Who are the experts picking to win the final game of the regular season when the Minnesota Vikings take on the Chicago Bears in Week 17 of the 2017 season?
The Minnesota Vikings can lock down the #2 seed in the NFC heading into the playoffs if they can get a win at home in Week 17 against the struggling Chicago Bears in front of the crowd at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Meanwhile, the Bears are still looking for some respect as well as experience for their young quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and a possible retribution for being beaten on Monday Night Football in Week 5 of the season.
Experts have weighed in on the game and given their picks for who they believe will win the game. Here are the picks heading into Week 17!
Picking the Vikings
Chris Simms, Bleacher Report: “Minnesota is clearly the better team here — and by a significant margin.” Score Prediction: Vikings 24, Bears 14Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: “The Vikings win this and they get the second seed. That means a first-round bye.” Score Prediction: Vikings 30, Bears 17Sam Farmer, L.A. Times: “The Vikings probably will rest some players to have them ready for the playoffs.” Score Prediction: Vikings 28, Bears 16Joe Manielleo, Newsday: “The Vikings are one of the NFL’s best bets at home” Score Prediction: – none –Joe Giglio, NJ.com: “Minnesota needs to win to ensure Carolina doesn’t steal the No. 2 seed. They’ll leave no doubt.” Score Prediction: – none –Elliott Harrison, NFL.com: “John Fox’s team must run effectively…Nine times this year, the Vikings have given up less than 200 net yards passing.” Score Prediction: Vikings 27, Bears 14Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk: “if the Eagles lose in the divisional round, the Vikings could be hosting the NFC title game.” Score Prediction: Vikings 30, Bears 10Michael David Smith, Pro Football Talk: “Minnesota clinches a first-round bye in what is likely John Fox’s last game as the Bears’ coach.” Score Prediction: Vikings 20, Bears 10Sporting News: “A Vikings win or tie gives them the other NFC bye with the Eagles.: Score Prediction: Vikings 27, Bears 14Mark Craig, Star Tribune: “The Vikings should dismiss Dead Bears Walking as easily as they swatted aside Dead Bengals Walking at home a couple of weeks ago.” Score Prediction: Vikings 37, Bears 10FiveThirtyEight.com
: Pre-game win probabilities:
Vikings 85 percent
More from The Viking Age
CBS Sports: John BreechCBS Sports: Will BrinsonCBS Sports: Jared DubinCBS Sports: Jamey EisenbergCBS Sports: Jason LaCanforaCBS Sports: Dave RichardCBS Sports: Ryan WilsonSBNation: RVBSBNation: Stephen WhiteSBNation: Geoff SchwartzSBNation: Harry Lyles, Jr.SBNation: Jeanna ThomasSBNation: Adam StitesSBNation: Pete SweeneySBNation: Joel ThormanSBNation: OddsShark ComputerUSA Today: Jarrett BellUSA Today: Nate DavisUSA Today: Lindsay H. JonesUSA Today: Mike Middlehurst-SchwartzUSA Today: Lorenzo ReyesPicking the Bears
Next: Vikings favored to rep NFC in Super Bowl LII
It’s not too much of a surprise that no experts are picking the Chicago Bears to beat the Minnesota Vikings. However, that doesn’t mean that Chicago doesn’t have some good pieces in place. This means the Vikings will likely not be resting any starters unless they are injured since a first-round bye and the #2 seed are on the line in Week 17.
