Fans of the Minnesota Vikings have gotten used to seeing them take on the Chicago Bears to finish their season, but things are a little bit different this year. This year’s NFL regular-season finale between the Vikings and the Bears will take place at Soldier Field rather than at U.S. Bank Stadium (or what was known as TCF Bank Stadium, even). The Vikings are locked into the NFC playoffs as either the #2 or #3 seed (with the #3 being more likely), while the Bears are fighting for the #1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, which they would likely trade for a bounty since they don’t really need a quarterback. Both of these teams are coming off of fairly lopsided losses, with the Vikings losing to Green Bay at Lambeau Field by a score of 41-17 while Detroit, 41-10 soundly defeated Chicago. With the Vikings not likely to see a lot of change in their playoff positioning unless something strange happens in San Francisco, there’s a good chance that they could be resting some key personnel in this one. They did suffer some significant injuries against Green Bay, particularly on the offensive line, and Kevin O’Connell might want to make sure that they don’t lose any more of their main players in a game that doesn’t mean much. The folks at the DraftKings Sportsbook have made the Vikings an early 1.5-point favorite over the Bears for this Week 18 matchup, which might be taking into account Minnesota potentially resting those key players. The over/under is currently sitting at 46.5 points, just a shade under what these teams combined for back in Week 5 at U.S. Bank Stadium in a 27-22 Minnesota victory. DAILY NORSEMAN
Vikings place Brian O’Neill, Austin Schlottmann on IR, sign Greg Mancz On Monday, Minnesota Vikings’ head coach Kevin O’Connell told us that the calf injury that right tackle Brian O’Neill suffered on Sunday was “significant.” Now, we know just how significant it is. The team has placed O’Neill on injured reserve, meaning that unless the Vikings somehow make a run to the Super Bowl, he’s done for the season. The Vikings also placed Austin Schlottmann, who had been starting at center in place of Garrett Bradbury, on IR as well. To add depth, the team has signed veteran center Greg Mancz (pronounced “manch”). Mancz has been in the league for a while, going undrafted out of Toledo in the 2015 NFL Draft. He spent his first six seasons with the Houston Texans, starting 28 games for them during his time there. He then bounced around a bit, spending time with the Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, and Cleveland Browns. No word on how soon it will be until Bradbury is back, though the team is obviously hoping he’ll be back for the playoffs. I’m not sure how long it would take Mancz to get spun up, either, though with as long as he’s been in the league it might not take that long. With Blake Brandel still on IR for at least another week, Oli Udoh will be the starter at right tackle moving forward. Some bad news for the Vikings on the offensive line heading into the regular season finale, but it’s “next man up” time for the purple up front. DAILY NORSEMAN
This is the worst kind of news heading into the Playoffs... O-line is messed up with injuries. Im a firm believer the games are won in the trenches and the Vikings are really in a bad place along the Offensive Line. IF, the Vikings win in Chicago it will take a miracle, let alone a Playoff game. Im bummed, but still fired up as usual.
The Bears won’t have quarterback Justin Fields for their season finale against the Vikings. Head coach Matt Eberflus told reporters in his Wednesday press conference that Fields came out of Sunday’s loss to the Lions with a sore hip and is out for Week 18. Eberflus noted that Fields had an MRI, which revealed a hip strain. Nathan Peterman will start instead for Chicago.
Vikings could be getting an important depth piece back for playoffs The Minnesota Vikings recently placed right tackle Brian O’Neill on injured reserve this week after he partially tore his Achilles in the Week 17 matchup vs. the Green Bay Packers. After placing O’Neill on injured reserve, the Vikings went out and signed tackle Bobby Evans to the practice squad to help shore up the tackle position. It’s to be determined if the Vikings will elevate Evans to the active roster, but it’s a good insurance move nonetheless. In addition to signing Evans, the Vikings may be getting back a key depth piece as head coach Kevin O’Connell announced on Wednesday that tackle Blake Brandel could be back in time for the playoffs. Brandel was placed on injured reserve earlier this season when he tore his MCL vs. the Detroit Lions. He has filled in for an injured Christian Darrisaw a few different times this season. In those games, Brandel has allowed 13 pressures and seven sacks. While Brandel has typically played left tackle in college and now in the NFL, there is a chance the Vikings could try and utilize him at right tackle with O’Neill out for the season. Currently, all indications are that Oli Udoh will take over for O’Neill. Getting Brandel back for the playoffs is important, as he’s played well enough when called upon. The hope is that no one else gets hurt, but in the event Udoh or Darrisaw go down, having Brandel will be an added bonus as playoffs near. VIKINGS WIRE
Harrison Smith ruled out vs Bears. (knee issues) Not real serious... should be active for the Playoffs.
Now, why do the refs do that? Montgomery was pushing the pile and moving forward and the refs blow it dead... let the play finish.
