Week 14: Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

[font="'Lucida Sans Unicode"]Week 15 - 12/19/2010[/font][font="arial]

[/font]TIME: 08:30 P.M. EST
VENUE: TCF Bank Stadium
The Minnesota Vikings finally have a stadium where they can face the Chicago Bears in their home finale. Their quarterback situation has also been settled.

With the Metrodome damaged by snow, the banged-up Vikings - led by third-string quarterback Joe Webb - will move outdoors to TCF Bank Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota on Monday night when they host a Bears team hoping to clinch the NFC North title.

Inspectors determined there wasn't enough time to repair the roof of the Metrodome after it collapsed under the weight of about 17 inches of freshly fallen snow early last Sunday.

Minnesota (5-8) had been scheduled to host the New York Giants that afternoon, but the league moved the game to Monday night in Detroit. The Vikings lost 21-3, as Brett Favre sat out with a multitude of injuries, ending his NFL-record streak of consecutive starts at 297.

This time, the Vikings are staying in Minneapolis, but they'll be playing at the Golden Gophers' outdoor stadium.

Minnesota hasn't played a home outdoor game since Dec. 20, 1981 - 29 years to the day before this game - the last game played at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington.

One reason the Vikings moved into the Metrodome the following year is because of frigid Minnesota winters. Monday will likely be no exception, as forecasts project temperatures to drop into single digits.

"The biggest thing is we've got to play the Vikings this week," Bears long snapper Patrick Mannelly said. "We're not playing conditions or stadiums, we're playing the Vikings. So, first and foremost, we've got to worry about them and then we'll go from there."

A change of venue could be a good thing for Chicago (9-4), which has lost seven of its last eight at the Metrodome.

The Bears have won 10 straight outdoor games in December and January against dome or warm-weather teams, but didn't look prepared for wintry conditions last weekend.

Playing in cold weather with snow and a 30-mph wind swirling through Soldier Field against New England last Sunday, Chicago was run over in a 36-7 loss, snapping a five-game winning streak. The Bears trailed 33-0 at halftime and were outgained 475-185 in the game.

"Sometimes you're going to get knocked out," nose tackle Anthony Adams said. "But you have to get back up and keep fighting, and that's what we're going to do."

Despite being embarrassed at home, the Bears maintained their one-game lead over Green Bay in the division, and can clinch the North title with a win over the Vikings if the Packers lose in New England on Sunday night.

Minnesota was eliminated from playoff contention with its loss to the Giants.

With the 41-year-old Favre sitting out with a sore chest, throwing hand and right shoulder, Tarvaris Jackson started and completed 15 of 30 passes for 118 yards and an interception. Jackson left the game with turf toe and was put on injured reserve Thursday.

The Vikings signed veteran Patrick Ramsey to take his place, and interim coach Leslie Frazier said then he wasn't yet ready to name a starter.

Favre didn't participate in Saturday's practice, and Frazier said the 41-year-old quarterback won't play, naming Webb the starter.

"Joe Webb had a good day today," Frazier said Saturday. "He really seems as if this whole thing is not too big for him, and I'm really looking forward to watching him on Monday night."

Webb, a sixth-round pick from UAB, becomes the third third-string quarterback the Bears will face this season after wins over Miami and Detroit.

While Chicago's defense was picked apart by Tom Brady last week, it did a good job of shutting down Favre and Adrian Peterson in a 27-13 win at Soldier Field on Nov. 14. The Bears, who haven't swept a season series from Minnesota since 2006, picked off Favre three times and limited Peterson to 51 yards on 17 carries.

Peterson was held to 26 yards on 14 carries against the Giants and bruised a knee in a collision with Jackson on a handoff, but isn't expected to miss any time.

Minnesota's defense also struggled mightily against New York, allowing a season-worst 395 yards. The unit had some trouble against the Bears in Week 10, too, as Jay Cutler passed for 237 yards with three touchdowns.

Cutler didn't have much success against the Patriots last week, completing 12 of 26 passes for 152 yards with two interceptions, finishing with a season-low 32.9 quarterback rating. He had thrown five touchdowns without a pick in his previous two games.

"We played really good football up to this point," Cutler said. "We've got to learn from this. We've got to get ready to play Minnesota."

Copyright 2010 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press[font="arial]

[/font]
[font="arial]
[/font]
[font="arial]Post game day comments here! [/font]

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

Bears need to win this game, against a third string QB. Playing at TCF Bank Stadium won't be much of a home game for the Vikings, I expect a Bears win.

- 16

- 24

 

[A.E]

This game is going to be a complete disaster...players already whining the the field is going to be "too hard" to play on. Really? Isn't this the NFC North division?
Favre's status for this game upgraded to "questionable".

BEARS - 27
Vikings - 6

 

[DJT]

Joe Webb starting = Chicago wins

Brett Favre starting = Chicago wins

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

As long as Matt Forte stays under 21.06pts, were all good, if not, we are not. Come on Vikings, shut him down.

 

[bestkeptsecret13]

BEARS - 27
Vikings - 6

:huh2:

 

[A.E]

:huh2:

All the confidence I had in the Vikings was sucked out of me the last time we played the Bears...and Joe Webb under center doesn't help either. Webb managed about 8 yards starting most of the 4th quarter, last week.

 

[Mooche]

I have to agree with AE. I hope Webb comes out and proves me wrong, but this could be ugly for Minnesota.

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

Could be ugly for my fantasy football season as well. This is going to be quite nerve racking.

 

[.infamous]

I need forte to have big game for me for fantasy football. Behind 2 points in fantasy football. But the other guy has adrian peterson. So hopefully the bears will stop there run since webb is under center.

 

[DannyColtsBro]

I have a star studded fantasy football squad, but I'm hampered by injury and its over me now. Next year it's going down though.

 

[elcheato]

I need Forte to out play Adrian Peterson by a lot to win..

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

Forte is a factor for all of our fantasy hopes, wow.

 

[Mooche]

Adrian Peterson is my last hope, and the other guy has Gould. I just don't expect much from AP with those conditions and the fact the Bears won't respect the passing game at all.

 

[DannyColtsBro]

Sydney Rice needs 41 points to complete this comeback. I have faith lmfao.

 

[elcheato]

I need forte to have big game for me for fantasy football. Behind 2 points in fantasy football. But the other guy has adrian peterson. So hopefully the bears will stop there run since webb is under center.

See this is the exact scenario for me but I'm down 8 points lol

 

[.infamous]

See this is the exact scenario for me but I'm down 8 points lol

damn well I hope both of us win.

 

[elcheato]

I would appreciate it if Adrian Peterson started fumbling again for a night.

 

[A.E]

I have serious doubts that AD, hobbling on a bad ankle, an o-line that is pewtrid, no balanced passing attack, and a field that is supposed to be harder than a rock....has a big night tonight.

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

I'll allow Forte 21.05, that's IT.