MATT VENSEL: JARED ALLEN WILL HAVE MULTIPLE SACKS

Former Vikings defensive end Jared Allen's first season in Chicago has not gone as hoped, with the Bears in last place in the NFC North and Allen recording just 1.5 sacks. The last time Allen had single-digit sacks in a season was in 2006, when he was still with the Chiefs. Getting there in 2014 probably isn't going to happen, but with three more sacks Allen can crack the top 10 of the NFL's all-time list. He will make a run for that on Sunday, and not just because he will line up against left tackle Matt Kalil. You know Allen will be fired up and hunting for purple quarterbacks on Sunday.
MARK CRAIG: WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN & VICE VERSA

This is the NFL. Unfortunately for the Vikings, there's way too much joy and good feelings in Minnesota and way too much gloom and doom in Chicago. Unless you're an elite team – which neither of these are – everyone kind of meets in the middle as the good and bad perceptions get reshuffled every week or so. The Vikings are healthy and coming out of a bye week with their first winning streak since 2012. This should be a win, right? Meanwhile, the Bears sandwiched historic losses around their bye when they became the first team in 91 years to allow 50 points in back-to-back games. This should be a loss, right? Well, things like that rarely stay on script. And let's also remember that those Chicago losses came to the Patriots and Packers, a couple of teams that also outscored the Vikings 72-17. So using the theory that up will come down and down will go up, the Bears will play sound defense, win the game and all of us will walk around next week saying the Vikings are doomed at 4-6 while the Bears are back in it at 4-6.
MASTER TESFATSION: BRIDGEWATER THROWS THREE TOUCHDOWNS

Rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will quiet the critics posing as meteorologists with his first multiple-touchdown performance. The Bears have allowed 11 touchdown passes over the last two games to Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Bridgewater isn't on their level but will take advantage of a terrible Bears defense allowing a league-most 30.8 points per game. The rookie will collect three touchdown passes to finally put the cold weather narrative to bed and move the Vikings to 5-5.
CHRIS MILLER: MARSHALL PLAN CARRIES BEARS

Brandon Marshall has been saddled with a bum ankle, but the Bears big wideout will catch two touchdown passes over the Vikings smallish d-backs. The Vikings, statistically, have been one of the league's better pass defense teams this season, but that rep will take a hit under the Marshall Plan. Jay Cutler will have the fans dousing his burning jerseys with water as the Bears rebound by passing over the Vikings.