Minnesota Vikings (5-3-1)
Remaining schedule:
The Vikings start the second half of the season on a bye week and only have seven games down the stretch. That gives them a little bit of an edge, but their schedule doesn’t do them any favors. They play four of their final seven away from home and make trips to Seattle and New England, both places where it’s hard to pick up a road win. They’ll play the Bears twice while meeting up with the other division rivals once each.
If I’m looking at my crystal ball, I think the Vikings split with the Bears, lose to the Patriots and Seahawks and beat the Dolphins, Lions and Packers. That would give them a record of 9-6-1. That tie with the Packers could loom awfully large when the Bears head to Minneapolis in Week 17.