NFL Picks Week 6: Why Rejuvenated Vikings Will Shock Disinterested Bears

Jump on the Minnesota Vikings +3 at the Chicago Bears.

The Vikings really aren’t that bad.

No really, there is a lot of talent on this team.

Last week head coach Leslie Frazier finally realized this is Adrian Peterson’s team, and the results were a win. Now that he’s figured out the formula, this team is back on track.

The demise of Donovan McNabb has been overblown, and there is still good football left in the embattled QB. He’s still smart with the ball and knows how to run an offense. The Christian Ponder talk needs to be held off until the end of the season.

On defense Jared Allen is quietly having a monster season. In five games he already has 8.5 sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and three pass deflections.

In other words, Allen is a potential Defensive Player of the Year candidate. He will absolutely destroy a Bears O-line that almost had QB Jay Cutler killed on Monday night.

Speaking of Cutler, does anybody look less interested in playing in the NFL? His body language is awful, and it’s beginning to rub off on his teammates.

At 2-3 and already down the tiebreaker to the 5-0 Lions and Packers, the feeling of a lost season is slowly seeping into the team's consciousness. At this point it looks pretty clear that Lovie Smith will not be back with the team, and a lame-duck coach is a recipe for disaster in an NFL locker room.

The running game is struggling, and facing the fifth-ranked defense against the run is not the remedy.

Matt Forte isn’t getting enough touches, and that won’t be changing against the Vikings' stout front four.

Cutler is going to be facing way too many 3rd-and-longs where the Vikings bring the pressure, and turnovers and bad throws will ensue.

Prediction: Vikings 23, Bears 21

Key Trends

Bears are 0-4 ATS in their last four games overall.

Bears are 0-4 ATS in their last four vs. NFC.

Bears are 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven games following an ATS loss.

(Spread courtesy of Covers.com)