Section 400’s Week 12 Monday Night Football Roundtable

Week 12 of the NFL season concludes on Monday night with yet another Chicago Bears primetime game for some reason when the 3-8 Bears travel to Minneapolis to take on the 6-5 Minnesota Vikings.

Chicago’s season is all-but-over, as the team has its eyes set on what should be two top 5 picks in the 2024 NFL draft, while the Vikings have found renewed life in the playoff hunt with quarterback Josh Dobbs.

This game might draw about 2 million less viewers than last week’s Super Bowl rematch, but it could still be entertaining.

As will be the case every Monday during the NFL season, the guys from Section 400 are here to give their takes on the game.

Here is what Section 400 writers Brian Hauch, Matt Kolen, and Jack Albanese are thinking heading into this NFC North matchup.

Cold Like Minnesota

The Vikings are 6-5 with Justin Jefferson nearing activation. Can this team make the postseason?

BH: I had a take on the podcast this week that Josh Dobbs is going to fall off sooner rather than later. We saw it in Arizona and I think we’ll see it with the Vikings. However, my heart wants to see Dobbs succeed, and with the Seahawks and in-division Lions now struggling, Minnesota has a feasible path. I’ll be rooting for them to capture that 7 seed.

MK: I think the Vikings have a shot to make the playoffs, especially with Justin Jefferson due back soon. Josh Dobbs can definitely lead his team in as a Wild Card team, but I don’t see them winning a game against the Lions or 49ers.

JA: The NFC is extremely top-heavy this season. With two spots completely up for grabs, I think Josh Dobbs and the Vikings will find themselves in the postseason.

Duck, Duck, Gray Duck

The Bears have actually looked competent lately. If the team continues to play well, does head coach Matt Eberflus keep his job next year, or is it too little too late?

BH: The Bears deciding to start playing decent football is the worst thing to happen to the city since the creation of deep-dish pizza. Like the mockery of a meal, the Bears are a total joke and need to start over. That starts by cleaning house.

MK: If they have a strong close to the year Eberflus should keep his job, at least until 2024. His scheme looks good when Justin Fields is able to play well. I want to see what it can look like with a consistently solid quarterback.

JA: The end of this season is crucial for the Bears organization. They need to decide whether the coaching and/or Justin Fields needs to go as we move to next season. They’re building something right now, which calls for the hold.

Battle Scars

This division has been downright weird this year, and it’s gotten even crazier now that the Lions look like frauds. Is this the most confusing division in football?

BH: No, but it’s pretty darn close. Something is going on with the water up in the north. The AFC North is an absolute shit-show while the NFC version isn’t too far behind. I don’t see any teams from the top part of our country making a Super Bowl run.

MK: The NFC North is up there with the weirdest in football. The many injuries and surprises each week are getting out of hand. Detroit could still butcher this division and open the door for the Vikings to steal it.

JA: I still think The AFC West is the weirdest division in football mainly because Kansas City is human, the Chargers are the Chargers, and the Broncos and Raiders aren’t as horrendous as they’ve been recently. I can see this division as the NFC’s “whack-a-mole” though.

Minneapolis Miracle

It’s time for your best bet boys. Let’s be great.

BH: I’ll give you the two I gave out on the podcast. I love the over 43.5 tonight as well as Justin Fields over 50.5 rush yards.

MK: It’s Monday which means it’s time for another weird player prop. This week we’re going with Khalil Herbert over 10.5 receiving yards

JA: Here is a spicy parlay for you. Give me D.J. Moore and Jordan Addison both to score touchdowns.

Final Score.

BH: The Vikings getting a win here can make the NFC North really interesting. They get it done, 27-24.

MK: The Bears are playing well. Something tells me Chicago sneaks out a win tonight, 20-17.

JA: Josh Dobbs gets the job done. Vikings win it, 20-14