After a three game road trip the Chicago Bears come home to Soldier Field. This week they get a return game from the Minnesota Vikings who hosted the Bears on week 3. The Vikings snapped a four game losing streak against the Arizona Cardinals last week at home while The Bears were 2-1 on the road losing their last contest to the New England Patriots.
The Chicago Bears rushed the ball 21 times in their first meeting of the season against the Vikings, while Rex Grossman attempted 41 passes. That game plan was good enough to give Chicago a back door 19-16 victory in Week 3.
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If recent games serve as reference, the Bears might not even run the ball that much Sunday when the teams meet in the Windy City. Since the Vikings' loss to New England on Oct. 30, opponents have proven that the best way to attack the Vikings is through the air.
This was the case again Sunday as Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart passed for 405 yards and threw the ball 51 times in a loss to Minnesota. The Cardinals tied an NFL record by attempting only six rushes, including a scramble by Leinart.
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The Bears are 14th in the NFL in rushing offense and 15th in passing offense. Grossman has struggled lately and with a running attack that includes Thomas Jones (945 yards), keeping it on the ground might be an attractive option. The Vikings, however, are No. 1 against the run in the NFL but 31st, second to last, against the pass.
Brad Johnson threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns, Chester Taylor rushed for 136 yards and a score and Minnesota snapped a four-game losing streak with a 31-26 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The win was long overdue. So were the touchdowns.
The defense delivered its usual solid performance, forcing five turnovers and allowing just 17 yards rushing. Minnesota had scored just four offensive touchdowns during the four-game losing streak, and some of the defensive players were growing increasingly impatient with a unit that constantly came up short in the red zone.
Johnson was drawing much of the criticism, having thrown nine interceptions and just one touchdown during that span. But he came back on Sunday against Arizona, throwing TDs to Marcus Robinson, Billy McMullen and Jeff Dugan, a tight end who was converted to fullback when Tony Richardson was lost for the season.
The Bears lost their last game on the East Coast against a competitive Patriots team. The Bears' defense allowed a season-worst 354 total yards Sunday, the first time all season Chicago has permitted 300 or more.
The Bears have relied too much on their defensive line for pass rush pressure, and that plan worked to perfection early in the season. But the production from the defensive line has declined sharply in recent weeks with teams watching footage of the defensive unit.
The Bears had 18 sacks in the first five games, all victories, and 17 of the sacks came from linemen. But, in the past six games, including two losses, the Bears have just seven sacks, all by defensive linemen.
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The Bears never got to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, which wasn't a big problem until he crafted a scripted like game winning drive. Brady completed all four of his passes for 56 yards and a two-yard touchdown to Benjamin Watson making breaking a 10-10 tie. The Bears’ kicker Robbie Gould put up his second of the day to make it a 13-17 final.
The Bears pass rush defense will work against a weak Vikings offensive. Rex Grossman could have a good day or be consistent to inconsistency. With the Bears lately I’d like to just say take the road dog plus the spread but I consider Brad Johnson to be weak and stationary. I figure that Rex will have a better day at home because the defense will score as well on some interception or at least leave the offense in good position. The total is 36. Bears and the under on a cold winter day in an open stadium.
