The Chicago Bears travel to Minnesota to take on the Vikings in Week 15's Monday Night Football matchup, and if NFL experts are correct with their predictions, Caleb Williams and company don't stand a chance.
Nearly every NFL expert polled -- almost all of them -- thinks the Bears will lose the game. According to NFL Pick Watch, a remarkable 97% of picks are on the Vikings. And it's not like the line is close. Minnesota is favored by a touchdown.
None of this should come as much of a surprise.
The Bears enter Monday night's game as losers of seven straight, while the Vikings suddenly have a chance to take hold of the NFC North if they can improve their record to 12-2 with a victory. The Detroit Lions dropped to 12-2 after losing to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
The stats support why NFL experts are so confident in the Vikings. Check out how lopsided this game appears on paper:
- Scoring offense: Vikings (9th), Bears (24th)
- Passing offense: Vikings (8th), Bears (30th)
- Rushing offense: Vikings (17th), Bears (24th)
- Offensive efficiency: Vikings (8th), Bears (32nd)
- Scoring defense: Vikings (6th), Bears (10th)
- Pass defense: Vikings (29th), Bears (16th)
- Run defense: Vikings (2nd), Bears (26th)
- Defensive efficiency: Vikings (8th), Bears (8th)
Not great. Out of all of those major statistical categories, the Bears top the Vikings in only one, and it's not like Chicago's pass defense, which ranks 16th, is anything special.
Beyond the data is the play on the field. It doesn't take much tape study to see the difference between how well-coached the Vikings are compared to a Bears team already on its second head coach and third offensive coordinator in just 15 weeks.
Maybe Caleb Williams will shine on a national stage. And despite the Chicago Bears officially eliminated from the playoffs in Week 15, a strong performance by the rookie quarterback will jumpstart momentum as the team enters a critical head coaching search.
At least, Bears fans hope so.
