Bears Need Win to Survive; Turn to Orton for Boost

The Chicago bears are all but eliminated from playoff contention. The last time Kyle Orton was the Bears starter was in 2005 when the Bears went 10-5 on the season and lost in the first round of the playoffs. Orton completed 190 of 368 passes for 1,869 yards. Orton threw 13 interceptions, nine touchdowns and was sacked 30 times. Orton had 24 carries for 44 yards and fumbled the ball 15 times but lost the ball only five times. Orton's pass completion ratio was a dismal 51.6% and his passer rating was 59.7% that season. Orton's last start was against our Minnesota Vikings and he lost 35-10.

In his last game against the Minnesota Vikings, Orton threw 14 passes and completed only six for 59 yards. Kyle had no touchdowns and no interceptions. In Orton's only other game against the Vikings, he completed 16 of 25 passes for 117 yards. He threw two touchdowns and one interception. In his career Orton is 1-1 against Minnesota, and he has completed 22 of 39 passes for 176 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Since his last start, it has been two years for Orton sitting on the bench watching Rex Grossman and Brian Griese alternate in at quarterback, while he sat and learned an offense he once ran. For Orton this second coming is at a great time. The Bears are not yet eliminated from the playoffs, and he has a chance to come into a game with playoff implications and hopefully come away with a win. For Orton, this second chance is a refresher and possible new start to his career.

Orton was drafted in 2005 and was suppose to be the third string quarterback behind Rex Grossman and Chad Hutchinson. All that came to an abrupt end when Grossman went down with a broken ankle in the pre season, and Hutchinson was cut. Orton played in all 16 games, led the Bears to a 10-5 record and a division title. The Bears had an early exit from the playoffs that season, losing to Carolina in the first round 29-21. However, it was Rex Grossman who got the start and not Kyle Orton. In Orton's last appearance as a starter for the Bears, it is the 35-10 loss to Minnesota that everyone including Orton remembers.

This is a very different game than the one in 2005. When Orton got the start in 2005, the Bears had already clinched the division title and were playoff bound. In 2007 the Bears are not yet eliminated, but are one Viking win or one Bears loss from elimination. Orton is looking for retribution for that final loss of the season in 2005, and hopes that comes on the biggest show of the week; Monday Night Football.

Orton has been working in practice for two years for this moment and now has his chance. With guys like Cedric Benson and Adrian Peterson in the backfield, things won't be so tough. In Orton's last start, the Bears rested most of their starters for the playoffs. Orton will now run the Bears full offensive line and have all the regular starters in the game. Cedric Benson is the teams leading rusher with 674 yards on 196 carries and four touchdowns. Benson also has 17 receptions for 123 yards, but no receiving touchdowns. Adrian Peterson is Chicago's second leading rusher with 291 yards on 91 carries and two touchdowns. Peterson is the third on the team with receptions at 41 and fourth on the team with 351 receiving yards.

The receiving corps for Chicago consists of Bernard Berrian, Desmond Clark, Muhsin Muhammad and Adrian Peterson. Berrian leads the team in receptions, yards received, and is tied with Cedric Benson for the team lead in touchdowns. Berrian has 883 yards on 64 receptions and four touchdowns. His counterpart in Desmond Clark has 523 yards on 41 receptions and three touchdowns. Clark is second on the team with receiving yards, tied for second on the team with Adrian Peterson with 41 receptions, and is tied for second on the team with three touchdowns. Then there is Muhsin Muhammad. Muhammad has 35 receptions, 511 yards and three touchdowns. Muhammad is a deadly force on the field and helps complete this 14th ranked passing offense.

In the last meeting between these two clubs, the Vikings won a barn-burner in Chicago 34-31. It was Brian Griese who got the start that afternoon. Griese was the leading passer of the game completing 26 of 45 passes for 381 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Griese easily depleted a then struggling Vikings secondary, and divided the touchdowns between Devin Hester, Bernard Berrian, and Muhsin Muhammad. The leading receiver for the game was Devin Hester with one reception for 81 yards and a touchdown. The Bears also ran the ball 24 times for 83 yards against the number one rushing defense in the league.

This time around Kyle Orton will have the same offense as Griese did in October, and will see what he can do with it. Since their last meeting, Minnesota's secondary has improved immensely. Although they are ranked dead last in passing yards, Minnesota has only given up four passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown in four weeks. Minnesota's defense in now ranked 8th in the league on points allowed, and 1st in the league in rushing yards. This will be a much improved Viking defense than what Chicago saw in October.

The Vikings are hoping to expose Orton's weakness and his lack of mobility. The last time they saw Orton, he was not sacked, but in his career against Minnesota he has been sacked three times and thrown one interception. Orton has not been a strong passer with a career passer rating of 59.7%, and a pass completion ratio of 51.6%. With this newly redefined Viking offense, they hope to keep Orton and the Bears on their heels all night long. The Vikings have to be aware of Devin Hester who has been very effective in returning kick offs for the Bears this year, and has done very well against Minnesota. However, if Minnesota can contain Hester, then Benson and Peterson will need to pick up the slack against the number one rushing defense in the league, and that will not be an easy task. At their last match up against Minnesota, the Bears had the luxury of Brian Griese in the game. Griese is a much better passer than Orton has been, and with Minnesota's recent success against the pass, and their consistency of not allowing points scored, it looks to be a long night for the Bears, and a good night for the Vikings. Look for a Viking victory and continued success on the field.

SKOL VIKINGS!!!!