The 3-8 Chicago Bears will play the 6-5 Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in a Week 12 matchup. Here’s what you need to know before kickoff Monday (7:15 p.m., ESPN).

Vikings’ Justin Jefferson and Bears’ Tyrique Stevenson out

The Bears won’t have to face Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson for a second time this season when the teams meet Monday night at U.S. Bank Stadium.

NFL Network reported Monday morning that Jefferson would miss the game as he continues his recovery from a strained right hamstring. Jefferson, the 2022 AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year, has been on injured reserve since the week leading up to the Bears’ first game against the Vikings this season, a 19-13 Minnesota victory Oct. 15.

That means the Vikings will be without their two most important offensive players, as quarterback Kirk Cousins is out for the season after Achilles surgery.

The Vikings’ top wide receiver without Jefferson is rookie Jordan Addison, who has 48 catches for 647 yards and seven touchdowns. Tight end T.J. Hockenson leads all Vikings players with 75 catches for 736 yards and four touchdowns.

The Bears announced Sunday they would be without rookie cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, running back D’Onta Foreman and offensive tackle Larry Borom.

Stevenson hurt his ankle in practice Saturday in the Walter Payton Center and will miss a game for the first time this season. Fellow rookie Terell Smith, who returned from mononucleosis last week, could see increased playing time.

Foreman has been battling ankle and shin injuries, so the Bears will rely on running backs Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson instead. Borom, a key reserve, was out all week with an illness.

5 things to watch in the Bears-Vikings game — plus our Week 12 predictions

Finishing touch proves elusive for Eberflus’ Bears

Five of the Bears’ last six losses have been by a touchdown or less, the exception an uninspiring 30-13 road loss to the Chargers on Oct. 29. They were tied with the Saints entering the fourth quarter three weeks ago, had an ugly win against the Panthers and melted down against the Lions. Before that, the Bears lost to the Vikings and dropped a 31-28 decision to the Broncos that included a series of late-game mishaps.

Until Matt Eberflus’ team discovers a way to put teams away in the fourth quarter, this will define the Bears.

The Bears have been in the majority of games this season, especially recently. They have closed the talent gap in that regard. Now it’s about learning how to put opponents away. Read more here.

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Stats package

4: Career games by Justin Fields with a passer rating of at least 100.0. Three of those have come in his’ last four starts, including the 105.2 rating he posted in last week’s loss to the Lions.

0-4: The Bears’ record this season against teams currently inside the playoff picture. The losses have come against the Chiefs, Vikings, Saints and Lions. The Bears were 1-5 in 2022 against teams that qualified for the postseason.

Read more attention-grabbing numbers here..

How can Bears and QB Justin Fields handle the Vikings pressure better in Monday’s rematch?

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