Preview: Minnesota @ Chicago - Sunday, October 19th, 2008
By Razor Sharp Sports
So when you are talking about a division lead being up for grabs in the NFL, you usually aren’t talking about a pair of 3-3 teams doing battle. That is exactly what we have this week as the Minnesota Vikings take on the Chicago Bears. Both teams look like they have plenty of holes, but then again both teams also look like they have plenty of potential to be good football teams. In both cases, they will go as far as their defenses will take them. Let’s take a look at each team a little closer.
If you have ever heard me on the radio, or have read any of my other articles, you may know that my heart is with the Vikings. As a handicapper, I try to keep my heart out of it and this year I have done a pretty good job. I have cashed in by going against Minnesota quite a bit including last week against Detroit. The way they played last week, you can see how easy it is to keep my heart out of it, because that team surely didn’t play with any heart either. Still they did get the win and after a 1-3 start, they have put together 2 wins and are now tied for the division lead. It is the defense that is the strength of this team. Currently they are allowing less than 20 points per game. They rank 7th overall in yards allowed at 284 yards per game and are 4th in rushing defense at 73.7 yards/game. This unit is led by their front line. DTs Kevin and Pat Williams anchor this unit. Kevin Williams has 29 tackles and 6 sacks and Pat Williams has added 24 tackles. They have been helped out by the addition of 2007 sack leader DE Jared Allen. Allen has 16 tackles and 3 sacks. The linebacking unit is banged up. Captain and team leader E.J. Henderson has been lost for the year. Henderson’s back-up David Herron left last weeks contest with a ankle injury. Vinny Ciurciu then stepped in. Ciurciu had just returned from injury himself. Of course, if you are going to talk about the Vikings offense, you have to talk about Adrian Peterson. Peterson currently ranks #3 in the NFL in rushing with 563 yards. Last week, Peterson bounced back with 111 yards, after being held to just 32 against New Orleans, 2 weeks ago. I truly expected Peterson to be helped out with the return of suspended OT Bryant McKinnie two weeks ago, but it has taken a while to get the line that includes 3 Pro Bowlers to gell.
If Peterson and that line is going to get going this week it is going to be against one of the best defenses in the NFL. The Chicago Bears are also going to go exactly where their defense takes them. Currnetly the Bears are allowing just 18.2 points per game. They are 12th in the NFL overall in yards allowed at 310.7 yards per game, but are 5th versus the rush at 74.3 yards per game. The names are all still there on the Bears defensive unit. LB Brian Unlacher is the man in the middle and is still the leader. He has 33 tackles this season. He is only behind All-Pro LB Lance Briggs with 37 and S Charles Tillman with 36. Up front Alex Brown (3 sacks )and Adewale Ogunleye (1.5 sacks) lead the pressure on the QB, while Mike Brown and and Kevin Payne handle the defensive backfield. Offensively, QB Kyle Orton has taken over as the starting QB and had done a pretty good job. He is completinig 61.6% of his passes for 231 yards per game 8 TDs and just 4ints. Rookie RB Matt Forte has done a solid job with the ground duties. He has run for 459 yards and has found the endzone 5 times (3 rushing & 2 receiving)>
As I mentioned before, both of these teams are lead by their defensive unit and I agaon expect a defensive struggle here. Over the last 2 years 3 of the 4 games have had 35 points or less scored in them. Look for another one here. As a free winner for this week take the MINNESOTA/CHICAGO game UNDER the total of 38.5. Don’t forget you can always get a free winner each and everyday from us by going to www.feeplays.com and clicking on Razor Sharp Sports or you can alwasy call the Razor Sharp Free Pick Phone at 1-800-549-7111.