Northern Exposure

Tomorrow the co-leaders of the NFC North, the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, both face staunch tests against fellow NFC elites, the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons respectively. 

Despite the Bears consistent trudge along with the Packers, (not to mention head to head victory), popular opinion seems to be Chicago is but a bug on the Packers interstate to the NFC North crown.  A lot of this perception is based on the Bears victories have coming against teams with a combined record of 23-49, beating only two teams (Green Bay and Miami) with at least a .500 winning percentage.  Fair enough, but before we hand Green Bay the keys to the car keep in mind their wins have come against teams with a combined record of 26-37, with two wins coming against the 3-7 Minnesota Vikings, beating two teams, (New York Jets and Philadelphia), with at least a .500 wining percentage.

Green Bay has a few advantages in the war of perception, winning with more flourish, out scoring their opponents 252-146, (Chicago has out scored their opponents 191-146) and the Packers have knocked off two first place teams to Chicago's one.  Also Green Bay is coming off a playoff season in 2009, whereas Chicago finished 2009 7-9, losing twice to the Packers. 

With both squads facing first place teams tomorrow, we will not only get a better feel for how these two teams relate to each other, but how well the top of the NFC North stands up to the top of the NFC.

Purple Is A Girls Name

Ok folks, it's going to be a "quick and dirty" breakdown of Bears vs. Vikings, because in less than five hours Soldier Field will welcome those flaxen haired vixens from the big garbage bag in the sky.

This season's edition of the Norski's has been on a quite a bumpy ride.  The head coach Brad Childress is pretty much universally hated by everybody associated with the Vikings, wide receiver Randy Moss was traded for and released after four games for general douchery and of course prima donna quarterback Brett Favre has been dealing with blow back from texting pictures of his penis.  You heard me.  All this and Vikings boast a less than stellar record of three wins, five losses.  Not exactly what was expected from a team that was on Favre interception away from the Super Bowl last season (Where have we heard this before?).

I was listening to a local radio show this week, and when discussing this game there were comments to the effect of how Favre always roughs up the Bears.  Looks like somebody is stuck in the '90s.  In his last eight games against the Bears Favre is 2-6, winning just one of his last four appearances at Soldier Field and that win came against Chicago's back ups as the Bears rested their starters in preparation for their Super Bowl XLI run.  The Vikings have struggled at Soldier Field as well, winning just once in their last nine trips.

Despite all these concerns Minnesota feels they are primed to make move to get back in to the playoff chase and a win at Chicago would go a long way in improving their standing.  Meanwhile Chicago has used a stingy, opportunistic defense and resourceful special teams to over come a poor, sloppy offense (save for a few shinning moments) to post a record of five wins three losses, trailing the front running Packers by just one half game.  The fact of the matter is the Bears have defeated only one team with a winning record (see front running Packers).  If the Bears want to keep hope alive they would be well served to put Minnesota down as they enter and absolute meat grinder finish.

I watched an episode of the Andy Griffith Show yesterday and Sheriff Taylor proclaimed "the blue and orange wins every time".  I hope you're right sheriff, but I haven't felt good about this game all week.  Mostly because the combination of the Bears swiss cheese offensive line and struggles to protect their turn over prone ball handlers.

Official Prediction:  Vikings 25, Bears 17.  Sigh......you know what always makes me feel better?  Jen Sterger.  Am I right, Brett?