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Vikes take care of Bears, stand alone atop division
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I can't think of a More Valuable Player.
The Vikings played one of their best games of the year Sunday, beating the Chicago Bears 34-14, improving to 7-5 and now soley lead the NFC North.
The Vikes looked all-around solid, with Gus Frerotte turning in a serviceable performance, completing 16 of his 25 passes for 210 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Nearly half of his passing yards came on a beautiful play in the second quarter, when Frerotte found a wide open Bernard Berrian for a 99-yard touchdown.
This type of performance should be enough from Frerotte for the Vikings to be competitive. He also deserves an Oscar for falling to the turf and lying motionless after a phantom helmet-to-helmet late hit. It's a good thing the NFL doesn't have a dive rule as the NHL does.
It was nice to see Berrian have another big game after three very quiet weeks. His resurgence is a good sign for the Vikings, as he remains our only big play receiver. Berrian finished with 122 yards and a touchdown.
The difference was the Vikings defense, as the game’s best line hounded Kyle Orton all night, with Jared Allen recording another three sacks. The Vikings secondary also picked off Orton three times.
The biggest contribution and turning point of the game came in the second quarter, when a perfect goal line stand kept the Bears out of the end zone to set up the Berrian touchdown. The party could be over, however, as the NFL is expected to make a decision on Pat and Kevin Williams by Tuesday.
Chicago's sensational rookie running back Matt Forte did manage to find some holes in the defense, rushing for 96 yards and collecting a receiving touchdown. Although the Vikings were not fooled by Forte lining up in the “wildcat” formation.
Quick tangent: enough with the wildcat formation already. Sure it was fun when Miami brought it to the table early this year and Ronnie Brown had a five touchdown day, and it even worked out for other teams for a little while. But all 32 NFL coaches have their teams prepared for it now. Enough.
Adrian Peterson continued his dominance of the Bears, rushing for 131 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries. All Day would have had another touchdown early in the game if Brad Childress had stuck with him at the goal line after he got us there with a 59-yard run, but instead opted to give him one shot and throw on second and third down, resulting in a field goal. All Day’s career stat line versus the Bears now sits at 554 yards and eight touchdowns in four games. Ridiculous you say? Sure is.
This is how the we will need to play to have a chance at winning the division, which looks like it will be the only way to reach the playoffs. The Vikes are on the road for the next two weeks, but next week they’ll be at Detroit-and although it would be Vikings-esque (sometimes I make up words) to lose to a bad team down the stretch, the winless Lions are not your average bad team. Childress just better make sure we don’t look past them and on to Arizona.
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