BEARS HAVE INCENTIVE
The Bears (11-4) clinched the NFC North and home playoff game, but they have extra incentive against the Vikings on Sunday. Because they beat the Rams (12-3) this season, the Bears would get a first-round bye if they beat the Vikings and Los Angeles loses to San Francisco (although that seems unlikely). In any event, Chicago likely will not rest key players Sunday.
MANO-A-MANO
Vikings WR Stefon Diggs vs. Lions CB Darius Slay
WHO WON?
Slay is the only Lion to make the Pro Bowl, and he showed why in limiting Diggs to two catches (one for a TD when Slay was out of the game) in six targets.
PLAY OF THE GAME
HAIL RUDY!
The Vikings took a 14-9 lead on the final play of the first half Sunday. They had the ball on the Lions' 44 with two seconds remaining, and QB Kirk Cousins (8) scrambled as Adam Thielen (19), Aldrick Robinson (17), Stefon Diggs (14) and Kyle Rudolph (82) headed for the end zone. Cousins launched a Hail Mary that Rudolph hauled in.
THE QUOTE
"It energized us. We were in the locker room at halftime and couldn't wait to get back out there and score again."
— Vikings running back Dalvin Cook