The Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears are both trailing the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North, but of the two, it’s the Vikings who have a better shot at catching Aaron Rodgers and crew. The Vikings arrive at Soldier Field this coming Sunday on the heels of two-straight wins. As for the Bears, they’re sitting on a 2-4 record after losing to fellow division punching bag Detroit in Week 6. Will the Vikings make it three in a row? Or will the Bears ambush Minnesota?
For more Week 8 game previews, you can also read our breakdown of Lions vs. Chiefs and Packers vs. Broncos.
[sc:Football ]Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears Preview and Prediction
Where: Soldier Field, Chicago
When: Sunday, November 1, 1:00 PM ET
Line: Minnesota Vikings (-1) vs. Chicago Bears (+1); total: 42.5 – see all NFL lines
TV Broadcast: FOX
Betting on the Minnesota Vikings (4-2)
[sc:NFL240banner ]The Green Bay Packers appear to have a stranglehold of the top spot of the NFC North, but the Vikings are doing a fine job of keeping within strking distance while waiting for Aaron Rodgers and company to slip. With a road game against the lowly Chicago Bears on tap, Teddy Bridgewater and the Vikings have a chance of moving even closer to the top of the division.
In their most recent outing, the Vikings defeated Detroit, 28-19, in a game where Bridgewater was a yard short of tying his career-high in passing yards. The second-year quarterback was a picture of composure in the pocket as he passed for 316 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.
Bridgewater, however, was sacked four times for a loss of 31 yards. With a newfound weapon in Stefon Diggs, Bridgewater will look to carry this fine performance on the road next week in Chicago, where the Vikings are a horrendous 0-7 SU in their last seven games there.
Diggs proved that he’s more than just a flash in the pan in the Detroit game, wherein he caught six passes for 108 yards and a touchdown. For those keeping count, the rookie out of Maryland has 237 receiving yards on 13 catches over the last two games.
Chicago is sixth in passing defense, but that that’s mostly because opponents are instead trying to run the ball against the Bears’ stop unit that allows 124.8 rushing yards per game. That’s music to the ears of Adrian Peterson, who’ll run circles around that defense all day. Purple Jesus has rushed for 530 yards and three touchdowns on the season.
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Betting on the Chicago Bears (2-4)
Chicago’s two-game win streak ended in Detroit in Week 6, as the Bears lost to the Lions in overtime, 37-34. With a bye in Week 7, the well-rested Bears take on the Vikings, whom they have defeated in seven of their last 10 meetings dating back to 2010.
The Bears, however, need more than a long layoff to get back in the win column against Minnesota. For one, they’ll have to find a way to convert in third-down opportunities. Against Detroit, the Bears were only 6-for-14 in third downs. Furthermore, the Bears are just 25th in the league in red-zone conversions thus far this season.
If anything, the return of Alshon Jeffery will help boost Chicago’s offense. Jeffery, who missed four straight games after Week 1 because of hamstring troubles, got back on field against Detroit and proceeded to record 147 receiving yards and a touchdown on eight catches.
With Jeffery down field, Minnesota’s defense may take some off their focus away from Matt Forte, who’s carried a big load on offense while Jeffery has been out. Forte, who rushed for 71 yards on 18 carries against Detroit, tops the team with 507 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Chicago’s defense, meanwhile, has to avoid getting burned on the air once again. The Bears allowed 391 passing yards in the Detroit game with Calvin Johnson and Lance Moore brushing aside Chicago’s inept secondary. For the record, the Bears’ scoring defense is 31st in the league with 29.8 points allowed per contest.
Writer’s Prediction
Minnesota (-1) wins, 35-24.
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