• WHO: Chicago Bears (7-8) at Minnesota Vikings (3-12).

• WHEN: Sunday, noon, Fox.

• OPENING LINE: Bears by 1.

• RECORD VS. SPREAD: Chicago 7-8; Minnesota 6-8-1.

• SERIES RECORD: Vikings lead 52-47-2. Last meeting, Bears beat
Vikings 39-10, Oct. 16.

• NFL RANKINGS: Bears’ offense, overall (20), rushing (8), passing
(26); Bears’ defense, overall (18), rushing (6), passing (28);
Vikings’ offense, overall (18), rushing (4), passing (28); Vikings’
defense, overall (25), rushing (12), passing (29).

• FACTS & FIGURES: Bears have won four straight in series,
their longest since six in a row from 1983-86 and longest overall
in this rivalry since Vikings won four straight over 1997 and 1998
seasons. … Bears have only won at Metrodome once since 2002,
19-16 in 2006. These teams didn’t play at site, now known as Mall
of America Field, last season because of roof collapse that forced
game outside to TCF Bank Stadium on University of Minnesota campus.
… Home team has won 16 of last 19 meetings. … Bears averaging
35.5 points in Past four games against Vikings. … In 10 games
against Vikings, WR/KR/PR Devin Hester has nine of his 30 career
TDs, five receiving and four returning. He scored twice in last
meeting. … RB Kahlil Bell, filling in for injured Matt Forte
(sprained right knee), had career-high 121 yards rushing last week.
Vikings have given up 302 yards rushing in Past two games. …
Bears have lost five straight since starting 7-3. … Vikings QB
Christian Ponder expected to play after being knocked out of last
game with concussion; RB Adrian Peterson is having surgery to
repair tears in ACL and MCL in left knee. … Vikings trying to
avoid matching worst finish in their 51-year history, 3-13 in 1984.
… Jared Allen has 18 1/2 sacks, four off NFL single-season record
and 2 1/2 short of team single-season record. … TE Jim
Kleinsasser will play in his last game, ending 13-year career. He
has played in more games than any TE in Vikings history.

- By The AP.

MOORHEAD – Minnesota Vikings fans may have to curb their newfound enthusiasm about news of an agreement for a new stadium.

State Representative Morrie Lanning of Moorhead responded on Monday to reports made by NBC’s Football Night in America contributor Peter King that a stadium deal between the National Football League team and the state was close and no longer a matter of “if” but “when.”

“He (King) did not talk with me, and as far as I know there is nothing new to report,” said Lanning about King’s report that was televised Sunday evening. “My understanding is that he talked with one or two people either from the Vikings or the NFL and put the most positive spin on whatever he heard from those people.”

Lanning, who represents District 9A, also said he could see why people reading King’s report would think there would be something new to report on the stadium issue.

The Minnesota Vikings (3-12) are set to play their final game under its current lease agreement with the Metrodome on Sunday against the Chicago Bears. The team has played at the Metrodome since 1982.

The Vikings have said they will not renew their lease with the Metrodome at the end of this season if there is not a deal for a new stadium in place.

Los Angeles land developers have expressed interest in bringing football to the city and there is a belief that the Vikings would be a leading candidate to relocate if the state legislature can’t pass a stadium bill to keep the team in Minnesota.

Lanning said lawmakers are set to meet again this week to continue discussions.

“Later in the week and next week will be a critical time to set forth a proposal,” Lanning said.

Lanning also said the naming of the new Senate majority leader will be a big development in future stadium discussions. He told The Forum it was his understanding the new Senate majority leader could be decided as early as today, but also said it could be delayed if not all members of the Republican caucus are in agreement.

Currently there a several parties working on keeping the Vikings in Minnesota, including the team itself.

There are plans for a stadium to be built in Arden Hills, Minn. – located in Ramsey County – along with possible building sites being discussed in Minneapolis.

The Vikings have played in Minnesota since they entered the NFL as an expansion franchise in 1961.

The key problem surrounding the stadium has been funding.

Minnesota is in a budget crunch and many state legislators have publicly voiced concerns over giving large amounts of state funds for the construction of a stadium.

Lanning, along with State Senator Julie Rosen of Fairmont and Governor Mark Dayton, have been the key figures in the stadium debate.

“We remain hopeful and optimistic of putting a reasonable plan to submit to the legislature,” Lanning said. “We’re just not there yet.”

---

Readers can reach Forum copy editor

Tom Mix at (701) 451-5750

Tags:
sports, viking, football

Inside The Game: New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings. Kickoff is at noon Sunday at Mall of America Field

Coaches: Sean Payton (59-34 regular season; 4-2 postseason in six seasons, all with the Saints), Leslie Frazier (2-11 in first season with Vikings)

TV: Fox-8; Dick Stockton play-by-play, John Lynch color.

Radio: 870-AM, 1-5.3-FM, 830-AM (Spanish broadcast)

KEEP AN EYE ON:

THE VIKINGS’ QB

Or, more accurately, who will that Vikings quarterback be? To start, anyway, this apparently will be rookie Christian Ponder. Since the Donovan McNabb experiment yielded few positive results, Minnesota has chosen to go with its first-round selection out of Florida State. The move has produced its own mixed results. Indeed, when Vikings defensive end Jared Allen was asked about Ponder’s development last week, he steered clear of the kind of unqualified support a veteran usually offers up on such a conference call and acknowledged it has been a rocky road. Ponder has looked excellent at times — he threw for more than 300 yards against the Broncos — but more than a handful of interceptions have been sprinkled among the highlights (picks cost Minnesota that Denver game, for example). In the past two games, Ponder has been responsible for seven turnovers (five interceptions and two lost fumbles). A plethora of picks early caused Frazier to bench Ponder last week against the Lions, and his second-half replacement – no-name backup Joe Webb – nearly led the Vikings to a comeback road victory. Frazier insists Ponder remains the Man in Minneapolis, but the Saints could face a situation similar to the one that caused them some trouble in Nashville last week when the Titans had to replace starter Matt Hasselbeck with rookie Jake Locker. Locker’s athleticism allowed him to make plays, and while Webb didn’t light it up through the air in Detroit — he completed just 12 of 23 attempts for 84 yards and a touchdown — he ran for 109 yards (a club record for QBs) on just seven carries, one of them a 65-yard touchdown scamper.

SAINTS LB JO-LONN DUNBAR

Rather quietly, Dunbar has put together an outstanding year for New Orleans in his fourth season out of Boston College. Thrust into a starter’s role when Jonathan Vilma missed time because of knee surgery, Dunbar responded. In the three games Vilma was inactive, Dunbar recorded 16 solo stops and 10 assists. Last week against Tennessee, with Vilma in the lineup, Dunbar still saw lots of time and made the critical final tackle — a sack — on Locker near the goal line to salvage the win. Vilma has been limited at practice this week as the Saints try to keep his knee free of soreness, but regardless, Dunbar has earned his snaps. Should the Vikings make a move at quarterback (see above), the young and athletic Dunbar will bear scrutiny on defense.

KEY MATCHUPS

SAINTS OL vs. VIKINGS DE JARED ALLEN

Allen’s quips about New Orleans’ “Third World” appearance probably won’t motivate the Saints’ offensive line as much as the fact quarterback Drew Brees has been sacked just three times in the past five games (the last of them coming in Nashville when Brees held the ball far too long). Not coincidentally, all five of those games have been New Orleans victories. Allen will put those outstanding stats to the test. He leads the NFL with 17.5 sacks and is on a pace to beat the league record in that category held by Michael Strahan. Nor is he a flash in the pan, as his 100.5 sacks since 2004 attest. Payton said his offensive scheme will do what it can to make things tough for Allen. Brees will roll out more, for example, and the Saints will employ a variety of “launch points” for the quarterback so that neither Allen nor his colleagues on the defensive front can key on one spot. But in the end, it will come down to the Saints’ offensive linemen (with a little help from a back from time to time) making sure Brees “stays clean.” Guard Carl Nicks says he’s already fretting about the looming fight. “Basically we’ve got to double-team him, chip him with tight ends and running backs, I’m going to slide over there to help — you hate to give up all your playbook but, hey, 17.5 sacks speaks for itself. So, you’ve got to stop him. You have to. You’ve got to respect a guy like that. It’s a sin on us if we let their best guy beat us. We know he’s there, everybody knows he’s there, if we’re going to get beat, let’s have it be by somebody else, anybody but him.”

SAINTS SECONDARY vs. VIKINGS WR PERCY HARVIN

The Saints’ kicking game, in the person of punter Thomas Morstead, likely will go a long way toward neutralizing Harvin as a return man. But he still poses a threat as a receiver. Indeed, in the past month, Harvin’s 38 catches and five touchdowns lead all NFL receivers. When the Saints faced the Lions two weeks ago, they managed to neutralize Calvin Johnson, whom Payton called “the best receiver in football.” Harvin, however, presents a different problem than Johnson, who wins most battles with his size. “That’s a playmaker, that’s one of the great athletes in the NFL,” Saints cornerback Patrick Robinson said when asked the first thing that came to mind with Harvin. “Fast, strong, elusive.” Both Payton and Robinson stressed the threat Harvin presents in terms of yards after the catch. “When you’re playing a guy like that, as far as routes he’s not going to be doing post-corners or wraps or anything like that. But doing drive routes, some things to get him open, it’s his speed you’ve got to worry about.”

BY THE NUMBERS

8-18 – The Saints’ all-time record against Minnesota, the worst of any team in the NFL that New Orleans has played more than 10 times. 11/28/93 – The last time the Saints beat the Vikings in Minnesota. 2-0 – The Saints’ record against the Vikings the past two times the teams have met, including the 2009 NFC championship game. 60.3 – Ponder’s completion rate on third down, tied for 11th in the NFL. 70 – Brees’ completion rate on third down, best in the NFL.

FROM THE COACH’S MOUTH

“I think the numbers are real high. I think that’s one of our keys each week, and it’s an important statistic. It’s not the same as a turnover, but when you’re out on third down and punting the football, essentially you’ve turned the ball over to their offense. When you’re on the field defensively, have a chance for a stop and don’t get it, they obviously receive more plays. I think our players understand the significance of getting off the field on third down and being able to put together drives. I think it’s been something that we’ve improved at.” – Payton on the Saints’ third-down effectiveness on both sides of the ball.

For the record: Vikings 2-9, last place NFC North; Broncos 6-5, second place AFC West.

Last game: The Vikings lost their third consecutive game, 24-14 at Atlanta.

Who’s hot: Defensive end Jared Allen is having yet another Pro Bowl season and is second in the league with 13.5 sacks, just a half sack behind leader DeMarcus Ware. Allen also has three forced fumbles. Sunday against Atlanta, he displayed another talent when he filled in for Minnesota’s injured long snapper.

Who’s not: Minnesota’s offensive line has struggled to protect rookie quarterback Christian Ponder, allowing 18 sacks in the five games since Ponder replaced Donovan McNabb as the starting quarterback. Ponder has been sacked at least three times in each of the past four games.

Key stat: The Vikings are struggling in the passing game, both offensively and defensively. Minnesota is throwing for only 179 yards per game, ranked No. 30 in the league, while allowing 258.2 passing yards per game, only one spot better at No. 29.

FYI: Star running back Adrian Peterson missed Sunday’s game at Atlanta, and his status for this week’s game against Denver will be up in the air all week. His replacement, Toby Gerhart, rushed for 44 yards against the Falcons.

Coachspeak: “The fact that our guys are still battling, still giving us a chance in the fourth quarter — that is what is encouraging. I think our coaches, our players, are going to continue to fight; we’ve got the resolve to do so. We’ve just got to execute and play better.”

— Minnesota coach Leslie Frazier on Monday, a day after the Vikings’ loss to Atlanta. The Vikings scored 14 points in the second half.

Lindsay H. Jones, The Denver Post