Back in the old days, when the Bears were leading the Minnesota Vikings 20-9 in the third quarter on Sept. 3, it was a time of hope and promise in Chicago. It was opening day of the NFL season and the future looked bright.
Q–What happened?
A–The fourth quarter. Reality. Little did anyone know, but the lead over Minnesota was the highlight of the Bears’ season, which lasted all of 45 minutes.
Q–But what about that win over Green Bay?
A–Picking on the poor Packers doesn’t count this year. The Vikings are undefeated.
Q–Why are they playing the Bears again?
A–Everybody wants to play the Bears as often as possible.
Q–But why in prime time?
A–Actually ESPN secretly is hoping for another power outage in the Loop.
Q–Are the Vikings really this good?
A–There’s a popular saying in football: Nothing is ever as great as it seems or as bad as it seems. The Vikings and Bears, however, are planning to test that axiom.
Q–Why didn’t the Bears draft Daunte Culpepper?
A–They liked him, but they liked Cade McNown better. They watched Culpepper at little Central Florida and McNown at big UCLA and thought McNown would adapt to the pros faster than Culpepper. They thought Culpepper’s strength was operating in a short passing game and they wondered how fast he would develop.
Q–Then why did the Vikings like him well enough to take him when they didn’t even need a starting quarterback last season?
A–Remember, coach Dennis Green got flak for taking him ahead of defensive star Jevon Kearse. But Green believed Culpepper was the best athlete of the quarterback class and had great potential. Coming off a 15-1 season, the Vikings had the luxury of taking a chance. The year before they hit big with Randy Moss, so they were allowed an extra roll of the dice, not that the NCAA’s leading passer should be that much of a gamble.
More Top Picks Best Home Gym Equipment For Plus Size Beginners
Q–How do the Vikings keep coming up with these players?
A–Nobody in the NFL does a better job than the Vikings’ scouting staff, led by Frank Gilliam, Jerry Reichow, Paul Wiggin and Scott Studwell. Plus Green has a knack for eyeing talent himself. They consistently find good players in every draft. They have all been together in the same system for years and know what they want.
“We are a power-running team,” Green explains, “so we like big linemen. And we like the vertical passing attack, so we try to get big receivers. We like tall receivers. We’re pretty clearly defined on what we want.”
Q–Who is their latest find?
A–Chris Hovan, the rookie defensive tackle from Boston College. He was their No. 1 pick. Last Monday night his play inside allowed John Randle to move outside to rush the passer. Hovan helps make the Vikings better on defense than they were last year.
Q–Could the Vikings have a letdown?
A–Sure, but as soon as they beat Tampa Bay last Monday night, they started talking about how the Bears were ahead of them 20-9 back in the days of yore, when expectations were grand in Chicago and the White Sox were getting ready for the playoffs.