Bears @ Vikings

[Vin+ 3,121]

With the Chicago Bears missing their defensive leader, visiting Adrian Peterson and the desperate Minnesota Vikings might not provide an ideal opportunity to bounce back from a frustrating loss.

 

Then again, it's been three years since the banged-up Bears last lost to their NFC North rival, and Minnesota is the only team they've beaten in the past month heading into Sunday's matchup.

 

With fellow defensive stars Charles Tillman and Lance Briggs already nicked up, middle linebacker Brian Urlacher could miss the rest of the regular season after suffering a hamstring strain late in overtime of a 23-17 home loss to Seattle last Sunday. The eight-time Pro Bowler is expected to sit out at least three games.

 

Though the 34-year Urlacher does not appear to have the same explosiveness since injuring his knee in a 17-13 win at Minnesota to end last season, he's still the heart and vocal leader of the Bears defense. Urlacher hopes to be ready if Chicago (8-4) makes the playoffs, but with his contract about to expire, he might have played his last game with the team that drafted him ninth overall in 2000.

 

"I do not think that's going to happen," he told a local Chicago TV station. "But, if it does, I have had a really good and long career so I would be sad, but I would not be crushed."

 

Without Urlacher and possibly cornerback Tim Jennings (shoulder), who leads the NFL with eight interceptions, the Bears could have a hard time maintaining their playoff position. They're tied with Green Bay for first place in the North, but hold the fifth seed in the NFC based on their Week 2 loss to the Packers.

 

Though the Bears have won six straight over Minnesota (6-6), which has lost two straight and four of five, they expect to face a serious challenge against Peterson and a Vikings squad that is 5-1 at home.

 

Chicago has dropped three of four and its once-vaunted defense - still ranked second in the NFL in points allowed (16.5 per game) - yielded a season-high 459 yards last Sunday to a Seattle team that entered Week 13 ranked 27th averaging 316.7.

 

Nick Roach is likely to take Urlacher's spot while Geno Hayes moves into a starting role at strong side linebacker for the Bears defense, which has allowed more than 110 rushing yards in six straight games. That didn't happen once in the first six.

 

Peterson ran for 108 yards on 18 carries Nov. 25, but he failed to score, lost a fumble and was mostly shut down in the first half as the Vikings fell 28-10 at Chicago. That was his least productive performance during his current stretch of six straight 100-yard games, a span during which he's averaged 157.8 and scored six touchdowns.

 

"It seems like he's getting better and better as the year goes along," Bears coach Lovie Smith told the team's official website. "... It's going to still start with him."

 

Peterson is the NFL's leading rusher with 1,446 yards after finishing with 210 last Sunday, including a career-long 82-yard touchdown in a 23-14 loss at Green Bay.

 

"He ran for 210 yards - that's important - but it's not as important to him as the fact that we didn't win the game," coach Leslie Frazier said. "He's a total team guy."

 

Peterson can use more help from Christian Ponder, whose 63.6 passer rating over the past seven weeks is the worst of any qualifying quarterback. He's thrown for 871 yards in that span - 76 fewer than Peterson has running the ball in those six games.

 

Ponder was 12 of 25 for 119 yards with a touchdown and was picked off twice in the end zone at Green Bay. For the moment, Frazier remains confident in Ponder, who went 22 of 43 for 159 yards with a TD and an interception at Chicago.

 

"We believe that Christian is our No. 1," Frazier said. "That being said, if things get to a point where your No. 1 is really costing you some situations that could preclude winning, you do have to do what's best for the football team."

 

Ponder has connected 18 times with tight end Kyle Rudolph for 170 yards and three TDs over the last three games, but he won't have Percy Harvin to throw to after the wide receiver was placed on injured reserve Wednesday because of a severely sprained left ankle.

 

Despite dealing with back spasms, star defensive end Jared Allen is expected to play. Allen could be a marked man after his late hit on Lance Louis two weeks ago resulted in a season-ending knee injury for the Bears' offensive lineman. Allen, whose 1 1/2 sacks at Green Bay snapped a three-game drought, was fined $21,000 for the supposed block.

 

Chicago's makeshift line has allowed two sacks in the last two games and helped give Jay Cutler enough time to throw for 233 yards and two touchdowns against the Seahawks.

 

With receivers Devin Hester and Earl Bennett both dealing with concussions, Cutler again is likely to focus on Brandon Marshall, who caught 10 passes for a season-high 165 yards last week. Marshall matched a season high with 12 receptions for 92 against Minnesota.

 

Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press.

Edited December 14, 2012 by Vin

[housemd 338]

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[BigBen07 285]

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[DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241]

It feels like the Vikings just played the Bears...

 

Anyway, 21-17 Bears

[RazorStar 4,025]

Just two weeks ago... anyway, I don't see the result changing much if at all.

 

28

13

[Bay 2,003]

AP won't be enough... again. Also the Vikings MUST take care of the ball.

 

23

 

17

[BradyFan81 404]

Urlacher out makes me think it could be close, but if Chicago can tackle AP and limit the YA contact they'll be fine.

 

26

13

[Vin+ 3,121]

Bears declared CB Tim Jennings, MLB Brian Urlacher, WR Earl Bennett, QB Josh McCown, WR Dane Sanzenbacher, OL Chris Spencer, and DT Stephen Paea inactive for Week 14 at Minnesota.

 

Jennings (shoulder) was NFC defensive player of the month for September, enjoying a Pro Bowl caliber seasons. SLB Nick Roach will move to the middle with Urlacher out. Alshon Jeffery is starting in place of Bennett.

 

 

Vikings declared OL Troy Kropog, QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson, DE D'Aundre Reed, LB Audie Cole, CB Brandon Bruton, OL Mark Asper, and TE Allen Reisner inactive for Week 14 versus the Bears.

 

Kropog was just promoted from the practice squad to take Percy Harvin's roster spot. Jarius Wright will continue to pick up snaps with Harvin out, though he's not a recommended fantasy play.

[AllYouNeedIsLovie 377]

I went with the Bears, but it should be close. The Vikings are home where they play better, but with Harvin out, AP will have to be the Vikings offense and I don't think he can do enough to win the game for the Vikings.

[RazorStar 4,025]

Vikings actually started hot today, two Peterson TD's already.

[AllYouNeedIsLovie 377]

Jeez, AP is just a straight up monster. Everyone knows they're gonna be running a lot and he still does great against good run D's.

[Bay 2,003]

Flat out monster.

[RazorStar 4,025]

Harrison Smith got a TD like a boss.

[OSUViking 505]

[DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241]

Good game by the Vikings...

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

Bears not using Matt Forte is getting to be annoying. Jay Cutler sucks.. He is awful and his numbers are inflated because he floats and forces it into Marshall anywhere from 15-20 targets each week.

 

The Slave had a great game again and the Vikings definitely needed him to. Under 100 yards passing for Christian Ponder.

 

If you are the Vikings do you make a switch, even after a victory?

[OSUViking 505]

... Why are you calling AP the Slave?

[AllYouNeedIsLovie 377]

Wow, could the Bears really end up missing out on the playoffs?

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson made some controversial comments about the NFL labor situation in an interview with Doug Farrar of Yahoo's Shutdown Corner. The interview was conducted just before the NFLPA decertified.

 

"It's modern-day slavery, you know? People kind of laugh at that, but there are people working at regular jobs who get treated the same way, too. With all the money," Peterson continued. "The owners are trying to get a different percentage, and bring in more money."

[OSUViking 505]

Hahaha, wow. I remember that comment, but I didn't connect the dots. My bad, F4E.

[BwareDWare94 723]

Bears not using Matt Forte is getting to be annoying. Jay Cutler sucks.. He is awful and his numbers are inflated because he floats and forces it into Marshall anywhere from 15-20 targets each week.

 

The Slave had a great game again and the Vikings definitely needed him to. Under 100 yards passing for Christian Ponder.

 

If you are the Vikings do you make a switch, even after a victory?

 

If I'm the Vikings, I never cut Sage Rosenfels and switch to him. Joe Webb will be worse than Ponder. People need to relax.

[OSUViking 505]

I always liked Sage Rosenfels as an option... honestly, cutting him was retarded. He could probably at least be a game manager for us.

[BwareDWare94 723]

I always liked Sage Rosenfels as an option... honestly, cutting him was retarded. He could probably at least be a game manager for us.

 

Well, I say cutting him was stupid because they're obviously not going to give MBT a chance ahead of Webb, though I'd play MBT before Webb every day of the week.

[Turry 755]

The lack of running game is pissing me off and when we do it run its like four carries to forte than two to bush we need to give one guy (forte) the rock and let him get going. Sure does not help when your messing around with your O line every week.