MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT CHICAGO BEARS

BY ADAM GREENE

It’s a classic NFC North match up that would be forgettable if not for the minor postseason implications for one of the teams. For whatever reason, Monday Night Football has not flexed out of broadcasting the contest between the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.

The Vikings are still alive in the NFC playoff hunt, just a game out of the Wild Card seeds, but would need some help, even with a victory, to sneak in. While Chicago remains mathematically alive for a postseason berth, it’s more of a mocking “alive” and even if they win out, it’s probably not happening. Way too many crazy scenarios would have to play out and no one in Chicago (outside of maybe Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace) wants that.

This is the 121^st meeting between the two franchises since 1961. Minnesota leads the series 61-57-2, but has lost six of the last seven as Nagy apparently has both Mike Zimmer and Kirk Cousins’ numbers. I don’t understand it either. They last met on Dec. 20 last season with Chicago claiming a 33-27 victory. Mitchell Trubisky, now the No. 2 QB in Buffalo, threw for 202 yards, one touchdown and one interception. David Montgomery rushed 32 times for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Kirk Cousins was good for 271 yards, two TDs and a pick. Dalvin Cook had 24 carries for 132 yards and a touchdown. Justin Jefferson hauled in eight catches for 104 yards.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT CHICAGO BEARS (+5.5, O/U: 44.5)

Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill.

Broadcast: ESPN

Kickoff: Dec. 20, 8:15 p.m.

MINNESTOA VIKINGS (6-7)

Minnesota halted a two game skid thanks to a 36-28 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers last Thursday. Cousins finished 14 of 31 for 216 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Cook rushed 27 times with one arm for 205 yards and two TDs. K.J. Osborn caught three passes for 83 yards and a score. Jefferson had seven grabs for 79 yards and touchdown. The Vikings defense sacked Ben Roethlisberger five times and intercepted him once.

CHICAGO BEARS (4-9)

The Bears teased us all by taking an early lead over the Green Bay Packers, but fell 45-30 because Aaron Rodgers’ paternity claim is ironclad. Justin Fields was 18 of 33 for 224 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions and added 74 yards on the ground. Damiere Byrd caught two passes for 76 yards and a touchdown. Chicago’s defense sacked Rodgers three times.

THE PICK

This line bumped up two points seemingly overnight which tells me people ware way too hot on Minnesota for how they historically perform in and against Chicago. I have no faith in Vikes head coach Mike Zimmer or Cousins at all. The best thing about both these teams is they should all fire their coaching staffs and clear out their front offices before the final whistle of the season stops echoing. Bears 24, Vikings 23

Last week

Straight up: 8-6

Against the spread: 7-7

Season

Straight up: 124-83-1

Against the spread: 106-102

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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