The game originally in the Sunday night slot was Pittsburgh at Jacksonville, a rematch of last season’s Divisional Round game that the Jaguars surprisingly won in the Steel City. The Steelers remain “prime-time worthy,” but the Jaguars are not, so NBC made the change.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

It’s a crucial game for both the Vikings and Bears. Detroit isn’t a threat in the NFC North, while Green Bay might not be either. Chicago will visit Minneapolis to close the regular season, and it’s easy to picture that as winner-take-all for the division.

This series tends to have one dominant side for several years. Right now, that’s the Vikings as they have won three straight and eight of the past 11. It was 20-17 in the Windy City on a Monday in Week 5 last year. That game was notable as the NFL debut of then-Bears rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. He struggled, including throwing a late interception that would lead to the Vikings’ winning field goal. Trubisky wasn’t much better in the 2017 finale at Minnesota, a 23-10 Bears loss. He’s a lot better in 2018.

Chicago’s last three wins in the series have been at Soldier Field. The home team is 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings enter off their bye and are one game back of the first-place Bears in the win column. Minnesota entered the break off a 24-9 home win over Detroit in which the team had a franchise-record 10 sacks. Danielle Hunter had 3.5 of them and leads the NFL with 11.5 sacks. Minnesota’s defence has really improved of late, allowing 18.8 points per game in the past five. The team allowed 27.5 points per game in the first four of the year.

Adam Thielen leads the NFL in receptions (78) and was first in receiving yards (947) entering Week 10 (since passed) but had his record streak of 100-yard games end at eight in the Lions win. He did have a TD catch for a sixth game in a row. Not too shabby for an undrafted free agent out of little-known Minnesota State.

Chicago Bears

The Bears ended a 10-game losing streak in the NFC North with an easy 34-22 home win over Detroit on Sunday. Trubisky was fantastic, throwing for 355 yards (career high) and three scores and rushing for another TD. He can be very inaccurate at times but he has put up a few monster games in his second season. Allen Robinson and pass-rushing star Khalil Mack both returned after missing two games injured. Robinson caught six passes for 133 yards and two scores, while Mack had two sacks.

The only negative on the day was kicker Cody Parkey almost impossibly hitting the upright on four kicks and missing: two on PATs and two on field goals. Never seen that before. Coach Matt Nagy says Parkey’s job is safe. Hmm. Parkey cost Chicago a game in Miami in Week 6 when he missed a potential winning field goal in overtime.

Weather

temp	33
condition	partly-cloudy
wind	Southwest 6mph

Injuries

Minnesota

Holton Hill (CB)

day-to-day Head - 30 / 12 / 18

C.J. Ham (FB)

Out Sun Elbow - 23 / 12 / 18

Sheldon Richardson (DT)

Ques Sun Hip - 10 / 12 / 18

Eric Kendricks (LB)

Prob Mon Ribs - 06 / 12 / 18

Brandon Zylstra (WR)

Ques Sun Undisclosed - 30 / 11 / 18

Mackensie Alexander (CB)

Ques Sun Knee - 29 / 11 / 18

Brian O'Neill (T)

Ques Sun Concussion - 26 / 11 / 18

Chad Beebe (WR)

Ques Sun Hamstring - 21 / 11 / 18

Ben Gedeon (LB)

Ques Sun Concussion - 21 / 11 / 18

Stephen Weatherly (DE)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 21 / 11 / 18

Chicago

Trey Burton (TE)

Out Sun Groin - 06 / 01 / 19

DeAndre Houston-Carson (S)

Prob Sun Ribs - 04 / 01 / 19

Eddie Jackson (S)

Ques Sun Shin - 08 / 12 / 18

Deon Bush (S)

Prob Sun Hamstring - 05 / 12 / 18

Akiem Hicks (DT)

Ques Sun Achilles - 28 / 11 / 18

Sherrick McManis (DB)

Prob Sun Hamstring - 28 / 11 / 18

Benny Cunningham (RB)

Prob Sun Ankle - 22 / 11 / 18

Mitchell Trubisky (QB)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 19 / 11 / 18

Javon Wims (WR)

Ques Sun Knee - 15 / 11 / 18

Dion Sims (TE)

I-R Concussion - 04 / 11 / 18

Injuries

Minnesota

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Holton Hill (CB)	day-to-day	Head - 30 / 12 / 18	1-0	0-1	+ -
Hill departed Sunday's game due to a head injury and it is unknown if he will return.
C.J. Ham (FB)	Out Sun	Elbow - 23 / 12 / 18	2-0	1-1	+ -
Ham was lifted from the last game with an elbow injury and will not participate in Sunday's matchup with the Bears.
Sheldon Richardson (DT)	Ques Sun	Hip - 10 / 12 / 18	2-2	1-3	+ -
Richardson was lifted from the previous game due to a hip injury and his availability for Sunday's matchup against the Dolphins is up in the air.
Eric Kendricks (LB)	Prob Mon	Ribs - 06 / 12 / 18	2-2	1-3	+ -
Kendricks has injured ribs but it is likely he will play Monday against the Seahawks.
Brandon Zylstra (WR)	Ques Sun	Undisclosed - 30 / 11 / 18	3-2	1-4	+ -
Zylstra has an undefined injury and it is unknown if he will suit up against the Patriots on Sunday.
Mackensie Alexander (CB)	Ques Sun	Knee - 29 / 11 / 18	3-2	1-4	+ -
Alexander hurt his knee and it is uncertain if he will appear in Sunday's game against the Patriots.
Brian O'Neill (T)	Ques Sun	Concussion - 26 / 11 / 18	3-3	2-4	+ -
O'Neill was lifted from the last game due to a concussion and it is unknown if he will pass the league-mandated protocol in time for Sunday's contest against the Patriots.
Chad Beebe (WR)	Ques Sun	Hamstring - 21 / 11 / 18	3-3	2-4	+ -
Beebe missed his fourth-straight game due to a hamstring injury and it is unknown if he will return to the lineup Sunday against the Lions.
Ben Gedeon (LB)	Ques Sun	Concussion - 21 / 11 / 18	3-3	2-4	+ -
Gedeon was absent from the lineup during the previous game due to a concussion and it is undetermined if he will be cleared in time for Sunday's matchup against the Patriots.
Stephen Weatherly (DE)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 21 / 11 / 18	3-3	2-4	+ -
Weatherly is dealing with a shoulder injury but is likely to play Sunday against the Packers.

Chicago

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Trey Burton (TE)	Out Sun	Groin - 06 / 01 / 19	1-0	0-1	+ -
Burton is hampered by a groin injury and will not be available against the Eagles in the NFC wild-card round.
DeAndre Houston-Carson (S)	Prob Sun	Ribs - 04 / 01 / 19	1-0	0-1	+ -
Houston-Carson is dealing with a rib injury but is likely to participate in the NFC wild-card round against the Eagles.
Eddie Jackson (S)	Ques Sun	Shin - 08 / 12 / 18	4-1	1-4	+ -
Jackson has a shin injury and his status for Sunday's matchup against the Rams is unknown.
Deon Bush (S)	Prob Sun	Hamstring - 05 / 12 / 18	4-1	1-4	+ -
Bush missed the last game due to a hamstring injury but is expected to play against the Packers on Sunday.
Akiem Hicks (DT)	Ques Sun	Achilles - 28 / 11 / 18	5-1	1-5	+ -
Hicks is tending to an Achilles injury and it is unknown if it will prevent him from lining up against the Giants on Sunday.
Sherrick McManis (DB)	Prob Sun	Hamstring - 28 / 11 / 18	5-1	1-5	+ -
McManis missed the last game with a hamstring injury but is likely to suit up against the Rams on Sunday.
Benny Cunningham (RB)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 22 / 11 / 18	6-1	2-5	+ -
Cunningham missed the last game with an ankle injury but is expected to take the field against the Rams on Sunday.
Mitchell Trubisky (QB)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 19 / 11 / 18	7-1	3-5	+ -
Trubisky has missed the previous two games dealing with an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder but it is likely he will take the field Sunday against the Rams.
Javon Wims (WR)	Ques Sun	Knee - 15 / 11 / 18	7-1	3-5	+ -
Wims has been sidelined with a knee injury and it is unknown if he will return for Sunday's game against the Vikings.
Dion Sims (TE)	I-R	Concussion - 04 / 11 / 18	9-1	4-6	+ -
Sims has been placed on injured reserve due to a concussion.

Vikings vs. Bears Prediction