The Minnesota Vikings are preparing to face the Chicago Bears on Monday, and it looks like they’ll have to do it without veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Gilmore, a crucial component of their defense, is likely sidelined again due to a lingering hamstring injury. This comes after he missed last week’s game against the Atlanta Falcons, where the Vikings’ defense struggled, allowing 338 passing yards—one of their worst defensive outings this year.

However, there’s a silver lining for the Vikings. Chicago’s passing game has been quite underwhelming this season, with the Bears ranking 31st in net passing yards per attempt. That’s a stat that leans heavily in favor of Minnesota heading into this Week 15 showdown.

In more positive news on the injury front, the Vikings report is showing promise elsewhere. Running back Aaron Jones, who was nursing a back injury, participated fully in Friday’s practice, signaling his readiness for Monday’s game.

Joining him are outside linebackers Pat Jones II and Andrew Van Ginkel, both of whom overcame their respective injuries to practice in full. Their availability should bolster Minnesota’s efforts as they aim to capitalize on what seems like a notably winnable matchup against a 4-9 Chicago team.

Divisional matchups can always bring unexpected drama, and Minnesota knows this all too well. Earlier this season, it took an overtime field goal for them to escape with a win against the Bears on the road.

But things have changed for Chicago since then; the Bears have switched gears under interim head coach Thomas Brown, after parting ways with their previous coach. Despite this shake-up, Chicago’s performance last week left much to be desired, marking them as one of the struggling teams of this NFL season.

While it’s wise not to overlook any opponent, especially in a divisional contest, the pressure is on for Minnesota not just to secure a win, but to demonstrate their capacity to capitalize on favorable matchups. Anything less than a victory would be surprising given the current state of both teams. For the Vikings, Monday presents a golden opportunity to reinforce their playoff aspirations in front of a home crowd, even if they have to do it without one of their top defensive stars.