Need reasons to watch? Try these on for size
On paper, Monday night's game against the Vikings looks like it could get ugly, considering the Bears are playing out the schedule and the Vikings have won three straight games by 20 points or more for the first time in their 46-year history.
But who can resist the urge to gawk at a train wreck?
That's what the Bears' season has become, but there are some compelling reasons to watch and/or listen to Monday's contest:
• Minnesota's Adrian Peterson has a legitimate shot to reset the NFL record of 296 rushing yards he established on Nov. 4, his eighth game in the NFL. He might be able to do it in the first half against a Bears defense that he gouged for 224 yards on Oct. 14.
The Bears' defense is No. 24 against the run and already has three tackles on injured reserve: Dusty Dvoracek and Anthony Adams, who were starters when they went down, and backup Antonio Garay. The Bears' best tackle, Tommie Harris, has been playing hurt for weeks, and so has Darwin Walker, who might not even suit up.
Peterson might need to set the record to outrush teammate Chester Taylor, whose average of 5.3 yards per carry is second best in the NFL among players with more than 100 carries, trailing only Peterson's 6.1-yard average. Taylor had 101 rushing yards last week and 164 four weeks ago.
• It might be fun to hear Bears radio play-by-play man Jeff Joniak and color analyst Tom Thayer say "Babatunde Oshinowo, Adewale Ogunleye and Israel Idonije" in the same sentence, since all three defensive linemen could be on the field at the same time.
• If he gets enough carries, the Bears' Adrian Peterson, running behind an ineffective offensive line, might actually make it to the line of scrimmage against the No. 1 run defense in the NFL.
Then again, maybe not. The Bears' A.P. averaged 2.1 yards per carry against Washington last week with a long of 7 yards. In his last five games, Peterson has averaged 2.4 yards per carry, and on 91 carries this season he has a long gain of 11 yards.
He is an excellent receiver, though, with 41 catches already, and it might be in the Bears' best interest to abandon the run and get off the bus throwing.
• The return of Kyle Orton. The well-rested, third-year quarterback hasn't taken a meaningful snap since New Year's Day 2006. That's why he's actually looking forward to being tossed into such a difficult situation -- trying to operate in the din of the Metrodome.
After sitting for two years, Orton would probably welcome the opportunity to play against one of the hottest teams in the NFL, even without benefit of a running game.
Actually, that's exactly the situation he's in. The Bears are second to last in the NFL in yards per carry and in rushing yards, and the Vikings have won four in a row and five of their last six.
• There's always the chance, admittedly infinitesimal, that the Bears could torpedo the Vikings' playoff hopes as a payback for the way the Vikings derailed the Bears' season in Week 6. Needing a victory to get back to .500, the Bears staged a furious comeback, scoring 14 points in 58 seconds late in the fourth quarter, only to lose on Ryan Longwell's career-best, 55-yard field goal as time expired to fall to 2-4.
Payback, however unlikely, would be sweet.