NFL Week 5 Predictions: Looking at the MNF Total

Posted on October 9, 2017

Mitch-a-palooza has finally begun in Chicago as the fans clamored for anybody but Mike Glennon to be taking snaps at QB. The #2 pick in this year’s draft finally gets the nod on an electric night in Chicago. Minnesota is getting some stability back to their own QB situation as Sam Bradford is expected to return to the lineup. How will both of these moves affect the NFL Week 5 Predictions MNF Over Under?

Odds

Tonight’s total has held firm from its open at 40.5 despite the different QB announcements both teams made during the week. The Over/Under is 1-3 in Chicago’s first four games of the year while it has gone 2-2 for the Vikings. Chicago is 2nd worst in the NFL in scoring at 15.2 PPG – but how much does that change with Trubisky in the lineup? The Vikings are putting up 19.8 (21st in NFL) but are a different team with Bradford under center.

Minnesota Vikings

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer announced that Sam Bradford will be back in the lineup for Minnesota. He missed the last three games with a knee injury and Minnesota went 1-2 in the process. Not only did they lose, the offense looked bad scoring only 9 against Pittsburgh and 7 last week against Detroit. The Bears actually have the #6 ranked defense in the league in total yardage, giving up 220.8 through the air and only 85.8 on the ground. The NFL Week 5 Predictions MNF Over Under is going to be a game of field position.

Chicago Bears

Trubisky is expected to fire up this stagnant Chicago offense that is 26th in the NFL in passing at under 200 YPG. He’ll be helped by Jordan Howard, Tarik Cohen, and a Bears rushing attack putting up 117.5 YPG (11th). The Vikings and their #3 ranked rush defense welcome the challenge as they only yield 71.2 on the ground per game. Trubisky could have success through the air as Minnesota is 24th in the NFL in pass defense – except he really has nobody to throw to as injuries have decimated the Chicago WR core.

NFL Week 5 Predictions MNF Over Under

There’s a lot of unknowns here with the debut of Trubisky and the uncertain health status of Bradford but the total of 40 seems confidently high. Chicago will rely on their running game to ease some pressure off the rookie and Minnesota will do the same to limit the hits on Bradford. With two stout run defenses, that means a lot of 3rd and long situations and a clock that just keeps on ticking.