The Minnesota Vikings are 1-2 straight-up and against the NFL wagering spread in three games since losing starting QB Sam Bradford in week 1 to a knee injury. The Vikes are, thus, hoping against hope that Bradford will be ready to start against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football so that he can relieve backup Case Keenum from his duty, duty which he has not been performing to the level desired by Minnesota fans.
- Date: Monday, 9th October
- Time: 8:35 PM
- Venue: Soldier Field
- Online sportsbook NFL betting online odds:
Vikings -3½ (-110) 40½ (-115) -185
Bears +3½ (-110) 40½ (-105) +160
“If [Bradford]’s ready [by Monday] to play, he’ll play,” head coach Mike Zimmer said. And it would be, if he does play, not a second too soon. The Vikings have lost eight of their last nine visits to Chicago since in 2008. “Just not playing well there, that’s the most common theme we’ve had in the six games I’ve played there,” tight end Kyle Rudolph said. “Even the game we won [23-20 in 2015], you go back and look and essentially until the last drive of the game, we didn’t play that well.” it will not be easy, though, even with Bradford in the starting lineup, because, whether or not he is, the Vikes will still miss rookie running back Dalvin Cook, whom they lost to a torn left ACL in Sunday’s 14-7 loss to the Detroit Lions. The Vikings are, in addition to their 1-8 SU road record, 2-7 ATS versus Chicago in that same period. On the plus side, Minnesota is 9-2 ATS when playing a team with a losing record, 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games in Week 5, 4-1 ATS in their last five games versus NFC foes, and 7-2 against the NFL wagering spread in their last nine October games.
Minnesota signed seven-year veteran running back Stevan Ridley on Thursday to take the Cook’s place. Ridley was last seen, or rather not seen, with the Denver Broncos, who signed him on July and released in September. He had previously gone through the same signing/release cycle with the Falcons, Colts, and Lions after playing eight games with the New York Jets in 2015, when he missed the first half of the season due with a knee injury. Speaking of which, “Honestly, I am (healthy),” Ridley said about his knee. “I’ve been at 100 percent and that’s not sugarcoating it or blowing smoke, man. … My knee is not the problem, it’s just finding that opportunity, finding that fit and finding a spot that can use your skills.”
"I'm just trying to come in here and be productive and just help this team win." – @StevanRidley
?: https://t.co/E64nWKsFlC pic.twitter.com/67rwb0OPQM
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 5, 2017
It remains to be seen whether Bradford, if ready, and Ridley can give the Vikes that offensive boost they have lacked with Keenum under center. The total has gone under in two of the three games the backup has started. The Vikings, however, tend to go under on the road and especially at Chicago. The NFL wagering total has gone under in eight of the Vikings’ last 12 road games and in four of their last five visits to Soldier Field.