The Vikings and Bears are playing for pride and nothing more this weekend.  The Vikings snapped a six game losing streak last weekend when they beat the Redskins 33-26 in Washington.  The Bears have now lost five games in a row as they have looked horrible since Jay Cutler broke his thumb on his throwing hand.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Vikings have the ball:  The Vikings are without Adrian Peterson (torn ACL) for this game, but they are still in good shape at RB with Toby Gerhart.  Gerhart will likely have a heavy workload against a Bears’ D that is giving up 97.5 yards rushing per game and 4.1 yards per carry.  The Vikings hope to get a good running game going, so that the Bears’ pass rush will have to slow down a bit and give Christian Ponder time to throw the ball.  The Bears are giving up 256.2 yards passing per game, so Christian Ponder could be effective throwing the ball in this game.  His top target will likely be Percy Harvin, but the Vikings will need some of their other WRs and TEs to step up.

When the Bears have the ball:  The Bears are likely going to come out running the ball with Kahlil Bell, who broke out with a big game against the Packers last weekend.  The Vikings are only giving up 3.9 yards per carry so far this year, so they should be able to handle slowing down Bell.  Josh McCown is getting the start at QB, but the Bears have had a lot of injuries to their WRs.  Roy Williams will likely be his top target, but he doesn’t scare the Vikings too much at this point in his career.

PREDICTION:  VIKINGS 17, BEARS 16

The Vikings have lost six games in a row, as they have been awful lately.  The Redskins have won two of their last four games, as they have been playing decent football lately.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Vikings have the ball:  The Vikings would like to be more balanced than usual tomorrow  against the Redskins.  Adrian Peterson will likely get around 20 carries against a Redskins’ D that is giving up 112.0 yards rushing per game and 4.1 yards per carry.  The Vikings need Peterson to have a good game to slow the Redskins’ pass rush down a little bit.  If Christian Ponder has time to throw the ball, he should have some success through the air.  The Vikings hope to get the ball in Percy Harvin’s hands a lot tomorrow as he is a big play just waiting to happen.

When the Redskins have the ball:  Rookie RB Roy Helu is banged up a little bit, so look for the Redskins to watch his workload.  That will be easy this weekend, because the Redskins are going to throw the ball a lot in his game.  Rex Grossman will likely get rushed a lot in this game as the Vikings have 40 sacks already this year (DE Jared Allen has 17.5 of them), but with his big arm he should have no problem connecting on some passes down the field.  WRs Jabar Gaffney, Santana Moss and Donte Stallworth are likely going to give the Vikings’ secondary fits.  Opposing QBs have a 110.8 Rating against the Vikings so far this year.

PREDICTION:  REDSKINS 27, VIKINGS 16

The Vikings have lost five games in a row, but the last two of them have been close games.  The Saints have won five games in a row and they are rolling when they get to play inside.  The Saints are trying to get the #2 seed in the NFL Playoffs, so they aren’t going to overlook the Vikings this weekend.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Vikings have the ball:  The Vikings are likely going to try to run the ball more than usual with Adrian Peterson and Toby Gerhart against a Saints’ D that is allowing 4.9 yards per carry and 110.3 rushing yards per game so far this year.  The Vikings should try to play keepaway with the running game, because they aren’t going to win a shootout with the Saints.  The Vikings will try to get the ball in WR Percy Harvin’s hands as much has possible in this game as he is a gamebreaker for the Vikings.  The Vikings will have to give Christian Ponder time to throw the ball, or he’s going to be throwing it to the Saints’ DBs this weekend.

When the Saints have the ball:  The Saints are going to bomb away at a Vikings’ D that is allowing 248.8 yards passing per game and opposing QBs have a Rating of 107.1 against the Vikings so far this year.  Drew Brees is going to have a field day throwing the ball this weekend if DE Jared Allen (17.5 sacks) and the rest of the Vikings get a lot of pressure on him.  The Vikings’ secondary is going to have mis-matches against Marques Colston, Jimmy Graham, Robert Meachem, Lance Moore, Devery Henderson and Darren Sproles.  The Vikings’ front seven is going to have to deal with RBs Darren Sproles, Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory.

PREDICTION:  SAINTS 33, VIKINGS 20

The Vikings have lost four games in a row.  They lost the first meeting with the Lions 26-23 in O.T. in Minnesota.  The Lions have lost three of their last four games and they have given up 130 points in those contests.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Vikings have the ball:  The Vikings might be getting back Adrian Peterson in this game.  It would be perfect timing as the Lions are giving up 125.0 yards rushing per game and 4.8 yards per carry.  If Peterson can’t go, Toby Gerhart will get the call at RB and he will likely be effective.  If Christian Ponder has time to throw the ball, he could have some success down the field throwing  to Percy Harvin and Devin Aromashodu.  Ponder will have to be careful though as the Lions have 15 interceptions already this year.

When the Lions have the ball:  The Vikings better hope that they can get to Matt Stafford, because he’s going to shred the secondary if he has time to throw the ball.  DE Jared Allen (14.5 sacks) will have to get a lot of hits on Stafford or it’s going to be a very long day in Detroit for the Vikings.  Stafford will likely spread the ball around to keep everyone happy, but WR Calvin Johnson will be the main man and he’s going to give the Vikings’ D fits in this game.  Maurice Morris will likely be the main back for the Lions in this game and the Vikings’ front seven should be able to handle stopping him.

PREDICTION:  LIONS 34, VIKINGS 17

The Vikings have lost three games in a row now by a combined score of 96-42!  The Broncos on the other hand, have won 4 games in a row and they are 5-1 with Tim Tebow starting at QB.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Vikings have the ball:  Without Adrian Peterson, the Vikings should come out throwing the ball on the Broncos.  If Christian Ponder has time to throw the ball, he’s likely to have some success as the Broncos are giving up 234.7 yards passing per game.  The problem is that Ponder doesn’t have many weapons in the passing game.  WR Percy Harvin and TE Visanthe Shiancoe should be his top targets tomorrow afternoon.  Toby Gerhart could have some success tomorrow running the ball against a Broncos’ D that is allowing 120.5 yards rushing per game and 4.1 yards per carry.

When the Broncos have the ball:  The Vikings are going to key on stopping Willis McGahee and Tim Tebow from running the ball.  That will be easier said than done as the Broncos are averaging 159.7 yards rushing per game and 4.8 yards per carry.  Still, the Vikings are only giving up 99.6 yards rushing per game and 3.7 yards per carry.  The Vikings have had a ton of injuries in the secondary, so they will try to get a good pass rush on Tim Tebow on passing downs.  If they get in his grill, he might make some mistakes throwing the ball.  The Vikings will likely double cover WR Eric Decker on passing downs and dare Tebow to beat them by throwing to someone else.

PREDICTION:  BRONCOS 17, VIKINGS 13

The Vikings have lost four of their last five games heading into this Sunday against the Falcons in Atlanta.  The Falcons, on the other hand, have won four of their last five games.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Vikings have the ball:  The Vikings are going to likely be without Adrian Peterson this Sunday.  Toby Gerhart will replace him at RB and he’s more of a straight ahead power runner.  That style might not work too good against a Falcons’ D that is only allowing 85.4 yards rushing per game and 3.8 yards per carry.  The Falcons only have 16 sacks this year and they are giving up 254.1 yards passing per game, so the Vikings might be smart to turn Christian Ponder loose.  Percy Harvin and Michael Jenkins are going to be the keys to the passing game as they should be able to stretch the field with their speed.

When the Falcons have the ball:  The Falcons are a pretty balanced team offensively.  Michael Turner (888 yards rushing) is going to get his fair share of carries against the Vikings who are only giving up 3.7 yards per carry this year, so something has to give.  The Vikings are going to be chasing after Matt Ryan in this game in an effort to screw up his timing with Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez and Harry Douglas.  The hard thing about blitzing Ryan is that his receivers are adapt at catching short passed and getting yardage after the catch.

PREDICTION:  FALCONS 23, VIKINGS 21

The Vikings are trying to get back on track after getting thrashed 45-7 by the Packers on Monday Night Football last weekend.  The Raiders beat their division rival (the San Diego Chargers) 24-17 on the road last week and they are now in first place in the AFC West.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Vikings have the ball:  The Vikings are going to feed the ball to Adrian Peterson all day long against a Raiders’ D that is giving up 132.4 yards rushing per game and 5.2 yards per carry so far this year.  As soon as the running game is established, Christian Ponder will be able to use play action passing to get the ball down the field.  The Raiders are giving up 246.0 yards passing per game, so there will be plays to be made down the field to WRs Percy Harvin and Mike Jenkins.

When the Raiders have the ball:  The Raiders are averaging 156.2 yards rushing per game and 5.0 yards per carry so far this year, so they are a run first team.  Darren McFadden is unlikely to play this weekend, but Michael Bush is a pretty darn good RB in his own right.  Still, the Vikings are only giving up 93.9 yards rushing per game and 3.7 yards per carry so far this year, so something has to give.  The Vikings are going to have to get after Carson Palmer in this game, because if the has time to throw the ball he’s likely going to burn them deep with the speed at his disposal at WR.

PREDICTION:  RAIDERS 20, VIKINGS 17

The Vikings won 24-21 two weeks ago and they have had an extra week to get ready for this game due to a bye.  The Packers have won every game this year and the average margin of victory is 12 points!  The Vikings played tough against the Packers three weeks ago in Minnesota as they lost 33-27 to the Packers.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Vikings have the ball:  The Vikings should ride Adrian Peterson hard against a Packers’ D that is allowing 100.0 yards rushing per game and 4.6 yards per carry so far this year.  Christian Ponder will likely keep the passing game of the shorter variety in this game to help negate the Packers’ pass rush.  That means that Percy Harvin, Michael Jenkins and Visanthe Shiancoe are going to have to do a lot of work after the catch.

When the Packers have the ball:  The Packers are going to do what they always do, and that is attack the Vikings’ D with Aaron Rodgers and the passing game.  Rodgers gets rid of the ball so quick that even DE Jared Allen can’t get to him.  Rodgers is going to spread the ball out to a lot of different receivers, making it very hard for the Vikings to consider double covering anyone.  The Packers also have solid RBs in James Starks and Ryan Grant to make the Vikings pay for focusing too much on Rodgers and the passing game.

PREDICTION:  PACKERS 38, VIKINGS 20

The Vikings are a team in disarray right now.  They are going to be without both starting corners tomorrow while also breaking in rookie QB Christian Ponder in his NFL starting debut.  The Packers have looked indestructible so far this year.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Vikings have the ball:  The only chance the Vikings have in this game is to feed the ball to Adrian Peterson.  The Packers are only allowing 84.0 yards rushing per game so far this year, but 4.1 yards per carry.  Most teams are playing from behind and give up on running the ball against the Packers.  The Vikings need to play keepaway in this game.  The Packers have an outstanding pass rushing team, led by OLB Clay Matthews.  Even if the Vikings give Ponder time to throw the ball, he could still have a rough game as the Packers already have 11 pickoffs so far this year.  He is going to have to try to get the ball to Percy Harvin a lot in this game.

When the Packers have the ball:  The Vikings better hope that DEs Jared Allen and Brian Robison can get to Aaron Rodgers, or they are going to be in big, big trouble.  I look for Rodgers to spread the field and to throw the ball to whoever is open.  The Packers average 325.2 yards passing per game and the Vikings are going to be without their starting corners which could lead to disaster.  The Vikings have a good run defense, and the Packers won’t test it too much, because they won’t have to.

PREDICTION:  PACKERS 31, VIKINGS 10

The Vikings are coming off a resounding first victory of the season (34-10 over the Cardinals) last weekend.  But, they are going to Chicago, who swept them by a combined score of 67-27 last year!  The Bears are 2-1 at home this year.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Vikings have the ball:  The Bears are giving up 135.6 yards rushing per game and 5.7 yards per carry so far this year!  With that in mind, expect the Vikings to feed the rock to Adrian Peterson as much as he can handle.  The Vikings are averaging 160.0 yards rushing per game and 5.4 yards per carry so far this year, so look for them to try and be successful at controlling the clock in this game.  DE Julius Peppers is sitting this game out due to injury, so Donovan McNabb should have a lot of time to throw the ball in this game.  I look for McNabb to have a pretty solid game tomorrow night in Chicago.

When the Bears have the ball:  The Bears are going to try to stay balanced in this game.  Matt Forte is having a great year but the Vikings are only allowing 76.4 yards rushing per game and 3.3 yards per carry so far this year.  DE Jared Allen (8.5 sacks), DE Brian Robison (4.5 sacks) and the rest of the D is going to be coming after Jay Cutler all night long.  Cutler could burn the blitz with screen passes to Matt Forte.  He really doesn’t trust any of his WRs as of right now.

PREDICTION:  BEARS 20, VIKINGS 17