LDN - Sports

Vikings get second shot at Bears, playoffs on the line

[December 28, 2018] The Chicago Bears hope to secure a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs.

The Minnesota Vikings just want an opportunity to compete in the postseason.

The division rivals with opposing goals figure to lead to a high-stakes, high-intensity matchup Sunday afternoon when Chicago (11-4) visits Minnesota (8-6-1) at U.S. Bank Stadium in the regular-season finale for both teams.

"It's going to be a physical football game," Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said.

The Bears already have clinched the NFC North title and can gain a first-round bye if they beat the Vikings and the Los Angeles Rams lose to the San Francisco 49ers.

Meanwhile, the Vikings can make the playoffs for the second consecutive season with a win or a tie against the Bears. If they lose, they still can get in, but only if the Philadelphia Eagles lose or tie against the Washington Redskins.

"It's not complicated," Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins said to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "I want to win. We want to win. We understand what's at stake. There's no magic formula. There's no button you can push, or hours you can put in to suddenly snap your fingers and guarantee a win. You do all you can, give everything you have."

The Bears held on for a 25-20 over the Vikings on Nov. 18 in the teams' first meeting of the season. But Minnesota has won three of the past four meetings between the teams and holds a 60-52-2 edge in the all-time series.

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Cousins has passed for 4,166 yards and 29 touchdowns and will seek his first campaign with 30-plus touchdowns. His top target, wideout Adam Thielen, will try to add to his career highs of 110 catches for 1,335 yards and nine scores.

Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky will try to finish the regular season on a high note in advance of his playoff debut. The 24-year-old has passed for 3,060 yards and 24 touchdowns in 13 contests this season.

Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson (ribs), safety Eddie Jackson (ankle) and linebacker Aaron Lynch (elbow) all could be limited or absent for the game. And if the Rams race to a big lead against the 49ers -- thus weakening the chances for the Bears to lock up that bye -- it is possible that other starters could rest in the second half to avoid injury.

"We'll have a plan and process to get an idea of what we need to do," Bears head coach Matt Nagy said in comments published by the Chicago Tribune. "But where it gets real easy is if you just play your guys to win.

"It would have to be something that somebody comes to me and says, ‘Hey, listen, it's a complete blowout (by the Rams). And then you still have decisions to make, as well. We're going there to win the game. Regardless of who is in the game, we're going to win the game."

--Field Level Media

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