Chicago Bears vs Minnesota Vikings "5 Keys to the Game" October 16 2011

by Joe Perisnger
@Brew_Mastr_Joe on Twitter

This is a big divisional game for the Bears.  They already have 2 losses in the division and a third could be devastating.  Since 2003, the Bears are 7-1 at home and the home team has won 15 of the last 18 times.  It's going to take a big game from the defense and the offensive line has to show up to the game.  Here are the "5 Keys to the Game" for the Bears to beat the Vikings Sunday Night:


1.  Shut Down AP

This is easier said than done.  The Bear's have been gashed by teams all season with wide open running lanes.  They made the Lions look like a power run team in the second half, and have bascially given one (or more) big running plays to the opposing offense each week this season.  But this is the Minnesota Vikings.  They Vikings depend on the run like the Bear's do their defense.  The Vikings have the 3rd best rushing offense and in 149 rushing plays, the Vikings have 800 yards with a 5.4 avg per carry.  The Bear's have yet to face a top ten rushing offense, so this could be "the real" test for Lovie Smith's Monster's of the Midway and chance to redeem themselves and show the league that the Cover 2 Def can still be effective.  AP has had a pretty good career against the Bears running 784 yards with 11 TD's in 7 games in 156 rushing attempts so stopping him will be crucial. It's a challenge the Bear's are now going to have to take on without their star DE Julius Peppers listed as doubtful for the game.  


2.  Takeaways

This is one part of Lovie's Cover 2 defense that is missing this year.  Without the ability to take the ball away, the defense is on the field longer and is worn down by the fourth quarter (the offense doesn't help either by being ranked 29th in 3rd down conversions).  However this week they are playing a struggling Donovan McNabb and an offense that is ranked 24th.  McNabb hasn't been the most accurate QB this year averaging only a 56.8% completion rate, so if the Bears secondary has no blown assignments getting the ball back via INT won't be a problem.    


3.  Offensive Line needs to "Earn their paychecks"

This O-line is just a a mess.  Roberto Garza has been the right guard since 2005 and is now the center.  Chris Spencer  played center in Seattle and is now playing right guard.  Chris Williams was drafted as the "Left Tackle of the future".  Now he's their left guard.  J'Marcus Webb, a natural right tackle is now playing left tackle.  The Lion's front four was so dominating it seemed like it was just Jay Cutler and Matt Forte taking on the entire Lion's front seven.  Webb needs to have a huge game and show last week was just a loud building and  MNF nerves.  If not, Jared Allen will make it a long day.   

4.  3 Step Drop Quick Passes

I'm not saying the Vikings D-line stacks up to the Lion's, but if Cutler is going to make it through this season Mike Martz (who we will refer to as Potato Head Pants) is going to have to implement 3 step drops into this offense.  Even rolling Cutler out to the right (or away from Jared Allen in this weeks case) would be ideal.  Implementing quick throws this week will give the Bear's less predictability, and will help against pass rushes (And Cutler will actually have a chance to make it to 30).  The only question is, will Potato Head Pants actually put these plays in the rotation Sunday Night.  It's not like the Bear's dont have the talent at WR to pull this off.  


5.  Game Management

This is going to fall on Jay Cutler and Lovie Smith.  Last week in detroit Lovie opted to run on a fourth and short.  Then, when Forte was clearly short of the first down, he challenged the play.  This left many of us scratching our heads thinking "what the hell is he doing down there?".  And then there is Potato Head Pants.  On consecutive weeks he has struggled to get a play down to the field in time for Jay Cutler.  Many of us have seen Cutler throw his arms up in frustration and take a timeout because a play has yet to be called in his ear.   It also doesn't help when Potato Head Pants starts blaming it on the equipment.  If you can't set the table for your players, you can't blame them because they are using a spoon instead of a fork (think about it).  Cutler's success Sunday night will be dictated on what the O-line gives him, but he cannot turn the ball over.  He did a fantastic job against the Lions and managed to keep the Bears in the game because of that.  


I expect the Bear's defense to hold the Vikings offense for most of the game.  However, they are prone to the big play this year and I'm sure AP will break out for a big play or two.  Matt Forte shows why he should be paid and Cutler throws 1 INT.  24-17 Bears