NFL Week 15 ‘Monday Night Football’ Betting Preview

For the final time this season, we have two Monday Night Football games. And because it’s Christmas time, the NFL has given us a present. No streaming services are involved for the second game. You can follow your bets for the Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings on ABC, and follow your bets for the Atlanta Falcons at Las Vegas Raiders on ESPN.

Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings (-7)

With the Washington Commanders win on Sunday, the Bears were officially eliminated from the playoffs. The season began with talks of quarterback Caleb Williams being the first rookie to lead his team to the Super Bowl. The year is ending with sweeping changes coming at season’s end. It has been a disappointment from Week 2.

For the Minnesota Vikings, the season began as a rebuild. Then their rookie quarterback was injured, and it looked to be a lost year before it even began. Sam Darnold had other ideas.

Darnold is currently second in odds to win Comeback Player of the Year at +1200, trailing Joe Burrow, who is at -500. But Darnold is definitely the winner overall, considering that the Vikings have clinched at least a wild card spot, and with the Detroit Lions losing on Sunday, the NFC North is still very much in play.

Bears at Vikings Prop Bets

Darnold hasn’t thrown an interception since Week 10, and he’s gone over 300 yards in two of his last three games. His over/under on passing yards on Monday is 253.5, and he pays -155 to throw two touchdowns or more. Williams is +155 to throw two or more touchdowns for the Bears, and his over/under on passing yards is 223.5.

Aaron Jones is now 30 years old, but he hasn’t lost a step. Three weeks ago against the Bears in Chicago, he rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown. In the rematch, his over/under on rush yards 63.5 and he is -125 to score a touchdown. The Bears are led on the ground by D’Andre Swift, who is +135 to score a touchdown, and his rushing yards line is 49.5.

The real stars of this game are the wide receivers. Justin Jefferson is the best receiver in football not named Ja’Marr Chase, and his over/under on receiving yards is 81.5. He’s coming off 132 yards and two touchdowns in Week 14, and he’s +105 to score in this game. Teammate Jordan Addison has a line of 53.5 and he’s +150 to score a touchdown.

For the Bears, wide receiver D.J. Moore has a line of 57.5, Keenan Allen is at 51.5, and rookie Rome Odunze’s line is 41.5.

Atlanta Falcons (-5.5) at Las Vegas Raiders

Even with a loss on Monday, the Falcons will wake up on Tuesday with a chance to make the playoffs. But considering the way the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have looked recently, the Falcons need the win. Working in their favor is a season sweep of the Bucs. Working against them is four straight losses, and the wall that has been hit by quarterback Kirk Cousins. The further we get into the season, the more he looks like an aging player coming off an Achilles injury.

Falcons at Raiders Prop Bets

Cousins has thrown eight interceptions in his last four games, and he hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass since Week 9. He is expected to break that streak on Monday, with a touchdown pass for Cousins paying -600. Two TDs pays -110, and at least three touchdown passes pays +360.

The passing yards over/under for Cousins is 241.5.

For the Raiders, former Falcon Desmond Ridder has been taking first team reps in practice this week, but as of Monday morning the Raiders weren’t ruling out Aidan O’Connell. Because of the uncertainty neither quarterback is on the board.

We do know that Sincere McCormick will get the start at running back for Vegas, and the over/under on his rushing yards is 57.5. He rushed for 64 yards two weeks ago, and 78 last week. The Falcons have Bijan Robinson, one of the few bright spots for their offense this season. Robinson has averaged 86 rushing yards during Atlanta’s losing streak, and his over/under for Monday is 82.5.

Robinson is -190 to score a touchdown, McCormick is +155, and Atlanta’s No. 2 running back, Tyler Allgeier, is +190 to score.

Sensational rookie tight end Brock Bowers leads the Raiders pass catcher corps, and his over/under on receiving yards is 65.5. He is +170 to score a touchdown. Jakobi Meyers has a receiving yards line of 62.5, and he is +175 to find the end zone.

The Falcons have Drake London at +120 to score, and with a receiving yards line of 65.5. Darnell Mooney is at 48.5, and tight end Kyle Pitts has a line of 28.5. Mooney is +170 to score and Pitts is at +260.