5 Bold Predictions: Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears – Week 17
By Chris Schad
A lot of Vikings are going to get the afternoon off
With a game that is essentially meaningless, we have to capitalize on the “gimmies” when it comes to predictions. The first prediction falls into that category as the Vikings will be looking at the game with the Bears as a glorified bye week. This came as a hunch earlier in the week, but as we’ve gotten closer to game time, we’ve started to hear those whispers grow louder.
ESPN’s Courtney Cronin was one of the first to drop that tea leaf on Friday when she tweeted that most NFL executives expect the Vikings to handle this as a bye week to get their veterans ready to go for the playoffs. That gameplan includes starting Sean Mannion over Kirk Cousins and letting the offense basically take a step back after failing so hard against the Packers.
While Cronin cautioned that the Vikings’ gameplan isn’t finalized, the Vikings tipped their own hand by ruling Eric Kendricks (quad) and Dalvin Cook (shoulders) out for the game in their final injury report.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to hear other names such as Adam Thielen (hamstring), Xavier Rhodes (foot) and Mackensie Alexander (knee) listed as inactives on Sunday morning, but the Vikings’ priorities seem clear and that’s toward a playoff run in January.