However, pressuring the quarterback has not been the Bears’ forte this season, as they have recorded just 20 sacks which ranks 22nd in the NFL. Here’s what happened in Week 11 in the NFC North. If they can’t get it done through the air, they can at least take comfort in Chicago allowing an average of 123 yards rushing per game. While Green Bay didn’t look completely like itself, they scored on seven drives on Sunday and punted just twice, a vast improvement over last week when they couldn’t get out of their own way in an 18-16 loss to the Detroit Lions.
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Even more telling: His longest reception this season has been for a mere 22 yards.
In the long National Football League season, it’s impossible to play every game at the same level. Chicago had a chance to tie the game at 17 late in the game, but failed on a two-point conversion attempt when T.J. Ward stuffed Jeremy Langford at the line of scrimmage.
“Man, we’ve all been wearing them hoodies in practice now forever”.
FORTE-FIED?: Bears running back Matt Forte appears set to return after missing three games with a knee injury.
Zimmer still hasn’t gotten a marquee win in his two seasons as Vikings coach. The defense did enough to keep them in the game, but it was against a quarterback making his first career start for an offense that had a number of issues beyond the poor play of Manning – though that has been the biggest issue. This comes at a good time, as they face a Packers offense that has been uncharacteristically out of sync.
Thursday night marks the 192nd all time meeting between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, a series which I have been privaleged to cover 70 times.
The Minnesota Vikings stormed into TCF Bank Stadium all alone in first place after five straight victories, determined to show the Green Bay Packers that there was a new king in the NFC North.
Bridgewater threw for 296 yards on 25-of-37 passing but was sacked six times.
PETERSON CONTAINED: Peterson was held to 45 yards on 13 carries with one touchdown.
Green Bay took advantage of two Vikings penalties in the red zone as Rodgers hit receiver Randall Cobb on a 10-yard pass in the middle of the end zone six seconds before halftime. He lost a fumble at the Packers 21 early in the fourth quarter to punctuate an uncharacteristically quiet game against Green Bay.
“The reality of it is the other team has to adjust to it, too”.
Peterson later said he wasn’t referring to a specific element of the Vikings’ game plan but felt like a loss such as Sunday’s warranted a thorough review of what everyone could have done better. The fact that they can’t seem to win without a big game from Peterson is concerning. 500 or better, including potential wild card competitors Seattle and Atlanta.
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Rodgers is a definite with the Packers facing the Chicago Bears on Thursday. While the Vikings’ five-game winning streak is over, we’re still in great shape going into our last six weeks.
