Bears vs. Vikings Preview and Game Thread
Sorry to disappoint, ladies and gents, but the Bears have as good of a chance at winning as that bear does as getting down alive. I’m not going to be drawn-out or overdramatic about the game, because we all know what the end result will be. This preview will be short and sweet:
The Vikings’ offense, whether or not Favre is leading them, is dangerous. Our starting safeties for the game are Josh Bullocks and Craig Steltz. When you think of football hell, you think of those two players. Josh Bullocks, if you recall, is the same fella that has a YouTube video of his elite coverage skills. Regardless of who our safeties are, we’d be in for a rough day. This just adds to our woes.
Also, has anyone else noticed that in Madden 2010, Craig Steltz is black? In related news, Tommie Harris is now white.
The Vikings’ defense is dangerous. Jared Allen vs. Chris Williams will be one matchup to watch. Pretty simple: if the Bears want to keep Cutler off a stretcher, they’ll put two men on Allen. I highly doubt that Ron Turner’s learned his lesson about Allen, though, so I’m looking forward to some more one-on-one matchups. Allen isn’t the only person to watch out for on their defense, but you’ll be seeing a lot of him tonight.
What can you take from this breakdown? Expect a beatdown of epic proportions, on national TV no less. My bet? 39-3 Vikings.
I will be attending the game with one of my close friends. I know, I know…why go when they’re playing so bad? Two main reasons: I haven’t seen my bud in a while, so it’ll be nice to see him; and 2) this will be my first trip to Soldier Field for a game. I attended the Family Day shindig they put on last summer, but I am excited to watch a game there. I have no doubt that the game will be a blowout and the Bears will put out a performance filled with suck, bad, and a heaping spoonful of awful. But, it’ll be nice to be in Chicago, one of the best cities in the world.
Just because I’m gone doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t hop on here during the game. In fact, my absence is all the more reason to make this thread lively. I’m sure Shea will be on, wowing you with both wit and wisdom. (Maybe I’m still Christmas drunk). In any case, keep it here and comisserate with your fellow Bears fans as you watch a bad, bad Bears game.
After the game, I’ll be hit or miss the rest of the week – I’ll be heading up to my girlfriend’s in the Twin Cities and then head up to northern Minnesota for some ice fishing. I’ll manage to get a post-game piece up at some point, but I’m sure that Shea, Matt, and Sean will keep you busy. If not, I’ll get in touch with those 125 convicts that helped the Ravens clean up their stadium and they’ll put up some pieces about Mike Heimerdinger, Bill Cowher, Mike Shanahan, Charlie Weis, Urban Meyer, or whoever’s the new coaching flavor of the month.
I fully expect to see you all here tonight. And I’m assuming 70% of you will be wearing your Snuggies, since apparently everyone and their mother got one for Christmas.
Can’t wait for the 3 hours of suck that Lovie will provide us with tonight. Huzzah!
I just found out Danieal Manning has a penchant for striking Vikings as they cross the goal line …
Needless to say, there will be a plethora of hurting Vikings tonight! … Wait.
Predicted final scores, anyone?
Mine: Timberwolves 23, Bulls 27
Bears 17 – Vikes 14, I have no reason why
Because you believe, Rex. You believe.
Not the start I envisioned, still no reason why I thought otherwise
Oh-oh: The Bears front four are apparently just now remembering what their roles are.
That’s the type of throws that make me love cutler’s potential. Role him out more!!
Desmond Clark > Greg Olsen. Seriously.
It makes you think, Rex, if only they could run the ball adequately, they could utilize the play-action fake, roll to the right more.
Again: Desmond Clark > Greg Olsen.
I’ll take the FG. Points in the redzone are good.
What is Olin Kreutz doing here?
Paging the pass rush, paging the pass rush…
I think Izzy and his flailing arms scared Favre into fumbling more than anything.
This is odd, some good d
FUCK YES! THAT’S WHATIMTALKINBOUT, FORTE! Clearly, he’s decided not to let our porous offensive line stop him from getting his.
FG’s are good, but olsen needs to wake up
It’s obvious: Craig Steltz starting at strong safety makes all the difference. Rex, did you know Steltz is African-American in Madden 2010? It automatically lifted his overall rating seven points.
I wish he was African-American in real life
Offensive line is killing it. I-I-I don’t understand …
Fuck the world! Bears are #1! Bears are #1!
I know you said on i94 Sports you wouldn’t opine any differently about Lovie dependent on tonight’s outcome, but do you think a statement win — I’m talking a really, really big win against a playoff-bound division rival on Monday night — could save his job?
I think it says more about the players than the coach. They are getting guys in who haven’t had a chance all season and they are performing. Maybe it saves lovie, but my opinion of him doesn’t change unless he changes his M.O.
Maybe this opens his eyes, or maybe this is a death flinch, we’ll see.
Oh and that wr screen still blows
I’m genuinely surprised by how much Chris Williams is owning Jared Allen. … As Cutlers misses a wide-open Knox … And then hits a wide-open Aromashodu.
It’s this type of settle mentality that angers me. 25 yards out with at least 20 seconds and one timeout left, and you’re resigned to kick it?
I was just about to say the same thing about Williams. You have to like a lot of what you are seeing tonight.
Cutler is getting so much time and he is making great throws.
Don’t worry Danieal, Tommie will protect you.
I’m worried the Vikings will get back into this quickly if they can find the endzone once
It’s official: Adrian Peterson is a smidge faster than Lance Briggs.
Just a tad…
Curious to see how conservative Ron Turner responds to the Vikes TD
I’m not so worried about the defense letting up as I am the offense letting up. We’re up 10 and still have momentum offensively …
Or maybe Manning will take care of it himself
WTF. That is all I can say.
No big deal. Vikes D can’t stop us. They can’t stop it, they can nnnnnot stop it!
/Hitch’d
Ugh, not worried yet, but getting there
Fuck. Knox done for. Cutler interception. WHAT IS GOING ON?!?!
/Joe Schmo’d
Points on this drive are sorely needed
A text from a friend echoes that same sentiment:
Uh oh!!! They gotta score this drive. Keep it two scores.
I like Corey Graham.
How important was Izzy’s extra-point block now?
How about D. Manning tonite? Huge.
Danieal Manning is like Devin Hester without all the pesky jukes.
Can a brother get some D
Bowman needs to take a cue from Hot Hands of Little Giants fame.
This is what 6-9 dreams are made of.
You mean the magical 6-9? I’ve heard of it
Um … fuck.
Did it look to you like that ball to Sidney Rice actually touched the ground?
Maybe, I’d have to see it again.
30 points against in the second half?! Inexcusable.
Rideau would have been our true number one had he not been cut. Aromashodu will do.
No! Not you, Robbie! NOT YOU!
A stop on 3rd and long?!
Yep. Our defense is playing like their jobs are on the line …
I think the gentleman to the right would like to still keep Ron Turner:
All’s well that ends well. Lovie has to feel the heat for not getting DA in the game much earlier in the season.
Could there have been a better way to end this thing?
Rex, it was just me and you tonight. Thanks for sticking around. I’m going to throw up a little postgame story with video of ‘shodu’s game winner.
What a beauty!!
Oh, it was excellent.
You gotta have faith!!!!!
In better news, Gavin, the Bear makes it down alive!
Unbelievable. I’m still very confused as to what the hell happened on Monday….my football world, which was a small, tiny, and bad place anyway, is all sorts of screwed up.