3 bold Minnesota Vikings predictions for Week 12 vs. the Chicago Bears

The Minnesota Vikings continue to be in the driver’s seat for a playoff spot, and they’ll look to continue their push when they travel to face the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

Soldier Field has been a house of horrors for the Vikings in the past, but Minnesota has flipped the script in recent meetings with wins in each of the last four trips to Chicago, including a pair of wins under Kevin O’Connell.

With a cast of new faces, including Caleb Williams, D’Andre Swift, and Keenan Allen, the Bears look much different than they did the last time the Vikings saw them. But these bold predictions could determine whether Minnesota walks out with a 9-2 record and another step toward returning to the playoffs.

Bold Minnesota Vikings predictions for Week 12 vs. the Chicago Bears

1. Aaron Jones will run for 100 yards and a touchdown

The Vikings’ running game has been a hot-button topic throughout the year. Aaron Jones got off to a great start at the beginning of the year, but injuries and poor performance by the offensive line have neutralized the effectiveness of the Minnesota ground game.

Jones hasn’t run for over 100 yards since a Week 3 win over the Houston Texans and hasn’t visited the end zone since a Week 7 loss to the Detroit Lions. The Vikings rushing attack also hit a season-low in last week’s win over the Tennessee Titans, managing just 82 yards on 33 carries.

The Titans had an advantage with defensive tackles Jeffrey Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat going up against the Vikings' interior offensive line. But Chicago doesn’t have the same game-wreckers in the middle this season led by Zacch Pickens and Gervon Dexter Jr.

Chicago also has the second-highest DVOA (7.2 percent) against the run, according to FTNFantasy.com, while also allowing the fifth-highest average at 4.8 yards per carry. With the Bears struggling on the ground, it could be a get-right game for Jones and Cam Akers on Sunday.

2. Sam Darnold will return to the dark side

A big reason why the Vikings will need to get the running game going is because of the Bears’ defense against the pass. Chicago ranks ninth in DVOA against the pass this season at -4.3 percent and is also allowing a respectable 6.3 net yards per attempt – a number that is 13th in the NFL.

But yardage hasn’t been a problem for Darnold as much as turnovers. Darnold has thrown 10 interceptions this season and fumbled seven times, and his 4.1 percent turnover-worthy play rate is tied for seventh among qualifying quarterbacks, according to PFF.

Darnold has a bit of bad luck mixed in there, as most of his turnover-worthy plays have actually turned into turnovers. But counting on regression isn’t a good strategy when your quarterback constantly puts an opposing defense in position to make those plays.

That could leave Darnold walking the high wire again on Sunday and giving the Bears a chance to capitalize.

3. Justin Jefferson will be the difference against the Bears

When looking at how the Bears played the Vikings last year, you could see the seeds of an upset brewing. The Vikings were able to win in Chicago by a score of 19-13 in October, but the Bears responded with a 12-10 upset victory on "Monday Night Football" in December.

Looking at those results could make Vikings fans believe that this game will be closer than it should be. But those games also were missing an important factor: Justin Jefferson.

Jefferson missed both meetings with the Bears last season while he recovered from a hamstring injury and should be the difference in Sunday’s game. PFF gives Jefferson the seventh-highest advantage among all receivers going up against the Chicago secondary and will likely be the main beneficiary of Darnold’s aggressiveness for better or for worse.

It leads to what could be a strong game for the Vikings offense and an even stronger game for a defense going up against a rookie quarterback. While Williams looked better under interim offensive coordinator Thomas Brown last week, Minnesota should have enough to score another win before heading back to Minneapolis for a three-game homestand.

Prediction: Vikings win 24-13

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