Vikings get second shot at Bears, playoffs on the line
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[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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