Analysis of Bears vs Vikings Matchup: Picks, Prediction, and Odds for Monday Night Football in Week 15

• The Vikings are 7-point home favorites over the Bears on Monday Night Football in Week 15
• Minnesota has won six straight, while the Bears have dropped seven in a row
• Check out the Bears vs Vikings picks, prediction and odds for MNF

Given how they’ve played all season, it’s hard to believe the Minnesota Vikings’ (11-2, 6-1 home) win total was 6.5 games. Minnesota flew over that number before the mid-way point of November, and have been been winning ever since. Online sportsbooks don’t expect any letdown from the Purple and Gold on Monday Night, as they host the hapless Bears (4-9, 0-6 away) as massive chalk in the latest football betting lines.

Chicago Bears vs Minnesota Vikings Odds

The Vikings are currently favored by 7 points in a contest with a total of 44. This spread has waffled between -6 and -7 all week, with the bulk of the betting action backing Minnesota. Sam Darnold and Co. are currently drawing 72% of the spread wagers and 71% of the ATS handle.

Odds as of December 15 at BetMGM. Be sure to check out the best BetMGM promo code before placing a bet on Monday Night Football.

Total-wise, it’s a major pros vs Joes matchup according to the NFL public betting percentages. 85% of the over/under tickets are on over 44, but those wagers only make up 40% of the handle. 15% of the wagers are accounting for 60% of the total money, and anytime the money outweighs the tickets by that much, it’s a good indication it’s the result of sharp action.

Kickoff for this primetime clash is set for 8 pm ET from U.S. Bank Stadium, in Minneapolis, MN, with ABC and ESPN+ providing the broadcast coverage.

Vikings Offense On a Roll

The Vikings enter play as a top-6 contender in the Super Bowl odds. They grade out fifth per Pro Football Focus on offense and 12th on defense, while Sam Darnold is the fifth highest graded passer.

I’ve watched this play 20 times. Absolutely wild.

Sam Darnold, man. pic.twitter.com/1JOPHeBwFF

— Phil Mackey 🎙 (@PhilMackey) December 9, 2024

Darnold and the Minny passing game has been on fire as of late. He threw 5 TD in a blowout victory over the Falcons last week, giving him 11 TD and zero INT over the last four games. Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison accounted for all five touchdowns last week, and each cleared 100 yards. The duo is arguably the best wideout paring in the league and should give the Chicago defense fits.

The Bears are fresh off allowing 325 passing yards and 2 TD to Brock Purdy last week, and were torched for 330 yards and two scores by Darnold prior to Thanksgiving. They’ve yielded an average of 30 points over their last three contests, and haven’t won since October 13th. That’s a span of seven games, but it’s not just the defense that’s been at fault.

Sloppy Play and Slow Starts

Chicago’s offense has been inconsistent to say the least. Last week, they were outscored 24-0 in the first half, mustering only 4 total yards. Caleb Williams tried to salvage some respect by throwing two TD passes in garbage time, but the final numbers were ugly. He threw for only 134 yards on 23 attempts. Williams lost a fumble and was sacked seven times, bringing his sack total to an NFL-worst 56.

Caleb Williams has taken 56 sacks this season, 15 more than the 2nd place (CJ Stroud, 41). pic.twitter.com/CbsO1gUnrU

— Underdog (@UnderdogFantasy) December 14, 2024

The Bears offense produced a three-week sample of positivity early in the season, but since then it’s been a nightmare. Chicago was scored 20 points or fewer in six of seven outings during their skid, failing to reach 16 points four times. They grade out 26th on that side of the ball per PFF, while Williams was a worse passing grade than Daniel Jones and Deshaun Watson.

The lack of offensive production has put the Bears consistently in an early hole. They have a -43 point differential in the first quarter, and a -64 point differential in the opening half. That’s forced them to abandon the run in catch-up mode, making the offense entirely predictable.

Bears vs Vikings Prediction

Don’t be fooled by the result of Chicago and Minnesota’s early meeting. The Vikings squeaked out a 30-27 overtime win, but dominated the game for the first three and a half quarters. Minnesota built a 24-10 lead, but took their foot off the gas. That allowed the Bears to score 10 points and recover a miraculous onside kick to force OT.

Chicago has since made a change at head coach, relieving Matt Eberflus of his duties. The problem is that he was actually a good defensive mind and now interim boss Thomas Brown is in over his head. DC Eric Washington, a first-time play caller, was embarrassed by Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers last week, and we should expect a similar outcome on Monday.

No play caller has been more difficult to prepare for than the Vikes Kevin O’Connell, and he’ll exploit every hole in the Bears defense. Minnesota has rattled off a 6-1 record at home, covering in five of those victories, while posting a +61 point differential.

Bears vs Vikings Picks:

• Vikings -2.5 1st Quarter (-115) at
  BetMGM
  
  
• Vikings -7 (-110) at
  BetMGM
  
  

The highly anticipated matchup between the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings is set to take place on Monday night in Week 15 of the NFL season. Both teams are coming off of wins in their previous games and will be looking to continue their momentum in this crucial divisional showdown.

The Bears are currently sitting at 6-7 and are still in the hunt for a playoff spot in the NFC. They are coming off a dominant 36-7 victory over the Houston Texans in Week 14, where their defense was able to force three turnovers and limit the Texans to just seven points. Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky had a solid performance, throwing for 267 yards and three touchdowns. The Bears will be looking to build off of this win and keep their playoff hopes alive with a victory over the Vikings.

On the other side, the Vikings are also 6-7 and are in a similar position as the Bears in terms of playoff contention. They are coming off a 26-14 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 14, where quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 225 yards and a touchdown. The Vikings’ defense also had a strong showing, holding the Buccaneers to just 14 points. The Vikings will be looking to continue their winning ways and keep pace with the Bears in the NFC playoff race.

In terms of the matchup itself, both teams have strong defenses that will make it a close game. The Bears have one of the top defenses in the league, led by stars like Khalil Mack and Roquan Smith. They will look to pressure Cousins and force turnovers to give their offense good field position. The Vikings, on the other hand, have a solid defense as well, with playmakers like Eric Kendricks and Harrison Smith leading the way.

Offensively, both teams have weapons that can make big plays. The Bears have wide receiver Allen Robinson, who is one of the top receivers in the league, and running back David Montgomery, who has been playing well in recent weeks. The Vikings have a strong running game with Dalvin Cook, who is one of the top rushers in the league, and wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who has emerged as a top target for Cousins.

In terms of predictions, this game is expected to be a close one with both teams fighting for a playoff spot. The odds are currently favoring the Bears by a slim margin, but it could go either way depending on how each team performs on Monday night. Ultimately, it will come down to which team can make more plays on both sides of the ball and come out on top in this crucial divisional matchup. Fans can expect an exciting game with plenty of action on both sides of the ball.