Now is the time to show what Da Bears are about

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Week 7, Bears vs. Minnesota:  A battle of two 3-3 teams for the division lead nearly mid-way through the season has arrived.  This matchup has been highly anticipated ever since the terrible loss to the Falcons.  Quite frankly, being a home game, this game is a must-win for the playoffs.  We have already lost to three NFC South teams who could be competition for a wild card.  It is already really important to bounce back from last week’s loss.  We must do it.

            The offensive line will have to do the best they can versus the killer Vikings D line.  This will be a test of how good Forte really is.  Forte will not have that many openings, and they certainly will not be open for long.  We still have to give him atleast 25 carries, no matter how ineffective the running game is.  It is astonishing that Bears fans can take a good performance from Orton as a given.  Everyone is counting on him that he can deliver if given the chance, and I believe in him too.

We will need max protection on the offensinve line, so our tight ends and half back won’t be involved that much in the passing game.  This means our receivers, whoever is playing must show up.  Lloyd is not playing.

            Defensively we are in a predicament.  We cannot overly attack the QB because of Peterson.  He will run full speed down hill.  Our secondary lacks Tillman, Vasher, and Daniel Manning.  So we can not count on our secondary to hold the dangerous receivers for long.  Our defensive line has an advantage over the Vikings O line.  They will have to provide most of the pressure, and they should be able to.  I think the play of the defense will come down to how GREAT the linebackers play.  Briggs needs to keep up his play level, and Urlacher needs to play like he is known too.  That is who I am watching today.  This is the game Urlacher needs to prove he was worth the new contract he got in the offseason.

            On special teams, Hester better return.  The Vikings are one of the worst on return defense.  We should have good field position for most of the game.  Robbie Gould, the NFL’s highest paid kicker needs to get his act together.  He better be able to make field goals 50 yards and longer, we might need it this game.

            Of course, playing at home we have the 4th phase.  We are wearing our orange alternative uniforms and the crowd is supposed to be wearing orange too.  They need to be in this game for its entirety.

            So, my prediction is a Bears victory.  Defensively I am scared, but playing at home hopefully we can “shake the lake.”  But Downey did pick us to win, so I would not be surprised if we lost.  But no, we will win.  The players sure need to leave it all on the field.