This is it, the regular season finale. The Chicago Bears 7-8 or the Minnesota Vikings 3-12? The Vikings are coming off a win against the Washington Redskins and Chicago is nursing a loss to division rivals Green Bay Packers. The Bears who don't want another division loss will be fighting hard for a win on Sunday! Minnesota on the other hand wants to end the year with a victory on their home field. Lovie Smith Vikings head coach, stated after a practice session on Wednesday. Even though both teams are out of the playoffs, whenever you play a division opponent there is always something to look forward to, as far as the game is concerned. Putting a little salt to the wound, referring to the Bears, We have been able to beat them 4 times in a row, and I know they are not thrilled about that.
With Jay Cutler on the IR list this week along with Matt Forte, the Bears are going to have a difficult time taking on the Vikings. When, the team's on-field general and best running back are not playing the dynamics of the team change. Cutler, who broke his thumb in a game against the Chargers, has seen his team lose five consecutive games in this last half of the season. Star running back Forte, a recent Pro Bowl pick, will sit out this last regular season game. Josh McCown a nine-year veteran will replace Cutler as the starting QB. McCown who had the 2010 season off, is ready to show what he can do against a motivated Viking defense. Look for him to take some hard hits from a team who has shown little mercy to Bears' quarterbacks. The question remains, will General Manager Jerry Angelo want to retain McCown for next season?
Minnesota with its worst regular season record has a lot to prove to the fans in this upcoming battle on their home turf. Regardless of the record, the Vikings will keep fighting until the last whistle blows for their season. Smith echoed the thoughts of many of the players and coaches when he said, we would like to finish off the season with a high note. Winning against the Redskins last week gave them the confidence to go into Sunday's game with a strong sense of purpose. Asher Allen's likely return to the game will give Minnesota a boost in the Cornerback position. Christian Ponder who's first professional game was a loss to the Bears, would like nothing more than to walk away with this win. Cleared to play by the team doctors, he is anxious to get back on the field. Ponder sustained a concussion in a hit from the Washington linebacker, London Fletcher. Adam Carriker was wrestling the rookie quarterback, to the turf when Fletcher knocked him in the helmet. In his press briefing on Wednesday, Ponder stated, Football is a contact sport - sometimes you get hurt. Another player Adrian Peterson, in an unrelated play, received a crushing hit to his knee. This will keep Peterson sidelined for this last game of the season.
With injuries and frustrations over a losing season, both teams will have a lot to consider during the off-season. However, this is the NFL. The drive to continue is intense, even though the game is meaningless to the average onlooker; to the teams, and the fans this is where the cleats meets the field. An exciting game to be sure, neither team will just roll over. This will be a contest for two of the toughest teams in the NFL battling to have bragging rights to take into the off-season.
