Saturday Dec 8 News & Tweets

Hayden to replace Jennings at cornerback

By Brad Biggs, Tribune reporter

1:55 p.m. CST, December 7, 2012
The Chicago Bears will be without three starters, including Tim Jennings, for Sunday’s game at Minnesota after the cornerback missed his third consecutive practice with a shoulder injury.

Jennings was held out of Friday’s practice in the Walter Payton Center and was ruled out along with middle linebacker Brian Urlacher and wide receiver Earl Bennett. Jennings will be replaced in the starting lineup by Kelvin Hayden. That means benched nickel cornerback D.J. Moore, who has been inactive for two of the last three games, will be back in the mix.

Jennings’ availability in coming weeks is unknown. The Bears certainly would like to have him in place next week when they host the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field. But Sunday’s opponent, the Vikings, will be without top wide receiver Percy Harvin. With quarterback Christian Ponder, Minnesota is last in the NFL in passing offense, averaging only 180.6 yards per game. The Vikings are ranked 31st in yards per attempt at 5.3 and the team’s passer rating of 79.4 ranks 24th. So, if there is a game the Bears can get by in shorthanded in the secondary, this is the opponent.

So, Hayden will make his first start in a defense he knows well having played in a Cover-Two scheme for the Colts previously.

“(Hayden and Jennings) are out of the same system but they don’t play similar,” defensive backs coach Jon Hokes said. “They’re a little bit different in the way they play, obviously size has a little bit to do with that. They’re both very knowledgeable players, play with good technique, both tough guys and so … but the way they play is a little bit different. Kelvin’s faster, he’s a bigger body down the field, he’s a fast guy. Tim’s a quick guy, also with good speed but they are a little bit different when you watch them play.”

The only other players missing practice were Urlacher (hamstring) and Bennett (concussion). Wide receivers Alshon Jeffrey (knee) and Devin Hester (concussion) practiced and are probable. It remains to be seen which one will start in place of Bennett, who quietly replaced Hester as the starting wide receiver three weeks ago at San Francisco.

Running back Michael Bush (ribs) returned to practice after missing the previous two days and was limited. He is questionable for the game. Defensive tackle Stephen Paea (foot) and guard Chris Spencer (knee) are also questionable. The Bears listed right guard Gabe Carimi (hamstring) as probable.

The Vikings listed eight players probable for the game, including defensive end Jared Allen (shoulder/back).

bmbiggs@tribune.com
Twitter @BradBiggs

Copyright © 2012 Chicago Tribune Company, LLC

Bears have decision to make at wide receiver
With Hester and Jeffery both returning from injury, either one could get starting nod for Bennett

By Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune reporter

7:01 p.m. CST, December 7, 2012
Quietly, the Bears moved Earl Bennett into the starting lineup last month against the 49ers in San Francisco.

So, with the wide receiver sidelined for Sunday's game against the Vikings at Minnesota with a concussion, it's worth wondering if Devin Hester or Alshon Jeffrey will start in his place.

Hester is returning after missing one game with a concussion and Jeffrey has missed the last two games after arthroscopic knee surgery and six of the last seven as he also was sidelined with a broken right hand.

The Bears are counting on both to provide a boost in the passing game with Brandon Marshall nine receptions shy of 100. Hester has six starts this season and Jeffrey two.

Considering the extensive practice time Jeffrey has missed, the assignment could go to Hester.

But Jeffrey looked fluid in practice this week showing no signs of a knee issue. He was close to nudging Hester aside when he suffered the broken hand on a touchdown reception Oct. 7 at Jacksonville. Offensive coordinator Mike Tice says he doesn't want to count too much on Jeffrey with the time missed but the Bears envision him becoming a dynamic playmaker.

Hester has 18 receptions for 203 yards with one touchdown and Jeffrey, the second-round pick from South Carolina, has 16 catches for 199 yards and two scores. Hester has had more success vs. the Vikings than any team. Five of his 14 career receiving touchdowns have come in the series and he has scored on three punt returns and one kickoff.

Asked if he was frustrated, Hester pointed to the success of the team at 8-4 and in a tie atop the NFC North with the Packers. Personally, he would like to have contributed more to this point.

"But we have four more games left to turn it around and end it on a good note," Hester said. "It's not the end of the road right now. It can be a big turnaround."

The Bears are not expected to place any restrictions on Hester even though he's returning from what he said was the first concussion of his career. With a medical green light, he's going to be in the return game and on offense.

Hester has not had a return touchdown, averaging 25.5 yards on kickoffs, ranked 15th in the NFL. He has averaged 8 yards on punt returns but with only 26 that is a figure that would jump with one big return. On kickoffs, the Bears rank second in the NFL for average starting field position at the 25, 1/10th of a yard behind the Vikings.

"We've been No. 1 pretty much the whole season," Hester said. "That is why I am not really upset. You can say average yards per return is 15th or whatever but our field position has been ranked No. 1 and that's because we have been getting those kinds of (bloop and squib) kicks. People go off the stats but they don't realize the situation.

"Every once in a while, we get a couple of kicks we can return. Teams have been kicking away from us. Once we gouge them, then we'll go another four-, five-game stretch where the returner won't even touch the ball. I know I have to be patient."

bmbiggs@tribune.com

Twitter @BradBiggs

Copyright © 2012 Chicago Tribune Company, LLC

Jennings' absence comes at good time
With Hayden in top health against NFL's worst passing offense, Bears should get by

By Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune reporter

7:18 p.m. CST, December 7, 2012
The Bears are going to miss the NFL's interceptions leader Tim Jennings on Sunday but his absence doesn't come at the worst time.

Jennings will not play at the Metrodome against the Vikings, sidelined with a shoulder injury suffered in a collision last Sunday with Seahawks fullback Michael Robinson. Kelvin Hayden will replace him so D.J. Moore, inactive for two of the last three games, will have a chance again as the nickel cornerback.

It's unknown what Jennings' status is for Dec. 16 against the high-powered Packers but the Vikings' offense is last in the league in passing, averaging only 180.6 yards per game. The Vikings are ranked 31st in yards per attempt at 5.3 and the team's passer rating of 79.4 ranks 24th. So, if there is a game the Bears can get by shorthanded in the secondary, this should be the opponent.

Hayden is as healthy as he has been in a couple of years and that has helped him appear in all 12 games after playing in only 19 over the previous two seasons.

"For him to stay healthy throughout the season so far, that has to help his confidence," defensive backs coach Jon Hoke said.

Moore has been miffed since his demotion, maintaining that he's not frustrated because he knows he can play in the league. He's in the final season of his contract and Hoke said he's not lacking for confidence with the opportunity ahead of him even if the Vikings don't go to a lot of three-wide personnel that will force the Bears into their sub package.

"I just know I'm good enough to play and I look forward to showing that when I get on the field," Moore said.

Nice to see you again: The NFL's emphasis on having meaningful games played through the end of the season has led to division games filling the schedule in the final weeks.

This is the first of three in the final four weeks and the Bears are facing the Vikings for the second time in three weeks. It marks the first time since 2003 that the team has played an NFC North rival twice in three weeks.

Bears coach Lovie Smith is in favor of division games to close out the schedule.

"You like that," he said. "You don't want to count on anyone else. You want to control what happens to you and to have that be against your division opponents, it doesn't get any better than that."

Health beat: Defensive tackle Stephen Paea (foot) and guard Chris Spencer (knee) are questionable after both were limited in practice. Right guard Gabe Carimi (hamstring) is probable. The Vikings listed eight players as probable, including defensive end Jared Allen (shoulder/back).

Extra points: The Bears have won six straight in the series, matching their longest streak in the rivalry, but the home team has captured 17 of the last 21 meetings. … The Seahawks' three touchdown drives last Sunday were 94, 97 and 80 yards. The defense has surrendered only seven other scoring drives of 80 yards or more. … Both of the Vikings' scores in the previous meeting came off turnovers.

Copyright © 2012 Chicago Tribune Company, LLC

Bears-Vikings matchups and predictions
BY MARK POTASH mpotash@suntimes.com December 8, 2012 1:46AM
Updated: December 8, 2012 1:51AM


WEEK 14

BEARS AT VIKINGS

Time: Noon Sunday at the Metrodome.

TV: Fox-32 (Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Tony Siragusa).

Radio: 780-AM, 105.9-FM.

Line: Bears by 3.

Total: 39.

WHEN THE BEARS HAVE THE BALL

On the ground

The Bears are hoping to pick up where they left off against the Seahawks last week, when they rushed for 91 yards on 18 carries in the second half after being held to 41 yards on 14 carries in the first. The biggest key for the Bears could be avoiding false-start penalties that put them in early passing downs and discombobulate the offense. Matt Forte (21-66 last week) is averaging 2.9 yards per carry in his last four games after averaging 5.0 ypc in his first six games. Michael Bush (7-39 last week) has bruised ribs and is questionable. Forte could get the workload he has been craving.

In the air

Though Jay Cutler has not put up prolific numbers in two games since returning from a concussion, he has been solid in one key area that bodes well for future success — he has completed 70 percent of his passes (40-for-57) after completing just 59 percent in his first nine games. He is hit or miss on the road, though — a 28.2 rating at Green Bay and a 140.1 rating at Dallas. He and Brandon Marshall had to scratch and claw against the Vikings at Soldier Field (12-92, his lowest average per catch of the season). With Earl Bennett out, the return of Alshon Jeffery (16-199, 2 TDs) could be a key factor.

Key matcup

With help from his teammates, J’Marcus Webb helped keep Jared Allen in check at Soldier Field (4 tackles, 1 pass breakup, 0 sacks). But the noisy Metrodome presents an entirely different challenge for the line to prevent Allen from taking over.

WHEN THE VIKINGS HAVE THE BALL

On the ground

The Bears held NFL leading rusher Adrian Peterson (1,446 yards, 6.2 ypc, 8 TDs) to 108 yards two weeks ago (that’s no joke — it’s his lowest total in the last six games). In fact, Peterson had only 25 yards on seven carries in the first half when the Bears took a 25-3 lead. The Bears’ defensive line won the battle against the Vikings but was less than stellar against the Seahawks. Bears MLB Brian Urlacher is out, but it won’t matter if the line allows Peterson to get a full head of steam. Nick Roach, moving from WLB to MLB, is more than capable. He forced a Peterson fumble in the victory at home.

In the air

If the Bears are counting on taking advantage of struggling Vikings QB Christian Ponder (2 TDs, 3 INTs the last two weeks), they might be disappointed. Ponder had ratings of 58.2 against the Bears and 41.9 against the Packers; both games were on the road. Ponder is better at the Metrodome *— he had a 114.2 rating in his most recent home game against the Lions (24-32, 221, 2 TDs, 0 INTs), and WR Percy Harvin, who is on injured reserve, didn’t play in that game, either. TE Kyle Rudolph (45-412, 8 TDs) is Ponder’s favorite target. He has 18 catches for 170 yards and 3 TDs in his last three games.

Key matchup

Geno Hayes is starting for Nick Roach, who moves to MLB for Brian Urlacher. Hayes has 42 NFL starts, but at WLB. He’s not known for shedding blockers, and if he can’t do it against the Vikings and tight end Kyle Rudolph, Adrian Peterson could have a field day.

X-FACTOR

The last time the Bears played an entire game without Brian Urlacher on short notice was in Week 2 of 2009, when they beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-14 at Soldier Field with Hunter Hillenmeyer filling in for Urlacher. Nick Roach gets the call this time. And while Roach is more than capable, the Urlacher absence leaves a void in leadership at a bad time for the defense, which is on tilt after folding down the stretch against the Seahawks. Will anybody step up?

SPECIAL TEAMS

While the coverage units continue to do the job, the Bears’ vaunted return game has been a missing element that looms larger as the offense tries to find itself and the defense seeks to recapture its first-half magic. The Bears rank first in the NFL in punt coverage and fifth in KO coverage. But they are 23rd in punt returns (7.5 ypr) and 31st in KO returns (19.5). Devin Hester will be back after missing last week with a concussion, but Eric Weems might also get opportunities to break a long one.

Al in: Jeffery to return vs. Vikings
BY MARK POTASH mpotash@suntimes.com December 7, 2012 9:44PM
Updated: December 8, 2012 2:13AM


Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery typically downplayed his expected return to the Bears’ lineup Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings after missing two games because of a knee injury.

Jeffery’s value to the Bears has been significant since the day he was drafted. But it’s even higher with Earl Bennett out because of a concussion.

‘‘I wouldn’t say the team needs me,’’ he said Friday. ‘‘We all need each other. We win as a team.’’

Still, Jeffery seems like the best bet to boost a passing offense that ranks 31st in the NFL despite Brandon Marshall’s 1,182 yards, third-best in the league.

Jeffery’s three-catch, 80-yard game against the Indianapolis Colts in the season opener is the only single-game yardage total by a Bears receiver that would crack Marshall’s top 10.

His two touchdowns are twice as many as Bennett and Devin Hester — the only Bears wide receivers other than Marshall to catch touchdown passes this season.

Jeffery, though, has missed six of the last seven games.

He missed four weeks after suffering a broken hand Oct. 22 against the Detroit Lions.

He returned Nov. 10 against the San Francisco 49ers and caught two passes from second-string quarterback Jason Campbell for 15 yards before suffering a knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery.

So Jeffery, who has 16 receptions for 199 yards, hasn’t caught a pass from Jay Cutler in two months.

‘‘We’re excited to have him back,’’ offensive coordinator Mike Tice said. ‘‘But I want to temper that by [saying] we haven’t had him for any length of time this year to get him really in a groove.

‘‘He’s shown in the games he has played that he can be a talent for us and certainly a complement to Brandon.

‘‘So that really helps us because when they try to key on Brandon, we really have two go-to guys on the field at the same time.’’

Jennings out

As expected, cornerback Tim Jennings will not play against the Vikings after suffering a shoulder injury last week when he collided with Seattle Seahawks fullback Michael Robinson.

Kelvin Hayden, who has four fumble recoveries, will start for Jennings.

‘‘The situation at hand [with Jennings’ injury], you don’t wish that upon anybody,’’ Hayden said.

‘‘It’s always good to be out there every play, having fun, making plays and enjoying the moment.’’

Injury report

The Bears will be without four regulars: linebacker Brian Urlacher (hamstring), guard Lance Louis (knee), Jennings and Bennett.

Running back Michael Bush (ribs), defensive tackle Stephen Paea (foot) and guard Chris Spencer (knee) are questionable.

Hester is cleared to play after missing last week’s game against the Seahawks because of a concussion.

‘‘I’m ready to go,’’ he said.

Peter King talks Bears on CTL
http://www.csnchicago.com/football-chicago-bears#video_lightbox

Peterson or Ponder: Which is the real threat?
December 7, 2012, 12:25 pm
JOHN "MOON" MULLIN csnchicago.com

The Bears’ defense has gone to sleep this week with visions of Adrian Peterson in its collective head. That may not be its sole cause for concern, however.

Pondering Ponder

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder has been a disappointment in 2012. After a promising rookie year that effectively began with his relieving Donovan McNabb against the Bears, he has muddled along with a passer rating of 75 this season.

In his first six games he had none with a completion percentage lower than 60 and the Vikings were 4-2. In the last six he has had just one game with a completion rate above 55. The Vikings have gone 2-4.

“He’s pretty much what you see,” said new middle linebacker Nick Roach. “He’s very athletic, he can throw the ball if he has time, and he doesn’t seem to get rattled, which you would tend to maybe associate with young guys. He’s a good test.”

The reason: For all of his inconsistencies, Ponder is 5-1 at home this season.

Visions of “28”

But the Bears’ mission statement is always to make a team one-dimensional by taking away its running game. And nowhere has this appeared to prove more effective than against the Vikings.

Minnesota won four of the first five games in Adrian Peterson’s career against the Bears. In those, Peterson averaged 128 yards per game. The Vikings have lost the last six (two with Peterson missing due to injury) with the game’s best running back averaging 73 yards in the four he played, including the 108 he had in the 28-10 loss on Nov. 25.

The quirky part is that Peterson has rushed for no fewer than those 108 yards in each of the last six games and the Vikings won just two of those, against woefuls Arizona and Detroit.

He trampled the Green Bay Packers for 210 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries last Sunday. The Vikings lost 23-14.

But in the mind of the Bears there is still a clear No. 1 target and way to neutralize that.

“Gang-tackling,” said defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli. “It’s gap security and knowing exactly what we’re doing and playing extremely hard and fast. That game he played last week [at Green Bay] was special. We know what we have in store for us. We’re competing for a championship and we got to get him on the ground.”

Something missing

The Bears have been successful in their last six games against Minnesota. They also have had Brian Urlacher in all of those. Now they don’t.

Roach has been very solid this season with an arrow pointing up at this point of the year. He had four tackles against San Francisco as well as a half-sack and quarterback pressure and pass breakup. He totaled seven stops against the Vikings and forced a fumble, and he followed that with five tackles against Seattle. Of his 16 tackles over the past three games, 11 have been solos.

But as WBBM/WSCR Bears reporter Zach Zaidman noted, defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli has never handled a game through any other channel than Urlacher. This will be the first time he is communicating his defensive moves through someone other than Urlacher.

Sound off

“Communicating” is the operative word here.

One popular notion in Roach’s previous time at middle linebacker (2009, three games, 1-2) was that he simply was not loud enough. Two of those three games were outdoors.

This game is inside one of the acknowledged loudest venues in sports. Teammates are satisfied that Roach can and will be heard.

“His voice has developed,” said linebacker Lance Briggs, smiling. “I don’t know the right word but it’s matured. He sounds louder on the field.

“Communication is not going to be a problem. Even if guys don’t hear, we’ve been in the system long enough where we understand – we should all understand – by recognizing.”

Roach was amused: “Lance is a funny guy. I try to make a conscious effort to get the communications clear so the guys can hear it.”

NFL may target offensive players on head-hunting
December 7, 2012, 4:39 pm
MARK STROTMAN csnchicago.com

According to The Concussion Blog (http://theconcussionblog.com/2012/11/29/2012-nfl-concussion-report-through-12-weeks) through Week 12 of the NFL 127 concussions/head injuries had been diagnosed and reported. Every team in the league has had at least one player suffer a concussion, with Atlanta and Houston (1) the least affected, and the Raiders (9) hit hardest.

But while fines, rule changes and even game suspensions have been handed down to players leading with their helmets on defenseless offensive players, the numbers between offense and defense concussions are closer than most think.

Through Week 12, 70 offensive players have been diagnosed, compared with 57 defensive players.

Defensive backs have suffered the most concussions (32), followed by wide receivers (24), linebackers and running backs (15), running backs (14), tight ends (13), offensive linemen (12), defensive linemen (10), and lastly, quarterbacks (7).

It's no surprise that wide receivers and defensive backs lead the league in diagnosed concussions, as the game becomes faster and the passing game continues to take over.

And while many of the league's strict rule changes and overall culture change in how defenders attack offensive players are set to ensure the safety of the defenders, too, the numbers tell a story that offensive players can also pack a punch.

In an exclusive on OnMilwaukee.com, Jim Owczarski received an email statement from Greg Aiello, the NFL's senior vice president of public relations, saying "helmet-to-helmet contact between a runner and defender (especially in the open field) will be reviewed in the off-season by the Competition Committee."

A rule handed down by the NFL could follow suit of that which the NCAA has, stating that "No player shall target and initiate contact against an opponent with the crown (top) of his helmet. When in question, it is a foul." (Section 1. Personal Fouls, Article 3)

Owczarski interviewed several Green Bay Packers, who said most offensive players lower their head to protect their bodies and make contact with their shoulders, not to intentionally go after defenders.

Concerns over whether offensive players not being able to lower their heads would slow the game down, make players more timid to protect themselves and potentially result in more injuries not related to the head.

The concussion rules are sure to be changed, improved and changed again over the coming years, but adding the new wrinkle to offensive players being subject to personal foul penalties for hits on "defenseless defenders" or review from the NFL after the games would be a major change.

Bears-Vikings preview: Bears ball
December 7, 2012, 3:59 pm
JOHN "MOON" MULLIN csnchicago.com

In the “Rollerdome” get ahead and stay there

Perhaps more so in this game than any other this season, if the Bears fall behind against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, more than just their quarterback could be in true jeopardy.

The reasons are compounded.

First, the overall: The Bears in general are not a team with the passing offense to play well from behind. They are 14-45 under coach Lovie Smith when trailing at halftime and a dismal 1-9 over the past two seasons, and just 2-10 when trailing after three quarters.

Jay Cutler has not played well from behind over his career. His 134.9 fourth-quarter passer rating is the NFL’s best, but has involved just three from-behind games all year (Green Bay, Carolina, Seattle) and he has fewer career fourth-quarter comeback wins than Eli Manning had last season alone.

Cutler connected with Brandon Marshall for a 56-yard completion to set up a tying field goal at the end of regulation. But in two previous possessions, with chances to put the game away, the offense had first-and-10’s at the Seattle 48 and 44 and failed to get even a field goal try.

Sounding off

The issue this Sunday, however, is that the Bears are not against the Panthers or Seahawks in Soldier Field. They are in the Metrodome where they allowed seven sacks, 3.5 by defensive end Jared Allen, in a Week 17 win last year.

“Minnesota, a dome, it’s going to be loud,” Cutler said. “Jared Allen’s a little bit of a different player in that dome compared to Soldier Field. A lot to deal with, a good team, very similar to our defense. It’s going to be a challenge.”

It will be a particular challenge for the offensive line, which is playing its first road game with three starters changed from the last time the Bears saw the Vikings.

Left tackle J’Marcus Webb is still the spotlighted figure because of his assignment to neutralize Allen. That was accomplished in the first Minnesota game by scheme as well as personnel.

“We’re going to try to mix it up,” offensive coordinator Mike Tice said. “Different [Minnesota] defense at home on that field turf with that crowd noise, and we just have to make sure that we’re smart about the calls and how we’re helping J’Marcus out.”

Matchup styles

Tice’s plan, as it was in the Bears’ 28-10 win two weeks ago, is to run at defensive ends Allen and Brian Robison as a means of slowing the pass rush. The Bears are 30th in sacks allowed per pass play but 10th in rush yards per game. The Vikings are 16th in sack percentage and Allen and Robison have a combined 14 on the season.

Minnesota had just one sack in the first game when the Bears averaged a very modest 2.9 yards per carry but ran 39 times vs. 32 pass plays.

“We’ve got to be able to run the ball efficiently like we did last time; keep ourselves in manageable third downs,” said offensive coordinator Mike Tice. “I think that’s the key to the game.”

Indeed, with Gabe Carimi and Edwin Williams at guard and Jonathan Scott at right tackle, the Bears have three players still learning each other. Carimi is a converted right tackle, Scott is the right tackle, and they work well together on combination blocks, a key in the run game.

A Marshall Plan?

Marshall caught tied his season high with 12 catches against the Vikings, for 92 yards. Notably perhaps, his average of 7.7 yards per reception was more than three yards less than his previous low. The Vikings were not going to let Marshall beat them deep and he had no catch longer than 17 yards. Only against Green Bay (14) and San Francisco (13) was he held to that short a “long.” Both of those games were Bears losses.

The Minnesota plan was not necessarily to let him make catches but to hit him very hard when he did.

“The thing that stood out the most to me when we played them two weeks ago was, as soon as you catch the ball, they are right on you,” Marshall said. “Those guys are rallying to the ball, they play together and they’ll hit you. You have to be tough out there, especially against that secondary because they’re an aggressive group and there’s not a lot of separation out there.

“It’s going to be another grinder I think.”

Bears bracing for 'relentless' Peterson
By Jeff Dickerson | ESPNChicago.com

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Lance Briggs didn't hesitate when asked to give his MVP pick for the 2012 NFL season.

“Adrian Peterson," Briggs said.

The choice is tough to argue. Peterson stunned the NFL world when he returned for the Minnesota Vikings' regular season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, roughly eight months after he suffered a devastating knee injury at the end of 2011.

To say Peterson picked up where he left off might be an understatement.

Not only does the four-time Pro Bowler lead the NFL with 1,446 rushing yards, Peterson has gone over 100 yards on the ground in six straight games, including a monster effort last week against the Green Bay Packers when he ran for 210 yards on 21 carries.

"He's running stronger since he's come back from his injury than last year," Briggs said. "The guy is a very tough guy to bring down. He's a full head of steam, and once he gets tackled, it looks like he's looking for the next time to get the ball. 'I want the ball again and again, again, again.' He's pretty relentless, which is great for defensive players. Great players will always raise your level of play."

Two weeks ago the Bears held Peterson to 108 yards, his lowest rushing output in his current six-game streak. But the Vikings only gave Peterson the ball 18 times in the Bears' 28-10 victory, a number that is expected to go up when the teams rematch Sunday at the Metrodome.

Of course, the Bears are familiar with Peterson's explosive ability. As a rookie in 2007, he ran for 224 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-31 Minnesota victory at Soldier Field. Peterson set the single-game NFL record with 296 rushing yards that same season against the San Diego Chargers.

"He's running crazy," Bears new middle linebacker Nick Roach said. "It's fun to watch him run, but at the same time, it's a great challenge for us to be able to go and try to stop that. He does everything. He runs over guys, runs around them, makes them miss. His effort is extremely high. To have a chance to stop him, you just have to match it with everybody."

ESPN Chicago picks: Bears at Vikings
By ESPNChicago.com

Carmen
DeFalco
(9-3)
BEARS 24, VIKINGS 20
No Urlacher, no problem. Bears are on a mission.


Jeff
Dickerson
(8-4)
BEARS 20, VIKINGS 19
Bears win their seventh straight over the Vikings and inject new life into their season, even if the game itself is ugly.


Jon
Greenberg
(8-4)
BEARS 23, VIKINGS 20
I'm staying on the bandwagon, but one foot is dangling out and I'm googling directions on my iPhone. Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall need to really dominate and D-line has to force 3rd and longs for Christian Ponder.


Melissa
Isaacson
(9-3)
BEARS 28, VIKINGS 17
Even with the Bears' injuries, it's tough to pick the Vikings these days. Christian Ponder is averaging less per pass attempt than Adrian Peterson is per carry, and now with Percy Harvin on injured reserve, it makes it that much easier to tee off on AP.


Scoop
Jackson
(6-6)
VIKINGS 24, BEARS 20
Too many key players either out or not at 100% going against a team that, even without their second-best player in Percy Harvin, will be hungrier for a win than the Bears.


John
Jurkovic
(9-3)
VIKINGS 14, BEARS 9
Bears' offense just can't get it done.


Scott
Powers
(8-4)
BEARS 24, VIKINGS 17
I've lost faith in my ability to pick Bears games, but I have the Cutler-to-Marshall connection winning this one by a touchdown.


Marc
Silverman
(10-2)
BEARS 24, VIKINGS 16
Maybe this isn't a Super Bowl team, but they are good enough to not let Christian Ponder beat them.


Sarah
Spain
(7-5)
BEARS 20, VIKINGS 13
Bears won't dominate like they did in Week 12, but they'll get the job done.


Harry
Teinowitz
(8-4)
BEARS 19, VIKINGS 17
Gould beats purple!


Tom
Waddle
(9-3)
BEARS 23, VIKINGS 20
Banged up physically and emotionally, it's time for the Bears to step up. It won't be a walk in the park but the Bears are the better team.


Michael
Wilbon
(8-4)
BEARS 19, VIKINGS 17
It's the time of year to pick the most desperate team. The Bears' defense will play desperately enough to force four turnovers and give Cutler and the offense a short field time and again.


Michael
Wright
(10-2)
BEARS 20, VIKINGS 19
Bears need this one badly with the Packers coming next week.


Madden 13
(9-3)
BEARS 27, VIKINGS 20
The Bears go up early but need a late interception to stop the Vikings' comeback. Brandon Marshall has just three catches, but gets into the end zone once. Matt Forte outduels Adrian Peterson with two scores of his own.

NFC North Friday injury report'
espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth

Let's get inside the Friday injury report in the NFC North:

Chicago Bears: Cornerback Tim Jennings (shoulder) was ruled out of Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings, joining linebacker Brian Urlacher (hamstring) and receiver Earl Bennett (concussion). It does appear the Bears will have receivers Devin Hester (concussion) and Alshon Jeffery (knee) for this game. Both are listed as probable. Running back Michael Bush (ribs) returned to practice but is listed as questionable. Guard Chris Spencer (knee) practiced all week and is also questionable.

Detroit Lions: There are no players who are listed as worse than questionable for Sunday night's game against the Green Bay Packers. Nose tackle Nick Fairley (quadriceps) practiced Friday and is listed as questionable. Safety Louis Delmas (knee) practiced once this week, on Thursday, and is questionable as well. Nose tackle Corey Williams (knee) did not practice this week but is questionable. Cornerbacks Chris Houston (ankle) and Jacob Lacey (foot/Achilles) practiced on Thursday and Friday and are questionable.

Green Bay Packers: Five players are out for this game: Linebacker Clay Matthews (hamstring), receiver Jordy Nelson (hamstring), running back James Starks (knee), defensive end C.J. Wilson (knee) and defensive back Charles Woodson (collarbone). Defensive end Mike Neal (shoulder) is doubtful. The big surprise is that right tackle T.J. Lang practiced some on Friday and is listed as questionable. Coach Mike McCarthy said he is preparing as if rookie Don Barclay will make his first NFL start.

Minnesota Vikings: Now that receiver Percy Harvin is on injured reserve, everyone on the Vikings' roster is expected to be available for Sunday's game against the Bears. As of mid-Friday afternoon, the team had not filled Harvin's spot on the roster.

Bears' Brandon Marshall chasing history
By Kevin Seifert | ESPN.com

Chicago Bears receiver Brandon Marshall is averaging 7.6 receptions per game this season. So with a slightly better-than-average performance Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, Marshall could achieve some hefty milestones with plenty of room to spare.

Marshall is nine catches away from hitting 100 for the season, an accomplishment that would place him among the most productive receivers in NFL history. As the chart shows, he would become the fourth player in NFL history to compile four 100-catch seasons in their careers. No one has done it five times, although the New England Patriots' Wes Welker is eight receptions away from doing so this season.

Whenever Marshall gets to 100 catches, he will tie Marty Booker's franchise record for receptions in a season.

We'll figure it all out when the final numbers come in, but I think we can safely project that Marshall is going to finish with the best season for a receiver in Bears history. As we noted Friday, Marshall leads the NFL in parentage of his team's targets (39.2 percent of all throws) as well as the percentage of his team's receptions (41.9) and passing first downs (44.9).

The real question is whether we can quantify it as the most productive year for a Bears player at any position. That will take some apples-to-oranges analysis to compare him to the likes of Sid Luckman, Gale Sayers and Walter Payton.

[h=4]Most seasons with 100 receptions,
NFL history[/h]

Will be nice to have Alshon back :clap:

agreed, subbing Weems in for Hester might have been a slight upgrade, but Bears really didn't have anyone to replace Jeffery

I'm assuming Conte will be back as well? I haven't seen anything...but him being out was just from having the flu or something right? Didn't realize how much we would miss him back there until he was gone.

didn't post the injury report today, here it is
http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/acrobat/2012-12/317526820-07112928.pdf

Conte's not on it, so unless he gets a 2nd bout of the flu on Sunday, he'll play

Nice, thank you

Wooooo late news woooooo

Bears run game must quickly improve Premium Story

By Jeremy Stoltz
Bear Report Publisher
Posted Dec 5, 2012

Chicago’s revamped offensive line, which has been decimated by injuries and poor play, has been solid in pass protection, yet as run blockers, this group is in need of much improvement.

In regard to pass protection, the offensive line of the Chicago Bears is on a roll. Over the past two games, the club has allowed just two sacks of quarterback Jay Cutler. When you consider how awful the protection has been all season – the Bears allowed 17 sacks from Weeks 7-11 – that is quite an accomplishment.

Not coincidentally, the offensive line the past two weeks has featured three new pieces. Gabe Carimi, who started the club’s first 10 games at right tackle this year, has been moved inside to right guard, with Jonathan Scott taking over on the right edge. At left guard, Edwin Williams has taken over for Chris Spencer, who is out with an ankle injury.

Along with left tackle J’Marcus Webb and center Roberto Garza, the current starting five has been, dare I say it, very good at keeping Cutler upright.

“They’re playing better,” Cutler said today. “I don’t know if it’s because I’m yelling at them more or what’s happening, but guys are playing well.”

The move to right guard seems to have rejuvenated Carimi. Pro Football Focus ranked Carimi as the best pass blocker on the team last week against the Seattle Seahawks, and the best run blocker the week before against the Minnesota Vikings. It’s a small sample size but it appears that, by moving Carimi inside and getting him off an island out wide, opposing defenses haven’t been able to expose his lack of lateral agility, which plagued him at tackle.

Williams has shown this year what he proved last year: he’s the best pass-blocking guard on the roster. He balance and awareness in protection is unmatched on this roster. The upgrades at guard have helped create clean pockets for Cutler that past two weeks.

“I feel the past two weeks the offensive line has done an amazing job,” said Brandon Marshall.

Marshall has been the beneficiary of the improved protection, with Cutler finding him 22 times for 257 yards the past two games combined.

“I think Jay is playing the position better than anyone right now, when you see how he’s spinning it, and the situations he’s getting us in and getting us out of,” Marshall said. “I think a lot of that is due to him being comfortable with the guys up front. Over the past two weeks, they’ve really been getting after it and it’s promising.”

Another reason for the reduction in sacks has been the play calling, which has utilized more three-step drops, exploiting the short and intermediate routes instead of putting Cutler in harm’s way with seven-step drops.

Jared Allen, defensive end for the Minnesota Vikings who was held without a sack two weeks ago, said Chicago’s change to a quick passing attack is the main reason he was shutout.

“The intermediate passing game, I mean, it’s tough,” Allen said during his conference call with the Chicago media this afternoon. “We went back and put a clock on it. I think there was only two or three times the whole game he held the ball more than about two and a half seconds. That intermediate passing game was clutch for them. And then they did some things boot-legging and max protecting from different looks, chipping in and out with the tight ends and the running backs, and that makes it tough.”

The improved play design and execution for Chicago’s passing attack is a great sign for a unit that has ranked at or near the bottom of the league all season in overall passing – the Bears currently rank 31st. Better protection and better coaching from first-time coordinator Mike Tice, who may finally be figuring out how develop successful game plans, can only help the offense going forward.

“We’re getting rid of the ball quickly,” said Cutler. “I think we have good game plans going into it. Mike [Tice] has done a great job of mixing up and spinning the play calling and keeping teams off-balance.”

Cutler's ability to scramble away from pressure and extend plays with his feet has also helped the front five.

“[Cutler] has a lot to do with it, his mobility and what he does in the pocket," Marshall said. "There’s a lot of quarterbacks that are making plays with their feet and just moving in the pocket. Jay is one of the best at doing that. You just watch the games, he’s creating a lot of opportunities down the field for us.”

Yet in exchange for better protection, the run game has suffered. Here are the rushing average totals from Weeks 7-10 this season:

Week 7 vs. Detroit: 5.3 ypc
Week 8 vs. Carolina: 4.2 ypc
Week 9 vs. Tennessee: 4.4 ypc
Week 10 vs. Houston: 5.0 ypc

Since the changes to the offensive line, here are the rushing averages the past two games:

Week 12 vs. Minnesota: 2.9 ypc
Week 13 vs. Seattle: 3.0 ypc

The run blocking was so awful last week that they even failed to convert on 4th-and-inches, with two offensive linemen completely whiffing on their blocks. It was a pivotal play that cost Chicago points on the board, points that would have eventually won them the game.

This could be a chemistry issue, one that will resolve itself once these guys get more playing time together, but it could also be a harbinger of things to come. If it is the latter, and Chicago is unable to improve the run blocking, the Bears will have to turn to a 31st-ranked passing attack that has just one good receiver.

In the playoffs, that just won’t cut it.

In today’s quarterback-driven NFL, the priority is to keep Cutler upright, so the protection has to hold course. Yet it won’t do the offense any good if the run game can’t support the aerial attack. If an opposing defense can force the Bears to become one-dimensional in the playoffs, it won’t matter how good Cutler and Marshall are, Chicago will lose.

Re-signing DeCicco a smart move Premium Story

By Jeremy Stoltz
Bear Report Publisher
Posted Dec 5, 2012

Brian Urlacher could miss the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury. The Bears responded yesterday by re-sigining Dom DeCicco, a player who could eventually replace Urlacher.

The Chicago Bears like Dom DeCicco. After playing safety collegiately at Pittsburgh, the Bears snatched him up as an undrafted free agent following the 2011 draft. The club liked DeCicco’s athleticism but thought his skill set would be a better fit at linebacker, specifically middle linebacker.

Despite learning a brand new position, one he’d d never played before, DeCicco showed enough in training camp last year to make the final 53-man roster. He stayed there all season and finished the season second on the team in special teams tackles.

He was invited back to camp this year and was making strides at middle linebacker. His play on the practice fields gave many hope he could eventually replace Brian Urlacher, after the future Hall of Famer calls it a career. Remember, Urlacher was also a safety in college, so the belief that DeCicco might be able to follow the same path was picking up steam this preseason.

DeCicco then suffered a groin injury in Chicago’s second preseason contest. With considerable recovery time in his future, the Bears could not justify keeping him on the active roster and were forced to cut him before the start of this season.

“It was tough the last couple of weeks while I was here,” DeCicco said today. “I was hurt and I felt like I wasn’t moving like I could have. I felt like I wasn’t putting what I wanted to put on tape.”

DeCicco spent his time off rehabbing the injury. He said he reached 100 percent about a month ago, at which time he started working out for other NFL teams.

“The first month or two wasn't too bad, but then when I got healthy and everything I started doing the workouts and it started picking up more and more,” he said. “It started to get to a little more stressful.”

He worked out for the Detroit Lions, New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders, yet no team offered him a contract. When the Bears contacted him this week about returning to the team, he jumped at the opportunity.

“It's a blessing to come back to an organization I loved and to know everybody, it's awesome. I'm comfortable here. I know the system.”

The Bears like DeCicco so much, they signed him to a two-year deal yesterday, which shows the confidence the coaching staff has in him as a long-term contributor.

It was reported yesterday that Urlacher will be out 2-4 weeks with a hamstring injury. DeCicco isn’t in Chicago to be Urlacher’s immediate replacement. His contributions this season will come on special teams. Going forward, though, DeCicco feels he can eventually develop into a starter on defense.

“This is the first defense, and the only defense, that I've ever played linebacker in,” said DeCicco. “And I really like the Mike (middle linebacker) position and what they ask of the Mike. I feel like I fit it pretty good … the Tampa-2 coverage aspect of it. They like the linebackers to be more athletic, and I feel like I fit that.”

For now, DeCicco is just happy to be back in a familiar, comfortable situation.

“I was always hoping. I was always hoping I'd end up back here,” he said. “But at times I thought I wouldn't. I'm really happy and blessed to be back here.”