Week 8 preview, the slight slump of Matt Forte, and the sack-lacking defense
Bernard Berrian has 42 million reasons to be THIS happy about being a Viking. And the Bears have 25 million reasons to be excited about the prospect of shutting him down tomorrow. If only they had the cornerbacks to do so.
In case you missed it, Berrian received a six-year, $42 million deal to sign with the Vikes in the offseason and subsequently turned down a five-year $25 million offer to remain with the Bears. Oh and also, the Bears secondary is really banged up.
At 3-3, both the Vikes and Bears have a golden opportunity to grab the division bull by the horns so-to-speak; especially with Green Bay having to face Indianapolis. Before the season started, so called experts would have told you the Vikes would be too good to be 3-3 and the Bears would be lucky enough to have a share of the NFC North lead this late into the season.
Yet, it’s been the Bears – behind their stout defense and balanced offense –that have looked most like the playoff contender. An indication of how far they have come along: Captain Silly Beard and Co. might need to pick up the slack for their hurting defense tomorrow.
To do so, rookie running back Matt Forte and the Bears offensive line must rediscover the “magic” that had Forte near the top of many rookie of the year boards early in the season. Forte’s yards-per-carry is a smidge over three (3.01) in the last four games. And even though his production is solid, he has had to carry the ball 127 times to maintain it, good for fourth in the NFL.
The Vikings running back, Adrian Peterson, is no slouch himself. But while the Bears run defense has been a force, the pass rush has failed to record a sack twice in the last four games.
I really wish the Tavaris Jackson dude was still playing…
VIKINGS - 23 / BEARS – 24
