noon Sunday
Mall of America Field
TV: Ch. 9
(100.3-FM, 1130-AM)
Line: Bears by 9
RECORD: 8-4
The Bears have lost three of their past four and fallen into a first-place tie with Green Bay in the NFC North.
Middle linebacker Brian Urlacher (hamstring) is likely out, and NFL interception leader Tim Jennings (shoulder) is questionable for the game.
Jay Cutler, in his fourth season in Chicago, is already the second-most productive QB in Bears history, with 78 TD passes. Sid Luckman (1939-50) had 137.
Brandon Marshall is second in the NFL in receptions (91) and yards receiving (1,182).
The teams met two weeks ago in Chicago, and the Bears won 28-10.
PLAYER TALK QUARTERBACK JAY CUTLER
On Marshall: "The passing game is going to run through him. We are going to find ways to get him the ball, and get him as involved as much and as early as possible."
On playing the Vikings so soon: "It's kind of weird. It's the first time I've ever been in this situation. You get the feeling you just watched these guys and in reality you did, so obviously we have a good feel for them."
On losing Urlacher: "Everything kind of runs through him. He gets them lined up, he makes the checks, and it's a tough loss. But that defense has been together for a long time and they have some guys that know it just as well as Brian does, so they've got to step up."
COACH SPEAK
LoVIE SMITH
On the final four games: "Before the fourth quarter of the season, you just get in position. You don't want to be out of it, and what you do this last quarter of the season is going to dictate everything. "
On the injury-rattled offensive line: "It's always about the next guy up, and that guy seizing the opportunity, and that's what happened for us. We've lost some guys on the offensive line, but the next group has really stepped up."
On defending Adrian Peterson: "Wherever you are supposed to be, you need to be there. Guys respect great players and they like playing against the best, and that's what we are going to be doing."
CHRIS MILLER
It’s too soon to tell how much the immigration crackdown is to blame.
