After their embarrassing, penalty-plagued Monday nighter, the Chicago Bears are in primetime in a divisional match-up for the second straight week, this time taking the Sunday Night Football stage against Minnesota. At risk of falling in last place in the NFC North, the Bears can’t afford to lose.
(1-4) Minnesota Vikings at
(2-3) Chicago Bears
Mike Martz just can’t seem to catch a freaking break. After weeks of having to deal with outside blitzes and skilled rushers, the trend continues against the Vikings. Ends Jared Allen and Brian Robison have been terrorizing quarterbacks this season and have the speed on the edges to get around J’Marcus Webb and newly minted right tackle Lance Louis. Why can my Jay never stay safe? In order to keep Cutler upright, Martz has to remain committed to the run with Matt Forte. Exploit Allen’s aggressive nature and get draw plays with Forte up the middle where the Vikings are weakest. There are going to be opportunities to take in the passing game, especially if Cutler gets the play-action going. The question remains: which wide receiver besides Dane Sanzenbacher will actually step-up and make a play? Roy Williams or Johnny Knox have to make a statement tonight, assuming they can get on the field for more than four snaps.
Typically the constant of any Bear team, the defense hasn’t put together a complete game yet this season. Coming off one of their worst performances, Lovie Smith’s squad will have new faces on the secondary. Instead of Chris Harris and Brandon Meriweather, Chicago’s starting safeties will be rookie Chris Conte and second year pro Major Wright. Hopefully they can take better angles and limit big plays by keeping the ball in front of them at all times. Where they’ll likely have issues is biting on run-fakes and double-movies. Fortunately for them, the Viking receivers aren’t exactly dangerous and Donovan McNabb couldn’t get a pass to them if his job depended on it. McNabb’s passes have a tendency to wobble and ground into the dirt, which keeps his completion percentage and interception totals low. Chicago won’t get many chances at turnovers from McNabb, especially since Julius Peppers likely won’t play due to a knee injury. With only Israel Idonije, Nick Reed and Corey Wootton as their ends with any game action behind them, the interior defensive line rotation must get penetration to disrupt the Viking offense.
But let’s be real here. If McNabb has to pass more than 20 times, the Vikings aren’t winning. Leslie Frazier would prefer to hand off to Adrian Peterson all day and pound his way to a decisive win by keeping his defense fresh. If the Bears can’t wrap Peterson up on early drives, they’ll be in for a long, tiring afternoon. He’s the best running back in the NFL for a reason. He’ll destroy you if you let him.
The Odds:Chicago is a 2 point home favorite.
The Prediction:I really feel like taking the Vikings here, but at home I have to give the edge to Chicago. However, don’t be surprised if AP gashes the Bears’ D on every carry.
How many heart attacks will Joe suffer?My hopes and fears are suppressed after last week’s mess, so I’m not expecting any massive coronaries. At most? Two.
Message to the Bears:If you really need me to tell you how significant this game is, you’re in deep shizzle.
Enjoy the game everyone! Be sure to have plenty of adult beverages on hand in case you need to forget what happens tonight.
