Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings: Spread Info, Line and Predictions
Published by Brian Mazique on December 29, 2011
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings are both headed for a long offseason. Neither team has had a good season. The Bears have been decimated by key injuries on offense, and the Vikings have just been poor.
The Bears would probably be a playoff if Caleb Hanie could have engineered two wins against the likes of Kansas City. If Marion Barber stayed in bounds, the Bears would have beaten Denver and Tim Tebow. Jay Cutler would probably be playing in this game to help the Bears get their 10th win, which would be good enough for a playoff berth.
Those things didn’t happen.
I’m not sure the Vikings’ season could have gone worse. The Donovan McNabb experiment was a horrible failure, the secondary has been horrendous and Adrian Peterson tore his ACL and MCL in a game he shouldn’t have been playing in.
So yeah, it hasn’t been a good year.
With that said, let’s dig into some specifics about this NFC North showdown.
When: Sunday, Jan, 1, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. ET
Where: Mall of American Field, Minneapolis, MN
Watch: FOX
Listen: WBBM 780 AM in Chicago, KFAN 100.3 FM in Minneapolis
Live Streaming Audio: NFL.com Audio Pass ($29.99 for year, $27.99 team specific, $9.99 a month)
Betting Line
Oddshark.com has this game listed as even. It is very understandable, but the Bears defense gives them a slight edge in my eyes. Christian Ponder has struggled as of late with INTs, and that plays right in to the Bears hands.
What’s At Stake?
This game gives both teams an opportunity to close the season on a positive note. Josh McCown could solidify his return as Jay Cutler’s backup next year with a strong performance, and Leslie Frazier needs something to build on after a disastrous season.
Bears Injury Report
Jay Cutler—Thumb (Out)
Matt Forte—Knee (Out)
Johnny Knox—Back (Out)
Marion Barber—Knee (Out)
Vikings Injury Report
Adrian Peterson—Knee (Out)
Christian Ponder—Unlisted, but suffering from concussion-like symptoms
Fantasy Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em, Sleeper
Start: Khalil Bell, RB
With Marion Barber out of the picture, Bell will get plenty of time. He is a capable dual threat out of the backfield. I think he is one of the best starters you can have this week against a vulnerable Vikings run defense.
Sit: Christian Ponder, QB
Ponder has struggled. He is a bit hampered by a big hit from last week. Leslie Frazier seemed open to playing athletic QB Joe Webb. Ponder is a shaky start, especially in your championship game.
Sleeper: Earl Bennett, WR
Bennett is the Bears’ best receiver, but he has been hampered by injury and Hanie never seemed to find him during his time as a starter.
Bennett makes tough catches and is good after the catch. He would be a nice flex option.
What They’re Saying
Leslie Frazier said this of Peterson and his expected approach to rehabbing his knee:
We’re looking forward to his attacking this rehab like he’s attacked every offseason, to come back and play and be even better than he was before. I know with (head trainer Eric Sugarman) and our medical staff, they’re going to do everything they can to get him back on the field and ready to go when we line up in that first football game next season.
The look towards next year has already begun. Frazier is just hoping he’s going to be a part of the organization come July.
The Chicago Tribune‘s Bears Reporter, Dan Pompei, offered this glimpse into the Bears possible off-season plans:
I am reasonably certain the Bears will be active in free agency, though some of it depends on who is available. It doesn’t make much sense to set out to spend money for the sake of spending money. The right players have to become free agents and want to play in Chicago. The Bears need to re-sign some of their own players like Matt Forte, but given the budget surplus they will carry from 2011, they should have plenty of cash to make some noise. And they also have plenty of holes to address.
Bears’ fans hope that is true, as depth is a major concern. The injuries to Cutler and Forte made the Bears perhaps the worst offensive team in the NFL.
Bears Player to Watch
McCown has plenty to gain from playing well. If he can close the season out on positive note, he’ll be the odds-on favorite to back up Jay Cutler in 2012
Vikings Player to Watch
The Vikings still can’t be sure what they have in Christian Ponder. After a positive start, he has struggled as of late. A poor performance here could leave the team feeling as though they aren’t set at the position.
Ponder must grab this opportunity and claim it.
Key Matchup
Vikings offensive line against the Bears defensive line. The Vikings need to have success running the ball to win.
If the Bears continue their dominant play against the run, they will stymie the Vikings and force turnovers.
On the Hot Seat
Leslie Frazier could be in trouble if the Vikings produce a poor performance. He needs to prove that he has not lost his team. Without a spirited finish, the 3-13 finish will look that much worse.
Prediction
I have the Bears winning this game 30-14. They will likely strike through special teams, limit Gerhart on the ground and pick Ponder off at least once.
The Bears offense has looked better under McCown, and they will hand the Vikes their 13th loss.
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