The Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings collide for the second and last time this season. The Vikings won the first meeting between these teams, but the Bears looked a lot better in Week 17. Check out our preview below of this Bears-Vikings Week 18 matchup.
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Betting Preview for the Chicago Bears vs Minnesota Vikings Regular Season Week 18 Game on January 9, 2022
Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
When: Sunday, January 9, 2022, 1:00 PM ET
Line: Chicago Bears (+2.5) vs Minnesota Vikings (-2.5) – view all 2022 NFL lines
TV Broadcast: FOX
Betting on the Chicago Bears (+2.5)
Regular Season Record: 6-10
Chicago is on a mini-win streak. After beating the Seattle Seahawks in a come-from-behind 25-24 road win in Week 16, the Bears crushed the hapless New York Giants at home in Week 17, 29-3. Andy Dalton got the start for the Bears against the Giants and he proceeded to pass for 173 yards and a touchdown with an interception on 18/35 completions. Running back David Montgomery bulled his way through for 64 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns, albeit on 22 carries. It remains uncertain whether it’s going to be Dalton again who’ll start for the Bears in Week 18 or will it be rookie quarterback Justin Fields, who missed Week 17 with an ankle problem. In any case, look for Montgomery to have another production outing. The Vikings have one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. Montgomery had 60 rushing yards on 18 carries in the Bears’ 17-19 home loss to the Vikings back in Week 15.
The over is 3-1 in the Bears’ last four road games.
Betting on the Minnesota Vikings (-2.5)
Regular Season Record: 7-8
With the Vikings no longer in contention for a playoff spot, they can just go ahead and start Kellen Mond over either Sean Mannion or Kirk Cousins. Mannion got the start in the must-win Week 17 game against the Green Bay Packers but was basically ineffective. Cousins missed that crucial game as he was on the COVID-19 list. Meanwhile, running back Dalvin Cook could also get rested. If he does play, he will have a chance to rebound from a bad performance in the Green Bay game in which he didn’t even average 2.0 yards per carry. In the first meeting with Bears, though, Cook rushed 28 times for 89 yards. Defensively, Minnesota will look to recover its moxie after getting toyed by Aaron Rodgers. Minnesota forced three turnovers in the first meeting with Chicago and entered Week 17 11th in the NFL with 1.5 takeaways per game.
The Vikings are 2-1 against the spread in their last three home games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Vikings win, 21-17.
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