Time to Bear down

The last time the Vikings played a home game was Sunday November 11th, Veteran’s day. The Chicago Bears blow into town Sunday with much on the line.

It has been each home game where the offense or defense has been announced. The last home game the Vikings starting defense was announced. If the pattern follows suit the offense will be announced. I am extremely interested how this will go especially with the way the last week has gone since the Green Bay game. The talk all week at work and in public is the play of Christian Ponder and the lack of a passing game. The questions mount as people question, is it Ponder? Is it the receivers not being able to get open? Or is it Offensive Coordinator Bill Musgrave’s play calling?

If the first drive ends up in a 3 and out I believe the fans will boo the roof off. I hate hearing that being a huge supporter of the team but also understand that fans are frustrated after the 5-2 start raising hopes. The win against San Francisco at home shows this team can beat some of the best.

I was at the Mall of America at Friday and saw my fair share of Bears fans in town for the game as I know each year the Bears fans come in droves. It is always interesting how loud each fan base gets in a Vikings home game.

The Vikings are still in the playoff chase although are seeded 10 right now. A loss does not end the season but win by the Vikings would be a huge self-esteem booster in the last month.

The Bears are a 2.5 favorite on the road coming into the Vikes home. The over/under is 39 in Vegas. The home team has covered the spread 7 of the 9 last meetings.

The referee for the game will be Walt Coleman. In doing some reading on Walt I found an unusual fact about him. Walt worked as an official in the college ranks for 10 years without being a referee. It was said it is extremely unusual to be hired as a ref in the NFL without the college experience of being a ref. Walt became a Line Judge in 1989 and promoted to ref in 1995 so he now has 17 years of referee experience.

The game will be without Percy Harvin for the Vikings and the Bears are down Brian Urlacher (LB) Earl Bennett (WR) and Tim Jennings (CS) with all four players ruled out.
The Vikes placed Harvin on injured reserve ending what start as a great season. Urlacher a Bears veteran leader and Jennings, the NFL leading interceptor are major losses. Although major contributors to both teams neither team can use the excuse of their players’ absence.

As a football fan I would love to see Urlacher and Jennnigs on the field to see how the Vikes play against 2 of the top defensive players in the league.

My hopes in this game are many. I will start with giving the ball to Adrian like always but we just have to see Ponder roll out and find Kyle Rudolph. The absence of Urlacher I believe will allow Rudolph to find the seam.

The season is winding down on Jerome Simpson, who needs to have a monster game. The argument of hearing the Vikings receivers cannot get open I have mixed feelings about. I watch a ton of football and without listing all the quarterbacks in the league who can. You say, can what? These quarterbacks have the ability to throw back shoulders passes, or put passes where only the receiver can get it. I have seen many receivers covered about as well as possible, yet the quarterback puts it right there.

KFAN call in show last week made a point when saying there has never been a completion out of bounds. The deep balls which are few and in between are out of bounds. Sunday, send Simpson deep and Ponder throw it as far as you can. I believe it can be successful as I actually witnessed it in training camp. It can be done. I would love to see the old Randall Cunningham to Randy Moss again. Ponder just let it go, please.

Peterson showed in the first meeting that the Bears can be run on. If the team can have any small success in the passing game Peterson will get 200 again like last week.

The Vikings defense I believe can stop the Bears running attack but the concern this week for myself is Bear’s receiver Brandon Marshall who is big, strong and just plain physical. I believe Jared Allen and the rest of the D-Line will have a huge game. They are so overdue for a big game and if that would happen, the fear of Marshall having a big game will be minimal. It will hard to complete a pass for Cutler if he is lying on the Metrodome turf. I will predict Jared gets 2 sacks Sunday.

The fans will show up but more importantly we badly need for the Minnesota Vikings to play a complete game with each of the three phases contributing.

The countdown to kickoff is nearing and I for one am looking forward to the Vikings to break a 2 game losing streak. I plan on having a nice ride back to Owatonna knowing the Vikings are 1 game back of the Bears.

Thanks for reading
Purplestick