Chicago Bears

As the playoffs draw closer, the Bears are gathering momentum having won eight of their last nine games and the streak continued in San Francisco this past Sunday with a 14-9 win over the 49ers.  In the victory, Chicago’s defense continued to stifle opposing offenses by holding the 49ers in check all game and allowing three field goals during the second quarter.  A second-quarter touchdown pass from quarterback Mitch Trubisky and a third-quarter touchdown run from Jordan Howard put the game at 14-9 and the Bears defense held the rest of the way, highlighted by a key interception by Danny Trevathan in the fourth quarter with San Francisco driving deep into Chicago territory.

Following a brawl after a late hit on Trubisky that got three players ejected from the game, the Bears fumbled in 49ers territory.  With the chance to drive the winning touchdown with less than two minutes to play, the Bears defense once again held Nick Mullens and the 49ers offense at bay and sealed the game with a turnover on downs.

The win put the Bears at 11-4 on the season and also has them locked in the three seed at worst in the NFC playoff picture.  In traveling to Minnesota to take on the Vikings in the season finale this Sunday, the Bears still have plenty to play for to finish the year.  Sitting just one game back of the Los Angeles Rams, who currently occupy the two seed in the NFC, the Bears have a shot at overtaking the Rams for the second seed and a bye week in the playoffs should they lose the 49ers this Sunday and the Bears win. 

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings picked up a much-needed win on the road this past Sunday at Ford Field in Detroit with their 27-9 win over the Lions.  After falling behind the Lions 9-0 on three first-half field goals, Minnesota scored 27 unanswered points to put the game out of reach and seal the win for the Vikings.  To get rolling at the end of the second quarter, Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins found Stefon Diggs for a touchdown with a minute and a half remaining in the first half.  After the Vikings defense forced a three and out, Cousins got the Vikings near midfield for one last desperation heave before the half ended and he found tight end Kyle Rudolph on a Hail Mary throw to the end zone.  The touchdown put the Vikings up 14-9 entering halftime and the Vikings never looked back in the second half.

An efficient day from Cousins, who threw for three touchdowns and no interceptions, and a solid effort from running back Dalvin Cook gives the Vikings momentum as they look to carry forward much needed energy to their season finale against the Bears this Sunday at home.  Now sitting at 8-6-1 on the season, the Vikings are in the driver’s seat for the final playoff spot in the NFC.  They can clinch the sixth seed with a win or tie over the Bears or a Philadelphia Eagles loss to tie against the Redskins.  The only chance of the Vikings missing the playoffs is a loss to the Bears and an Eagles win over the Redskins this Sunday.

Detroit Lions

The Lions continued to skid at the close of the 2018 season with a 27-9 home loss to the rival Minnesota Vikings this past Sunday.  Now having lost four of their past five contests, the Lions defense came out ready to play to begin the game by forcing the Vikings to four three and outs to start the game.  With the Lions offense unable to close the deal by finding the end zone three times in the first half and rather settling for field goals, the Vikings broke the back of the Lions by scoring two touchdowns in the final minute and a half to play in the first half.  Where the Lions were able to move the ball in the first quarter and generate some offense, the Vikings offense generated 336 yards of offense over the final three quarters where the Lions were only able to gain 133 yards over that same span.

Late in the fourth quarter, with the Lions offense struggling mightily, starting quarterback Matthew Stafford was replaced by backup Matt Cassel for the final two drives of the game.  Since the departure of wide receiver Golden Tate and the season-ending injury to wide receiver Marvin Jones, Stafford and the Lions offense haven’t been able to put much together to help the team win.  In two games against the Vikings this season, the Lions offense failed to find the end zone even one time.  Now sitting at 5-10 overall on the season and having the worst record in the NFC North locked up, the Lions will travel to Green Bay this Sunday to take on the Packers in the final game of the season for both teams.