Game Preview: I Can’t Bear It

This week, the Vikings take on Daaaaaa Bears in a NFC North divisional game that could send the Vikings to a 10-1 record and eliminate the Bears’ possibility of becoming the NFC North champion. That was a slim to none possibility anyways, but who cares? It would feel good to finally be on the giving end of the mathematical elimination. This is the final game of the Vikings 3 game homestand off the bye week and it would say a lot about the team if they can go 3-0.

So, how do the Vikings do it this week? They do it with defense. Jay Cutler, who many Vikings fans screamed for with their hands out, leads the NFL in interceptions through 10 games with 18. Brett Favre only has 3 by the way, which is least in the league among QBs who’ve started every game this season. With the return of Antoine Winfield and the fact that the defensive line is one of the best in the league, I can’t see a way that Cutler will pick apart the Vikings D. He hasn’t done that on a consistent basis yet, so no reason for anyone to think it’ll change against a defense that’s sacking the QB 3.6 times per game.

One player can help give the Bears a chance, but he hasn’t been consistent either. That guy is Matt Forte. If I said his play was inconsistent, I’d be giving him a compliment. He’s been ineffective in the run game and has only topped 100 yards once this season. It’s a little absurd and I feel bad for the guys who bought him high in fantasy this year, because he’s been a total bust. The only threat he does bring is his ability to catch the ball in space and run upfield with it. He’s had 5 games so far this season in which his yards receiving has been higher than his yards rushing. I like the Vikings’ LBs and defensive line this week to neutralize Forte and make Cutler win it by being a gunslinger.

The only problem for Jay Cutler and Daaaaa Bears is that they are going against the ultimate gunslinger. The OG of gunslinging QBs, Brett “The Silver Fox” Favre. Like I said in my last post, he’s definitely in the conversation for MVP so far and he’s finally figured out when to just throw the ball away. He’s not forcing plays and he’s not making many mistakes. It only took him until the last (or second to last?) year of his career to play like this, but it’s damn go0d timing. He’s made this Vikings team turn into a true offensive powerhouse and they don’t have to rely on Adrian Peterson to win games anymore.

How do I see this game going? I say it’s probably another quick start for the Purple, with Daaaaa Bears bringing it to within one score at half time. But, that’s when the Vikings should take over. They should win this game, and not have to worry too much about playing Favre in the 4th quarter once again. They need to keep resting Favre whenever they can, and T-Jack has showed that he can come in and manage a game.

The title for this post is a little cheesy, but it fits. I can’t stand the anticipation any longer. How far can this team go? Will New Orelans lose a couple and let the Vikings slide into the #1 seed clinching home-field advantage throughout? If that happens, with how well the Vikings have played this year in the Dome, I’m not sure many teams will be too excited to play them in the playoffs. Or, will they crumble and fall? Will Green Bay miraculously take over first in the division? Not likely, but if the Vikings go 2-4 out the door and the Pack win out…no nevermind. That won’t happen. At least, I hope not.

Tags: Adrian Peterson, Antoine Winfield, bears, Brett Favre, jay cutler, matt forte, NFL, Vikings