Minnesota Vikings predictions: Week 15 vs. Bears

The Minnesota Vikings have a chance to make the playoffs for the second consecutive season, but that will be tough to do if they can’t get past the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

Both teams come in with 6-7 records and are aiming to get the NFC’s third wild-card spot that is currently held by the 7-6 Arizona Cardinals.

It is another crucial NFC North matchup between these two Midwestern rivals.

Chicago snapped a six-game losing streak — which included a 19-13 loss to Minnesota — with a convincing win over Houston last week. The Vikings are coming off a humbling loss to Tampa Bay.

Will there be any carryover for either team?

Here’s this week’s predictions from around the web:

Barry Wilner of the Associated Press: Vikings 23, Bears 16. “Somehow, both of these teams are in the playoff hunt.”

Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times: Vikings 28, Bears 24. “The Bears have scored 30 and 36 in consecutive weeks, so that makes this interesting. But you never know which Mitch Trubisky you’re going to get. That said, the Vikings are better all the way around.”

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com: Bears 28, Vikings 24. “This is essentially an elimination game, with the loser all but out of the playoffs. The Bears have played better on offense lately with Mitch Trubisky, while the Vikings have struggled on defense. The Vikings will struggle to run it here with Dalvin Cook, which is why I think the Bears will come in and pull off the upset.”

NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal: Vikings 25, Bears 23. “This is one of the toughest games to pick all year. Either Mitchell Trubisky is pulling his final okey-doke on the Bears faithful, lighting up some bad defenses before Lucy pulls the ball away from him. Or this Bears team, with the Jaguars up next week, is going to be in playoff contention into Week 17. With so many factors at play — I also worry about Minnesota’s line against this Bears front — it’s hard not to lean on the better coach and the better quarterback. Those remain in Minnesota.”

Will Brinson of CBSSports.com: Bears 28, Vikings 24. “Honestly don’t have a great feel for this game whatsoever. Kind of feels like an Over where Mitchell Trubisky keeps working his way towards a franchise tag/massive contract extension. The Vikings can’t rush the passer at all, so he should have time to throw to open receivers.”

John Breech of CBSSports.com: Bears 23, Vikings 20. “I think Mike Zimmer is going to end up psyching himself out the first time the Vikings face anything longer than a fourth-and-2 in Chicago territory. Vikings kicker Dan Bailey has missed FIVE field goals over the past two weeks and Zimmer has clearly lost all faith in him, which is definitely going to lead to some awkward fourth down calls for Minnesota that will likely benefit the Bears.”

The Miami Herald’s Greg Cote: Vikings 24, Bears 20. “Winner in this division scrum will be alive in wild-card hunt thanks to expanded playoffs from six to seven teams per conference this year. Chitown started 5-1 and Minny 1-5. I would ride the disparate trends since, and also the ability of Kirk Cousins and Dalvin Cook to solve Bears defense.”

Vinnie Iyer of the Sporting News: Vikings 24, Bears 17. “This serves as a pseudo wild-card elimination game for both 6-7 teams behind the Cardinals. The Vikings won the first meeting in November in Chicago, 19-13. They will have better success running the ball with Dalvin Cook in the home rematch and Justin Jefferson will continue to be a matchup nightmare in the downfield passing game. Mitchell Trubisky has provided a nice offensive spark for the Bears but here the zone scheming causes problems for him on the road.”

Jonathan Jones of CBSSports.com: Vikings. “Chicago’s rush defense took care of Dalvin Cook last time, holding him to 3.2 yards per carry. After missing a few games, Akiem Hicks is back for Chicago and handling his business in the middle of the line. Unfortunately for the Bears, Minnesota also has Justin Jefferson. I’m not convinced they’ll be able to handle both of those weapons.”

Bill Bender of the Sporting News: Bears 30, Vikings 27. “The Bears and Vikings remain on the outskirts of the playoff hunt, and Minnesota won the last matchup 19-13 in Week 10. Chicago has found some offense since with Mitchell Trubisky, and they’ve averaged 30.3 points per game the last three weeks. Expect the rematch to have a wild finish.”

Jordan Dajani of CBSSports.com: Bears 27, Vikings 24.

Philly Voice’s Jimmy Kempski: Vikings.

Josh Schrock of NBC Sports Bay Area: Vikings 20, Bears 16.

Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith and Mike Florio: MDS: Vikings 24, Bears 17. Florio: Bears 23, Vikings 20.

Oliver Hodgkinson of Pro Football Network: Bears 24, Vikings 21.

Sportsnaut’s Vincent Frank: Vikings 30, Bears 17.

All six analysts at SI.com are picking the Vikings to win.

Two of three writers at Athlon Sports pick the Vikings to win.

Seven of 10 SB Nation writers predict a Vikings win.

Four of six PennLive.com writers pick the Vikings to win.