The Bears deserved a better fate in the first meeting, losing 17-9 despite outgaining the Vikings 370-193. Chicago also was victimized by questionable calls. This is not to say the Bears will win Sunday, but the Vikings are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 as home favorites and shouldn't be laying over a field goal here. Chicago didn't have its top corner, Jaylon Johnson, for the last meeting. And the Vikings' offense isn't the same without Adam Thielen. Take the points.

Say what you want about Bears coach Matt Nagy. But I know this: The team hasn't quit on him, even late in a season that we all knew wasn't going anywhere early on. I expect Chicago to show up, but I can't say the same thing about Minnesota.

The Vikings predictably collapsed without Kirk Cousins at QB against the Packers, but with the starting QB returning to action for the finale, Minnesota has a great chance of running away with this game. The Bears have a two-game win streak going but didn't have to do much to beat the Giants last week and didn't play that well against the Seahawks until they were in catch-up mode in the second half. Maybe they ride that same pattern to a cover here -- Minnesota after all is addicted to playing in close games -- but I'm going to lay the three with the better team, even if we're unsure about the motivation level on both sides.

The Fired Coaches Bowl as both Matt Nagy and Mike Zimmer will be canned, maybe as soon as 4 p.m. ET for Zimmer. The Bears probably take until at least Monday. I'm simply taking the Vikings at home because they are the more talented team and will have Kirk Cousins back from COVID. I'd imagine he's motivated to have a big game after missing last week's elimination game vs. Green Bay. Justin Fields is expected to start for the Bears and he has been worse on the road.