Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings Preview
This week’s Monday Night Football spectacle is the NFC North derby between the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears. A win is an absolute must for both sides, otherwise, the playoff chances will shrink in the Bears’ case or disappear in Minnesota’s. Even though the Vikes have a poorer record than the Bears, they are the favorites to win the game. It appears that Zimmer’s side is going upwards at the moment, while Chicago stagnates. The guests from the Windy City are very vulnerable in the attack recently, which is the reason for their three consecutive defeats.
- Where: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- When: Monday, November 16, 8:25 pm ET
- How to Watch: ESPN
Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings Odds
| Team | Spread | Total Points |
|---|---|---|
| Bears | +3 | 43.5 |
| Vikings | -3 | 43.5 |
Foles to Step Up Or…
The Bears have three straight defeats, during which Nick Foles threw four touchdowns and had three interceptions. We need to be honest here and say that sometimes, he looks just like Mitch Trubisky. The former Super Bowl champion and MVP are mediocre now, and that is the harsh reality for all Chicago’s fans.
Foles is way below the expected level, and there wasn’t any improvement since he took over the starting QB position from the former No.2 pick.
The defense is the only bright spot of Matt Nagy’s side, as they allow just 21.1 points, per game. But what good is that once their offensive crew contributes with 19.8 points per night, with lousy 82.3 points per contest.
Vikes Searching For Third in a Row
Minnesota defeated divisional rivals in the previous two games, starting this mini-stretch of games against the most hated opponents with a win in Green Bay, 28-22, and after that trashing the Lions at home, 34-20.
Dalvin Cook is the guy who needs to be credited for all this. He had 369 rushing yards in these contests, with 5 scores on the ground, adding 109 receiving yards and one TD. So, he is single-handedly carrying Minnesota on his shoulders.
Will he manage to repeat the same performances against the ferocious Bears’ defense, we don’t know. One thing is sure, he needs to have at least one more teammate beside him in order to take down the Bears.
Kirk Cousins is solid, not elite, but ok for now; Adam Thielen is hybernating the same as Kyle Rudolph. One of these needs to take responsibility and help Cook.
Head to Head Matches
The Bears have four wins in a row against the Vikes, which gives them a certain dose of confidence. Last year’s matchup at Soldier Field ended with their narrow triumph, 21-19.
Prediction
The Vikes are favorites mainly because of the positive attitude inside the locker room. Recent two wins improved Minnesota’s morale, and they come into Monday’s game fired up, wanting not just to beat the big rival and snap a four-game drought against them, but also revive its playoff chances. Odds on the Vikings’ triumph are -170, and that is pretty solid for the current situation having all the factors in mind.
