Sep 8, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Stephon Gilmore (2) warms up before the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings have won six straight, bouncing back beautifully after losing two games following their Week 6 bye.
This week’s injury report is much more promising than last week’s, which featured seven questionable or ruled-out players. Week 15 is nothing compared to that.
Next up is the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football, a club that has faceplanted in the last six weeks.
Minnesota’s injury report, on the whole, is fairly reasonable this go-round.
These are each team’s injured players one day before Week 15.
Aaron Jones (RB), Patrick Jones II (OLB), Andrew Van Ginkel (OLB), and Josh Oliver (TE) were sprinkled a bit on the injury report this week but carry no injury designation to Week 13.
Long-term Injuries
Josh Blackwell (CB), Elijah Hicks (S), and Travis Homer (RB) were limited in practice this week but will enter Sunday with no injury designation.
The Vikings are seven-point favorites to defeat the Bears in Week 15. The Vikings have won six of their last seven matchups against Chicago.
The Vikings remain in second place inside the NFC North, one game back of the Detroit Lions, a club that is straight crushing it right now. In fact, sportsbooks believe the Lions will win the Super Bowl.
Minnesota’s Super Bowl probability has climbed from +8000 to +1700 in the last three months, a signal that oddsmakers are beginning to buy what the purple team is selling. Nobody anywhere predicted Minnesota to be 11-2 at this point on the calendar. Instead, most would’ve guessed a mark closer to .500.
The Bears are merely seeking something positive after losing seven straight contests. The last time Chicago won a game was mid-October in London.
Chicago’s defense is a Top 12 group in the NFL per EPA/Play, but the offense has fallen on harsh times since the London game, resulting in former head coach Matt Eberflus’ termination. The offense ranks 24th per EPA/Play.
With a win on Monday night, Minnesota can clinch a playoff berth. Otherwise, if the Vikings’ foremost foe, the Green Bay Packers, beats the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football, the purple team will clinch before MNF.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.