Windy City Gridiron
The Chicago Bears in prime time, how poorly will this go?
The Chicago Bears are once again hitting the road for a big game with little expectations.
It’s what happens when you lose seven games in a row.
And unfortunately, I’m not seeing a lot in the way of hope from the fanbase either.
The team appeared to pack it in last week against the 49ers. If that’s the kind of effort that fans can expect to see, there isn’t anything to get up for this week.
It’s all just a slog and a countdown to the end of the season.
Let’s hope the Bears turn in some kind of effort to make the game worth watching. Otherwise, it will just be another national embarrassment for the Bears.
Oh, and the Minnesota Vikings are playing to clinch a playoff spot. So they have everything to play for, while Chicago has nothing.
Minnesota Vikings
SB Nation site: Daily Norseman
Record: 11-2, second in the NFC North
Last week: 42-21 win over the Falcons
Game day, time, TV: Monday, 7 p.m. CT, ABC
Spread: The Bears are 7-point underdogs.
Bears all-time record against: 58-69-2 (including postseason)
Historical meetings: Week 15, 2007. Monday Night Football in Minneapolis.
The 5-8 Bears and 7-6 Vikings met.
This was not a quarterback match for the ages. Neither QB threw a touchdown, but Kyle Orton threw one interception against Tarvaris Jackson’s three.
The Bears took a halftime lead thanks to two Robbie Gould field goals and a Jason McKie score. That score was set up by Nathan Vasher’s 34-yard return of an interception.
Unfortunately for Chicago, that was all of the offense they could muster. In the second half Minnesota scored twice, both rushes by Adrian Peterson.
The Bears lost 20-13.
Last meeting: Back in week 12, the Bears mounted a furious fourth quarter comeback, coming back from 14 points down to send the game to OT.
They even converted an onside kick that bounced off of a Vikings player.
But in overtime, Caleb Williams was sacked for a 12-yard loss, and the Bears ended up punting the ball away and never got it back.
The Vikings won 30-27.
Injury report: The Vikings had four players on their initial injury report.
Did not participate
Limited participation
Offense: The Vikings offense comes into the game ranked ninth in points and 11th in yards.
Their passing offense ranks 8th and their rushing offense ranks 17th.
Sam Darnold (68.4 pct cmp/3,299 yds./28 TD/10 INT) hasn’t thrown an interception in four games.
Justin Jefferson (75 rec./1,175 yds./7 TD) and Jordan Addison (44/708/7) sure help make things easier. Behind them are Aaron Jones (37/302/2), T.J. Hockenson (27/299/0), TE Josh Oliver (20/242/3) and WR Jalen Nailor (18/270/5).
On the ground, it’s mostly Aaron Jones (197 att/893 yds/4 TD).
Defense: The Vikings defense ranks sixth in points allowed and 17th in yards...
