Minnesota (2-2) at Chicago (1-3)
When: Monday, October 9th 2017
Where: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
Time: 8:30 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Minnesota -5/40.5
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Quarterbacks will play a huge roll in this Monday night’s NFC North battle between the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings. Chicago will introduce the second overall draft pick this week as Mitchell Trubisky makes his NFL debut after offseason acquisition Mike Glennon committed four turnovers in Chicago’s 35-14 loss to Green Bay on September 28th. Trubisky will face an aggressive Vikings’ defense, which sacked Matthew Stafford six times in a 14-7 loss to Detroit on Sunday and ranks No. 1 in the league in third-down defense (25.6%). Minnesota is hoping to see the return of Sam Bradford under center since the Vikings are already dealing with a brutal blow at running back. Rookie Dalvin Cook will miss the rest of the season with an ACL injury he suffered last week. Backup QB Case Keenum completed just 16 of 30 passes for 219 yards, but Bradford was back at practice this week, though limited, and coach Mike Zimmer told reporters that “If he’s ready to play, he’ll play.” With the Vikings and Bears both looking up at Detroit and Green Bay in the division, this is a pivotal game.
Minnesota will now turn to veteran Latavius Murray, who signed a three-year, $15 million deal in the offseason, to fill the big void left by Cook. Murray, who ran the ball seven times for 21 yards after the rookie departed and admitted this week that his ankle is not 100 percent following offseason surgery. While Minnesota lost one impact player, it will see the return of another as wide receiver Michael Floyd has served his four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Fellow wideout Stefon Diggs leads the NFL with 391 receiving yards while Adam Thielen is third with 358. Tight end Kyle Rudolph recorded career highs in receptions (11) and receiving yards (117) in a 38-10 win over the Bears on January 1st. The Vikings will be home to Green Bay next Sunday afternoon.
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Chicago has no issues with it’s running game right now, with Jordan Howard recording four rushing touchdowns while speedy Tarik Cohen ranks fourth among rookies with 331 yards from scrimmage and leads all NFL running backs with 24 receptions. Howard gave Minnesota’s defense fits in both encounters last season, racking up 202 yards from scrimmage in a 20-10 win on Halloween and adding 135 yards rushing in the season finale. Cohen has 10 more receptions than Kendall Wright, who leads a banged-up wideout corps with 154 yards receiving. Tight end Zach Miller has been limited to just three catches on five targets in the last two games after hauling in 10 receptions in the first two. Linebacker Danny Travathan will serve his one-game suspension on Monday for his hit on Green Bay WR Davante Adams. Chicago is 27th in points allowed (26.0), but 5th against the run (85.5).
I know Trubisky had a pretty good preseason, but this is the real deal now and Minnesota’s defense will be too much for the rookie. Whether Bradford plays or not, I like the Vikings to score enough to win and cover this game.
Pick: Vikings -3
- Vikings are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Vikings are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.
- Vikings are 9-2 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
- Vikings are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games in Week 5.
- Vikings are 14-5 ATS in their last 19 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Vikings are 22-8 ATS in their last 30 games following a straight up loss.
- Vikings are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
- Vikings are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games in October.
- Vikings are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Vikings are 40-19 ATS in their last 59 games overall.
- Vikings are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 Monday games.
- Vikings are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 vs. NFC North.
- Vikings are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games on grass.
- Vikings are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 road games.
- Bears are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Bears are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games.
- Bears are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
- Bears are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game.
- Bears are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 Monday games.
- Bears are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up loss.
- Bears are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. NFC.
- Over is 5-0 in Vikings last 5 games following a straight up loss.
- Over is 4-0 in Vikings last 4 games following a ATS loss.
- Under is 9-2 in Vikings last 11 games in October.
- Over is 13-3 in Vikings last 16 games in Week 5.
- Under is 4-1 in Vikings last 5 Monday games.
- Over is 4-1 in Vikings last 5 vs. NFC.
- Under is 16-5 in Vikings last 21 vs. NFC North.
- Under is 6-2 in Vikings last 8 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
- Under is 13-5 in Vikings last 18 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Over is 5-2 in Vikings last 7 vs. a team with a losing record.
- Under is 15-6-1 in Vikings last 22 road games.
- Under is 9-4-1 in Vikings last 14 games on grass.
- Under is 4-0 in Bears last 4 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Under is 7-1 in Bears last 8 games following a ATS loss.
- Under is 4-1 in Bears last 5 games in October.
- Under is 5-2 in Bears last 7 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game.
- Under is 9-4 in Bears last 13 games following a straight up loss.
- Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Chicago.
- Under is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings.
- Home team is 21-8 ATS in their last 29 meetings.
- Favorite is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
- Vikings are 3-11 ATS in their last 14 meetings in Chicago.
