Week 16 Preview: Vikings (11-3) at Bears (5-9)
by SackMan on Dec 25, 2009 3:00 PM CST
in Game Preview
52 comments
The Lovie Smith era gets closer to an end, and the Brad Childress and Brett Favre show visit Soldier Field on Monday night, as the Vikings try to clinch the division. It really should be criminal for the Bears to be on prime time television once again this year. I think the American public has been forced to watch enough of them by now. The destruction will begin at 7:30 CT on ESPN. A loss next week to the Lions in Detroit should bring the axe to a swing.
Week 15 Recap
The Vikings played perhaps their worst game of the season in Carolina last Sunday night... getting eaten by the Panthers 26-7. Brett Favre continues to play poor in December, as he's now had QB ratings of below 80 in each of his last 3 games (79.4, 73.2, 73.9) But, Jay Cutler still has him beat with that 7.9... take that Brett! The Vikings have dropped two of their 3 games this month, and tension is building between Childress and Favre. The Bears are a great cure for that.
The Bears did exactly what we thought they'd do... get flat out embarrassed in Baltimore. The highlight of a 31-7 loss: a 19 play drive, that took 9:15 and moved 73 yards, before turning the ball over on downs at the Baltimore 1 yard line. I don't know what's more comical? A. That it took the Bears 19 friggin plays to go 73 yards, B. That they didn't even score, or C. That Earl Bennett scored a TD by himself 4 plays later on a punt return that took all of 5 or 6 seconds. Prior to Bennett's TD return, the Bears had a 17:10 to 7:05 advantage in time of possession and were down 14-0. Pathetic. But... not nearly as pathetic as Jay Cutler's 7.9 QB rating.
Quick Numbers:
- 7.9: Do I need to explain the significance of this number?
- 30: Million dollars left on the two-year contract extension signed with Mr. 7.9 this past October
- 2: More games of horrendous Chicago Bears football left in the Lovie Smith era
- 0: Games active for 3rd round pick WR Juaquin Iglesias... on a team with zero professional WRs
Key Injuries:
CHI Bear fans nation wide (severe vomiting) O
CHI LB Lance Briggs (back) Q
CHI WR Devin Hester (calf) Q
CHI DE Adewale Ogunleye (broken leg) O
CHI S Kevin Payne (ankle) O
CHI S Al Afalava (knee) Q
MIN CB Antoine Winfield (foot) P
MIN WR Percy Harvin (neck)
When the Vikings have the ball.
QB Brett Favre, RB Adrian Peterson, RB Chester Taylor, WR Sidney Rice, WR Bernard Berrian, WR/KR Percy Harvin, TE Visanthe Shiancoe, LT Bryant McKinnie, LG Steve Hutchinson, C John Sullivan, RG Anthony Herrera and RT Phil Loadholt. Folks... that's what a professional offense looks like. Enjoy watching it, because you're not gonna see anything like it in Chicago anytime soon. The Vikings average 28.3 points per game... the Bears average 18.1.
The key match-up for the Vikings: LG Steve Hutchinson vs the second level of the Bears defense
I think I may have highlighted this as the key matchup last time... and for good reason. Hutchinson is one of the best run blocking guards in the NFL. There's a reason why Seattle hasn't been able to run the ball effectively since his departure. Hutchinson handles his opponent at the point of attack, and gets to the second level, where big holes open for big, big runs. The Bears LBs will have to free themselves from Hutchinson in order to eliminate huge runs from Adrian Peterson.
The X factor on offense for the Vikings: TE Visanthe Shiancoe
The Bears have always had trouble defending TEs, since the routes point toward the seams in the Cover 2. However, this year has been worse without the coverage skills of #54. Todd Heap burned the Bears for two easy red zone scores last week. Shiancoe should see the same opportunities.
When the Bears have the ball.
They can't be any worse than they were last week? Right? Please tell me I'm right. At this point, there's so much tension between players and coaches, that you can't honestly expect a positive performance from this unit as a whole. Devin Hester is disgruntled and calling for coaching changes. Jay Cutler is saying nothing, because he has nothing nice to say... he's just letting the 7.9 do the talking. And, Matt Forte doesn't want to hear Brian Urlacher's criticism anymore. But, at least this offense leads the league in something: 26 INTs... tops in the NFL!
The key match-up for the Bears: LT Chris Williams vs DE Jared Allen
Allen leads the NFC with 13.5 sacks... and he's got the inexperienced Chris Williams on his radar. If Williams holds his ground, it'll be either a miracle, or a sign that he's got a good career ahead of him. I'm predicting he'll get torched, especially if Ron Turner continues to call ill-advised formations and not give Williams enough help.
The X Factor for the Bears: Finger pointing
Who's fault is it? Me or you? Jay or Ron? Lovie or his safeties? Rod or his lineman? There's a lot of conflict here... if the Bears can put that aside and try to win a football game, you'll see a better effort.
Side notes from the NFC North:
Ugh... what's to report really? The Bears stink, Aaron Rodgers is the best QB in the division, Matthew Stafford is hurt again (a trend that could be significant), and the Vikings have already clinched a playoff spot, and trying to do the same in the division Monday night. The only story is the Favre-Childress fight. And, honestly... who cares?
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GallopingGhost and I
will be at this game! If anyone else is, let us know and we’ll keep an eye out! :]
And also…
Merry Christmoose! :] (Or Happy Holidays for those of you who don’t celebrate Christmas!)
"A lot of fans were drawn to me because they knew that whatever the score was, I was going to run as hard as I could on every play. You don't have that now, you have guys waiting for next week or even next year." - Walter Payton
have fun
Enjoy the game, wish I could be there to to support the team.
"I am not an animal!" - Merrick
by Maelvampyre on Dec 25, 2009 11:27 PM CST up reply actions
Thanks. :]
"A lot of fans were drawn to me because they knew that whatever the score was, I was going to run as hard as I could on every play. You don't have that now, you have guys waiting for next week or even next year." - Walter Payton
I have 4 tickets plus parking at the Adler lot.
I’m going if I can’t get rid of them, however I’ve been to every game this year and it starting to feel like a life sentence. If anyone is interested section 349 row 8 in the North Endzone contact me at beardown60053@yahoo.com.
Merry Christmas!
Also, on NFL Total Access, in the pregame for tonight’s Chargers-Titans game, a commentator just suggested Ron Rivera leaving Chicago might be the reason for some of the problems for the Bears.
Comments?
Bound for New York City: January 6-9! Can't wait!
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Dec 25, 2009 4:29 PM CST reply actions
I know.
It seems all ESPN does is glorify him.
Bound for New York City: January 6-9! Can't wait!
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Dec 25, 2009 7:18 PM CST up reply actions
No Sh!t
Ron Rivera…come back home you 85 Bear and bring back the accountability to Halas Hall.
by MetalGearPeaceWalker on Dec 25, 2009 5:29 PM CST up reply actions
What the hell is wrong with Hester's calf?
Can a calf injury really be this bad?
Also, bench Cutler. We will lose no matter what, we are out of the playoffs, and we will get to see what Caleb Hanie can do. It would be good for Mr. 7.9 too. Help him clear his head.
i agree
I said in another post that Cutler should be benched and let Hanie take the snaps. No sense risking his physical injury to go along with his damaged mental side.
"I am not an animal!" - Merrick
by Maelvampyre on Dec 25, 2009 11:29 PM CST up reply actions
"Bench Cutler"
Who would have thought in a million years that those words would come out of the mouth of a Bears fan?
Jeez.
ugh
we will get to see what Caleb Hanie can do.
why would we want to see this?
It would be good for Mr. 7.9 too. Help him clear his head.
yeah, worked great for grossman. and before you tell me they’re not the same player, you’re not a caoch, you have no idea if benching a guy does anything for his head.
glad to see the back up qb love is back among the fanbase.
So you’re saying there is no chance Hanie could turn out to be the next Kurt Warner, Tom Brady, Tony Romo, etc? It’s not likely, but we’ve seen it happen before with those guys. Just because a guy gets drafted low or even goes undrafted, it doesn’t mean he won’t ever be good.
you don't have an infinite
number of snaps to give every sob you’ve drafted time to prove themself. 3 (or however many) guys out of how many thousand have done that?
The Sun-Times’ Neil Hayes arguing for Mike Heimerdinger to replace Lovie and team back up with Cutler. Has better credentials than Pep Hamilton, at least.
"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." - Bertrand Russell
"F*** everybody outside of Halas Hall. BEARDOWN" - WavyGravy
coverage
The Bears don’t have anyone who can cover Shiancoe with 54 gone.
"I am not an animal!" - Merrick
the bears don't have anyone who can cover...
Rice, Harvin, or Berrian either.
Charles Tillman
can cover…..unfortunately we only have one tillman. i think bowman gets another pick today
by Bear Lovin 21 on Dec 27, 2009 2:07 PM CST up reply actions
The injury report...
amused me immensely. rofl..Also, I’d say leave Cutler in..start shifting more people around and see what we have in our backups.
WTB Shanahan! and a new OC. Maybe put Marinelli at DC?
Game Preview
Vikings 48
Bears 10
Makes me sick and happy all at the same time. Keep up the disgusting losing and say goodnight to Lovie.
The V'queens have every reason to...
destroy this Bears team and go into the playoffs on a high note. They want to send a message to the NFC (and likely themselves) that the Favre-Chilly lovechild is alive and well. Again, this Bears team has quit on Lovie and there is no reason to keep Lovie past 2009. Lovie cannot revive this team and has no business being around any longer. One positive out of this Bears slide is that Sackman gets to practice for his stand-up comedy routine! But seriously folks, if Lovie believed he’d be coaching in Chicago next season, he would be playing more of the players down the bench. The fact that he hasn’t speaks to his belief that his position is in jeopardy; or that his stubborn ego has him so delusional that he believes his own bulls&it. Either way, I fully expect him to be out of Hallas Hall within 3 weeks! I did not think this a few weeks back, but it’s almost inevitable now and that is a New Year’s resolution the McKaskeys owe us all!
For the game, I predict 42-13, Viqueens.
When you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!!!
Sorry, hit the post button rather than preview
It’s not only to go into the playoffs on a high note, but they’re only a game in front of the Eagles for the 1st week bye. If they get that, then they’re assured of playing all playoff games, no matter how deep they go, in a dome which is huge for Favre. Unless they get all the way to the SB in Miami which the worst they have to worry about is rain.
Sackman's not bitter, right?
No, he’s not bitter at all. Not in the slightest. I see NOOOOO bitterness. Completely not bitter.
Not that anybody blames him.
i think it's a pretty safe assumption to make
that the bears are the biggest dissapointment in the nfl this year. it would be somehow fitting for good ol #4 to suffer a career-ending injury on monday and then enjoy the misery of the vikings as they get waxed and beaten badly in their one playoff game. perhaps some small consolation for all the garbage we fans have endured this year, in addition to all the regular rawdogging that favre gave the bears on mnf over the past whatever-many years.
unlikely? very. but hey there isn’t much else to root for in this game coming up.
The biggest problem with that theory...
is that would necessitate the Bears D-line getting ANYWHERE near the opposing QB. Or Brett stumbling over his own two feet! ;>P
When you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!!!
Or if he follows through on this sentiment:
Bound for New York City: January 6-9! Can't wait!
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Dec 26, 2009 9:15 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Nice!!!!
Unreasonable people make life difficult...
by WisBearsFan34 on Dec 28, 2009 12:28 PM CST up reply actions
As a vikings fan..
i always thought that kyle orton was a pretty good quarterback and i thought that what you guys gave up was ridiculous, maybe the firing should start in the front office
Yep.
Angelo is just as guilty as Lovie for this debacle. He is in charge of our scouting, and our draft record is almost as bad as the Raiders.
by GouldisGold on Dec 26, 2009 11:30 PM CST up reply actions
That's revisionist history Muffin Man
The Vikings feasted on Orton…and KO would not have done any better as a Bear this year with Angelo.
i actually disagree with this
KO would not of had that many INT, now am i saying we would of won as many or more with him no. But i highly doubt KO would of thrown many of those passes into coverage and especially in the red zone as Jay. That’s not all on Jay though, others have to take that responsibility with him. Moving on though, we need a change in coaching to ge the best out of him, the current offensive staff is not getting it done.
by Chitownproduct on Dec 27, 2009 5:17 AM CST up reply actions
CPT Obvious statement i know
But i haven’t posted in a few days and i needed a fix :).
by Chitownproduct on Dec 27, 2009 5:18 AM CST up reply actions
“Would have” (“would’ve”), not “would of”.
(Sorry, everything else you wrote makes sense, I just had to correct the one thing that doesn’t.)
Also, to add to your point, with our current supporting cast of offensive talent Orton would’ve had trouble moving the ball downfield at all. At least teams now have to respect the fact that the ball can go sailing downfield without Maynard applying the boot…..
"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." - Bertrand Russell
"F*** everybody outside of Halas Hall. BEARDOWN" - WavyGravy
Orton probably wouldn't as many picks.
But with our O-line he wouldn’t last half the season, And we would have won about 2 games right now. It’s a miracle that Cutler isn’t dead where he standed.
Orton was solid
you could trust him to manage the game, very few times he lost the game for the bears, you can’t say the same for cutler (example, the last 5 games in denver)
He probably wouldn’t lose it, but he wouldn’t make the big play to win it – a perfect game manager for our traditionally conservative gameplan, but we wanted more of an upside. Cutler can make the big play to win it, but can also lose it. Six of one, half a dozen of the other.
"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." - Bertrand Russell
"F*** everybody outside of Halas Hall. BEARDOWN" - WavyGravy
For a game manager
You need some talent which we lack. Even when Orton was here the O-line was at least average, and Forte could run the ball. and our D wasn’t as bad as it was now. He’s solid but Jay did make some big plays despite his mistakes. If Orton was here we wouldn’t beat the steelers, or the seahawks (who we barely beaten).
He’s not bad but he would have died if he played on this team.
Does anyone not remember last season?
Like, seriously? Did the Bears not blow the playoffs coming down the stretch last year? And was Orton some kind of spectacular in-the-clutch spoke that kept us all together? I sure as hell don’t remember it that way.
And this year’s Broncos are not exactly busting through the regular season finish line at breakneck speed. After being 8-4 a few weeks ago, they now have to win and get some help next week just to make the playoffs.
Cutler may not be the answer, but Orton never was going to be, either.
I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something. - Dick Butkus
your right neckbeard would have half the picks
but half the tds as well. you cant sit here and tell me that with the talent we have or the talent we lack on the o line that orton would been near the tds cutler is. I love NeckBeard still hope he does well in denver but cutler is a better quarterback who is pressing alot more than he needs too.
We always here how if orton was in chi city we would be like 9-5 or 8-6 bascailly the opposite of our record i dont beleive that.
But no one can say if Cutler was in Denver he couldnt do what orton is doing and doing it better.
by Bear Lovin 21 on Dec 27, 2009 1:16 PM CST up reply actions
Not to get into the whole Orton vs. Cutler thing again, but
it kind of aggravates me when people say that, unequivocally, Cutler is the better QB. So far, he hasn’t shown that. He might be the more talented QB, but until he actually starts to win games and stops making boneheaded decisions in the Redzone, which he has done throughout his career, he is NOT the better QB. Don’t forget, Cutler went to the Broncos when they were a playoff team behind Jake Plummer, it’s not like they were a down and out, rebuilding franchise when he came along. Even with that, he was not been able to put together a winning season.
I want him to succeed here, and I’m excited about his potential, but outside of last year when he was the 3rd QB for AFC in the Pro Bowl (and Phillip Rivers should have been instead), he hasn’t exactly lit things up. Plus, and I’m not saying it’s entirely his fault, they lost 4 of their last 6 games to finish with a .500 record and out of the playoffs. They lost to the Raiders, Panthers, Bills, and Chargers (on the last day of the season where a win would have clinched the division), not exactly a Murderer’s Row of football powerhouses. I think that a real franchise QB, would have found a way to win at least one of those games to keep his team in first place.
In the end, it doesn’t matter what our record would be with Orton at the helm or what the Broncos record would be with Jay, the situation is what it is and there is no way to know how each team would have played with the other QB so the assumptions are useless . Like I said, I don’t want to get into this whole argument again, but I hope that whomever the Bears’ coaches are next year can be objective when it comes to Cutler, otherwise they are never going to improve.
Agree with this
With how the talent level of the entire team regressed, it didn’t matter if it was Orton or Cutler in the games. The team would still have a record like it does right now.
Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.
No band-wagoner fans allowed, pick a team and stick with em, throughout the good and the bad.
Jay Cutler is kinda a Brett Farve clone.
Makes wild throws from time to time they are both known for taking risks and threading the needle numerous times.
When you take a guy who does make wild passes, with a horrible O-line, speed WR’s who NEVER fight for the ball to help him out (except for aromashodu) which I can see why Cutler likes him. a TE who also never attacks the ball or break tackles to save his life. And a non-existent run game which causes the QB to do everything alone which causes to let the opposing D know that we are going to pass, which leads me to turner to make ourselves even MORE predictable than we are already. You get basically a nice QB who is alone out there without help whatsoever. Jay has some of the blame but if any other good QBcomes to this team we would do no better.
by T.Moore on Dec 27, 2009 8:15 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
Can someone please tell Lovie to double team Allen this game?
I really don’t want to see him eat Cutler alive again.
This game scares me
as a Vikings fan. Our O-Line has looked like garbage lately, and the whole offensive scheme has been reduced to audibles at the line of scrimmage.
If the Vikings can get Peterson going early and the line actually opens some holes for him, then it should be a solid blow out. But as the Cards/Panthers showed us, the Vikes offense starts panicing if they don’t get the run game going, they they start throwing too much, forcing passes, letting DE’s run through to crush Favre, and then they’re just another one-dimensional football team. 1 for 10 on 3rd down last week, very scary. The bears have nothing to gain or lose, but I feel like they’re willing to get experimental and just do some crazy things to give the Vikes trouble.
I really don’t know what to expect from this vikings team right now.
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