Minnesota Vikings Need More Than a Monster Game From Adrian Peterson To Win vs. Chicago Bears

The Minnesota Vikings‘ troubles at Soldier Field are well documented at this point. The purple and gold haven’t left Chicago with a victory since 2007. They were able to hang in the game a year ago via another stellar performance from Adrian Peterson, but again it wasn’t enough to end the team’s losing streak.

As the Vikings and Chicago Bears get prepared to do battle yet again this Sunday, it’s clear that the two teams could be headed in very different directions. A Vikings loss would put them in an 0-2 hole in the division, while a victory for the Bears would put them on the right track for an NFC North title.

Despite a three-touchdown performance from AP in week one, the Vikings still lost in convincing fashion to the Detroit Lions. Overall, they just looked sloppy. A lot of the blame fell on Christian Ponder, and deservedly so. The third-year QB threw three interceptions and made numerous bad decisions throughout the contest. If Ponder plays the way he did last week against the ball-hawking Bears’ in week two, the Vikings are almost guaranteed to lose the game.

Even a monster 200-yard game from Peterson won’t be enough. The Vikings have to be effective through the air. Ponder doesn’t have to be perfect, he just has to be a respectable threat. Minnesota is always going to be a run-first team as long as No. 28 is in the backfield, but it’s time for No. 7 to step up and make his running back even more of a threat by keeping opposing defenses honest.

The Vikings simply have no shot at a win against the Bears unless they get a complete effort from their offense come Sunday.

Related:

5 Vikings’ Players That Must Step Up in Week 2

 

Follow Andrew Fisher on Twitter and Google