Monday Night Special

The Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears are facing off tonight for the final time this season on the biggest show of the week Monday Night Football. The Vikings currently hold the series lead over the Bears 46-36-1, have an early season victory over the Bears by winning in Chicago 34-31 in week six, and have the series lead on Monday Night Football 5-4 as well. It looks as if the Vikings have everything going their way for tonight's match up. Not only do they currently hold all series leads over Chicago, but they are also riding a four game win streak, have been playing dominate football as of late, and face off against Kyle Orton. The Chicago Bears are turning their fortune over to their former starter from 2005 Kyle Orton.

Orton has not done well against the Vikings in his career. He has a 1-1 record, has completed 22 of 39 passes for 176 yards, thrown two touchdowns, one interception, and was sacked six times. Although Orton has not done so well against Minnesota, he has done even worse at the Metrodome. In his only appearance in Minnesota, Orton was a dismal 6 for 14 on passes, threw for only 59 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, and was sacked three times. It is this appearance that still weighs on the minds of Kyle Orton and the Chicago Bears.

Minnesota's defense is looking to keep their streak alive against Orton and the Bears. Minnesota has sacked Orton an average of three times a game, have one interception against him, and have allowed him to throw only one touchdown per game. As of recent, Minnesota has done the same thing to all their opponents. In the past four weeks, the Vikings have only allowed one passing touchdown per game, and a total of five touchdowns in four weeks. The Vikings defense has still given up a lot of yardage, but have kept their opponents out of the end zone.

Minnesota still has the number one rushing offense in the league, and have had great success against Chicago on the run. In the first meeting of the season, Chicago only rushed the ball 25 times for 83 yards. The Vikings defense has given up an average of 70.7 yards, and 18.8 points per game this season. Furthermore, this Vikings defense has become more stingy as of late, and has helped to outscore their opponents 139-56 in the last four weeks. The Vikings are looking to keeping this success going in the final three weeks of the season during their playoff run.

Minnesota's offense has been led by second year quarterback Tarvaris Jackson. Jackson has shown marked improvement since returning from an injury against the Oakland Raiders in week 11. Jackson has improved his pass completion ratio from 56.5% in week one to 77.3%, 83.3%, 75.0%, and 64.0% respectively. The ratio from week one was his best of the season until he played the Raiders. Jackson has been gaining confidence in the past four weeks and is showing no signs of slowing down. Jackson is looking to keep on improving in the final three weeks of the season, and help lead his team to the playoffs.

One of Tarvaris's favorite receivers is Bobby Wade. Wade was an off season acquirement from Tennessee, and has started in 10 of 13 games this season. Wade is currently the team leader in both receptions with 40, and yardage with 451. Wade scored his first touchdown as a Viking and the third touchdown of his career in week 13 against the Lions. Wade who had minimal success in his career, seems to be fitting in real well in Minnesota.

The other top Viking receiver is Sydney Rice. This rookie is fresh out of South Carolina and is second on the team in receptions (30) and yardage (386), while he leads the receiving corps in touchdowns with four. Rice has also been the big play maker recently by throwing a 79 yard pass to Visanthe Shiancoe, which set up a Chester Taylor touchdown in week 11 against Oakland. He then turned around in week 12, and caught a 60 yard touchdown pass from Tarvaris Jackson the following week against the Giants.

The Viking backfield has been number one all season. With Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor back their, the Vikings have kept opponents on their heels. Peterson had carried the ball 198 times for 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Chester Taylor has carried the ball 136 times for 716 yards and seven touchdowns. It was Taylor who took over for the injured Peterson in weeks 11 and 12, and has carried most of the load in the past four weeks. For Adrian Peterson who is coming off a torn LCL injury, he is still a dangerous threat to all opponents, as he proved against the Lions in week 13; where he carried the ball 14 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns. Peterson has also set his sights on the Vikings single season season rushing record of 1,521 yards set by Robert Smith in 2,000. With three games left to play, Peterson needs 322 yards to break that record, or just 108 yards per game. Adrian's current average per week is 109. This will be exciting to all Viking fans to watch.

For the Vikings to win tonight, they need to do more of the same from the past four weeks and contain Devin Hester. The Vikings defense has stopped the run against the Bears this season, and will do so again. Minnesota has also shown they can play in the big leagues and are a team to be reconded with. The Vikings have outscored opponents 139-56 in the past four weeks, have had 11 sacks, forced seven fumbles, have six interceptions, allowed only four passing touchdowns, and one rushing touchdown. The Vikings offense has passed for four touchdowns, rushed for eight, and Jackson has thrown two interceptions and was sacked eight times; four times against the Giants and three times against the Raiders. Minnesota has been a much improved team and are showing no signs of slowing down. Look for Minnesota to win tonight against the Bears and contain Devin Hester.

SKOL VIKINGS!!!!