Minnesota Vikings Hope To Bury Bears
Nov 2, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback
Teddy Bridgewater(5) passes against the Washington Redskins in the fourth quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 29-26. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Despite our best hopes, the Adrian Peterson saga is going to drag on for at least one more week. Now that his situation is on the backburner, it is time to focus on the task at hand, which is continuing the Chicago Bears misery. In case you have been hibernating, the Bears have been dump-trucked two games in a row. Tom Brady and the Patriots filleted them 53-21 in Foxboro, after which Jay Cutler and Co. had their bye week. The time off did them no favors, as they got lambasted by the Packers 55-14 on national television this past Sunday night. In fact, Chicago Sun-Times Bears’ beat writer Adam Jahns tweeted an incredible stat Sunday night: The Bears, who are the longest-running franchise in the NFL, have broken their team record for most points allowed in the first half of a game in back-to-back games.
So, what does this all mean for the Vikings? I believe there is a real opportunity to jump on the Bears right away, make the already frustrated Chicago fans check out and blow them out of the water. However, this is not going to be an easy task. For one thing, the Vikings have not won in Soldier Field since 2007. Secondly, if the Bears have any pride left (which is unclear at this point), one should expect their best effort on Sunday. Third, the Vikings have not exactly had a proclivity for fast starts this season, particularly on offense.
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Teddy Bridgewater has been fantastic in the two-minute offense and with his back against the wall. However, he has struggled for the most part in first halves, and with his well-documented difficulties throwing the deep ball. The hope for Sunday is that he can lead the offense to some early scores and put the Bears in a first half hole. Chicago has shown very little fight when facing adversity this season, so snatching the early momentum is key. The defense will be critical as well. Jay Cutler always looks like the least interested party at every Bears game, but it will be important to take the whole team out of it early.
The timing of the Vikings bye week does not necessarily seem ideal as they are fresh off of two wins. There are positives though, most importantly getting healthy. It is sounding likely that Kyle Rudolph will be back, and Teddy has already shown ability to find his tight ends for big gains and touchdowns.
If the Vikings want to make a serious run at the postseason, they absolutely have to beat a bad Bears team. Winning on the road, especially against a division rival, is no easy task, but it is imperative this weekend if the Vikings want this season to be a special one.