Hub Arkush: Final game of season gives Bears chance to reevaluate

With the Vikings already locked into the NFC's sixth seed, not only will they most likely be resting everybody with even the slightest of nicks or bruises to prepare them for wild-card weekend, they could even decide to rest key contributors like Kirk Cousins, Danielle Hunter, Anthony Barr and Harrison Smith just to make sure they're as ready as possible for next weekend.

We also have to assume - perhaps even hope - the Bears will take advantage of their last opportunity in a real game to look at players like Alex Bars, Ryan Nall, Eric Saubert, Riley Ridley, Javon Wims, Brent Urban, Abdullah Anderson, Joel Iyiegbuniwe, Kevin Toliver and Michael Joseph before key personnel decisions have to be made in the offseason.

The Vikings have actually been a good matchup in recent years for the Bears, who have won the past three and four of their previous seven meetings, including a punishing 16-6 victory in Week 4, when they sacked Kirk Cousins 6 times, limited Minnesota to 222 yards of total offense and recovered Cousins and Stefon Diggs fumbles.

But prior to stunningly managing only seven first downs in a beatdown from the Packers reminiscent of Week 4, the Vikings had won 8-of-10 after losing only to Kansas City and Seattle, while the Bears have dropped 7-of-11 and haven't beaten a winning team except Minnesota this year.

Basically, we have no idea what to expect from either of these teams in the season finale.

Vikings offense vs. Bears defense: Even though the Bears almost certainly won't see Dalvin Cook or Alexander Mattison, the Vikings will still try and focus on running the ball with Mike Boone and Ameer Abdullah because that's what their offense does under coordinator Kevin Stefanski.

Minnesota is 7th in the NFL rushing, although only 14th in average gain per rush, while the offense ranks 20th throwing the ball but tied for 3rd in the NFL in average gain per pass.

The main reason for their big plays in the passing game has been Stefon Diggs. Though Adam Thielen missed six games with a hamstring injury and just returned a week ago last Sunday vs. the Chargers, Diggs is averaging 17.9 yards a catch in a 1,130-yard season to date.

If Cousins is at quarterback it will be to finish perhaps his best season as a pro - including 3,603 yards passing, an 8.1 average, 70.5 completion percentage, 26 touchdowns and just 6 interceptions and a 107.4 passer rating, having taken all but five snaps this year for the Vikings behind center.

One reason he's gotten that done is a much improved offensive line that in addition to creating Cook's and Mattison's success on the ground has allowed Cousins to be sacked just 28 times all year - although five of those were taken Monday night against a Packers front that overwhelmed Minnesota.

If Cousins doesn't go, Sean Mannion will start for the first time this season, which would mark a distinct advantage for the Bears.

Bears offense vs. Vikings defense: The Minnesota defense is excellent again but actually ranks a few spots below the Bears in almost every major category except for points allowed, where the Vikings are 6th at 18.8 and the Bears are 5th at 18.6, and in interception and sack percentage, where Minnesota is 4th and 11th respectively.

And fortunately for the Vikings 'D' it's the Bears offense they have to worry about, as you know one of the worst in the league, and if the Vikings regulars are on the field, the Bears could have a problem - again.

Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter is the NFL's third-leading sack artist this season with 14 ½ sacks and 18 tackles for loss, while on the other end, Everson Griffen has bounced back from a troubled season to notch eight sacks and 11 TFLs.

Safety Harrison Smith has notched another Pro Bowl season, and playing next to him, safety Anthony Harris leads the Vikes with six picks, including a rare theft of Aaron Rodgers last week.

Linval Joseph is still one of the best run-stuffing interior lineman in the league, but if there is a soft spot, the Bears should try and attack the Vikings between the tackles because if you get past Joseph, linebackers Eric Kendricks and Eric Wilson aren't exceptional.

EDGE: Vikings

Special Teams: After years of searching in Minnesota, Dan Bailey has solidified the kicking game, hitting 23 of his 25 field goal attempts but his edge over Eddy Pineiro is slight as he's missed four of 43 extra points.

Britton Colquitt and Patrick O'Donnell are just about even punting the ball, and as has been the case most of the year, the Bears rate a big edge in the return game with Tarik Cohen and former Vikings first-round draft choice and current Pro Bowler Cordarrelle Patterson, and thanks to Patterson, they have the edge in coverage as well.

EDGE: Bears

Coaches: It's been a rough season for Matt Nagy, including a particularly rough week after last Sunday night's debacle at home vs. the Chiefs. Mike Zimmer has faced his own pressures in Minnesota but has had his team in a pretty good place - at least prior to its own prime-time disappointment Monday. Still, this is a pretty easy call.

EDGE: Vikings

• Hub Arkush, the executive editor of Pro Football Weekly, can be reached at harkush@profootballweekly.com or on Twitter @Hub_Arkush.