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It’s time to kick off our weekly coverage by delving into the history between the Minnesota Vikings and their upcoming opponents. This week it’s the team they have faced off against more than all but one team in their history, the Chicago Bears. Let’s take a high-level view of the storied rivalry thanks to Pro Football Reference:
Total games between the Vikings and Bears (including playoffs): 110
All-Time Record: Vikings, 57-51-2 (0-1 in the playoffs)
Total Vikings Points Scored, Head-to-Head: 2311 (21.0 points/game)
Total Bears Points Scored, Head-to-Head: 2159 (19.6 points/game)
Longest Vikings Winning Streak Against Bears: 8 (3 December 1972 - 10 October 1976)
Longest Bears Winning Streak Against Vikings: 6 (Twice)
Most Recent Vikings Road Win In Series: 1 November 2015 (Final score 23-20)
Most Recent Bears Home Win In Series: 16 November 2014 (Final score 21-13)
Biggest Vikings Road Win In Series: 31 points, 12 October 1969 (Final score 31-0)
Biggest Bears Home Win In Series: 31 points, 17 September 1989 (Final score 38-7)
Current Streak: Vikings, 3 victories
The all-time series is incredibly close, although the Vikings have won only 22 of their 54 trips to Chicago over the years. Even after their victory over the Bears at Solder Field last season, the Vikings are still 2-13 in their last 15 road games against the Bears.
As Ted already outlined earlier this week, Jay Cutler has fared very well at home against the Vikings throughout his career. However, his one career home loss to Minnesota was last year, and of course the Bears aren’t very good this year.
Sam Bradford has only played the Bears once in his career, and it didn’t go well. In 2012, Bradford and his Rams lost 23-6 at Solder Field as he sputtered to 152 yards on 18/35 passing with two interceptions. Even if Bradford is under siege again on Sunday, one would hope that he could improve upon the 39.2 quarterback rating he posted four years ago.
Can the Vikings right all the wrongs that happened in Philadelphia last week and get back to their winning ways? Las Vegas seems to think so. The Vikings are currently about a 6-point favorite with a -250 money line depending on which site you check.