We’re likely to see more fans clamoring for Matt Nagy to be fired than actually rooting for the home team when the Chicago Bears host the Minnesota Vikings in the Week 15 Monday Night Football matchup. At 4-9 the Bears have already lost the most games in Nagy’s four seasons. And while they’re still mathematically in contention for a playoff spot they have a better record than only Detroit in the NFC. The teams play twice in the final month of the regular season and a sweep would do wonders for the Vikings chances of reaching the playoffs. Minnesota is positioned as a 4.5-point favorite on the NFL betting line.
This regular season Week 15 matchup will take place on Monday, December 20, 2021 at 8:15 p.m. ET at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL and will be televised on ESPN.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Minnesota Vikings -4.5
Chicago Bears +4.5
Total 44
Odds Analysis
The line has held steady since hitting the board with Minnesota as a 4.5-point favorite. There were minor fluctuations with the number coming down a half-point before being wagered back up. The Vikings ended a 2-game SU and ATS slide with a win last week over Pittsburgh in a game that was closer than it probably should’ve been. But that’s nothing new since all but one of their games was decided by one score. The last time the Vikings played a road game was two weeks ago when they lost outright as a touchdown favorite to Detroit, 29-27. They are 2-5 SU and 4-3 ATS in road games. The Bears’ freefall continued last week with their seventh setback in the last eight games, 45-30, at Green Bay failing to cover the 11.5-point line. They’ve dropped four in a row ATS and are just 1-7 ATS over the previous eight games. Both clubs scored points last week which helped push the total up a half-point after opening at 43.5.
Player to Watch
We could call this section coach to watch since all eyes will be on Nagy. As the losses pile up and the offense continues to sputter, it’s seems like only a matter of time before the axe falls. But hey, he won’t be the first coach fired this season, though he is a negative odds favorite to be the second let go. The organization has never fired a coach during the season, and there have been some questionable guys walking the sideline. Abe Gibron lost over 72 percent of his games, the highest losing percentage of any coach in team history, yet he completed three seasons. And despite the 4-9 record, Nagy has won more than half his games during his tenure.
Nagy’s lame duck status has me wondering how he’ll coach on Monday night. He made some unusual decisions in the second half of last week’s game and I don’t think he’ll be as conservative with his play calling. Hell, punting on fourth-and-1 in the fourth quarter when trailing by 11 points should be out of the question. He has a weapon in Justin Fields, who threw for 224 yards and a pair of scores with an additional 74 yards on the ground. The Bears had 247 yards at halftime and their 27 points over the first 30 minutes matched a season high for any game. They crumbled in the second half, though, totaling 100 yards and getting outscored 24-3.
Key Stat
This version of the Chicago defense isn’t close to being the Monsters of the Midway and opponents have taken advantage. Former Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack is on IR and Akiem Hicks missed the last four games depleting the unit’s depth. They’ve allowed 78 points in the last two games and rank 24th giving up an average of 25.5 points. And they’ve been bad defending the run, too. And that could be a problem against Dalvin Cook. Cook had a massive day against the Steelers last week rushing for 153 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the first half. He totaled 205 yards on the ground for the game and he leads the NFC with 978 yards
Free ATS Pick
One thing the Bears have in their favor is recent success against the Vikings. They’ve won five of the last six meetings, since Nagy became coach, and they are 4-2 ATS in those games. Minnesota has played a bunch of close games this season and they nearly coughed up a 29-point advantage last week, so we can’t count Chicago out of this matchup. Still, the Bears are a mess and their O-line could be a who’s who making Field’s life miserable. And getting a couple extra days to prepare after playing on Thursday, the Vikings will cover.
NFL Pick: Minnesota Vikings -4.5 / UNDER 44
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
