The Minnesota Vikings are 3-12 and without star running back Adrian Peterson heading into Week 17, but the Chicago Bears have lost five games in a row and are left with Josh McCown and Kahlil Bell to lead the offensive unit. Neither team expected to be in this situation at the end of the season, but now it's about who can make the best of it. Bell has been running hard for the Bears, and may be looking to make a statement against the Vikings, the team that cut him before he made his way to Chicago. Meanwhile, Jared Allen needs 4.5 sacks to surpsass the NFL single-season record set by Michael Strahan. There are still some interesting aspects to a game that has no bearing on the playoff picture.
The five-man panel at CBS Sports has released picks for Week 17, and three out of five experts expect the Bears to lose the season finale. Pete Prisco explained his prediction of a Bears in the following way:
The Bears season went right down the drain when Jay Cutler got hurt. What could have been? Now they are playing a meaningless division road game to close it. How motivated will they be? The Vikings are at home, which is why they are the pick -- even without Adrian Peterson. Vikings 21, Bears 21.
It wouldn't be the best thing for the Vikings in terms of 2012 NFL Draft position, but no doubt the players on the field would love to cap the season with a victory.
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