Still in contention for a first-round bye in the playoffs, the Bears (11-4) will close the regular season by visiting the Vikings (8-6-1) Sunday in Minnesota.
The Bears would supplant the Rams (12-3) as the second seed with a victory over the Vikings coupled with a Los Angeles loss at home to the 49ers. Last weekend's win in San Francisco gave the Bears a two-game lead over the NFC East champion Cowboys (9-6) with one contest remaining, locking Dallas into the No. 4 seed.
The Vikings will be fighting for their playoff lives; they would clinch the second wildcard berth with a win over the Bears or a loss by the Eagles (8-7) in Washington. A Minnesota win and a Seattle loss would enable the Vikings to nab the No. 5 seed with the Seahawks dropping to No. 6.
Numbers game
The Bears enter Week 17 ranked 21st in the NFL on offense (14th rushing and 20th passing) and 4th on defense (2nd against the run and 8th versus the pass). The Vikings rank 17th on offense (30th rushing and 10th passing) and 3rd on defense (11th against the run and 3rd versus the pass).
Talk show
Bears coach Matt Nagy will address the media Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, quarterback Mitchell Trubisky will speak Wednesday, and offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and special-teams coordinator Chris Tabor will talk Thursday.
Series history
Bears trail 60-53-2 and have lost seven of last eight. The Bears won the last meeting 25-20 on Nov. 18, 2018 on Sunday Night Football at Soldier Field. The Bears generated three takeaways, including an interception that Eddie Jackson returned 27 yards for a touchdown. Trubisky threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Miller. Cody Parkey made field goals of 33, 41 and 48 yards without a miss.
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