JEFF'S SPORTS BLOG - A TRIP TO MINNESOTA FOR OUR FIRST PLACE CHICAGO BEARS
The Bears travel to Minnesota for a prime-time match up against
long-time rival, the Minnesota Vikings. Yes, the game is a battle for first-place
with just four regular season games left after tomorrow.
The Bears opened the season playing on Sunday night and took
care of business against the Indianapolis
Colts. Both the Bears and Vikings
have a 6-5 record but the Vikings
have the advantage of playing at home with one of the more vocal fan bases in
all of professional football.
Clearly, the advantage
of the fans will be a factor in this game.
If the Bears can come out early and take control of the game with some
early scoring they can take the crowd out of the game.
The Chicago defense will have
their hands full trying to contain Minnesota's
star running back, Adrian Peterson. The Vikings as a team rank fifth in rushing
offense while the Bears defense ranks fifth in stopping the run.
The Bears have had their difficulties with Peterson over his
brief, but already brilliant career.
According to nfl.com, Peterson has amassed seven touchdowns and over 420
rushing yards in his three career games against the Bears.
Three of his seven touchdowns were on run plays in excess of
50 yards. It would stand to reason that
Peterson would have success given this history and the fact that he'll be
running on the artificial turf of the "Hump" dome.
Meanwhile, the Bears offense will make every attempt to
attack the Vikings with a balanced assault featuring the talents of QB, Kyle Orton as well as rookie running
back, Matt Forte.
In the first meeting of these two teams in Chicago this year, the Bears posted 48 points
and the Vikings posted 41. Two of the
Bears touchdowns in that game came from their specials teams unit but the Bears showed the ability to move the
ball and get into the end zone led by Orton.
Kyle threw two touchdown passes and amassed 283 yards of passing.
He'll definitely need to play a huge role in tomorrow's
game, as the Viking defense has been stout against the run with their two
mammoth interior, defensive linemen, Kevin
Williams and Pat Williams. The Bears
offensive line must control the Williams tandem if they are going to run the
ball effectively.
Tomorrow night's game should be a very good game. Look for the Bears to involve Forte in the
short passing game as well as getting the ball in the hands of speedy wide
receiver, Devin Hester.
Hester is even quicker on turf than grass. If the Bears can contain Peterson and move
the ball effectively on offense they should emerge victorious in this important
NFC North game.
Go BEARS!
JEFF
ARDITO & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
