Is it possible to have a division in football worse than the NFC East? No. It’s not at all possible, as they are on track to be the worst division in NFL history, but I can give you a second worst… the NFC North.
Outside of the 6-2 Green Bay Packers, the NFC North is a combined 11-14. With both the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings sitting at 3-5, and the Chicago Bears sitting at 5-4. The fact that the Chicago Bears are 5-4 is mind blowing in itself, as the Bears have struggled to move the ball all season long despite starting the season off 5-1. Is it an overreaction to say the now 5-4 Chicago Bears won’t make the playoffs? I don’t think so.
Monday Night Football will feature two NFC North teams trying to keep their postseason aspirations alive as the Minnesota Vikings travel to Solider Field for a date with the Chicago Bears. The weather calls for a cold one in Chicago Monday night and winds could reach up to 18 mph.
For the Bears, they look to avoid losing their 4th straight game as they try to get back to their winning ways. This will be the Bear’s second Monday Night game of the season, the last time it didn’t go their way as they fell to the Los Angeles Rams 24-10, and failed to score an offensive touchdown. Their one touchdown in the game was an Eddie Jackson fumble return late in the 4th quarter. One thing the Bears have done successfully, is keep games close, as 8 out of their 9 games have been decided by one possession. The one game that was not decided by one possession, being against the Rams.
On the other side, the Minnesota Vikings look to stay hot as they have won their last 2 games, both victories coming against divisional opponents, defeating the Packers 28-22, and the Lions 34-20. A key factor in both victories was running-back Dalvin Cook, who is making a strong claim to be the best running-back in the National Football League. Cook surpassed 200 total yards in both victories and scored a total of 5 touchdowns in the span of those 2 games. The Vikings have shown impressive flashes on offense with Dalvin Cook, and rookie Justin Jefferson. Jefferson was drafted with the 22nd pick by the Vikings, in an attempt to fill the shoes of Stefon Diggs, and Jefferson has not disappointed.
If you like high scoring games, this is not the match-up for you. A cold night in the windy city will not help the Bears score as they are already having enough trouble moving the football. As for the Vikings, Kirk Cousins has not impressed but the Vikings have been able to run the ball efficiently behind Dalvin Cook. I pick the Vikings to win this one in a low scoring contest.