Oct. 30--After an open date, the Chicago Bears will return to action Sunday at Soldier Field against the Minnesota Vikings. In a pivotal divisional contest, the Bears will have their hands full on both sides of the ball. The defense will try to slow Vikings running back Adrian Peterson while the offense must contain a versatile Vikings' pass rush. In the lead up to Sunday's contest, here are a handful of eye-opening facts and figures.
15: Vikings players, among their current 22 offensive and defensive starters, who entered the league as draft picks of the organization. That includes eight first-round picks: Chad Greenway (2006), Adrian Peterson (2007), Matt Kalil (2012) Harrison Smith (2012), Xavier Rhodes (2013), Sharrif Floyd (2013), Anthony Barr (2014) and Teddy Bridgewater (2014).
11: Bears players, among their 22 starters, who were drafted by the team. That includes three first-rounders: Shea McClellin (2012), Kyle Long (2013) and Kyle Fuller (2015).
97.2: Receiving yards per game by Alshon Jeffery in five career contests against the Vikings. In last season's Bears win at Soldier Field, Jeffery totaled 11 catches, 135 yards and a TD. A year earlier, in a 23-20 overtime loss at the Metrodome, Jeffery set a franchise record with 249 receiving yards plus two touchdowns on 12 catches.
136: Touchdown passes by Bears quarterback Jay Cutler during his seven seasons with the organization. Cutler's next TD pass will tie the franchise record set by Sid Luckman,.
3: Vikings players who were with the club when they last won at Soldier Field. Greenway, Peterson and defensive end Brian Robison are the only players who enjoted the team's last win in Chicago, a 34-31 victory on Oct. 14, 2007. Overall, the Vikings are 1-11 at Soldier Field since the stadium reopened in 2003.
2-13-1: Vikings record in NFC North road games since the 2010 season began. That includes Sunday's 28-19 win over the Lions at Ford Field.
1,037: Combined rushing yardage this season by Peterson (530) and Bears running back Matt Forte (507). Peterson currently ranks fourth in the NFL in rushing yardage. Forte is now sixth. Since 2008, when Forte entered the league as a second-round pick, only four NFL running backs have piled up more than 8,000 rushing yards. Peterson leads the way with 9,379 followed by Chris Johnson (9,195), Forte (8,211) and Frank Gore (8,114).
4: Takeaways by the Bears' defense through the first six games. That includes interceptions by linebackers Jared Allen, Pernell McPhee and Jonathan Anderson and a fumble recovery by Sam Acho. The Bears also have three fumble recoveries on special teams, on pace for 19 total takeaways for the year.
dwiederer@tribpub.com
