Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings: Prediction, Odds, Depth Charts (11/27/23)
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Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings kicks off this Monday (11/27/23) at 8:15pm EST in Minneapolis, Minnesota as a home game for the Vikings. Get Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings predictions and best bets below.
Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings Prediction & Best Bet
Even though the game ended in a loss, it was still a welcoming sight to see as Justin Fields torched the Lions defense in his first game back from injury. Fields had the Lions linebacking unit in a blender as he picked them apart through the air and with his legs, giving the Bears a lead for a majority of the contest. A much-needed boost in production as Tyson Bagent started to tail off after a hot start as the backup.
While the Lions defense is nothing too respectable to hang your hat on, the Vikings will be a much tougher defensive test as this unit has greatly turned it around from last year’s near dead last Def DVOA marks. As of writing, the Vikings defense ranks ninth in both Def Rush DVOA and Def Pass DVOA. Most of the production comes from their front seven as the Vikings blitz at the highest rate in the league. This helps them bubble around opposing interior rushing while also collapsing the pocket.
Luckily for the Bears, they are built to counteract this scheme as they boast one of the more impressive offensive lines in football. Especially with the Vikings only generating pressure at the 21st highest rate, meaning their crashing linebackers normally get stuffed on the line. When the Bears opt into their successful ground game, their offensive line will be in a position to push back and open up running lanes against a thinned out second level of the defense as they rank sixth in Adjusted Line Yards.
The elite production from the offensive line has played a major role towards their ground games success as they clock in at ninth in Rush DVOA, seventh in Rush Success Rate, and seventh in Rush EPA. That doesn’t even factor in the return of Justin Fields, an elite open field runner who will be featured in their ground game as well with designed runs and scrambles. The Bears current spread of +3 seems a little too tight, making them a better Wong Teaser piece by getting them up to +9 and tying them in with the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football.
Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings Prediction & Best Bet: Bears +9 Wong Teaser Piece
Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings Betting Odds
Even with the return of Justin Fields, oddsmakers still lean towards the Vikings favor by opening them as a -3.5 home favorite. Bettors lean towards the other way, backing the Bears down to the key number of +3. After moving off of +3.5, the Bears are now a prime Wong Teaser piece as taking them up to +9 allows you to cross through +3 and +7.
As for the total, points were originally expected to be scored at a moderate pace as oddsmakers opened the number at 44. Bettors have yet to take a firm stand on either side of the total, keeping the number the same since the opener. With Fields facing his first true defensive test since returning from injury, the total is a pass as he brings too much variance to this market.
Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings Key Injuries
Both teams come into this contest fairly healthy, turning the spotlight towards Justin Jefferson as he is currently listed as questionable on the Vikings injury report.
Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings Key Matchups
Can the Bears linebackers limit Joshua Dobbs scramble ability?
Joshua Dobbs Vs. Bears Linebackers
It’s safe to say the Vikings offense looks a little different under new quarterback Joshua Dobbs as he brings a running ability that Kirk Cousins did not possess. Granted this stems from him having to improvise during a busted play as he has had to work with a limited playbook.
Joshua Dobbs is Running On Fumes 💨 pic.twitter.com/Jm8Q2tgk6Z
— Ultimate Sports & Entertainment (@Ultimatesport5) November 5, 2023
Luckily for the Bears, they are well equipped to limit Dobbs’ running ability with a stout linebacking unit. This was an area of focus for them last offseason, immediately paying dividends by ranking 11th in Def Rush DVOA, third in Def Rush Success Rate, and fourth in Def Rush EPA. By spying their linebackers and crashing on the outside, this forces Dobbs to sit in a collapsing pocket and limit their downfield success.
Chicago Bears Depth Chart
QB: Justin Fields
RB1: Khalil Herbert
RB2: D’Onta Foreman
LWR: DJ Moore
RWR: Tyler Scott
SWR: Darnell Mooney
TE1: Cole Kmet
Minnesota Vikings Depth Chart
QB: Joshua Dobbs
RB1: Alexander Mattison
RB2: Ty Chandler
LWR: Jordan Addison
RWR: KJ Osborn
SWR: Brandon Powell
TE1: TJ Hockenson