1:02 pm
January 9

Bears @ Vikings

Who will WIN this matchup?

Chicago Bears (6-10)

@ Minnesota Vikings (7-9)

 

Current odds:

Chicago Bears: (+170)

Minnesota Vikings: (-200)

 

• The spread for the game is Minnesota by 4 points.

• The Vikings (7-9) have lost four of their past six games and will miss the playoffs for the third time in four seasons. That could spell trouble for longtime head coach Mike Zimmer, who is in his eighth year with the franchise. Zimmer is 71-56-1 with Minnesota but has won only two playoff games — one in 2017 and the other in 2019. In the past four years, the Vikings have gone 32-31-1.

• Meanwhile, the Bears (6-10) are coming off back-to-back wins, but that wasn’t enough to prevent the organization from missing the playoffs for the ninth time in 11 years. Head coach Matt Nagy went 12-4 in his first season in 2018 but has not surpassed .500 since then. Both coaches are focused on getting another win with their team, even if it is the final one.

• Zimmer announced this week that Kirk Cousins would return to his starting role at quarterback after sitting out Week 17 while in COVID-19 protocol. Cousins has passed for 3,971 yards, 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions on the season, putting him on the cusp of reaching the 4,000-yard milestone for the sixth time in his 10-year career. Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson will try to add to his team-high 103 catches for 1,509 yards as he wraps up a terrific sophomore season. Linebacker Eric Kendricks already has posted a career high in tackles (143) and sacks (five).

• As for Chicago, rookie Justin Fields is expected to start at quarterback for the first time since Dec. 20 — when he also faced the Vikings. Fields completed 26 of 39 passes for 285 yards and a touchdown that day, but Minnesota prevailed 17-9 in Chicago. Fields could look toward wideout Darnell Mooney, who needs 71 receiving yards to notch his first 1,000-yard season. Bears pass rusher Robert Quinn also has a chance to build on his franchise record of 18 sacks this season, but he was held out of practice Wednesday because of a shoulder injury.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Minnesota Vikings
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