Picking the Vikings to win at Soldier Field — and especially against a Bears defense that has given Kirk Cousins lots of trouble — could turn out to be foolish. But the Bears are discombobulated enough on offense that the Vikings might only need to make a few more plays to win and head into a three-game homestand with lots of confidence.
THREE BIG STORY LINES
Vikings surge as Bears slide
Just under a month ago, the Vikings were 1-5, while the Bears had raced out to a 5-1 start that had them battling the Packers for the division lead. Now this is an important game between two NFC North rivals trying to keep themselves in the race for the conference's new third wild-card spot.
Bears offense could turn to former Viking
After three straight dismal offensive performances, Bears coach Matt Nagy this week turned over play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, who will have to piece together a running game with David Montgomery out because of a concussion. That could mean the Bears turn to former Viking Cordarrelle Patterson as a running back as well as a receiver.
Struggles not limited to Soldier Field
It's well-known the Vikings haven't been able to win consistently in Chicago (they're 3-15 there in this century), but if they're able to get a victory on Monday night, it will be Mike Zimmer's first against Nagy, who led the Bears to a win that kept the Vikings out of the 2018 playoffs and got a victory at U.S. Bank Stadium in a Week 17 game last year when the Vikings rested their starters.
TWO KEY MATCHUPS
Vikings offensive line vs. Bears DT Akiem Hicks