Chicago (3-8) at Minnesota (6-5)
When: Monday, November 27th, 2023
Where: U.S. Bank Stadium,
Minneapolis, MN
Time: 8:15 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Minnesota -4/43.5
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The Minnesota Vikings will look to stay in the playoff picture and get closer to the division lead when they host the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. Minnesota’s five-game winning streak came to an end last Sunday night when they fell 21-20 at the Denver Broncos, but the team is the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoffs entering Sunday’s action. Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs, who was acquired in an Oct. 31 trade with the Arizona Cardinals, has passed for 647 yards, four touchdowns and one interception in three games with Minnesota, while rushing for 131 yards and three touchdowns.
Meanwhile, it’s a lost season for the Bears, who will get two high draft picks this coming April and are not sure who will be their future under center. Head coach Matt Eberflus also might not be around some training camp next summer. Rumor is that he’ll be a goner at season’s end. Chicago has been competitive in most games, but don’t have much to show for it in the win column. They came up short at the Detroit Lions last Sunday 31-26 for their third loss in four games. This will also be their fourth road game in five weeks before entering they Bye.
Minnesota’s resurgence started with a 19-13 Week 6 victory in Chicago, but you can’t take much from that ugly contest. Kirk Cousins and Tyson Bagent finished that game then and Cousin is out for the season, while Bagent is back in a No. 2 role behind Justin Fields. Neither team had even 300 yards offense and they combined to go 8-for-27 on third downs. The Vikings has won five meetings in a row, covering four of them. Minnesota enters this contest as a 3-point favorite.
Fields was back on Sunday in Detroit for the first time since the Week 6 thumb injury, and the offense looked much better but late mistakes. Chicago blew a 26-14 late fourth-quarter lead in a 31-26 loss. It was the first loss by any team this season when leading by at least 10 points in the final four minutes. Fields had 18 carries for 104 yards and didn’t turn the ball over, which has been a problem. Receiver DJ Moore was back in Pro Bowl form with seven catches for 96 yards and a TD. Running back D’Onta Foreman (ankle/shin), center Lucas Patrick (back), guard Larry Borom (illness) and linebacker Noah Sewell (knee) all missed practice on Thursday.
Chicago Bears Injury Report [Week 12]
| Player | Pos. | Status/Updated |
|---|---|---|
| Khari Blasingame | FB | Prob Mon - Shoulder - 11/23/23 |
| Lucas Patrick | OL | Prob Mon - Back - 11/24/23 |
| Larry Borom | OL | Ques Mon - Illness - 11/23/23 |
| Noah Sewell | LB | Ques Mon - Knee - 11/21/23 |
| D'Onta Foreman | RB | Doub Mon - Ankle - 11/25/23 |
Dobbs played well again for Minnesota last week, throwing a touchdown and running for one. He became the first quarterback in NFL history to have both a touchdown throw and a touchdown run in his first three games with a team. The Vikings rushed for 175 yards against a solid Denver defense and outgained Denver by nearly 100 yards and held the Broncos to five field goals. The Vikings also turned the ball over three times, which didn’t help. Superstar receiver Justin Jefferson is expected to sit out at least one more week with a hamstring injury. He had 36 catches for 571 yards and three touchdowns when he went down in Week 5.
Minnesota Vikings Injury Report [Week 12]
| Player | Pos. | Status/Updated |
|---|---|---|
| T.J. Hockenson | TE | Prob Mon - Ribs - 11/25/23 |
| Nick Mullens | QB | Prob Mon - Back - 11/23/23 |
| Jaren Hall | QB | Prob Mon - Concussion - 11/23/23 |
| Brian Asamoah II | LB | Prob Mon - Ankle - 11/23/23 |
| Akayleb Evans | CB | Ques Mon - Calf - 11/21/23 |
| Chris Reed | G | Ques Mon - Foot - 11/21/23 |
| Dean Lowry | DL | I-R - Pectoral - 11/20/23 |
| Jordan Hicks | LB | Out indefinitely - Leg - 11/14/23 |
| Cam Akers | RB | I-R - Achilles - 11/8/23 |
| Kirk Cousins | QB | I-R - Achilles - 10/31/23 |
| Marcus Davenport | LB | Early Dec - Ankle - 11/21/23 |
| Justin Jefferson | WR | Doub Mon - Hamstring - 11/26/23 |
| Olisaemeka Udoh | G | I-R - Quadricep - 9/19/23 |
| James Lynch | DL | I-R - Knee - 8/6/23 |
These are two teams going in opposite directions. The Vikings are fighting for a playoff spot and possible division crown with the Lions still to play twice. The Bears are looking towards next season with probably a new coach. Jim Harbaugh maybe? Minnesota has won five straight in the series and should get the win and cover here.
Pick: Vikings -3
