A key NFC North matchup will commence in this week's edition of Monday Night Football as the Chicago Bears host the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field. Can the Bears end their losing skid against the Vikings, or will Minnesota pile more misery on Chicago? Here's a breakdown of the Vikings vs Bears clash.
Minnesota Vikings installed as -3.5 favorites
The Minnesota Vikings remained in the hunt for the final wild-card spot in the NFC after pulling off a nerve-wracking 36-28 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 14. The Vikings are still outside the playoff picture in eighth place, but they now hold the same record as seventh-ranked Washington Football Team with both sides carrying similar 6-7 slates.
For the Vikings to extend their winning streak to two games against the Bears, they will need Dalvin Cook to continue his outstanding play. He punished the Steelers' defensive line all evening long, running for 205 yards and a couple of touchdowns on 27 carries. 153 of those rushing yards came in the opening half, setting a new franchise record for the Vikings.
Kirk Cousins has been tremendous for the Vikings this season despite their losing record, throwing for 3,569 yards and 27 touchdowns with just five interceptions. He looked out of sorts, though, in the game against the Steelers, throwing two interceptions that allowed the Steelers to nearly erase a monster 29-point deficit.
Cousins will look to make amends against a Chicago Bears team that is eighth in the NFL in passing defense, allowing just 216.5 yards per game through the air this season. One guy who is expected to be targeted by Cousins in Chicago is Justin Jefferson. He has been on fire of late, recording 656 receiving yards in his last five games. Jefferson caught seven passes for 79 yards and a score in the win against Pittsburgh.
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Chicago Bears enter Week 15 as +3.5 underdogs
The Chicago Bears lost for the seventh time in eight games, suffering a 45-30 defeat at the hands of the Green Bay Packers in Week 14. The Bears had no answer for nemesis Aaron Rodgers, who threw for 341 yards and four touchdowns.
It was another crushing defeat for the Bears, who are just 2-5 on the road this season. They trail Green Bay by six games in the NFC North following their loss in Week 14. To make matters worse for the Bears, they dropped to 15th place in the NFC with a woeful 4-9 record, putting their wild card hopes in jeopardy.
For the Bears to end their losing skid against the Vikings, they will need to get a much-improved showing from quarterback Justin Fields. He completed just 18 of 33 passes for 224 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in the loss to the Packers.
The Bears have struggled at home this season, winning just two of their six games at Soldier Field. The same can be said of the Vikings when they are on the road, losing five of their seven away games this campaign.
Writer's Prediction
Minnesota wins and covers the spread.
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