5 reasons the Minnesota Vikings need to win in week 17 vs Bears

Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Brian Robison (96) celebrates his forced fumble during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Packers 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Brian Robison (96) celebrates his forced fumble during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Packers 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 18, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer questions a call against the Kansas City Chiefs at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings won 16-10. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer questions a call against the Kansas City Chiefs at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings won 16-10. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /

#5. Finish the season on a high note

Now it is time to be realistic. Fans in Minnesota want a Super Bowl championship for the Vikings. The team has a lot of talent, but suffered catastrophic setbacks over and over during the 2016 which pushed that goal further and further out of reach.

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Losing players like Teddy Bridgewater, Adrian Peterson, Matt Kalil, Andre Smith, Jake Long, Sharrif Floyd, Antone Exum, and Tom Johnson all hurt in a major way. Still, the Vikings were competitive in a majority of their games and fought every week.

After a red-hot 5-0 start, the Vikings have now won only 2 of their last 9 games. Finishing with a win over the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium could be a huge motivator and take a bit of the sour taste out of the mouth of the fans as well as players and coaches.

Encouragement will be important when the team returns for the 2017 season. A winning mentality goes a long way for a team, and if winning is fresh in the mind of the players and fans, the positive nature of a win might carry over to the next season and remind this team that they can get things done, even when facing adversity.

Next: Adam Thielen becoming the Vikings best WR

What do you think of the Minnesota Vikings week 17 contest against the Chicago Bears? Is this an important game for the team, or is it meaningless in the scope of the franchise? Let me know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below.