The 85 Bears they ain't

I don't understand how, as far as their perception among most media and a lot of fans too, these Bears are considered an unquestionable juggernaut, while this Vikings team is looked at with just constant disdain.

The gap between these two teams is really not that big. It's basically all their schedules if you look at them for more than 2 seconds.

Last year gave us a 1st place schedule while the Bears got the last place schedule. This gave the Bears games against Tampa Bay and the Giants, while we had to play the Eagles and Saints. We both went 1-1 despite us having the much tougher pair of games.

The rest of our schedules had the same teams, but even that has been far from equal. The Vikings had hard road games at LA(on a short week), New England and Seattle. The Bears got all 3 of those teams at home, and played Seattle early before they caught stride. We had to play San Francisco when they had Jimmy Garappolo. They got to face Nick Mullens. We had to play the Packers twice when they still had hope. Chicago got to play a truly engaged Packers team only once....and lost.

Everythig else has basically been a wash. The Bears barely won at Arizona, we handled them. They lost at Miami, we beat them. We lost to Buffalo, they blew them out in Buffalo(their only impressive road win). We both swept Detroit.

And no, I'm not forgetting that Sunday night game. They dominated us most of that game. I'm not even saying the Vikings have had the better season. My issue is with this perception that the Vikings season has been some sort of disaster.

Yes, we've heard ad nauseum the "Vikings haven't beaten a team with a winning record" line. Funny how those same people who have beaten that drum now have nothing to say about the Eagles game. It may be our only win over a winning team, but it's the win that has this team in a win and in position tomorrow. But reverse these schedules. I bet my life that the Vikings would have at least the same 11-4 record the Bears do. I damn sure wouldn't bet my life the Bears would have just 6 losses.

Yes the Vikings strength of victory is weak. But that doesn't take into account home vs road. Their strength of loss, even including Buffalo, has to be the highest of any playoff contenders. I feel safe saying that no team still in playoff contention has had a tougher road schedule this season. And more than ever in this league, home field advantage makes a huge difference(just look at the Patriots).

Yes, I know, they haven't overcome this schedule. They went 0-4 on the road against playoff teams, and lost to the Saints. If they win tomorrow, it will be their only win this year against a playoff team. And I already know that if we do win, these same assholes will say "well the Bears weren't REALLY trying that hard" or some other excuse.

But this is not the Mike Ditka Bears taking the field at the purple palace tomorrow. And they aren't facing a team coached by Les Steckel. The gap ain't that big. It just isn't.