Personally, the Bears bye week is one of the most relaxing times of the year for me as I can enjoy life without the black cloud of Bears football hanging over me. I don’t have to watch Jay Cutler throw a late interception, terrible clock management by coaches, or a defense that gives up a league high 29.8 PPG.
Nope, don’t have to watch it.
But like all good things, my utopia of watching the RedZone channel and the Blacklist had to come to an end at some point. The Bears are back in action this weekend on the lakefront as they host the 4 – 2 Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings are 2nd in the NFC North and they would make the playoffs if they were to start today.
The Vikings boast the 2nd best defense in points per game, only giving up 17 a contest while scoring a meager 20.7 PPG on the offensive side of the ball. Luckily for the Vikings offense, they are going up against a team that gave up 546 yards to Lions before heading into the bye week.
The Vikings are led by Adrian Peterson who seems to have big days against the Bears defense, Peterson has had 14 touchdowns against the Bears in his career. Peterson had a tough day last week against the Lions as he only rushed for 23 yards on 18 of his carries after battling a stomach illness due to eating shrimp. Peterson did have one rush for 75 yards that saved his afternoon from a stats standpoint but he didn’t seem himself in Detroit.
A name that Bears fan will need to get use to is rookie wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Diggs has busted onto the scene as the Vikings leading receiver thru the first 7 weeks snatching 19 passes for 324 yards and 1 touchdown. Diggs is a 5th round pick out of the University of Maryland and has only played in 3 games but is averaging over 100 yards/game.
The Vikings defense is coming off of a 7 sack performance against the Lions which means the Bears will have to hold off a hungry Minnesota defense. “This team is very hungry. We work our tails off… From Monday to Sunday, we’re always working. We’re always in the lab trying to get better,” Vikings cornerback Captain Munnerlyn said earlier in the week.
The Bears are going to have their hands full as Cutler will be going up against an excellent defense that is prone to giving up field goals instead of touchdowns. The Bears offense has scored less points per game than the Vikings but are giving up 13 points more on the defense side. It will be up to the Bears offense to keep the chain moving so Peterson doesn’t find an early rhythm against this pores Bears run defense.
Expect the Bears to have a tough time moving the ball consistently on offense and if they have to settle for field goals, it will be a long day in the Windy City.
Vikings Bears Notes & Predictions
Key Matchup: Adrian Peterson vs. Bears Run Defense
Key Injuries: WR Kevin White (Out)
Fact: The Bears have won 7 straight against the Vikings in Chicago
Fantasy Spotlight: WR Stefon Diggs
Spread: Vikings -1
Prediction: Bears 20, Vikings 24
@WesEvans24