Really like Minny here. Chicago gave up 300 yrds +5 TD's to Peterson last year. Chicago will stack the line and stop him? Well they are really beaten up in the secondary. Vikes should dominate the line play on both sides of the ball. Bears not running as well as earlier in the season either. Thinking Berrian has a big game vs the Bears here too.
Bears secondary plagued by rash of injuries in loss
By: Larry Mayer | Last Updated: 10/12/2008 11:32 PM
ATLANTA – One more injury in the secondary Sunday in Atlanta and converted cornerbacks Rashied Davis and Devin Hester just might have been moved back to their original position.
<table width="200" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td>
Roddy White beats Marcus Hamilton for a 3-yard TD reception Sunday at the Georgia Dome.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Corey Graham and Marcus Hamilton were the Bears’ only two healthy cornerbacks after Charles Tillman and Trumaine McBride exited in the first half with shoulder injuries.
Nickel back Danieal Manning also was forced to leave in the third quarter with a pulled hamstring. “Of course that hurt,” coach Lovie Smith said after the Bears’ shocking 22-20 loss to the Falcons. “When you lose three DBs that would have played, that hurts. [But] we had ourselves in position [to win]. Injuries are part of the game. I’m sure they lost some guys too.”
The Bears were already shorthanded at cornerback with Nate Vasher on the inactive list for the second straight week due to a wrist injury. Tillman then joined him on the sideline after tangling with receiver Roddy White on a deep pass down the right sideline. White was penalized for pass interference, but the play ultimately turned out to be costlier for the Bears.
Tillman originally hurt his shoulder two weeks ago against the Eagles. But he started last weekend against the Detroit Lions and again Sunday versus the Falcons.
“He’s our best player in the secondary,” said safety Mike Brown. “He makes a lot of plays for us. He’s a warrior and he was out there playing hurt. I wouldn’t put it past him that he’ll be back out there next week, but it does hurt to lose your best player in the secondary.”
Hamilton, who was claimed off waivers by the Bears Sept. 23 from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, allowed White’s 3-yard TD reception early in the fourth quarter and failed to prevent Michael Jenkins from catching a 26-yard pass from Matt Ryan that set up Jason Elam's game-winning 48-yard field goal.
“[Hamilton] was facing a bad situation,” Graham said. “Everybody got hurt, and you get thrown in there and you’ve just got to go out there and try to do your best.”
When Manning exited, the Bears kept their base defense on the field, meaning that strongside linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer was not replaced by a fifth defensive back.
“I don’t think that had a big bearing on some of the things that ended up happening,” said defensive coordinator Bob Babich. “Hunter understands what he has to do. He’s played that position before. As a defense, we just didn’t execute, and that all starts with me.”
