Week 8 Monday Night Football Preview
Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears
8:30PM EST at Soldier Field
58F – 56F Overcast with 16mph winds
Minn -4.5 O/U 40.5
The Minnesota Vikings (5-1) travel to meet their NFC North rival Chicago Bears for this week’s Monday Night Football game. This is the 110th regular-season meeting between these two teams, with the Vikings leading the series 57-50-2. The Vikings have won the last three, but the Bears have won seven of the last eight matchups in Soldier Field.
Dominant Defense
The Vikings defense ranks first in the NFL in points allowed per game (14), yards-per-game allowed (279.5), and has a league high 16 takeaways (9INTs, 7FRs). The Vikings are menacing and have held opposing quarterbacks to a league low 63.7 passer rating. The Vikings are the only team in the NFL to have four players with three-plus sacks and one of four teams to have three players with multiple interceptions. This new incarnation of the “Purple People Eaters” is truly dominant and is a big reason why Minnesota sits at atop the NFC North at 5-1.
Rebounding Offense
Sam Bradford is playing some of the best football of his career, or at least he was until he faced the Eagles last week. So far this season he has a 100.3 passer rating and has thrown seven touchdowns to one interception. Bradford had been turnover free until facing his former team, where he threw a pick and lost two of his four fumbles. Having a fully healthy Stefon Diggs and the reemergence of Cordarrelle Patterson should help get the offense back on track. The running game has been shaky without Adrian Peterson but the Vikings remain committed to running the ball. McKinnon has been ruled out so the ground game will go through Asiata.
Cutler is back
Chicago’s offense, much like the Vikings, has been plagued with injuries this season. Cutler has been sidelined the past six weeks with a thumb injury. Monday he will get the start in the wake of Brian Hoyer breaking his arm. It’s not clear exactly how healthy Cutler is but he is the only viable option at quarterback for the team. The Bears will also have a full stable of running backs with Jeremy Langford expecting to play. Alshon Jeffery has a history of torching the Vikings and he has always been Cutler’s favorite target. The Bears will need to utilize all of their weapons if they hope to move the ball in this game. The Bears defense isn’t awful and could keep the game within reach but the offense will have to show up big against the best defense in the league if the Bears hope to end their three game loosing streak.
Injury report
Jeremy Langford (RB-CHI)- Questionable (ankle)
Eddie Royal (WR-CHI)- Doubtful (toe)
Cameron Meredith (WR-CHI)- Questionable (shoulder)
Jerick McKinnon (RB-MIN)- Out (ankle)
Cordarrelle Patterson (WR-MIN)- Questionable (concussion)
Jarius Wright (WR-MIN)- Questionable (ankle)
MyCole Pruitt (TE-MIN)- Questionable (knee)
Check us out on Twitter @thedklegends for last minute injury updates.
START WINNING
YOUR DRAFTKINGS COMPETITIONS
NFL & PGA Lineup Buildeer.
ONE MEMBERSHIP.
Join today and receive instant access to handpicked fantasy players for all NFL & PGA DraftKings Linesups. Start outscoring your competition and learn the strategies to become a daily fantasy guru.
