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 Minnesota has held each of its first six opponents to 23 points or
fewer and used Adrian Peterson and the rushing game to hold on to
the ball for nearly 36 1/2 minutes in a 28-19 triumph over Detroit
last week. Peterson blamed eating shrimp for an illness that briefly
pushed him into the questionable category last week, but he rumbled
for 98 yards in the win and is battling through nagging injuries to
his hip, finger and ankle. "It's going to take 11 guys playing good
run defense to get (Peterson) stopped," Bears defensive coordinator
Vic Fangio told reporters. "You can be going along fine with him and
then, all of a sudden, he breaks a 40- or 50-yarder or more. So
you've got to be on point with him all the time." Chicago's defense
enters the week 25th against the run, allowing opposing teams an
average of 124.8 yards.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Vikings -1. O/U: 42.5
ABOUT THE VIKINGS (4-2): Peterson's presence is opening things up in
the passing game for quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who completed
passes to 11 different receivers in last week's win. "That's our
mindset going into any game, just to start fast, whether it's in the
run game or the pass game," Bridgewater told reporters. "We want to
be a balanced team. We know that teams are going to focus on Adrian
and try and stop the run." Bridgewater posted his first 300-yard
passing performance of the season with 316 last week.
ABOUT THE BEARS (2-4): The biggest positive to come out of a 37-34
loss at Detroit prior to the bye week was the performance of Jay
Cutler and the offense, which posted its highest point total of the
season. Cutler threw for 353 yards in the loss and got a big boost
from wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, who racked up 147 yards and a
touchdown after missing the previous four games with a hamstring
injury. "We expect more of that, that's for sure," receivers coach
Mike Groh told ESPNChicago.com. "This is a good fit for (Jeffery)
offensively, the things that we do from a schematic standpoint."
[to top of second column] |
EXTRA POINTS
1. Bears S Antrel Rolle (high ankle sprain) returned to practice
this week and could play for the first time since Oct. 4.
2. Minnesota has lost seven straight games at the Bears.
3. Chicago released veteran DL Jeremiah Ratliff and signed
free-agent DT Ziggy Hood during the bye week.
PREDICTION: Bears 27, Vikings 24
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