Vikings' defense going back to fundamentals

Despite playing indoors on the speedy turf of the Metrodome, don't expect the Bears and Vikings to put on repeat performance of the 48-41 shootout the teams engaged in at Soldier Field in October.

"That was kind of an anomaly for us over there - on both sides," said Vikings defensive end Jared Allen. "We were laughing about it after the game. I told (Brian) Urlacher, 'Who would've thought the over/under would've been like 90 points?' "

Allen and Company plan to do their part to keep the scoring down Sunday night by returning to the fundamentals.

"We just have to tackle," Allen said. "We can't allow yards after the catch. We were able to shut the run down pretty well last time. Kudos to (the Bears), they did a great job of turning short passes into long gains. That's something that we've got to clean up."

So, take the under Sunday night?

"I don't know," Allen said. "I don't give out any gambling advice."

Not too shabby yourself: Shortly after Lovie Smith told Minnesota reporters that Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is "the best player in the league," Minnesota coach Brad Childress continued the lovefest with some kind words for Bears rookie Matt Forte.

"I just don't see big ups and downs (with him)," Childress said. "He is a patient runner and he can also run with power and speed and he can make you miss. He's got a little slide in him.

"The other thing is how they deploy him, which speaks to what kind of player he is. I think it speaks to the job they've done coaching him but also playing in a versatile offense at Tulane."

He said it: Minnesota's Jared Allen on the possibility of losing defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams soon to a league-sanctioned suspension: "That's out of my control; that's more up to the league. Right now, we got 'em, and that's what we're going to play with."