Monday, December 17, 2007
CHICAGO (5-8) At MINNESOTA (7-6)
Game time: 8:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Opening line: Vikings by 7. Record vs. spread: Bears 4-9; Vikings 7-4-2.
Series record: Vikings lead series 49-42-2. Last meeting: Vikings 34, Bears 31, Oct. 14, 2007 at Chicago.
Notebook: Chicago is 2-7 vs. NFC and 1-3 vs. NFC North. ... QB Rex Grossman (knee) is out for season. QB Kyle Orton will start for first time since Jan. 1, 2006 vs. Minnesota. Orton is 10-5 as starter. ... RB Adrian Peterson is averaging 93 yards from scrimmage over past three outings. DE Adewale Ogunleye has six sacks in past six games and five forced fumbles in past five. ... WR Muhsin Muhammad had 33-yard TD in last meeting. ... WR Bernard Berrian had seven receptions for 91 yards and one TD last week. Needs 117 yards for first 1,000-yard season. ... Minnesota has won five straight and leads chase for final NFC wild card. Vikes have won three in row by 20-plus points for first time in team history. ... QB Tarvaris Jackson has 73.5% (61-of-83) completion percentage with four TDs in past four games. He hasn’t thrown for 205-plus yards yet this season, but did have 60-yard TD pass last meeting.
Associated Press