Minnesota Vikings 10 – Chicago Bears 39
Grey Scherl thinks the Vikings are in a sad state: The Bears had their way with the Vikings. It happens. The Vikings are a bad football team this year, despite having players like Donovan McNabb, Adrian Peterson, and Percy Harvin. The Bears offensive line wasn’t eaten alive this week as they’d fallen prey to across the previous games in the season, but I can’t tell you if it was because the line improved or the Vikings just couldn’t pierce it. It was an ugly game that I watched between commercials as my true focus last night was on my St. Louis Cardinals beating the Brewers to go to the World Series! But there was a plus! Though not one that will matter for a while. Christian Ponder had his first regular season snaps as a Viking, and while he tapered out against a Bears defense that can make anyone look bad, the kid showed some real promise! If nothing else, he reminded me of how my cousin plays Madden, which was really really amusing. Kid could have a serious upside.
Likewise, Daniels is done with McNabb: Welcome to the Christian Ponder era everyone. I have to admit, I was fooled by Donovan McNabb these last few seasons. I didn’t expect him to bad in Washington and I certainly didn’t expect him to be bad when paired with an epic running back. If Donovan couldn’t get anything done against the ancient Bears defense and the Vikings couldn’t get to Jay Cutler at all — the Vikings are toast.
Rhett Davis is more focused on the big picture: The ugliest game of the week would happen on Sunday night. Chicago was up by 20 points by half-time and the Vikings could do nothing to overcome it in the second half. With only 39 yards for All-Day Adrian Peterson, you had to know it was going to be a rough game for the Vikings. McNabb would start, but would be relieved by Ponder late in the game. There was just no stopping Chicago by the Vikes. An ugly, ugly game.
My Take: McNabb wasn’t that bad when he was pulled and hasn’t been terrible this year. Has he been bad? Sure, but this is one of the best bad teams in football. Honestly, if it feels like anyone is sucking for Luck it’s the Vikes. They have a fearsome pass rush that just took the week off against one of the worst offensive lines in football. Really? Meanwhile, Julius Peppers played like a man possessed. The Concern for the Bears, with a killer schedule, the Lions and Packers both in their division, and a weak offensive line, has to be is this kind of performance too little too late?