Vikings vs. Bears: Full Minnesota Game Preview

The Minnesota Vikings (4-2) have come a long way since being blown out by the San Francisco 49ers (2-5) on Monday Night Football in Week 1. Mike Zimmer's team has grown stronger with each passing week, continuing an upward trend that the Vikings seemingly established the moment after they hit rock bottom at Levi's Stadium.

Minnesota, which snapped a three-year road losing streak with its victory over the Detroit Lions (1-6) this past Sunday, will face its toughest challenge of the season when it squares off with the Chicago Bears (2-4) in Week 8. The Bears' lackluster record and rebuilding roster may appear inviting, but an extensive losing spell at Soldier Field dating back to the Tarvaris Jackson era begs to differ.

Adrian Peterson, now playing in his ninth NFL season, was a 22-year-old rookie the last time Minnesota returned from Chicago with a victory. Entering just his fifth game with a career total of 383 rushing yards, Peterson posted both his first career 200-yard rushing game and three-touchdown performance at Soldier Field, willing the Vikings to a 34-31 win over the Bears on October 14, 2007.

The now 30-year-old running back has since rushed for 10,337 yards and 85 touchdowns in 105 games played. Along the way, Peterson has recorded four 200-yard games, a trio of three-touchdown outings and the single-game rushing record.

Since Minnesota Last Won at Soldier Field

• Barack Obama won two presidential elections.
• Taylor Swift released four studio albums and won 234 awards.
• HBO's Game of Thrones produced five seasons and won 26 Emmy awards.
• Medical marijuana was legalized in 10 states and Washington D.C.
• Apple released nine different models of the iPhone.
• The single-season record for passing touchdowns was broken twice.
• Tom Brady appeared in three Super Bowls.
• Brett Favre retired three separate times.
• The Vikings fired two head coaches (Brad Childress, Leslie Frazier).
• Torii Hunter left, returned and retired with the Minnesota Twins.
• Teddy Bridgewater graduated from both high school and college.

So, it has been a while.

Nevertheless, Sunday represents a clean slate and a perfect opportunity to begin a winning streak. The Vikings have been the better team this season and possess a more talented, well-rounded roster. This is a matchup that playoff-caliber teams find a way to win, and Minnesota will aim to do just that.

Location: Soldier Field, Chicago

Time: Noon CT/1 p.m. ET

TV: Channel 9 Fox KMSP (Local)

Week 7 Results and Recap

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

Minnesota bumped its NFC North record to 2-0 in Week 7, earning a season sweep of Detroit with a convincing 28-19 victory at Ford Field.

The Vikings finished strong, but a dreadful first quarter allowed the Lions to jump out to a quick 11-point lead, triggering flashbacks to Minnesota's Week 1 performance.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford did not waste any time in giving his team an early edge. He quickly deciphered a physical mismatch, hitting wide receiver Calvin Johnson (6'5", 236 lbs) in stride for a 46-yard completion with slot cornerback Captain Munnerlyn (5'9", 195 lbs) aligned poorly in coverage.

Minutes after blowing past Munnerlyn, Johnson went head-to-head with Xavier Rhodes, coming down with a one-yard touchdown on a perfectly thrown back-shoulder fade that Minnesota's No. 1 cornerback could not stop despite outstanding coverage.

Following the first of five Blair Walsh field goals, Detroit drove right back down the field for its second touchdown in as many drives.

Eric Ebron quickly put the Lions in the red zone, turning an Eric Kendricks blown assignment into a 55-yard gain. After adding a six-yard catch to his drive total, the second-year tight end punched it in for six points on a seven-yard touchdown reception.

Walsh and Matt Prater traded field goals, giving the Lions a sizable 17-6 lead with only a few minutes to play in the second quarter.

But, running back Jerick McKinnon sparked the offense with multiple healthy rush attempts, setting up a one-yard touchdown from Bridgewater to Kyle Rudolph. Minnesota's rejuvenated kicker earned a first-half hat trick with a successful 51-yard attempt as time expired.

Minnesota's success late in the first half carried over to the third quarter. Bridgewater led an eight-play, 78-yard drive ending in a 36-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Stefon Diggs. The fifth-round rookie burned veteran cornerback Rashean Mathis on a beautiful double-move and proceeded to make a remarkable over-the-shoulder diving catch on a deep pass that Bridgewater slightly overthrew.

Diggs' first professional touchdown staked Minnesota out to an advantage that it would not budge on, as the defense went on to completely shut out Detroit's lethal aerial attack in the second half.

Walsh added a pair of chip-shot field goals and Zimmer strategically elected to take a safety to earn a field-position advantage, bumping the score to its final tally. 

NFC North Standings

Team	W	L	T	PCT	DIF	GB
Green Bay Packers	6	0	0	1.000	+63	—
Minnesota Vikings	4	2	0	.667	+22	2
Chicago Bears	2	4	0	.333	-59	4
Detroit Lions	1	6	0	.143	-61	5.5

News and Notes

Jim Mone/Associated Press

It was a lousy news week for the Vikings, as multiple reports yielded negative news for the organization and way too much time was wasted speculating on Peterson's shrimp allergy and veteran-caliber experience with chew.

If not for smaller websites such as Vikings Territory and Daily Norseman producing some outstanding material, this week could have been a major disappointment from a news standpoint.

C John Sullivan Likely Done for the Year

Just as a potential return was drawing near, Minnesota's starting center John Sullivan suffered a setback while lifting weights, which will require another surgery and potentially cost him the remainder of the 2015 season, according to ESPN.com's Ben Goessling.

"It's disappointing," Zimmer said. "He was doing really, really good, and all of a sudden, he had a little mishap."

Fortunately for Minnesota, Sullivan's replacement, 33-year-old Joe Berger, has been arguably the team's best offensive lineman this season.

"I think he's done a good job," Zimmer said. "He's getting guys, for the most part, in the right place. We've had a few mishaps here and there, where we've had the wrong assignments, but overall, he's done a good job."

Pro Football Focus also has been a fan of Berger, awarding him with a plus-4.7 overall rating with a plus-1.1 pass-blocking grade and an outstanding plus-3.9 grade as a run-blocker.

Berger has allowed a total of six quarterback pressures, with only one being a sack in the starting center role that he more than likely will continue to keep warm for Sullivan until 2016.

CB Jabari Price Placed on IR; LB Brandon Watts Promoted from Practice Squad

Second-year cornerback Jabari Price cannot seem to catch a break. After returning from a two-game suspension stemming from a DWI charge on New Year's Day, the 2014 seventh-round pick was inactive for four games and has now been placed on injured reserve, according to Vikings.com.

It has been a rough year for Price, who has been dealing with a shoulder injury since training camp. With Josh Robinson's contract set to expire, Marcus Sherels a predicted roster cut every year—this will never happen, though—and Terence Newman always a candidate for retirement, Price could hop right back into a contributing role when he returns next season.

Minnesota announced corresponding moves that included returning linebacker Brandon Watts to the NFL, bringing back fullback Blake Renaud and adding a new face in rookie linebacker Terrance Plummer.

Plummer, being the only new name of the trio, is a Central Florida product who most recently played for Washington. He participated in three games, receiving a handful of snaps on special teams, but never saw the field on defense. The most interesting piece of information on the newest Viking is his size. Plummer stands at 5'11", 235 pounds, which may reinforce the notion that Zimmer does not mind undersized linebackers.

The biggest knock on Kendricks (6'0", 232 lbs) coming out of UCLA was his size, but this did not scare the Vikings out of drafting him in the second round. Plummer, being almost the exact same size as Minnesota's starting middle linebacker, could represent a double-down by the Vikings' defensive guru and head coach.

Babatunde Aiyegbusi: From Vikings OT to WWE

Minnesota has not had too much recent success with offensive linemen, but the team continues to breed professional wrestlers.

Lindsey Young of Vikings Territory put together an outstanding feature detailing Vikings training camp invitee Babatunde Aiyegbusi's journey from the field to the ring.

The mammoth (former) offensive lineman from Poland also noted that his experience with the Vikings was life-changing in a multitude of ways, stating that his exposure to the NFL will only boost interest in his native country.

Naturally, as any great reporter should, Young was sure to ask "Babs" what he plans on calling himself inside the ring. While he did not have an answer to her question, his response was still a winner: “I don’t have any ideas yet, but I’m sure it’s going to be bad a--.”

Bonus News and Notes

The following list is composed of general team information, updates and matchup-specific statistics relating to Minnesota's Week 8 contest with Chicago:

• Bridgewater spreading the ball around — Mark Craig, Star Tribune
• The Soldier Field jinx — Christopher Gates, Daily Norseman
• Mike Zimmer uses doubters to fire up Vikings — Ben Goessling, ESPN.com
• Adrian Peterson needs Super Bowl to vindicate His career — Ben Goessling, ESPN.com
• Vikings hungry for a consistent run game — Austin Belisle, NFC North Bar Room

Latest Injury News

Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

Player	Position	Injury
Adrian Peterson	RB	Hip/Finger/Ankle
Zach Line	FB	Neck
Jarius Wright	WR	Concussion
Adam Thielen	WR	Ankle
Rhett Ellison	TE	Concussion
Justin Trattou	DE	Foot
Tom Johnson	DT	Knee
Sharrif Floyd	DT	Knee/Ankle
Audie Cole	LB	Finger

The Vikings unfortunately put together a rather sizable injury report once again.

Zach Line (neck), Adam Thielen (ankle) and Rhett Ellison (concussion) were all limited participants during Wednesday's practice. Line and Thielen almost certainly will be active, and it is encouraging to see Ellison on the field after suffering a concussion.

Head injuries can never be taken lightly, which often results in an extended period of time on the sidelines, but it doesn't look like this will be the case here.

Jarius Wright was held out of practice entirely on Wednesday. The Vikings slot wide receiver was joined by Sharrif Floyd (knee/ankle), Justin Trattou (foot), Audie Cole (finger) and Peterson (hip/finger/ankle).

Wright, Floyd and Trattou all appear to be trending toward being inactive this Sunday, and Cole represents a bit of an unknown due to the wide range of treatments for finger injuries.

Goessling noted earlier this week that Floyd had a little work done on his knee, which only makes his specific injury situation more complex:

"

One clarification on Sharrif Floyd: He had cartilage removed from his knee, not his ankle. Was on injury report with knee and ankle injuries

— Ben Goessling (@GoesslingESPN) October 26, 2015"

It appears that Tom Johnson (knee) will more than likely start in Floyd's place once again this Sunday, as he practiced in full Wednesday.

For what it's worth, the Bears are not doing too much better in the health department. Linebacker Shea McClellin (knee), who had been in the midst of a breakout campaign, did not practice Wednesday and has a lot of question marks surrounding his status for Sunday.

Injury information courtesy of Vikings.com.

Key Matchups

Tom Dahlin/Getty Images

Vikings Defensive Secondary vs. QB Jay Cutler

The reaction following a mere mention of quarterback Jay Cutler makes this matchup self-explanatory. Cutler, who is one of the more gifted quarterbacks in the NFL, just cannot seem to find a way to stop throwing interceptions in critical moments.

In Cutler's defense, he has improved on his career averages so far this season. His interception percentage of 2.3 is down a full percentage point from his 3.3 career average, and his four interceptions in six games played is a much better ratio than his 18 picks in a full 16 games one year ago.

Even if the Bears signal-caller has improved, he still has a major issue to deal with in Harrison Smith. Not only is Minnesota's top safety much better this season, but he absolutely thrives against Chicago. In five career games against the Bears, Smith has turned in three interceptions—his most against any single opponent—and one defensive touchdown to go along with 22 tackles.

Munnerlyn tends to be a forgotten playmaker as well, and it shouldn't come as a surprise if Minnesota's fiery slot man slides in front of Eddie Royal to help Cutler live up to his reputation.

LBs Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr vs. TE Martellus Bennett

If Cutler can find a way not to turn the ball over, which seems unlikely, this matchup would become exponentially more important. Both Kendricks and Barr have been shredded in pass coverage this season, and the UCLA duo is coming off potentially the worst coverage performance that the players will combine for this season.

According to Pro Football Focus, Barr (five) and Kendricks (four) were targeted a combined total of nine times against the Lions, allowing all nine passes to end up in the hands of a pass-catcher. These receptions added up to 153 yards and one touchdown—allowed by Barr.

Furthermore, both linebackers conceded over 60-plus yards after the catch for a grand total of 129—a ridiculous 84 percent of their combined yards allowed.

Ebron, who essentially is a younger model of Chicago's Martellus Bennett, caught two passes on Barr for 62 yards and a touchdown. The second-year tight end gave Kendricks an opportunity as well, which resulted in an 18-yard completion.

Detroit's No. 2 tight end Timothy Wright also earned a 13-yard completion with Kendricks in coverage.

Simply put, Minnesota's young UCLA combo has to be better against Chicago. The Bears are not nearly as lethal offensively as Detroit, but these statistics in coverage are jaw-dropping.

While Kendricks is the rookie here, his expectations should be higher, as Barr is a pass-rush specialist by design. Kendricks' greatest asset as a prospect was his coverage skills, which have not translated well to date but should improve as he continues to adjust to the NFL's higher level of play.

WRs Stefon Diggs and Mike Wallace vs. CB Tracy Porter

Any Vikings fan who watched the 2009 NFC Championship Game or even just the highlights likely felt his or her blood pressure go up when Tracy Porter's name popped up here.

Porter, who played his first four years in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints, was on the receiving end of Brett Favre's interception that killed Minnesota's chance of attempting a potential game-winning field goal at the end of regulation. Favre's attempt was fundamentally pitiful, but Porter's instincts and burst to the ball were outstanding.

The former Saint decided that ruining the dreams of one fanbase was not enough for the 2009 postseason, as he went on to intercept Peyton Manning to seal the Saints' first Super Bowl victory in team history. He honestly could not have been more clutch if had he tried, essentially assuring that his name will go down in New Orleans history with two prime-time picks.

But Porter is far from the player he once was, and now it is time for him to pay for his actions.

Against the Lions in Week 6, Porter was fairly mediocre. Johnson and Golden Tate combined for four catches on seven targets for 66 yards and a touchdown.

It's unclear whom Porter will spend most of his time working against this Sunday, as he and Kyle Fuller tend to move around instead of shadowing a single player from start to finish. As a result, he will be forced to test his 29-year-old legs against potentially the fastest wide receiver combination the NFL has to offer in Stefon Diggs and Mike Wallace.

Wallace, who has lived in Diggs' shadow the past couple of weeks, is at his best against cornerbacks who lack the size and physicality to push him around—and Porter certainly meets these requirements. Standing at 5'11" and weighing in at 188 pounds, the first-time Bear may be just what the doctor ordered, as Chicago represents a perfect matchup for Wallace to nail down his first deep catch in purple and gold.

Based on what Diggs has shown through three weeks—elite route running, versatility, speed, finesse, quick release and physicality—he should have little issue burning Porter in one-on-one press coverage, assuming Chicago has the guts to utilize this coverage strategy.

Expectations should be high for both Diggs and Wallace this weekend. Assuming Minnesota's top wide receivers play to their ability, Porter could be in for a rough day at the office.

For a more candid discussion on Porter and his role in taking away Minnesota's best shot at a Super Bowl title in recent memory, check out the stream of consciousness Vikings-Bears preview coordinated by Viking Territory's Austin Belisle and me for the NFC North Bar Room.

Matchup X-Factors

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

Vikings X-Factor of the Week: RB Jerick McKinnon

Every week Minnesota's X-factor has been a player who inherently impacts the game through a sizable role, but against Chicago, backup running back Jerick McKinnon gets the nod.

Peterson's consistency issues have been well-documented, and McKinnon's ability to pound out three to five yards on a regular basis (when he has the opportunity) was on full display against Detroit in Week 7. The presence of No. 28 has made fans forget all about The Jet and his ridiculous natural talent and extraordinary strength given his tiny frame (5'9", 216 lbs).

When Peterson couldn't get into a rhythm early on, McKinnon stepped in and carried Minnesota to its first score of the game. His role in the Vikings' response facing an early deficit on the scoreboard has been criminally overlooked.

This is a player who possesses featured-back ability and is simply being blocked by the future Hall of Famer and face of the franchise penciled in ahead of him.

Norv Turner appeared to get a bit frustrated with Peterson's inability to pass-block anything; however, his failure find any shred of consistency allowed Turner to comfortably green-light more carries for McKinnon.

Peterson remains a top-five running back in the NFL, but he no longer has the breakaway speed or lateral agility to burst through eight- and nine-man fronts on a consistent basis. For this reason, McKinnon should see more touches moving forward, and he should be expected to take advantage of the opportunity—beginning at Soldier Field this Sunday.

Bears X-Factor of the Week: CB Kyle Fuller

Given Porter's subpar performance in coverage this season, Kyle Fuller's performance this weekend will be critical. Chicago has improved defensively, but this is more due to players such as Pernell McPhee, Eddie Goldman, Adrian Amos and Antrel Rolle (when healthy), as Fuller has not shown much improvement during his sophomore season.

After getting off to a scorching start to begin his career, the No. 14 overall pick in the 2014 draft fell apart in a similar fashion to a wobbly Jenga tower. He failed in coverage due to lapses in judgment and basic fundamentals, forcing his coaches to limit his role toward the end of the season.

According to Pro Football Focus, Fuller has received 25 targets to date, yielding 18 catches (72 percent), 217 yards (12.0 yards per reception) and four touchdowns (22.2 percent).

None of the above coverage statistics reflect potential, but someone has to cover Diggs and Wallace on Sunday. Based on the performances of Fuller and Porter to date, Chicago may not have the ammunition to do so.

Prediction: Vikings 31, Bears 10

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Given that Minnesota has not won a game at Soldier Field in nearly a decade, a Vikings blowout victory certainly falls into the bold prediction category.

Are the Vikings capable of edging the Bears by a 21-point margin? Of course—I am aiming for accuracy here, not shock value. Is there a high probability of this matchup getting this far out of hand? Not necessarily.

But, almost every week features a lopsided score or two, and Chicago's turnover-prone offense and lackluster defense make it a reasonable candidate to be blown out by Minnesota, which is playing at a high level on both sides of the ball—outside of the red zone, that is.

The greatest reason behind this claim is the advantage Diggs and Wallace present over Fuller and Porter. Minnesota's wide receiver duo has performed at a relatively high level with Turner allowing Bridgewater to air it out more frequently in recent weeks.

According to Pro Football Focus, Wallace has been targeted a team-high 36 times in 2015, recording a reasonable 26 receptions (72 percent). These numbers certainly are not on par with Diggs (25 targets, 19 receptions), but Wallace has been quietly efficient when called upon.

From a fundamentals standpoint, the Diggs-Wallace pairing should be able to walk all over Chicago's technically challenged cornerbacks. This could easily result in a few sizable gains through the air, as even the slightest mistake in pass coverage can result in a big play.

In addition, the Vikings also have Peterson in their backfield, even if he has struggled recently.

Throughout his career, All Day has rushed for 1,396 yards and 14 touchdowns with a 5.02 per-carry average in 12 career games against the Bears. These are first-team All-Pro-caliber statistics through a full 16-game season, making Peterson's output through just 12 games all the more impressive.

Furthermore, Minnesota's defense is coming off a near-perfect second half against Detroit. The Vikings dynamic pass rush will force Cutler to make quick decisions, and if this results in a bad throw, Smith and Munnerlyn will be ready to capitalize.

Predicting the exact score of a game is never the goal, as guessing an exact score is highly unlikely. It may be bold to predict Minnesota to win by three scores, but enough key matchups favor the Vikings on both sides of the ball to give this game realistic blowout potential.

Minnesota wins convincingly, snapping its Soldier Field losing streak and earning a third consecutive win overall and within its division. According to Cleveland Indians manager Lou Brown (James Gammon) of Major League, three consecutive victories constitutes a winning streak.

Video courtesy of Monte the Color Man (Parody):

"

RT "@radum27: @Monte_Colorman @Indians are now on a winning streak according to Lou Brown." #Whiff pic.twitter.com/h1EyFd3BjR

— Monte the Color Man (@Monte_Colorman) August 1, 2015"

Statistics courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference, unless otherwise noted.

For more Minnesota Vikings statistics, film analysis and discussion, find me on Twitter @RobertReidellBT.