs. A win by the Bears secures a lower (worse) draft pick.

According to NFL.com the Vikings have a 15.9% chance of making Super Bowl 52 in their home stadium on February 4th. The Bears are 5-10 and currently sit at ninth in the 2018 NFL Draft order.

The two teams, heading in polar opposite directions, face off Sunday in the 2017 regular season finale. It’s obvious which squad is the favorite, but let’s take a look at how the division rivals stack up by the numbers.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Minnesota’s home record is 6-1. The Vikings have won two in a row and are 4-1 in their last five games.

Offensive ranks:

  • Total offense = 10th (358.9 YPG)
  • Passing = 13th (238.2 YPG)
  • Rushing = 8th (120.7 YPG)
  • Scoring = 10th (23.9 PPG)

Defensive ranks:

  • Total defense = 1st (280.9 YPG)
  • Passing = 2nd (193.8 YPG)
  • Rushing = 2nd (87.1 YPG)
  • Scoring = 1st (16.1 PPG)

Offensive leaders:

  • Passing – QB Case Keenum: 3,358 yards with 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions
  • Rushing – RB Latavius Murray: 731 yards with six touchdowns
  • Receiving – WR Adam Thielen: 1,215 yards with four touchdowns

Defensive leaders:

  • Tackles – MLB Eric Kendricks: 109
  • Sacks – DE Everson Griffen: 13
  • Interceptions – S Harrison Smith: 5

CHICAGO BEARS

Chicago’s road record is 2-5.

Offensive ranks:

  • Total offense = 30th (293.2 YPG)
  • Passing = 31st (176.0 YPG)
  • Rushing = 11th (117.2 YPG)
  • Scoring = 29th (16.9 PPG)

Defensive ranks:

  • Total defense = 8th (318.6 YPG)
  • Passing = 8th (213.1 YPG)
  • Rushing = 9th (105.5 YPG)
  • Scoring = 10th (19.8 PPG)

Offensive leaders:

  • Passing – QB Mitchell Trubisky: 2,015 yards with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions
  • Rushing – RB Jordan Howard: 1,113 yards with nine touchdowns
  • Receiving – WR Kendall Wright: 585 yards with one touchdown

Defensive leaders:

  • Tackles – LB Christian Jones: 87
  • Sacks – DE Akiem Hicks: 8.5
  • Interceptions – Three players (CB Kyle Fuller, S Eddie Jackson, CB Bryce Callahan): tied at 2

Noteworthy Stats

  • Chicago’s offense is last in the NFL in red zone attempts.
  • Minnesota’s offense is third in the NFL in third-down completion percentage (43.8%). Chicago’s offense is 24th (36.3%).
  • Minnesota’s defense is first in the NFL in third-down completion percentage (26.3%). Chicago’s defense is 21st (39.3%).

The Vikings and Bears showdown is at noon today.

Sean Borman

Sean Borman is a writer with Minnesota roots that's a Vikings optimist. He was an intern with the Vikings during college and is an IT nerd by day. You can find him on the golf course during summer and on Twitter @SeanBormanNFL.

Tags: adam thielen Akien Hicks Bryce Callahan case keenum Christian Jones Eddie Jackson Eric Kendricks everson griffen harrison smith Jordan Howard kendall wright Kyle Fuller Latavius Murray Mike Zimmer Mitchell Trubisky

View Comments

  • A 15.9% chance of getting to the Super Bowl? Being that their chance of getting a 1st round bye is about 98% , and doing so puts them in the final 4 of the NFC... I'd have to put the percentage at 25% at the very least.

  • 13-1. great regular season! congratulations vikings!!

    now we get to rest up. let's finish the job. HAAAAAAA!!!!!!

    i am so stoked!

  • Yeah pretty exciting, Cal. Amazing what happens when we get an o-line to work behind. This defense is pretty darn tough, hope they can keep it up through the post season.

    • Well I'll be darned.... Coach! The defense seems to be in top form, that alone gives us a real chance to beat anyone. Plus I'm just waiting on turnovers to start coming, the playoffs would be a grand time for that to happen.
      The offense needs to stop shootin themselves in the foot, penalties and negative plays. You are right... the O-line is the #1 reason for most of the success. Plus we have a QB that can make plays and throw past the sticks on 3rd down.
      Good to see you're still breathing... don't be a stranger.

  • Glad to see a couple familiar posters are still here, Cal and Cart. The recovery process for open heart surgery is no picnic, but the results have been tremendous, and if the Vikes are gonna take it all this year, I will certainly need a healthy ticker to deal with it. Skol!

    • Coach! So very good to hear you're still around. I believe we're the same age and good job on getting that ticker fixed! My worst fear, dying before my Vikes win the big one! Good to see you around!

      • Thanks Fran. Good to see you guys still around. Yeah, we gotta get one here. I saw Jerry Burns at the Mayo Clinic last fall - he really deserves a title before his days end. And my dad too, at 88, probably not many more chances for him to see us win the big one. I think we're good enough that it will come down to turnovers and health. I think Zimmer has a pretty good idea on how to defend any of the teams we'll face, and Shurmur the same with the O. Skol!

    • very good to hear from you, coach, and glad you're doing well. our vikes are good enough to win it all this year!

      • Thanks, Cal. Yup, with a defense like this, I like our chances, too. And Zimmer is the real deal, really like the frame of mind he creates. Much will depend on how healthy our O-line gets in the next few days - we need that unit as healthy as possible

  • Well it's good to hear from you. Awesome that you're doing well after that. Let's hope they take it easy on us this postseason.