The second half has begun, the time of year when divisional games become very important. Vikings-Bears in Chicago is as good of a divisional matchup as it gets with a grasp on first place in the NFC North on the line. The Chicago Bears are coming off a 34-22 win over the Detroit Lions that bumped their record to 6-3. The Minnesota Vikings come off their bye week recharged and ready to hit the road after their 24-9 win over the Lions the week prior got them to 5-3-1.
How to Watch Bears vs. Vikings: Week 11
Where: Chicago, Illinois
Start: Sunday, Nov. 18, 8:20 p.m. ET
TV Network: NBC
Radio: WBBM (Bears)
Stream Online: Watch live with fuboTV
Mitchell Trubisky had a career day throwing the football last week in the Bears' win over the Lions, finishing with a career-high 355 passing yards with three TDs, a rushing TD, no picks, and a 148.6 QB rating. It doesn't get much better than that. As Trubisky goes, the Bears will go, because they have the defense and the guys around him to be a contender. Tarik Cohen has been a force as a receiving back. Jordan Howard needs to be a little bit more consistent on the ground. They also badly need Cody Parkey to make some kicks, especially in a game like this that may come down to a field goal. Khalil Mack returned healthy last week and lifted the defense with two sacks. Roquan Smith had 10 tackles and a sack, and Prince Amukamara had eight tackles, an INT, and two forced fumbles. This Bears team has been fun to watch; all three of their losses were one-possession games. This matchup should be a primetime defensive battle that comes down to turnovers.
After a rocky 1-2-1 start to the season, the Vikings seem to have found their groove. They have won four of their past five games, and that loss came to the surging New Orleans Saints. They should use the duo of Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray 25-plus times against the Bears. Kirk Cousins and Adam Thielen has been a dream duo all season long. Thielen leads the NFL with 78 receptions and he's third in receiving yards with 947. The Vikings defense recorded a franchise-record 10 sacks in Week 9 against the Lions. Danielle Hunter has just been playing like a man possessed, finishing that game with nine tackles, a career-high 3.5 sacks, and a 32-yard TD on a forced fumble. Hunter ranks second in the NFL with 11.5 sacks. The key for their front seven this week will be not allowing Trubisky to run outside the pocket, because he's one of the most dangerous running QBs in the NFL.
