Vin+ 3,121 Posted October 29, 2016 STATS LLC Associated Press Oct 26, 2016 CHICAGO -- The Minnesota Vikings will look to bounce back from their first loss of the season when they visit the Chicago Bears on Monday night. The way some Vikings players see it, last week's loss against the Philadelphia Eagles might have been exactly what the group needed to stay sharp going forward. "No one likes to lose, but at the same time, we can be helped by it," Vikings cornerback Captain Munnerlyn told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "You can learn from it." However, rest assured that nobody on the Vikings wants to learn from back-to-back losses. The Vikings (5-1) are the road favorites against the struggling Bears (1-6), who have dropped three consecutive games and are tied for the second-worst record in the NFL. Minnesota has won three consecutive games against Chicago and five of the past seven meetings. The prime-time matchup on Halloween night will feature a Vikings defense that is -- ahem -- scary. Coach Mike Zimmer's crew is No. 1 in the NFL with 16 takeaways, including nine interceptions and seven fumble recoveries. Minnesota also leads the NFL in turnover ratio (plus-11) and total defense (279.5 yards per game), and it is tied for No. 1 in scoring defense (14 points allowed per game). Only one team in the league has four players with three-plus sacks this season. Care to guess? Here's a hint: They wear purple. Vikings defensive linemen Everson Griffen, Danielle Hunter and Brian Robison have registered four sacks apiece, while Linval Joseph has three sacks. All of that spells a major challenge for Bears quarterback Jay Cutler as he returns to action for the first time in six games. Cutler has been sidelined since Week 2, when he sprained ligaments in his right thumb. He healed in time to reclaim his starting job from Brian Hoyer, who broke his left arm last week against Green Bay and has been placed on injured reserve. This week, reporters asked Cutler whether he felt as if he had the support of coach John Fox. "Um, he doesn't have a choice, I guess, at this point," Cutler told the Chicago Sun-Times. "Brian's out, so I've got to go. I've had good conversations with Foxy this week, last week, the week before. There's never been any strain in our relationship. We're both very open and honest, and we're on the same page. We just want to win football games." To do so, the Bears might want to look for Pro Bowl wide receiver Alshon Jeffery in the red zone. Jeffery remains without a touchdown reception through his first seven games. Perhaps that helps to explain how Chicago is ranked last in scoring with 15.9 points per game. Bears running back Jeremy Langford could return from a sprained ankle that has kept him out for the past four games. If Langford is able to play, he likely would join a backfield committee that includes Ka'Deem Carey and Jordan Howard. Although the Vikings defense appears to have a decisive edge against the Bears offense, the same does not hold true on the opposite side of the ball. Minnesota is No. 31 in total offense with 299.2 yards per game, and Chicago is No. 12 in total defense with 350.4 yards allowed per game. Bears linebacker Willie Young has provided consistent bursts of energy as a pass rusher in a 3-4 defensive scheme. Young has posted multiple-sack performances in two of his past three games. Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford was nearly flawless to start the season, but he struggled against the Eagles a week ago. The former No. 1 overall draft choice threw his first interception in six games and committed four fumbles, two of which resulted in turnovers. Bradford's top target has been wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who leads the team with 27 receptions for 390 yards and a touchdown. Diggs will try to regroup after catching two passes for 18 yards against the Eagles. On the ground, look for Vikings running backs Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon to split carries. Both will run behind a revamped offensive line that returned only one starter (center Joe Berger) at the same spot as in 2015. Zimmer said he believed the Vikings and, in particular, the offensive line, could get back on track after a dismal performance in Week 7. "I do have faith in this football team," Zimmer said. "Obviously, faith is belief without proof. So, right now, I don't have any proof, so I have to have faith that we'll get it done and I think we will. But until we prove it, it's just throwing stuff against the wall." The return of Jay Cutler. Aw yeah. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted October 30, 2016 I actually think it's Joan Cusack. 20 17 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted November 1, 2016 Vikings declared RB Jerick McKinnon, WR Jarius Wright, CB/PR Marcus Sherels, SS Andrew Sendejo, DT Sharrif Floyd, TE MyCole Pruitt, and OG Zac Kerin inactive for Week 8 against the Bears. McKinnon was already previously ruled out with an ankle injury. Matt Asiata will get the start with a legit shot to handle 20-plus touches and a good bet to find the end zone. He's a great fantasy play. Sendejo has an ankle injury. Bears declared LG Josh Sitton, RG Kyle Long, NT Eddie Goldman, TE Daniel Brown, CB Bryce Callahan, CB Deiondre' Hall, and WR Eddie Royal inactive for Week 8 against the Vikings. Good luck protecting Jay Cutler. The Bears' offensive tackle situation is already one of the worst in the league, and now they lose their two best offensive linemen. Sitton has an ankle issue, while Long is battling triceps and shoulder injuries. Giddy up, Vikings defense. Interior pocket-pushers Linval Joseph and Tom Johnson are frothing at the mouth. Royal has a toe injury. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241 Posted November 1, 2016 Bradford is starting to see ghosts out there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bay 2,003 Posted November 1, 2016 Jordan Howard show. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos 2,847 Posted November 1, 2016 will Bradford get past this game without injury? You seriously ask this every single fucking week, lmao. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241 Posted November 1, 2016 I take back what I said earlier, now he's just getting fucked up, straight up. Lol. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BwareDWare94 723 Posted November 1, 2016 This is fucking embarrassing Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted November 1, 2016 In for a penny, in for a pound with Bad Ramsford. Same Bradnord... Dick Smallguy. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted November 1, 2016 No running game. No offense line. The Vikings need to make moves if they want to do damage in the playoffs unless they magically face horrid Dline after horrid Dline. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BwareDWare94 723 Posted November 1, 2016 What happened to the Sam Bradford who stood in the face of pressure? Now he panics and shits himself the instant everything isn't perfect Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge+ 3,436 Posted November 1, 2016 So he's playing like he did his entire career before this year then? I can assure you that the Bradford we saw while the Vikings were undefeated isn't the real Bradford. The way he has played the last 2 weeks shouldn't be a shock to anyone. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted November 1, 2016 No kidding. You will read in college drafting reports that he never saw pressure because he had ELITE level line play in front of him. Scouts weren't sure how he'd react, especially after multiple injuries. Well, we saw what he does under pressure after he entered the NFL. He can, at times, get gun shy and is still injury prone (may be why he is a bit hesitant in the face of pressure).Like Sarge said... nothing new. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted November 1, 2016 Did anyone know that George Halas died on October. 31st 33 years ago? How can you be sure he even existed? Just because you get third-party information you assume it's true? Be a free thinker, Phil! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BwareDWare94 723 Posted November 1, 2016 (edited) If Bradford played well for 4 games, he can play well again. He needs to find his testicles, and the offensive line has to have some goddamn pride. I don't understand what Clemmings is playing RT when Jeremiah Serles was playing well in the time he was there. Clemmings has potential and actually plays really well in spurts, but his low points are complete disaster. I don't care if Serles isn't as god as Clemmings at his best so long as he's not as bad as Clemmings at his worst. It's truly baffling how little difference Alex Boone has made for this OL. Something tells me he was an overrated player coming in. Also, signing Jake Long deserves a few more trial games but if he doesn't get better they might as well just cut him. Edited November 1, 2016 by BwareDWare94 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OSUViking 505 Posted November 2, 2016 I've had a feeling that a regression was coming for some time now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
