The Chicago Bears (7-8) hope to finish the 2011 NFL Season with a win and a .500 record, squaring off against the struggling Minnesota Vikings (3-12) in Week 17.
After losing QB Jay Cutler in Week 11 to a broken thumb and RB Matt Forte in Week 12, the Bears have fallen to 7-8 with five straight losses. According to head coach Lovie Smith, however, the Bears may once again have the services of their top quarterback and halfback come Sunday:
@mikecwright
Michael C. WrightIf Cutler or Forte are ready to go, "we won't tell them no," Lovie said. "If we had other things on the line, we would take same approach."
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The Bears lost in Week 16 to the No. 1 seeded Green Bay Packers (14-1), mathematically eliminating the Bears from the playoffs. However, the team still hopes to end with a win and possibly evaluate RB Kahlil Bell and QB Josh McCown -- two backups who performed well as starters in Week 16 -- better before the 2012 NFL Season.
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