Bears' focus on Vikings, not confusion over site

Given that the Bears have lost seven of their last eight games against Minnesota inside the Metrodome, the proposed switch to the University of Minnesota's outdoor TCF Bank Stadium can only help the visitors.

The Bears have dropped three straight in the Vikings' dome, which has been rendered uninhabitable because of the gaping hole that was ripped in the inflatable roof last week by heavy snow.

Work is under way to prepare the Gophers' outdoor site by Monday night, but it still must pass an NFL inspection. Other unnamed sites are being considered.

The Vikings issued this statement Wednesday afternoon:

“At this time, NFL officials are touring TCF Bank Stadium to ensure its safety for our fans and its ability to meet the primary technical requirements for an NFL game. Ultimately the decision to relocate a game is the league's in consultation with the two teams. The NFL supports the plan to play Monday night's game at TCF Bank Stadium but is currently ensuring viability of this plan.”

Bears players had not been told definitively as of Wednesday afternoon where the game would be played.

Their focus is on the opponent. The Bears clinch the NFC North title with a victory coupled with a Green Bay Packers loss at New England.

“There's still some speculation to the location,” Bears defensive end Israel Idonije said. “I'm not sure where we're playing yet. But that doesn't matter. Wherever it is, if it's in the parking lot, we'll both be on the same parking lot playing and both teams have to adjust.”

The Vikings clearly have the bigger adjustment to the outdoors.

They are 1-4 outdoors this season, including the 27-13 loss to the Bears at Soldier Field on Nov. 14. The Bears are 6-4 outside and have won all three of their indoor games, but those were against Dallas, Buffalo (in Toronto) and Detroit.

In the last two games at the Metrodome, the Bears were outscored 70-24. So they'll gladly take a pass on the controlled climate and deal with the cold and snow.

“We're not playing conditions or stadium; we're playing the Vikings,” said Bears long snapper Patrick Mannelly. “So, first and foremost, we've got to worry about them and then we'll go from there.”

TCF Bank Stadium does not have an underground heating system like Soldier Field or the Bears' practice field at Halas Hall, so footing on a wet or frozen field could be a concern.

“In that type of situation, you have to keep in mind what the footing is,” said Bears running back Matt Forte. “You can't go out there and think that you can run like you're indoors.

“Sometimes you've got to run a little flat-footed until you see a hole and then you've got to burst through it.

“I think by us playing outside, we're a little more used to being in those kind of elements than they are.”

The Bears failed miserably at handling adverse conditions in Sunday's 36-7 loss to New England, when Forte managed just 25 yards on nine carries and Chester Taylor's 3 carries totaled 1 yard.

But they do have the experience.

“It's something we've got to play through,” Forte said. “We did it last week. We've just got to do it better this week.”

ŸFollow Bob LeGere's Bears reports via Twitter@BobLeGere. Check out his blog, Bear Essentials, at dailyherald.com.