Vikings: Three keys for beating the Bears

By Krupka  |   Friday, September 22, 2006  |  Comments( 8 )

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When the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears lock horns at the Metrodome this Sunday, first place in the NFC North is up for grabs.

The general consensus among plenty of major media outlets is that the Bears are going to roll over the Vikings. But why?

Sure, they have an outstanding defense that packs a punch like Muhammad Ali, and has resided in the upper echelon of the NFL for the past few seasons. And, I know, Kyle Orton, arguably the worst quarterback in the history of the NFL, isn't running the offense anymore. Akili Smith and Ryan Leaf can thank me later. But the fact is, two solid performances by quarterback Rex Grossman, which should be noted were against the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions, hardly two of the tougher defenses in the league, and suddenly everyone is on the bandwagon, ready to anoint Lovie Smith's team as the frontrunners to challenge for the Super Bowl.

Don't get me wrong, the Bears are a quality team, and, as the defending division champions, are most definitely the team to beat in the NFC North. However, by no means are they unbeatable, nor should the Vikings be given no shot to win.

Consider this -- the home team has won eight straight meetings in the series, with the last Bears victory in the Metrodome coming in 2001. So call me crazy, but I like the Vikings' home chances.

The pessimist would say, "Well, the home team is due to lose then." While it's true that all trends eventually come to an end, there's reason to believe this one will hold true Sunday.

So, after all of that, here are three keys to the game Minnesota can use to defeat its rival.

First off, the Viking defense will need to stop the double-headed monster of running backs Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson. Although the two are averaging just 3.0 and 2.8 yards per carry, respectively, the Bears offense is still predicated upon the running game. The Bears ran the ball 36 times in Week 1, and 33 times in Week 2. Even with Grossman surprisingly faring well through the air in the first two games, there is no reason to believe that Ron Turner's unit will become a high-powered aerial assault. The proof is in the number of rushes in each game. Yes, the Bears were ahead, but he never abandoned the run, early, when the game was still close.

If the Vikings are able to stop the ground game and force Grossman into obvious passing situations, the odds are in Minnesota's favor to shut down the Bears offense. A wide receiving corps of Muhsin Muhammad, Bernard Berrian and Mark Bradley doesn't necessarily strike fear into anyone, though it is performing well. The tight end duo of Desmond Clark and John Gilmore has been very productive up to this point, accounting for three touchdowns, but can be stopped. The Vikings posses a very formidable secondary with starting corners Antoine Winfield and Fred Smoot, and starting safeties Darren Sharper and Dwight Smith, so you'd have to give the edge to the Vikings' defensive backfield.

Secondly, the Vikings will need to continue to pound the rock like they have with Chester Taylor. Like the first two games, none of the yardage will be easy, but the Vikings' running back will have to keep being the workhorse and churn out whatever yardage he can get. If the ground game is working, the Vikings can own the ever so important time of possession battle, and wear down a Bears defense that usually wears down the opponent.

Finally, the turnover battle will be crucial. The Vikings' red-zone defense has been phenomenal in the first two games, which has allowed the unit to keep opponents' scoring down without forcing many turnovers. The defense will be hard-pressed to keep up the pace, so forcing some turnovers will help. And that's not a slight on the defense, which currently ranks seventh in the NFL, but, sooner or later, not forcing turnovers will come back to bite them.

Conversely, the offense will have to continue doing what it does best -- protecting the football. The Bears defense goes for the kill when it smells blood and also has a propensity to force turnovers. It will be imperative for the Vikings to not turn the ball over because, like all good teams, the Bears will make you pay for it.

If the Vikings are able to do these three key things better than the Bears on Sunday, there is no reason they shouldn't walk out of the Metrodome 3-0, atop the NFC North Division.

Let the game begin...

Eric Krupka responds to reader's email daily. He can be contacted at ekrupka@realfootball365.com

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CommentsComments: 8  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
siveman		01:42 PM
09/22/2006
I feel this game will be a good test for the Bears if not a challenge. In recent years there has been more bad blood between...
No.2
my vikes		02:26 PM
09/22/2006
I agree with U Eric K. dull bears are a good team but anybody is beatable from week to week this will be a defensive low scoring...
No.3
Josh		03:04 PM
09/22/2006
While no one is going to say Kyle Orton is a legitimate starter in the NFL, the man who is "arguably the worst quarterback in...
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