MNF: Trubisky to Debut For Bears, Bradford May Return for Vikings
Monday Night Football concludes Week 5 of the NFL regular season when the Minnesota Vikings visit the Chicago Bears in an NFC North clash. The current line has Minnesota favored by 3.5 points with the over/under point total on 40.5.
Entering this game, Minnesota on the season is 2-2 straight up and against the spread. On the road, the Vikings are 0-1 SU and ATS. Chicago on the season is 1-3 SU and 2-2 ATS. At home, the Bears are 1-1 SU and 2-2 ATS.
Chicago has changed its quarterback, while Minnesota hopes to do the same Monday when these two rivals meet at famed Soldier Field. Mitchell Trubisky the No. 2 pick overall in the 2017 NFL draft will debut in the NFL at quarterback for the Bears.
The Vikings hope that starting quarterback Sam Bradford can return from a knee injury he suffered in the team’s season opener.
Trubisky said he was excited and ready to lead the Bears offense. He will have a difficult first game against a very aggressive Minnesota defense that recorded six sacks against Detroit’s Matthew Stafford in the Vikings 14-7 loss last Sunday to the Lions.
Minnesota was hit with a big blow last week when rookie running back Dalvin Cook torn his ACL. Against Detroit, quarterback Case Keenum threw for just 219 yards for the Vikings. Bradford practiced on a limited basis, but coaches said if he was ready he would get the starting nod.
Latavius Murray is now the top running back for Minnesota following Cook’s season ending injury. The former Oakland Raiders rusher said his ankle is still not 100% following surgery during the offseason. Vikings wide receiver Michael Floyd returns from a four-game suspension.
Bears running back Jordan Howard continues to run the ball often for the Bears and entering this week was No. 4 amongst rookies in yards from scrimmage with 331. He also leads all running backs in the league in receptions with 24.
On January 1, the Vikings beat the Bears 38-10 in the final game of the 2016 regular season.
Minnesota is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games versus opponents from the NFC North.
Chicago is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games versus opponents from the NFC.
Prediction: Minnesota has a better defense than the Bears and will shut down any passing game from rookie signal caller Trubisky. Lean here toward Vikings.
