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The Minnesota Vikings (8-6-1) will host the Chicago Bears (11-4) in the regular-season finale for both teams at 3:25 p.m. (CT) Sunday.

This is the fourth time in five regular seasons for the Vikings to host the Bears, but this time, there are playoff implications on the line for both teams.

A victory by Minnesota would send the Vikings to the postseason for the third time in four seasons. Chicago already clinched the NFC North and a playoff berth. The Bears can claim the No. 2 seed in the NFC with a win and a loss by the Los Angeles Rams.

The Bears won the first meeting between the teams 25-20 by building a lead early and protecting it late at Soldier Field on Nov. 18.

johnnyvann840 wrote:Interesting scenario here. If we lose, we will have to play the Vikings for the 3rd time in a 7 week span (never a good thing when a team gets to see you that much) in the WC game. But if we win and Philly gets in, would you rather play the defending champs on a roll or the Vikings?

I would love to see the Rams lose the 49ers and us win and get the bye, but just don't see it happening with a bye on the line at home. So it's Vikings AGAIN, or the Eagles.

transplant wrote:I hate this game. How do you prepare a team to play against a team that will be playing for their season when everyone is talking about what you'll do MID-GAME if another game (Rams-Niners) goes a certain way. This is just so f'd up. Most of it's coming from the media and they don't have any idea about how professional athlete's prepare for battle.

RedBulls23 wrote:

transplant wrote:I hate this game. How do you prepare a team to play against a team that will be playing for their season when everyone is talking about what you'll do MID-GAME if another game (Rams-Niners) goes a certain way. This is just so f'd up. Most of it's coming from the media and they don't have any idea about how professional athlete's prepare for battle.

My guess is that Nagy is preparing them to play the entire game, but won't tell them what his decision will be in regards to watching what the rams are doing.

transplant wrote:

RedBulls23 wrote:

transplant wrote:I hate this game. How do you prepare a team to play against a team that will be playing for their season when everyone is talking about what you'll do MID-GAME if another game (Rams-Niners) goes a certain way. This is just so f'd up. Most of it's coming from the media and they don't have any idea about how professional athlete's prepare for battle.

My guess is that Nagy is preparing them to play the entire game, but won't tell them what his decision will be in regards to watching what the rams are doing.

I'm sure that you're guess is spot on, but we can't pretend that this whole "mid-game adjustment" thing might not be in some players' minds and that this may be a distraction. In the NFL, where the difference between winning and losing is usually very small, distractions are a very bad thing. Nagy is honest to a fault IMO. I'd be happier if he just stuck with "we're playing this game like any other...to win."

RedBulls23 wrote:

transplant wrote:

RedBulls23 wrote:My guess is that Nagy is preparing them to play the entire game, but won't tell them what his decision will be in regards to watching what the rams are doing.

I'm sure that you're guess is spot on, but we can't pretend that this whole "mid-game adjustment" thing might not be in some players' minds and that this may be a distraction. In the NFL, where the difference between winning and losing is usually very small, distractions are a very bad thing. Nagy is honest to a fault IMO. I'd be happier if he just stuck with "we're playing this game like any other...to win."

We he has said that all week to the media

transplant wrote:

RedBulls23 wrote:

transplant wrote:I'm sure that you're guess is spot on, but we can't pretend that this whole "mid-game adjustment" thing might not be in some players' minds and that this may be a distraction. In the NFL, where the difference between winning and losing is usually very small, distractions are a very bad thing. Nagy is honest to a fault IMO. I'd be happier if he just stuck with "we're playing this game like any other...to win."

We he has said that all week to the media

He has also acknowledged that he will have his peeps with an eye on the Rams game. Bottom line is that the results of a NFL game that is being played simultaneously with the Bears game could affect how Nagy coaches his game.

chicagoballer wrote:if the Rams continue to pile it up on the niners, time to sit out starters after half-time. Anthony miller already down, and I gotta believe its going to be a couple weeks out atleast. Lets avoid injuries, especially after the starters got some burn

Axxo wrote:I can see where this game is headed...11-5 record for the season

johnnyvann840 wrote:

chicagoballer wrote:if the Rams continue to pile it up on the niners, time to sit out starters after half-time. Anthony miller already down, and I gotta believe its going to be a couple weeks out atleast. Lets avoid injuries, especially after the starters got some burn

As long as we've got the game in hand. I think it's important that we knock the Vikings out.

RedBulls23 wrote:

Axxo wrote:I can see where this game is headed...11-5 record for the season

Not so sure about that.