Five Things to Watch For During The Minnesota Vikings And Chicago Bears Game

Another week of one sack performance won't cut it. We need more pass rush. If the Vikings want to stop Jay Cutler and company they need to bring the pressure. The Bears have a very decent running game with Matt Forte. Have a very good receiving core with Brandon Marshall, and the only way to disrupt this offense is by laying Cutler flat on his back. Watch this Sunday if Jared Allen, Brian Robison show up for the game. If not then watch for another 400 plus yard aerial attack by Cutler and that would almost certainly doom the Vikings chance at stealing a win in the Windy City.

The 33-year-old might have lost a step or two, but that doesn't mean he is washed up. Williams is still a force to mess with up the middle, and with his absence last Sunday allowed the Lions to run right up the middle on this once feared D-line. The Vikings need Williams in order to retain some of that fear factor. Williams is no sack machine anymore, but he is a run stopper. If Williams plays this Sunday, and by all reports he will be playing, watch and see if Forte has any running room, and if that forces Cutler to put the ball in his hands.

I know I wasn't the only person thinking that with AP 78-yard run that 2,500 yards was a shoe-in. Yet AP faced the most eight man boxs in his career last Sunday, and after that 78 yard run Peterson had 17 more carries for a total 15 yards, not exactly what the reigning MVP envisioned the way this season would start. AP is a freak we all know that, but with more men in the box it might eliminate AP from this game, so watch for this Sunday if Adrian can push through those loaded boxes, and run toward the record book.

So this Sunday we have a match up elite receivers that both wear number 15 in Greg Jennings and Brandon Marshall. Jennings had three catches for 33 yards last Sunday yet to his defense it wasn't all his fault (right Ponder?). Marshall had eight catches for 104-yards and a touchdown. Marshall is a down field threat that Jennings is not, yet they are both pro-bowl caliber receivers, so which one wins this Sunday? Smart money would tell you Marshall because of the quarterback play, yet watch this Sunday which #15 dominates this game, whoever does might affect the outcome of the game.

I really wanted to talk about Jerome Simpson, so I will give you a two-part number one. Watch this Sunday if Simpson can duplicate his seven catches for 140-yard performance from last Sunday. Now onto Ponder, last Sunday he had Viking fans demanding for a replacement, and with numbers like three interceptions would rightly deserve those pleas. Yet this team and franchise is tied in with Ponder, and if this team has any hope at winning this Sunday and even making the playoffs they need an improvement from Ponder. Watch for improvement from Ponder this Sunday, if not then don't be surprised if Matt Cassel is starting for the Vikings when they play their home opener on September 22nd.