Playing for Pride?

While the Bears are by no means mathematically eliminated from post-season play, a victory in the Metrodome will be a tall order, come Sunday afternoon.

The disappointing 2009-10 season continues in Minneapolis, as the 4-6 Bears face a 9-1 Vikings team that has been almost perfect all season long. Brett Favre has turned back the clock, and through the first ten games of the season looks like the NFL MVP.

The Bears on the other hand, are looking to recover from a three game losing streak and losses in five of their last six games. Inconsistency on both sides of the ball has plagued Chicago all year. The Bears have simply been unable to play fundamental football from week to week. The latest skid on the schedule has seen Chicago drop two of the past three games at home. The road has been unkind as well, as a 2-4 record away from Soldier Field would illustrate.

It would appear to be a monumental task for the struggling Bears to have any chance in the Metrodome, where the Vikes are unbeaten at 5-0. The Bears will have to play a near perfect game on Sunday, if they expect to even stay competitive with Minnesota for 60 minutes.

Adrian Peterson has been under the weather all week, so perhaps he will not be at 100% by kickoff. Maybe the Vikings will be looking past the mediocre Bears? If I had to guess, I’d say AP will be fine, and the Vikes will not only be focused, but determined to put a ton of points on the board against the rival Bears. Brett Favre and his new teammates know that this season is looking like a magical one, and will take nothing for granted from here on out.

There’s nothing happening on the Bears sideline that would suggest that this game will even be close. If there’s any team pride left, I suppose Chicago is competent enough to put up a fight, but pride and hard work may not be enough to overcome a far superior team. This one could be over by halftime.

Vikings 35 Bears 7