Who: Minnesota Vikings (1-4) with Chicago Bears (2-3). When: 7:20 p.m. Sunday. Where: Soldier Field (capacity: 61,500), Chicago. TV: NBC. Line: Bears by 3. Coaches: Vikings Leslie Frazier (1st year, 4-7); Bears Lovie Smith (8th year, 68-55). Series: Vikings cause 52-46-2. Bears are 26-21-2 in Chicago. Last meeting: 's shock begin probably their career, as well was concluded on a big struck by Corey Wootton, plus Jay Cutler used for some touchdowns while the Bears rolled 40-14 on Dec. 20 at TCF Bank Stadium. At stake: Either the actual Bears get back together in order to .500 in addition to remain your thick belonging to the playoff race, or perhaps the Vikings push possibly intended for 3 rd place within the NFC North Division having a second consecutive win.
Injury report
Vikings: CB Antoine Winfield (neck) missed a second consecutive week of practice plus ended up being listed while doubtful. WR Percy Harvin (ribs) was detailed while in question but is usually anticipated to play with a padded undershirt seeing that protection. MLB Kenny Onatolu (hamstring) and RE Jared Allen (eye) are probable.
Bears: RT Gabe Carimi (knee) and DT Matt Toeaina (knee) are out. DE Julius Peppers (knee) is doubtful and, similar to Carimi as well as Toeaina, overlooked train your entire week. WR Earl Bennett (chest) is questionable but participated fully inside training on Friday. CB Charles Tillman (hip) plus Wootton (hand) usually are probable.
Five things watch
Ch-ch-ch-changes: Bears unpleasant sponsor Mike Martz has
Get from the zone: Vikings QB
The X-factor: Time as well as again, Devin Hester possesses established he is able to transform a personal game such as from the Vikings, who definitely have presented up three punt-return touchdowns in nine group meetings against the sixth-year seasoned from Miami. Last time alone, Hester had cease earnings of 68 as well as 79 meters as well as punt dividends with 42 and 64, the recent for any touchdown, throughout two Bears victories. And Hester struck once more in an Oct. 2 enlighten Carolina, setting up just one touchdown which includes a 73-yard kickoff give back plus scoring one more for a 69-yard punt return. The Vikings status sixth within the NFL in kickoff insurance coverage (21.4 normal on 20 challenger returns) along with 27th within punt insurance policy coverage (12.4 average on 14 returns). They'll really try and keep your ball away from Hester completely but if he or she gets his hands on it, your Vikings need to locate a strategy to continue your ex coming from obtaining loose.
Run, run, run: Last week, Lions HB Jahvid Best accumulated 163 back yards on 12 your company makes an attempt (13.6 average), such as a great 88-yard touchdown. The 7 days just before that, Panthers HBs DeAngelo Williams and also Jonathan Stewart mixed to get 134 back yards about 18 bears (7.4 average). These Bears usually are pregnable from the run, and right now they're probably moving forward not having two with their commencing defensive linemen, a minimum of for this game. What the Vikings accomplish most effective is usually single lb the particular golf ball using Peterson, who's going to be averaging 4.5 meters per take along with possesses gotten the particular ball much more in comparison with any person (110 carries). The bothersome tier is definitely displaying indicators regarding improvement , too. Even if issues get off to somewhat of a rocky start, really don't anticipate OC Bill Musgrave to acquire discouraged. The Vikings understand that pounding the golf ball with Peterson is their shot.
On that roads again: The Vikings include picked up only 1 of the earlier 10 mmorpgs inside Chicago, plus they're 2-10 aside through the Metrodome since the start of continue season. The latter is definitely less your tendency compared to solution of the battling workforce which is 7-14 all round in this stretch. But the item stays to get witnessed in the event that team can remedy Soldier Field your location considering the minutest seating capability in the NFL, as well as its many infamous participating in surface and also a status pertaining to trapping swirling winds. The Bears are generally 8-5 presently there in the past two seasons, by using a couple of of the failures forthcoming against the Green Bay Packers. Sunday's outlook requires temps within the 50s, hours inside the mid-teens and a 30% possibility that rain.
Crystal ball
It's one coin flip after another for your Vikings, who have been favored simply by three and also a few within their past four video games as well as missing some involving them. This time, your estimate here is this oddsmakers have them right.
Prediction: Bears 23, Vikings 20.
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