5 Bold Predictions: Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears – Week 17

The Minnesota Vikings are locked into the six seed in the NFC playoffs, making Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears a moot point.

The wounds are still fresh for the Minnesota Vikings after their embarrassing loss to the Green Bay Packers on Monday night. The Vikings came into the game with an undefeated record at home and the chance to move up in the NFC playoff picture, but the combination of a conservative gameplan, pressure from the Packer defense and a lack of energy locked Minnesota into the six seed.

While the loss stings, there is a silver lining for the Vikings heading into their final regular-season game against the Chicago Bears. With nothing to play for and nothing to lose, the Vikings can use Week 17 as a mini-bye to get ready for their playoff opponent next week, meaning the names that will be on the field might not be the ones we’ve gotten used to this season.

Although the veterans are sitting out, there are other players that will get a chance to prove themselves in a regular-season NFL game and that performance could lead to a bigger role in the playoffs or even build momentum toward next season.

There will be a collective groan from the Vikings fan base knowing that this will be a glorified preseason game, but there will still be something to prove for those out on the field. So what could happen when the Bears matchup with the Vikings on Sunday?