Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears, Soldier Field, Chicago IL
Sunday, November 14, 2010, 1:00 pm EDT, TV: FOX
Opening Line: Vikings -1.5
Current Line: Vikings -1
Opening Total: 38.5
Current Total: 40.5
Money Line: Vikings -120 / Bears +100
The NFC North remains up for grabs with Green Bay on a bye week, and either the Chicago Bears (5-3) or the Minnesota Vikings (3-5) can prove themselves as a worthy challenger for the Packers with a victory in this divisional battle on Sunday. The Bears are 2-0 against divisional opponents so far – with both of those wins coming earlier this season at home – while the Vikings (-1) can stake their claim as the better team and set themselves up nicely for a rematch with Green Bay the following week by winning here at Soldier Field.
Minnesota has struggled away from the Metrodome so far this year with an 0-4 mark both straight-up and against the spread and will be trying to break an eight-game road losing streak overall dating back to last season. The team’s defense has surrendered 28 points or more in the last three road games, and quarterback Brett Favre has thrown five interceptions during that stretch to play a major role in preventing the Vikings from covering the spread.
Favre is coming off a career-best game in a 27-24 overtime win against Arizona at home last week, throwing for 446 yards and two touchdowns after his two interceptions put his team into another big hole. Minnesota trailed 24-10 until a late rally with less than four minutes left in regulation tied the score with a pair of touchdowns and forced OT.
The Vikings are hoping to have wide receiver Sidney Rice back for the first time this season following off-season hip surgery, although he will still be limited if he does in fact play. That could be huge for the them considering Percy Harvin continues to deal with migraine headaches and missed some practice time earlier this week. Harvin had nine catches for 126 yards last week against the Cardinals but might not be as much of a factor if he does not return to the slot.
Chicago’s defense continues to impress despite an inconsistent offense, holding opponents to 20 points or less in seven of the first eight games. The Bears will look to their third-ranked run defense to limit Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson, as they have allowed an average of just 83.9 yards per game on the ground even though they have surrendered nine rushing touchdowns. Peterson was held under 95 yards as his team split two meetings with Chicago last year, but he still scored three times.
One key player who will not be in the Vikings offensive backfield is Bears running back Chester Taylor, who should be extra motivated against his former team. Taylor is expected to increase his workload to help out starter Matt Forte, and that one-two punch will need to be effective in order to take pressure off quarterback Jay Cutler. Chicago’s offensive line allowed only one sack in a 22-19 win over Buffalo last week and also must continue to play well against the Vikings.
Cutler enjoyed one of his best games of the season in a 36-30 overtime win against Minnesota last December, throwing for 273 yards and four touchdowns. If he can avoid getting sacked and limits his interceptions, he may very well play a major role in helping the Bears increase their divisional lead over the Vikings to three games with another key victory.
We like the Bears in this game and will release it is a free play winner on the blog. For more free advice visit the free nfl picks page and get signed up for our daily newsletter as well as see what is on tap for this weeks premium members.
