Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings: NFL Week 15 Pick
By Erik Lambert
Dec 28, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) throws in the second quarter against the Chicago Bears at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Divisional games get really exciting later in an NFL season, even when not both teams are fighting for postseason possibility. The Minnesota Vikings know the Chicago Bears should’ve beaten them in their last meeting, so they can’t afford to get cocky with a chance for the division title still within reach.
Backdrop:
It was a thriller the last time these teams met at Soldier Field with the Vikings escaping with a 23-20 win thanks to two scores late in the fourth quarter. If anything, this Bears team is even more dangerous than they were a few months. Not because they’ve gotten better per say but because they have nothing to lose at this point and are keen on getting revenge for that humiliating collapse.
It’s not helping matters that Minnesota is in the midst of a funk. After briefly claiming control of the NFC North, they’ve gone on to lose three of their past four games, two of them by double digits. Worse still, they’re playing an opponent that has proven far better on the road this season (4-2) than at home (1-6).
Matchup To Watch:
OT T.J. Clemmings vs. OLB Willie Young
It wasn’t the first idea for the Vikings to start rookie T.J. Clemmings at right tackle. They weren’t given much choice due to losing veteran Phil Loadholt to a season-ending injury. Since then Clemmings has done the best he can but it hasn’t been pretty. To date he’s allow seven sacks and 34 pressures on Teddy Bridgewater.
That isn’t good new because he’ll be going against red hot Bears linebacker Willie Young. After struggling to find his place in the new defensive scheme, the edge rusher has really come on down the stretch. He has a sack in each of the past four games. One can bet he’s licking his chops knowing Clemmings will be across from him Sunday.
Key Stat:
This isn’t a hard sell. The Vikings have made it this far on the strength of their defense and running back Adrian Peterson who is back to his old form. He’s averaging 4.7 yards per carry this season with nine touchdowns. Injuries and limited talent have shown the Bears defense to be weak against the run (125 yards allowed per game). That is something Minnesota must exploit and something Chicago has to shore up.
Prediction: Vikings win 21-17
It comes down to health and motivation. Minnesota has the advantage in those two key areas. They need this win badly to stay in the playoff picture and have an all-around healthier roster that the Bears, who are down to third and fourth options at some positions. Throw in home field advantage and it should be a grind-it-out win for the men in purple.