Minnesota Vikings: 4 steps to beating the Bears
By Luke Sims
Dec 10, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) dodges a tackle by Arizona Cardinals free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) to score a 9 yard touchdown during the first half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
2) Get Adrian Peterson back to form
The last time Adrian Peterson rushed for 100 yards in a game was in Week 12 against the Atlanta Falcons. That week he exploded for 158 yards, dominating the game and handing the Minnesota Vikings an easy victory against a team who was at one point considered a playoff threat.
Since then, Peterson has just 87 yards on the ground over the last two weeks combined.
The Vikings are an offense powered by the run game. Unless they can get Adrian Peterson going, they will struggle to compete with the better teams in the NFL, as seen over the last two weeks, and beating inferior opponents like the Chicago Bears could prove difficult as well.
Peterson and company put up 147 rushing yards against the Bears in Week 8, helping to lift the passing game and the rest of the team over the opposition. He’ll have to do it again in this game in order for the Vikings to win.
The bears have the second-ranked pass defense in the NFL this season, despite having the sixth least attempts against them. While teams are finding it easier to run against them (26th ranked defense), the ability for the Bears defense to stand strong against the pass could force the Vikings to be one dimensional.
In order to combat this, the Vikings need to get Peterson back to form and eating up chunks of yardage early. This will force the Bears to clamp down on the run – as they will have to do since Peterson is such a big threat – and open up the passing game. The key is to get this happening early on.
If Adrian Peterson can’t get over three yards per carry (he averaged exactly three last week and just 2.25 the week before), then the Vikings offense could be in trouble and have to turn to the pass against a tough defense.
Next: Keep the chains moving