The Vikings and Bears are each 6-7, and both likely need to win Sunday to stay in the NFC Wild Card race.
Despite having the same record, the teams took different paths to get there.
Minnesota started 1-5 before turning things around, while the Bears started 5-1 and then went on a six-game skid that ended Sunday.
Let's see who the experts are picking to win the game, plus scroll below for this week's playoff-clinching scenarios around the league:
Vikings 25, Bears 23 — Gregg Rosenthal, NFL.com
This is one of the toughest games to pick all year. Either Mitchell Trubisky is pulling his final okey-doke on the Bears faithful, lighting up some bad defenses before Lucy pulls the ball away from him. Or this Bears team, with the Jaguars up next week, is going to be in playoff contention into Week 17. With so many factors at play — I also worry about Minnesota's line against this Bears front — it's hard not to lean on the better coach and the better quarterback. Those remain in Minnesota.
Look back at photos over the course of time featuring games between the Vikings and the Bears.
An image from the Dec. 31, 2017 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings won 23-10.
An image from the Dec. 31, 2017 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings won 23-10.
An image from the Dec. 31, 2017 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings won 23-10.
An image from the Dec. 31, 2017 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings won 23-10.
An image from the Dec. 31, 2017 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings won 23-10.
An image from the Dec. 31, 2017 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings won 23-10.
An image from the Dec. 31, 2017 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings won 23-10.
An image from the Dec. 31, 2017 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings won 23-10.
An image from the Dec. 31, 2017 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings won 23-10.
An image from the Dec. 31, 2017 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings won 23-10.
An image from the Dec. 31, 2017 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings won 23-10.
An image from November 18, 2018 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 25-20.
An image from November 18, 2018 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 25-20.
An image from November 18, 2018 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 25-20.
An image from November 18, 2018 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 25-20.
An image from November 18, 2018 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 25-20.
An image from November 18, 2018 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 25-20.
An image from November 18, 2018 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 25-20.
An image from November 18, 2018 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 25-20.
An image from November 18, 2018 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 25-20.
An image from November 18, 2018 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 25-20.
An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.
An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.
An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.
An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.
An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.
An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.
An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.
An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.
An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.
An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.
An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.
An image from December 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 10-24.
An image from September 29, 2019 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 6-16.
An image from September 29, 2019 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 6-16.
An image from September 29, 2019 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 6-16.
An image from September 29, 2019 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 6-16.
An image from September 29, 2019 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 6-16.
An image from September 29, 2019 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 6-16.
An image from September 29, 2019 regular season away game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 6-16.
2020 - Monday Night Football
2020 - Monday Night Football
2020 - Monday Night Football
An image from December 20, 2020 regular season home game against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings loss 27-33.
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Bears 28, Vikings 24 — Pete Prisco, CBS Sports
This is essentially an elimination game, with the loser all but out of the playoffs. The Bears have played better on offense lately with Mitchell Trubisky, while the Vikings have struggled on defense. The Vikings will struggle to run it here with Dalvin Cook, which is why I think the Bears will come in and pull off the upset.
Vikings 24, Bears 17 — Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News
This serves as a pseudo Wild Card elimination game for both 6-7 teams behind the Cardinals. The Vikings won the first meeting in November in Chicago, 19-13. They will have better success running the ball with Dalvin Cook in the home rematch, and Justin Jefferson will continue to be a matchup nightmare in the downfield passing game. Mitchell Trubisky has provided a nice offensive spark for the Bears but here the zone scheming causes problems for him on the road.
Vikings 24, Bears 17 — Michael David Smith, Pro Football Talk
Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky had a big game last week, but that was a last hurrah. He'll struggle in Minnesota as the Vikings cling to their playoff hopes.
Bears 23, Vikings 20 — Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk
It's an elimination game in Minnesota, even though the winner will eventually have a fork stuck in them, too.
Pre-game win probabilities: Vikings 58% — FiveThirtyEight.com
3 of 6 experts pick the Vikings (two had not submitted picks yet), CBS Sports
6 of 6 experts pick the Vikings, The MMQB
6 of 7 experts pick the Vikings, USA TODAY
9 of 9 experts pick the Vikings, ESPN
As for clinching scenarios, this is what can happen this week:
NFC
CLINCHED:
Green Bay Packers – NFC North division title
New Orleans Saints – playoff berth
What can happen in Week 14?
Los Angeles Rams (9-4) vs. New York Jets (0-13), Sunday, 3:05 p.m. CT, FOX
Los Angeles clinches playoff berth with:
1. Los Angeles Rams win or tie OR
2. Minnesota-Chicago tie
New Orleans Saints (10-3) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (12-1), Sunday, 3:25 p.m. CT, CBS
New Orleans clinches NFC South division title with:
1. New Orleans win OR
2. Tampa Bay loss OR
3. New Orleans tie and Tampa Bay tie
Seattle Seahawks (9-4) at Washington Football Team (6-7), Sunday, Noon CT, FOX
Seattle clinches playoff berth with:
1. Seattle win or tie OR
2. Minnesota-Chicago tie
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5) at Atlanta Falcons (4-9), Sunday, Noon CT, FOX
Tampa Bay clinches playoff berth with:
1. Tampa Bay win and Minnesota-Chicago tie
AFC​
CLINCHED:
Kansas City Chiefs – AFC West division title
Pittsburgh Steelers – playoff berth
Buffalo Bills (10-3) at Denver Broncos (5-8), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. CT, NFLN
Buffalo clinches AFC East division title with:​
1. Buffalo win OR
2. Miami loss OR
3. Buffalo tie and Miami tie
Buffalo clinches playoff berth with:
1. Buffalo tie and Baltimore loss or tie OR
2. Baltimore loss​
Kansas City Chiefs (12-1) at New Orleans (10-3), Sunday, 3:25 p.m. CT, CBS
Kansas City clinches first-round bye with:
1. Kansas City win and Pittsburgh loss and Buffalo loss or tie
Pittsburgh Steelers (11-2) at Cincinnati Bengals (2-10-1), Monday, 7:15 p.m. CT, ESPN
Pittsburgh clinches AFC North division title with:
1. Pittsburgh win OR
2. Cleveland loss OR
3. Pittsburgh tie and Cleveland tie
Tennessee Titans (9-4) vs. Detroit Lions (5-8), Sunday, Noon CT, CBS
Tennessee clinches playoff berth with:
1. Tennessee win and Baltimore loss OR
2. Tennessee win and Las Vegas loss or tie and Miami loss and Cleveland win or tie OR
3. Tennessee win + Las Vegas loss or tie and Miami loss and Tennessee or Cleveland clinches strength of victory tiebreaker over Miami
