Gameday: Vikings vs. Chicago

Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson has rushed for 423 yards and seven touchdowns in three games against the Bears and leads a Vikings rushing attack that ranks fifth in the NFL with an average of 137.9 yards a game. Peterson gained 121 of his yards against Chicago in the Vikings' 48-41 loss in the first meeting between these teams on Oct. 19. But that doesn't make this an automatic mismatch. The Bears are giving up only 80.7 yards a game, placing them fifth in the league in that category. Chicago has been outstanding against the run at times (14 yards surrendered to the Rams last week) and porous at others (200 yards given up to Green Bay two weeks ago).

Gus Frerotte completed 25 of 40 passes for 298 yards and two touchdowns at Soldier Field in October. But he also threw four interceptions, and that was with Bears starting cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher out. Frerotte has thrown five picks in the four games since, but his attempts and yards also have declined. Last Sunday, Frerotte threw for a season-low 120 yards in a victory at Jacksonville, and No. 1 receiver Bernard Berrian only had one catch for 6 yards. If the Vikings want to stop the Bears from putting eight or nine men in the box against Peterson, they are going to need to begin to re-establish the fact that they can pass the ball. Tillman will play today, but Vasher (fractured right hand) is out for the season.

Devin Hester became the NFL's most feared return man during his first two seasons. That is no longer the case. Hester has been used more as a wide receiver this year (31 catches), and that has had an impact on his returns. He is averaging only 6.3 yards on 20 punt returns (19th in the league) and has no touchdowns. That's compared to the 14.1 yards Hester averaged in his first two years, when he scored seven touchdowns. As for kick returns, Hester was replaced in that role by Danieal Manning last week. The Vikings are last in the NFL in punt-return average allowed (17.8 yards).

GAMEBREAKER ONE GUY WHO COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING

Given his success against the Bears and the fact this game will be seen by a national audience, it's hard not to go with Peterson on this one. Peterson needs only 27 yards tonight to move into the top 10 all-time rushers in Vikings history. Quarterback Fran Tarkenton ranks 10th with 2,548 yards. Peterson is second in the NFL to Washington Clinton Portis in rushing yards (1,206-1,180) and was called the NFL's best player this week by Bears coach Lovie Smith. Why? "Have you seen him play?" responded Smith.

KEY STAT

Combined points in the first meeting between these teams, the highest in a game in Vikings history. That surpassed the 87 points scored between these teams on Dec. 17, 1961, when the host Bears cruised to a 52-35 victory.

IN FOCUS

Of Bears quarterback Kyle Orton's 21 completions in the first game against the Vikings, nine went to tight ends Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark. Olsen's team-leading six catches went for 74 yards and a touchdown. There is no reason to think Orton won't be looking for his tight ends again tonight and thus picking on the Vikings linebackers. Vikings coach Brad Childress points out that the Bears line up their tight ends "all over the place," and that can make for difficult matchups. Clark suffered a right knee injury last Sunday against St. Louis that slowed him in practice.

JUDD'S PICK

Vikings 24, Bears 21

The Vikings are 4-1 at the Metrodome, and their only home loss came in Week 2 when they blew a 15-0 third-quarter lead against Indianapolis. Orton was impressive in the first game against the Vikings (two touchdowns, no interceptions, 114.5 passer rating), but playing on the road in a noisy environment could make this a different story.