>
— Monday, December 20th Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears
The Week 15 schedule won’t end on Monday due to the COVID postponements, and there will now be a pair of Monday Night Football games. The originally scheduled Monday game is an NFC North battle between the 6-7 Minnesota Vikings and 4-9 Chicago Bears. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET from Soldier Field in Chicago, and the game will air on ESPN.
These NFC North rivals have not met yet and will end the season head-to-head in Minnesota on January 9. The teams split the series last year, with the road team winning both games. The Bears have won five of the last six overall, but the Vikings lead the overall series 61-57-2.
Vikings Running Toward Playoffs Behind Cook
The Vikings are 7-6 ATS this season, and the over is 8-5 in their 13 games. They rank 4th in the NFL in total yards (390.5), 7th in passing yards (267.4), 10th in rushing (123.2), and 9th in scoring (26.5). The defense has been horrible all season, ranking 30th in yards allowed (381.5) and 25th in scoring (25.6).
The Vikings gashed Pittsburgh for 242 rushing yards in their game last Thursday, and they’ve had ten days off to get healthy. Dalvin Cook has 978 yards in 10 games with six touchdowns, and he ran for 205 yards and two scores last week after missing a game with an injury.
Kirk Cousins has completed 67 percent of his passes this season for 3,569 yards. He has27 touchdown passes and five interceptions. He’s only thrown one interception on the road this season while collecting 16 touchdown passes.
Wideout Adam Thielen is questionable for Monday night with an ankle injury that forced him out of the Pittsburgh game. He has 64 catches for 686 yards and ten touchdowns on the season. Justin Jefferson leads the team with 85 catches for 1,288 yards and eight touchdowns, while K.J. Osborn has 495 yards and four scores.
The Vikings have allowed at least 27 points in five of the last six games, and they’ve given up at least 27 in every road game except one this year. They have forced 16 turnovers this season and have 41 sacks.
Fields Returns to Lead Bears
The Bears are 4-9 ATS this season, and the under is 8-5 in their 13 games. The defense ranks 10th in total yards allowed (336.5) and eight against the pass (216.5), but they are 22nd against the run (120) and 24th in points allowed (25.5). The offense is 8th in rushing (16) but 28th in scoring (17.8), dead last in passing (176.5), and next-to-last in total yards (302.5).
Justin Fields returned from a rib injury last Sunday night at Green Bay with mixed results. He led Chicago to an early lead but finished with two interceptions, including a pick-six, in a 45-30 loss. In nine starts this season, he has completed 58 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and ten interceptions.
Running back David Montgomery missed four games and has 608 yards and four touchdowns in nine games. Fields has 385 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Khalil Herbert has 392 yards and one score.
Wideout Darnell Mooney has become the go-to receiver with Allen Robinson hurt and ineffective most of the season. Mooney has 52 catches for 740 yards and three touchdowns. Tight end Cole Kmet has 43 catches for 419 yards, and Robinson has 32 catches for 353 yards and just one score.
The Bears defense is missing injured All-Pro end Khalil Mack, and it shows. They have allowed 78 points in the last two games and have given up at least 29 points in five of the last seven games. Robert Quinn leads the team with 14 sacks and three fumbles forced, while five different players have one interception each.
Betting Analysis
- Minnesota Vikings -6.5 (-110). Money Line -275
- Chicago Bears +6.5 (-110) Money Line +230
- Total Points: 45 Over -110. Under -110
The Vikings are just 2-5 on the road, but the Bears are 2-4 at home, so something has to give. The Bears will have to slow down Cook and keep pressure on Cousins, which the offense can help by having sustained drives. The Vikings haven’t been able to have the production on the road they have enjoyed at home, and with injuries on both sides, this should be a low-scoring affair.
Betting Pick: Under 45 points (-110)
Keep up with your latest NFL news coverage and betting pick previews at NJSportsbookReview.com.