Minnesota at Chicago
Time: 1 PM EST, Sunday Sept 15
Line: CHI -7
M/L: CHI -255, MIN +215
O/U: 42
Odds courtesy of 5dimes
The Minnesota Vikings opened the season with a 24-34 loss to Detroit and things aren’t expected to get much better according to NFL oddsmakers at 5dimes, who project the Vikings to be 7 point underdogs to a host Chicago Bears squad. Minnesota didn’t get enough from the pass in week one, as the team currently ranks 20th in pass production (225 yards), while Adrian Peterson was able to do his usual, running for 93 yards.
Christian Ponder was 18-of-28 (64.3%) but threw three interceptions and was sacked three times. He’ll look for better protection from the Lions OL this week, a stressing point for improvement.
Defensively, the Vikings are very good on the line but have poor linebackers and a middling secondary. Over-attacking could prove dangerous given the fact the linebackers are so inexperienced, and Chicago will look to exploit the defense with a lot of short runs and passes.
The Chicago Bears began their season with a 24-21 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals and will look to build on the momentum this week behind a balanced offense which produced 242 passing yards in the win and 81 on the ground.
The Bears won 10 games last year and Jay Cutler has been effective enough, but does Chicago have what it takes to dispose of the premier opponents and not just the Bengals and Vikings? Matt Forte and Michael Bush are decent backs, but Bush is mostly a short yardage back and Forte hasn’t shown any breakaway speed either. In other words, big plays will have to come mostly from Cutler hooking up with Brandon Marshall or Martellus Bennett. Bennett and Marshall both had a TD reception in the win over Cincinnati and Marshall had 8 receptions for 104 yards.
