Chicago @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 18, 2018 ) Minnesota 20, Chicago 25

The Minnesota Vikings have a chance to determine their own fate when they host the NFC North-champion Chicago Bears on Sunday in a battle between two of the NFL's top defensive teams. Minnesota, which ranks third in overall defense (308.2 yards), can clinch a wild card with a victory - or a tie - against its long-time division rival.

The Vikings, who also would qualify for the playoffs with a loss or tie by Philadelphia against Washington on Sunday, have posted back-to-back victories following a swoon during which they dropped three of four contests. That stretch began with a 25-20 road loss in Week 11 to Chicago, which will secure a first-round bye with a win over Minnesota and a loss to San Francisco by the Los Angeles Rams. The Bears enter their regular-season finale having posted three straight victories and eight in their last nine contests, including a 14-9 road triumph over the 49ers last week. Chicago possesses the league's fourth-best defense (308.7 yards) and ranks second against the run (81.1).

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Vikings -4.5. O/U: 40.5

ABOUT THE BEARS (11-4): Mitchell Trubisky has gained 405 yards on the ground this season to join Houston's Deshaun Watson as the only quarterbacks in the league with at least 400 rushing yards and a passer rating of over 95 (96) in 2018. Linebacker Khalil Mack has registered a team-high 12.5 sacks, marking the fourth consecutive season he has reached double digits. Tarik Cohen leads all NFL running backs with seven receptions of at least 25 yards and tops the league with 413 punt-return yards.

ABOUT THE VIKINGS (8-6-1): Adam Thielen made five catches for 80 yards in last week's 27-9 win at Detroit to join Rod Smith and Wes Welker as the only undrafted players in the common draft era with at least 100 receptions (110) and 1,300 receiving yards (1,335) in a season. Thielen and Stefon Diggs can become the first wide receiver teammates in NFL history to each record 100 catches and 10 TDs in a season as the former needs one score while the latter is six receptions and two touchdowns shy. Kirk Cousins has completed over 400 passes (405) for the second time in his career and thrown for at least 4,000 yards (4,166) in four straight campaigns.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Bears are the only team to hold a second-half lead in every game this season and lead the league in fewest first-half points allowed (93).

2. Diggs needs 26 receiving yards to reach 1,000 for the first time in his career.

3. Chicago tops the NFL with 107 points off takeaways - a category in which it also leads the league with 36.

PREDICTION: Bears 24, Vikings 20