Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings: Bears Can Clinch NFC North in Week 15
Published by Brian Marchetti on December 17, 2010
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears face the Minnesota Vikings Monday night at TCF Bank Stadium and can potentially garner the NFC North crown with a victory and a Packers loss.
Karmic fortune continues to follow the Bears, as the Vikings turn to rookie quarterback Joe Webb after injuries to both Brett Favre and Tarvaris Jackson.
As well, an injury to Aaron Rodgers last week during the Packers’ loss to the Lions may keep him off the field as they face the New England Patriots.
The Bears could not have drawn up a more advantageous scenario.
This does not mean that the Vikings will simply give the Bears a free pass. The Vikings still possess talent on both sides of the ball. Jared Allen may still wreak havoc on an inconsistent Bears offensive line.
The Vikings will likely rely heavily on the ground game and Adrian Peterson remains a dangerous weapon. The Bears have had success against the run all year and the trend needs to continue in order for them to have success Monday evening.
The field conditions remain another factor to consider. As of this writing, the game is scheduled to take place in TCF Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota. For reasons beyond understanding, the outdoor stadium designers seemed to have ignored the fact that the stadium resides in the northern United States and did little to combat the adverse weather conditions common in that region.
Several Bears have voiced concerns, including player representative Robbie Gould, linebacker Lance Briggs and safety Chris Harris. Players have pointed out the NFL’s concern for player safety in regards to concussions, but have not considered the injuries that may result from playing on a frozen surface.
With so many indoor stadiums available in the Midwest, the NFL’s unwillingness to consider other options remains baffling. Detroit’s Ford Field and Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium immediately come to mind.
Regardless of field conditions, the Bears still need to perform. The team is coming off an embarrassing loss and if they want to be considered among the NFL elite, they must show they can bounce back.
The offensive line must play well, not only for victory’s sake, but also for the safety of Jay Cutler. Clinching the NFC North title will be cause for little celebration if Cutler leaves the field on a stretcher.
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