Three days after their 20-3 win over the Cleveland Browns, the Bears returned to the practice field Wednesday to begin preparing for Sunday's season finale against the Vikings in Minnesota.
The Bears (5-10) will look to win their final two games for the first time since 2012. Against the Browns last Sunday, Mitchell Trubisky passed for 193 yards and rushed for 44 yards and one touchdown, while the Chicago defense did not allow a TD and generated three takeaways.
The Vikings (12-3) have already won the NFC North title and can clinch a first-round bye and the No. 2 seed in the playoffs with a win. Even with a loss, they would earn the No. 2 seed unless the 49ers also beat the Rams, the Buccaneers defeat the Saints and the Panthers beat the Falcons.
See photos from practice during week 17 at Halas Hall as the Bears prepare to face the Vikings on Sunday, December 31.
The Vikings are led by quarterback Case Keenum, who has completed 67.3 percent of his passes for 3,358 yards with 21 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 98.1 passer rating that ranks seventh in the NFL. His favorite target is Adam Thielen, who has 85 catches for 1,215 yards and four touchdowns. Stefon Diggs has caught 58 passes for 784 yards and seven TDs.
The Bears trail the all-time series with the Vikings 59-52-2 and have lost five of the last six.
The Bears lost the last meeting 20-17 Oct. 9 at Soldier Field. Making his first NFL start, rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky turned a 17-9 deficit into a 17-17 tie with a 20-yard TD pass to Zach Miller followed by a successful two-point conversion run on a trick play. But a late Trubisky interception set up Kai Forbath's winning 26-yard field goal with just :12 remaining.
Entering Week 17 the Bears rank 30th in offense (11th rushing and 31st passing) and 8th in defense (9th against the run and 8th versus the pass). The Vikings rank 10th in offense (8th rushing and 13th passing) and 1st in defense (2nd against the run and 2nd versus the pass).
ChicagoBears.com will provide all the latest news throughout the week from Halas Hall. Coach John Fox will address the media Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Trubisky and offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains will be available Wednesday, while defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and special-teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers will speak Thursday.
