Bears-Vikings MNF Liveblog

8:12 - Forte with a 5-yard run for first down, but it was a complete cutback, so he probably ran more like 30 just to get it.

8:14 - Desmond Clark and Jasper Brinkley get a little chippy after a long hit on second down following a 4-yard reception.

8:15 - Cutler incomplete to Olsen on third. Miscommunication, because Olsen wasn't ready,

"Those are plays that Bears fans don't like at all," Gruden says.

8:16 - Gould field goal = good, by the way. Bears: 6, Vikings: 0.

8:17 - Back-to-back Blackhawks "One Goal" commercials remind me what sport we should be exclusively watching. Best record in the NHL, people.

8:18 - Pro Bowl rosters get announced tomorrow. Will any Bears make it? Yes? No? Briggs?

Our man has one tackle (for a loss) so far.

8:22 - Peterson with a 7-yard run that killed just about everybody. Realistically, how many super-high level seasons does he have left? You'd like to think less than three.

8:23 - The Vikings are somewhat gashing on the run, and relatively competent in the passing game... yet, zero points thus far, and we're 20 minutes into the game.

8:24 - Taylor stopped on a third down run, bring up a 4th and 2 on the 50.

8:26 - Chris Kluwe with a BOOMING 16-yard punt.

"That is awful. Wow," Tirico says.

8:27 - ESPN heads to commercial: "Little dicey if you're a Viking fan right now -- your team's got some issues," Tirico says menacingly.

As a Bears fan, I almost find that more offensive.

8:28 - Bears are gonna start at their own 32. Let the rock and roll begin.

8:29 - Kahlil Bell with 6 and 7-yard runs on his first two carries. Jaws takes some veiled shots at Forte as he compliments Bell's speed.

8:29 - Cutler to Olsen for 24 yards. Why couldn't the whole season be like this?

8:30 - ESPN break: Texas Tech coach Mike Leach suspended for the bowl game. And the allegations sound juicy. Something about putting a concussion kid in a closet for three hours... which is probably bad for everyone involved.

8:33 - Back to Bell -- count me among those people who totally overvalue him because he broke that, like, 50-yard run on his first NFL carry in the Eagles game a few weeks ago. That thing was like hitting a home run on opening day. It's like a free pass forever!

("Forever" meaning "a few months"...)

8:34 - Chicago with a false start after a time-out. That's our Bears!

8:34 - 3rd and 9 from the Vikings 28. Cutler hits Devin Aromashodu for a 26-yard gain down to the 2-yard line.

And if there's one thing everyone can agree on, it's that "AH-ROMAshodu!" is incredibly fun to say.



8:35 - Bears false start. Fuck.

8:35 - That shit don't matter, though! Cutler to Olsen for a 7-yard TD on 1st and goal.

"This looks like the Jay Cutler the Chicago Bears thought they were getting when they made the deal!" ... Oh fuck you, Gruden. Don't ruin this moment.

Bears: 13, Vikings: 0

8:39 - "He can rotate the spheroid!" says Jaws, analyzing some slow-mo Cutler throws from the previous drive.

This game is making me forget everything.

8:39 - The 13 points is the largest first half deficit the Vikings have faced all season. So, basically, the Bears are playing about as good as possible.

8:40 - Favre incomplete to Berrian on 3rd and 4 from the Vikings 40. Bernard was open, but Favre's throw was behind him.

8:43 - Bears are startin' from their own 23. Cutler misses AH-ROMAshodu! on a deep double-move via play action pass.

8:44 - "Eleven Vandy guys in the league, and five of them are Bears," Tirico says.

Is that quote even worth touching?

8:45 - Two fail-ish plays -- one which included a -7 yard pass to Matt Forte -- and a 50-yard Maynard punt gives the Vikes the ball on their 32.

8:45 - 2:50 left in the 2nd, and Peterson has 28 yards on eight carries. I accept this.

8:46 - Peterson stuffed for -1 on a second down run which takes us to the two-minute warning.

8:49 - I actually turned down a ticket to tonight's game. In retrospect... I still would have turned it down, but this has been fun. In better news, Tirico is inexplicably wearing an all-black baseball hat. Who approved of this? Just let him wear the Detroit Tigers one you know he wants to wear.

8:50 - I believe we've heard Jared Allen's name less than two times tonight.

8:51 - I'm not going to say "Cuter looks on, man" ... because he still scares the hell out of me. But we can compromise and say he looks Jay Cutler On. Which means he's playing well but still scaring the hell out of you.

8:52 - Jared Allen's name gets dropped. But it's in a "he's not succeeding" context. So that's fine.