POD: Minnesota-7.5 @ Chicago (3K units) L
Preview: Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre says he’s put aside any disagreements with coach Brad Childress.
The coach and quarterback would both agree Favre needs to avoid the sort of late-season swoon that plagued him last year. If he can replicate his last performance against the Chicago Bears, that won’t be an issue.
Favre and the Vikings try to bounce back from their second loss in three games and possibly clinch a postseason bye Monday night when they visit the struggling Bears.
Minnesota lost 26-7 at Carolina last week in a game that will be best remembered for what Favre termed a “heated discussion” with Childress on the sideline. It occurred after the coach attempted to pull the veteran quarterback in the third quarter even as Minnesota held a one-point lead.
Childress insists he was trying to protect Favre from a Panthers pass rush that sacked him four times. The two talked twice during the week to clear the air about the dispute, which included the coach grabbing his quarterback’s arm.
“I think it’s all resolved,” Favre said. “I think the team as well as the coaching staff knows where I stand and what I stand for, as I do them. … We’re trying to do this thing together.”
What would help most to mend the Vikings now would be a victory over the Bears and a better performance from their quarterback.
Favre led the Vikings to a 10-1 start by throwing 24 touchdowns and three interceptions, but the 40-year-old has had three TDs and four interceptions in the three games since.
That dropoff is eerily similar to his final five games with the New York Jets last season. Favre helped that team open 8-3, but the Jets missed the playoffs by dropping four of their final five as he totaled nine interceptions and two TDs.
The Vikings (11-3) have already clinched a second straight NFC North title, but they could miss out on a first-round bye if their quarterback can’t turn things around.
Minnesota enters Week 16 one game ahead of Philadelphia, and would clinch a bye with a win and an Eagles loss. There’s also a faint chance of earning home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, but the Vikings would need two victories coupled with two losses by 13-1 New Orleans.
Playing a Bears team in disarray should help their cause, especially if Favre can repeat his performance from a 36-10 home win Nov. 29. In that game, he threw for a season-high 392 yards and three touchdowns, helping Minnesota rack up 537 total yards for its fourth win in five tries against Chicago (5-9).
Both of the Vikings’ recent losses have come away from the Metrodome, and they’re 1-7 at Soldier Field since 2001, including last season’s 48-41 defeat. Favre is 13-3 all-time in Chicago, but has lost in two of his last three trips there.
Besides Favre, Minnesota’s other concern is superstar running back Adrian Peterson, who’s had a string of underwhelming performances. He was held to 35 yards on 12 carries last week, and 19 yards on 13 attempts in a 30-17 loss at Arizona two weeks earlier. He’s run for 1,235 yards on the season, but hasn’t gained 100 in any of his last five games - the longest such drought of his three-year career.
“Our offense starts with Adrian Peterson and that’s where it ends, and we have to get that back on track,” Favre said.
Peterson has excelled in his two previous games at Soldier Field, including a then-franchise record 224 yards in his first trip there Oct. 14, 2007. He’s averaging 106.5 yards with nine touchdowns in five career matchups against the Bears.
Minnesota is also hoping rookie receiver Percy Harvin(notes) can continue to recover from migraine headaches. After sitting out a win over Cincinnati on Dec. 13, Harvin was limited to one practice last week and caught one pass for 10 yards against the Panthers.
Harvin had a career-best 101 yards and a touchdown in last month’s win over the Bears.
Chicago gave up four touchdowns through the air in last week’s 31-7 drubbing in Baltimore, its eighth defeat in 10 games - a slide which has led to rumors about coach Lovie Smith’s job security. The Bears owe Smith $11 million over the next two years, but general manager Jerry Angelo said the team’s performance in the final two games and not money would decide whether the franchise retains its coach.
“What’s a vote of confidence at this time? …(We’re) disappointed in our play, disappointed in our record,” Smith said. “I’m the head football coach, so I’m sure a lot of people aren’t knocking down the door wanting to pat me on the back.”
Chicago is assured of becoming the fourth NFL team to miss the playoffs at least three straight years following a Super Bowl appearance.
Jay Cutler(notes) threw three more interceptions last week to increase his NFL-worst total to 25. He’s in danger of becoming the first quarterback with 30 in a season since Vinny Testaverde(notes) in 1988, and is six shy of the franchise record set by Sid Luckman in 1947.
Showing posts with label Chicago Bears. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chicago Bears. Show all posts
Monday, December 28, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
POD: Minnesota-10.0 (NFL) W
POD: Chicago @ Minnesota-10.0 (3K units) W
Preview: Before the start of the season, the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears made big headlines by acquiring star quarterbacks expected to help lead their respective teams to the playoffs.
So far, it’s only working out for one of them.
Brett Favre(notes) looks to lead the Vikings to their 10th win Sunday when they host struggling Jay Cutler(notes) and the free-falling Bears.
Minnesota (9-1) signed Favre during the preseason, and after a disappointing year with the New York Jets, the 40-year-old is emerging as an MVP candidate. Favre has 21 touchdown passes to three interceptions, helping the Vikings stay on the heels of undefeated New Orleans for the top seed in the NFC.
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“There’s nothing he can do to surprise anybody anymore,” Minnesota center John Sullivan(notes) said. “He’s a great player. We know that as long as we protect him, him and the receivers and Adrian (Peterson), they’re all going to make plays.”
Opposing defenses keyed on Peterson in his first two seasons, and he still amassed 3,101 rushing yards. This year, defenses also have to respect Favre and the passing game.
In last Sunday’s 35-9 win over Seattle, Favre completed a career-high 88.0 percent of his passes (22 of 25) for 213 yards and four touchdowns. It was his second four-touchdown performance in three games and the 22nd of his career, surpassing Dan Marino for the record.
“Getting back to that confidence that I had when I didn’t know any better, that was pretty good,” Favre said. “And I’m feeling more confident. I’m more of a realist at this age, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go out there and turn it loose.”
This will be Favre’s first game against the rival Bears in a Minnesota uniform. Although he’s lost five of the last six meetings while playing for Green Bay, the three-time league MVP should benefit from lining up in the backfield with Peterson, who needs one more yard for 1,000.
In four games against the Bears, Peterson has rushed for 554 yards and eight touchdowns, his most scores against any opponent.
The Vikings are 3-1 against Chicago since drafting Peterson and have won six of the last seven meetings in the Metrodome.
While everything seems to be going Favre and the Vikings’ way lately, Cutler is mired in an awful stretch.
The Bears (4-6) had high hopes after pulling off the blockbuster trade with Denver for Cutler, but with losses in five of its last six, it appears Chicago will miss the playoffs for the third straight season.
“This wasn’t part of the master plan,” coach Lovie Smith said after last Sunday’s 24-20 loss to Philadelphia.
Cutler, leading the league with 18 interceptions, has been a big reason the team is falling short of expectations.
After throwing a career-worst five interceptions in a 10-6 loss to San Francisco on Nov. 12, Cutler was 24 of 43 for 171 yards with one touchdown and one pick against Philadelphia. His interception in the final minute sealed the win for the Eagles.
While Cutler made poor decisions against the 49ers, he was largely inaccurate last week. At one point, he overthrew a wide open Greg Olsen(notes) and Devin Hester(notes) on back-to-back plays for possible touchdowns, forcing Chicago to settle for a field goal.
“I haven’t played up to my expectations,” Cutler said. “I think that’s the most important part. I can play better. I know that.”
While Cutler is receiving a bulk of the blame, it’s not entirely his fault.
The offensive line has struggled to give Cutler time and will now face a pass rush that tops the NFL with 36 sacks. The line has also had little luck opening holes for running back Matt Forte(notes).
Chicago ranks 28th in rushing, averaging 89.3 yards, and it will likely be tough to get the ground game going against the vaunted Minnesota defense.
The Vikings boast the third-best rush defense, giving up 85.5 yards per game, and limited the Seahawks to four rushing yards on 12 attempts last week— the second-fewest yards allowed in franchise history. Minnesota has led the league in rush defense in each of the past three seasons.
Preview: Before the start of the season, the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears made big headlines by acquiring star quarterbacks expected to help lead their respective teams to the playoffs.
So far, it’s only working out for one of them.
Brett Favre(notes) looks to lead the Vikings to their 10th win Sunday when they host struggling Jay Cutler(notes) and the free-falling Bears.
Minnesota (9-1) signed Favre during the preseason, and after a disappointing year with the New York Jets, the 40-year-old is emerging as an MVP candidate. Favre has 21 touchdown passes to three interceptions, helping the Vikings stay on the heels of undefeated New Orleans for the top seed in the NFC.
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“There’s nothing he can do to surprise anybody anymore,” Minnesota center John Sullivan(notes) said. “He’s a great player. We know that as long as we protect him, him and the receivers and Adrian (Peterson), they’re all going to make plays.”
Opposing defenses keyed on Peterson in his first two seasons, and he still amassed 3,101 rushing yards. This year, defenses also have to respect Favre and the passing game.
In last Sunday’s 35-9 win over Seattle, Favre completed a career-high 88.0 percent of his passes (22 of 25) for 213 yards and four touchdowns. It was his second four-touchdown performance in three games and the 22nd of his career, surpassing Dan Marino for the record.
“Getting back to that confidence that I had when I didn’t know any better, that was pretty good,” Favre said. “And I’m feeling more confident. I’m more of a realist at this age, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go out there and turn it loose.”
This will be Favre’s first game against the rival Bears in a Minnesota uniform. Although he’s lost five of the last six meetings while playing for Green Bay, the three-time league MVP should benefit from lining up in the backfield with Peterson, who needs one more yard for 1,000.
In four games against the Bears, Peterson has rushed for 554 yards and eight touchdowns, his most scores against any opponent.
The Vikings are 3-1 against Chicago since drafting Peterson and have won six of the last seven meetings in the Metrodome.
While everything seems to be going Favre and the Vikings’ way lately, Cutler is mired in an awful stretch.
The Bears (4-6) had high hopes after pulling off the blockbuster trade with Denver for Cutler, but with losses in five of its last six, it appears Chicago will miss the playoffs for the third straight season.
“This wasn’t part of the master plan,” coach Lovie Smith said after last Sunday’s 24-20 loss to Philadelphia.
Cutler, leading the league with 18 interceptions, has been a big reason the team is falling short of expectations.
After throwing a career-worst five interceptions in a 10-6 loss to San Francisco on Nov. 12, Cutler was 24 of 43 for 171 yards with one touchdown and one pick against Philadelphia. His interception in the final minute sealed the win for the Eagles.
While Cutler made poor decisions against the 49ers, he was largely inaccurate last week. At one point, he overthrew a wide open Greg Olsen(notes) and Devin Hester(notes) on back-to-back plays for possible touchdowns, forcing Chicago to settle for a field goal.
“I haven’t played up to my expectations,” Cutler said. “I think that’s the most important part. I can play better. I know that.”
While Cutler is receiving a bulk of the blame, it’s not entirely his fault.
The offensive line has struggled to give Cutler time and will now face a pass rush that tops the NFL with 36 sacks. The line has also had little luck opening holes for running back Matt Forte(notes).
Chicago ranks 28th in rushing, averaging 89.3 yards, and it will likely be tough to get the ground game going against the vaunted Minnesota defense.
The Vikings boast the third-best rush defense, giving up 85.5 yards per game, and limited the Seahawks to four rushing yards on 12 attempts last week— the second-fewest yards allowed in franchise history. Minnesota has led the league in rush defense in each of the past three seasons.
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