5 Bold Predictions: Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears – Week 18

There will be revenge games galore

If the Vikings do rest their starters, it won’t take all of the intrigue out of this game.

The Vikings and Bears have shared a common link throughout this season, as Ryan Poles was reportedly Minnesota’s first choice for general manager before he was hired by the Bears. Although the Vikings hired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the links continued when Poles claimed Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Armon Watts off waivers.

Those pickups haven’t gone as planned for the Bears. Smith-Marsette fumbled away a comeback attempt late in the Week 5 meeting with the Vikings and is now on the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad. Watts was a starter during the early weeks of the season but has now settled into a reserve role for Chicago.

Meanwhile, Adofo-Mensah has done his own pillaging of the Bears’ roster to greater success. Duke Shelley was a fifth-round pick by Ryan Pace but was signed to the Vikings’ active roster as injuries piled up in the secondary. Khyiris Tonga was also waived by Chicago but has found a secondary role as a run-stuffer along the defensive line.

If we’re looking at a battle of second-stringers, we could see Shelley and Tonga play a key role in how this game is decided. Perhaps it’s personal pride, but it could lead to an inspired performance on Sunday.