VIKINGS RIP BEARS TO IMPROVE TO 10-1

Even with the addition of Brett Favre, it’s unlikely that anyone on the Minnesota Vikings expected their season to work out this well.  On Sunday, Favre and the Vikings dominated the Chicago Bears en route to a 36-10 home field victory and ran their record to 10-1 on the NFL season.  Favre threw for 392 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions in the lopsided win.  The Bears have struggled all season, and saw their record fall to 4-7.

Minnesota also took the victory against the NFL pointspread easily covering as -10 home favorites.  The Vikings are 3-0-1 ATS in their past four games, and boast a 7-3-1 mark against the spread this season.  The Bears lost their fourth straight game against the spread and their sixth in seven tries to drop to 4-7 ATS.  The combined 46 points scored just managed to stay UNDER the posted total of 47.  The Vikings have gone UNDER in five of their eleven games this season, while the Bears have gone UNDER in four straight and 7 of 11.
 
Favre talked about his pass happy day:

"I figured we'd have to throw it some. I didn't come just to hand it off. I love to play."

He also answered questions about his surgically repaired right arm:

"It's not like I wake up in the morning and don't have any aches and pains, because I do. I'm sure when it's all said and done, I'm going to be like, 'What did I do all this for?' But my arm feels great."

The mood wasn’t as light in the Bears’ locker room.  Chicago has lost four straight and six of seven after a promising 3-1 start.  Defensive end Alex Brown suggested that at this point improved play is a matter of pride:

"I think pride is going to become an issue here. It's going to be heart, pride and who really enjoys playing the game of football."

Quarterback Jay Cutler added his thoughts:

"It's a tough one. I didn't expect this. We had a good week. With as good a football team that I think we have in here, to go out week after week and not live up to our own expectations, that's the tough part."

The Vikings now face a tough game this Sunday on the road against the Arizona Cardinals.  The contest is currently off the board due to the questionable status of Cards’ QB Kurt Warner.  After that, they’ll return home to play the Cincinnati Bengals before heading south to take on the Carolina Panthers on December 20.  The Bears take a substantial drop in class as they host the lowly St. Louis Rams.  Chicago is a -9 home favorite with the total set at 41.  They’ll host the Green Bay Packers the following Sunday before playing at Baltimore on December 20.