Brett Favre and head coach Brad Childress have evidentially resolved their dispute about the QB being benched last week in Minnesota’s embarrassing blowout loss to the Carolina Panthers as well as Favre’s decisions to change play calls at the line of scrimmage. Favre was quoted as saying that he and Childress have talked and everything seemed to be cleared up. It’s never good when a head coach and quarterback are squabbling, but it is especially negative when a team is getting ready for a playoff run.

The Vikings need a win Monday night to clinch at least the second seed in the NFC Playoffs, which will give them a first round bye. As for the Chicago Bears, they are just trying to get through what has been a tumultuous and disappointing season. Lovie Smith is fighting for his job as are his assistants but they will need a complete turnaround on Monday night from what happened a few weeks ago in Minnesota where the Vikings hammered the Bears 36-10. Chicago was out-gained in that game 537-169 as Minnesota dominated every phase of the game. Minnesota opened as seven-point road favorites but that line has been pushed up to 7½ as approximately 85% of the betting public is on Minnesota.

Minnesota will be looking to avoid their third straight road loss on Monday Night. They have been completely outplayed in their last two games away from home. Last week they lost 26-7 to a depleted Carolina Panthers team who was playing without their starting quarterback, Jake Delhomme. Minnesota was a nine point favorite in that game and didn’t look anything like a Super Bowl contender. It also must be noted that Minnesota was beaten pretty badly three weeks ago on Sunday Night Football at Arizona. They lost that game by a final score of 30-17 as 3.5 point road favorites.

Despite failing to cover in two of their last three games, Minnesota has still been a profitable team to bet on this year as they are 8-5-1 against the spread this season. Minnesota however, will enter this game with key players out or who are listed as questionable. Pro-Bowl offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson is listed as questionable as is cornerback Antoine Winfield. The defense could also be without defensive tackle Pat Williams and linebacker E.J. Henderson is out for the year with a leg injury. The Vikings are clearly the better team but it is uncertain how motivated they will be and key injuries could make this game more interesting than expected.

The Bears are coming off yet another pathetic performance as they were trounced 31-7 at Baltimore last week. Jay Cutler continues to throw interception after interception and he might be without one of his top targets in Devin Hester who is listed as questionable. As for the defense, they will have to find a way to slow down the potent, balanced attack of the Minnesota Vikings. They were absolutely scorched the last time these two teams played as Brett Favre threw for 392 yards and 3 touchdown passes. Cutler on the other hand threw for just 147 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions. Minnesota also ran the ball for 159 yards as Chicago couldn’t stop Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor. What’s even worse for the Bears is that they too have key injuries on the defensive side of the ball. Tommie Harris is listed questionable as is linebacker Lance Briggs and if those two guys can’t go, it will be extremely hard for Chicago to stop this Minnesota offense.

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