Following Monday night’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the Chicago Bears defense will try to redeem themselves against the Minnesota Vikings.

The Bears gave up 355 total yards, including 243 and two touchdowns to first-time starter Colin Kaepernick.

The defense looked off from the beginning and was never able to recover.

Sunday afternoon, the Bears head back home to face the a Vikings team who is a surprising 6-4 this season, led by running back Adrian Peterson.

Less than nine months after tearing both his ACL and MCL in his left knee, Peterson returned to the field for the Vikings.  Many thought it would take him some time to strengthen his knee before taking on a heavy workload, but now heading into the 12th week of the season, he leads the NFL in rushing yards with 1,128. In his last four games, he is averaging nearly 158 yards per game.

His combination of speed, strength and agility makes him one of, if not the best running back in the game.  Many were skeptical if he would still be able to cut the same way on his surgically repaired knee, but he has looked just as good as ever this season.

Apart from his first meeting against the Bears in his rookie season in which he rushed for 224 yards and three touchdowns, Peterson has averaged 86 yards per game and only 45 per game in his last two.

Monday night should have taught the Bears the benefit of wrapping up, as they struggled to take down Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter all night.  Linebackers Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher will have to move more fluidly to the runner on Sunday in comparison to Monday night if they have any chance at slowing down Peterson.

A questionable first-round pick of the Vikings in 2011, Christian Ponder has had his share of ups and downs this season. He has put up strong performances, such as his 24-of-32 for 331 yards and two-touchdown performance against the Lionsin Week 10 but has had notable poor performances like the ones against the Seahawks and the Cardinals(average 36.4 QB rating).The Bears will have to get pressure on Ponder, as he has a tendency to rush plays when under duress. He does have the ability to get out of the pocket and run, but he doesn’t have the ability to throw the ball downfield accurately and has benefited from the strong play of Percy Harvin.

Harvin has been, along with Peterson, a lightning rod for the Vikings offense. His status is still up in the air for Sunday following a sprained ankle in Week 10 (h/t ESPN), but the Bears will need to be prepared for him.  He plays well in space, and the Vikings like to utilize his quickness with short screens, running slants and even running him out of the backfield.

It will be interesting to see who the Bears line up with him (likely Tim Jennings), and they will have to get better play from safeties Chris Conte and Major Wright.

Veterans Michael Jenkins and Jerome Simpson provide big targets downfield, but Ponder has simply struggled to get them the ball. Still, the Bears secondary will need to be cautious of their ability.

Tight end Kyle Rudolph came back alive in Week 10, hauling in seven catches for 64 yards and one touchdown following a three-game stretch in which he only caught two passes 17 yards.  He is quick and sure-handed, and he has good size that can cause defenses fits.

The Bears struggled against 49ers tight end Vernon Davis, and expect Major Wright to get plenty of snaps lined up against Rudolph.  He will have to use his speed to keep up with him, primarily in the red zone.

While the Vikings’ success running the ball largely hinges on the incredible abilities of Adrian Peterson, the offensive line has played tremendously in the running game this season. The left side is anchored by 2012 fourth overall pick Matt Kalil, and he has lived up to the hype.  He has been great in pass protection and has shown to be a powerful run blocker, but he still has room for improvement.He’ll be likely facing Julius Peppers on Sunday and will have to go up against one of the best pass-rushers in the game.  Peppers will have to be mindful, though, of Ponder’s ability to run outside of the pocket and will have to fight against rushing too deep.

Left guard Charlie Johnson and center John Sullivan are experienced veterans, and Johnson has made a seamless move from left tackle to left guard.  The right side of the line is less known, with Brandon Fusco and Phil Loadholt, but both have played well and continue to make progress each week.  The Bears struggled to get any pass rush on Monday night, and they may try and attack the less-talented right side of the line.

Matt Eurich is a contributor to Bearsbacker.com. Follow Bears Backer on Facebook and Twitter for up to the minute news about the Bears. Also, check out Matt’s work on BleacherReport.com and follow him on Twitter @MattEurich.

Last year, after compiling a 7-3 record, the Bears appeared right on track toward making a playoff berth. Following a 31-20 win over the Chargers in Week 11, it was discovered that quarterback Jay Cutler broke his thumb and would likely be out for the remainder of the season.

The Bears moved forward with backup Caleb Hanie. Then-General Manager Jerry Angelo felt strongly enough about his abilities as a backup and failed to sign a more proven veteran.

Many felt Hanie’s NFC Championship Game experience from the year prior where he came in for the injured Cutler and went 13-20 for 153 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, was proof he could be a viable option.

Hanie struggled mightily in his four starts, going 51-102 for 613 yards, three touchdowns, nine interceptions with a 41.8 quarterback rating.

The Bears started veteran Josh McCown, who was signed as insurance following the Cutler injury, for the final two games, going 1-1, losing to Green Bay and beating Minnesota.

Following the struggles of 2011, the Bears management decided to part ways with Angelo, hiring former Kansas City Chief’s director of scouting, Phil Emery.

Emery made it abundantly clear that he wanted to improve the roster and fight for a championship (h/t Chicago Sun Times):

“My job moving forward … is to continue to build this team so that we can be consistent winners and consistently be in the hunt to win championships.”

Emery made his splashes early, trading for the much maligned yet extremely talented Brandon Marshall and signing one of the best quarterbacks on the market, Jason Campbell.

Marshall’s impact has been immediate, currently second in the league with 67 catches, third in receiving yards with 904 and is tied for third in touchdowns with seven. Marshall’s connection with Cutler has led to his big numbers, despite often being double teamed.

Following a concussion suffered last Sunday night against the Texans, the Bears will now turn to Emery’s hand-picked backup in Campbell.

Campbell was selected 25th overall in 2005 following an undefeated season at Auburn his senior year. His career has had its ups and downs from injuries to constant changes of offensive coordinators.  A broken collarbone ended his 2011 campaign in Oakland and midseason trade for Carson Palmer all but signed his walking papers.

Emery realized the impact that a backup quarterback can have on your season and signed Campbell to a one-year $3.5 million deal. He has thrown for over 14,000 yards and 71 touchdowns in his career and protects the ball well, having only thrown two interceptions in a game twice.

Can Campbell lead the Bears to a victory over a very tough 49ers‘ defense on Monday night? Who knows. But in the very least, Phil Emery has already put this team in a better position than Jerry Angelo did.

Matt Eurich is a contributor to Bearsbacker.com. Follow Bears Backer on Facebook and Twitter for up to the minute news about the Bears. Also, check out Matt’s work on BleacherReport.com and follow him on Twitter @MattEurich.

A week after facing the league’s second rated defense in the Houston Texans, the Bears travel to San Francisco Monday night to face the league’s third rated defense. Through nine games this season, the 49ers have given up just 292.1 yards per game.

Much like the Bears, the 49ers are a team built around their defense and their star inside linebacker.

Patrick Willis has been a monster at inside linebacker since he was drafted 11th overall in the 2007 draft. He has made the Pro Bowl each of his first five seasons and is on pace to go to his sixth straight following this season.  He is a tremendous tackler, already racking up 72 this season to go along with a forced fumble and an interception.

Much like Willis, Navorro Bowman, the other inside linebacker in the 49ers 3-4 scheme, is a tackling machine, leading the team with 81 tackles. Bowman has more a knack for getting to the quarterback, racking up two sacks this season and one interception.

Both inside linebackers struggled at times last week against the St. Louis Rams and running back Steven Jackson, but they still can pose trouble for the Bears’ running game.  With a concussion likely going to keep quarterback Jay Cutler out, the Bears will try and utilize more of Matt Forte and Michael Bush in the running game.

It is not easy to attack the middle of the field, but the offense linemen, particularly the interior of Chilo Rachal, Roberto Garza, and Lance Louis, will need to do a good job at getting themselves up field to block the quick and elusive inside linebacker duo.  Expect the Bears to take advantage of their willingness to cheat up against the run by using draws and/or screens.

The defensive line for the 49ers is anchored by Justin Smith, who has yet to get a sack this season.  Smith is a great bull-rusher, strong against the run and his relentless motor will give left tackle J’Marcus Webb all that he can handle.

Nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga is the prototypical nose in a 3-4 scheme and does a good job at plugging gaps and funneling runners towards the linebackers.  Left end Ray McDonald is the lone defensive lineman credited for getting to the quarterback with a half sack he registered against Matthew Stafford in Week 2.

All three defensive lineman do a good job of slowing down the running game and the Bears offensive lineman will have to be physical and use leverage and strength to move their defender.

Despite the lack of pressure from the defensive line, outside linebackers Aldon Smith and Ahmad Brooks have had their fair share of success with getting to the quarterback.

Smith dominated in his rookie season, getting to the quarterback 14.5 times and causing matchup problems week in and week out.  This season, through nine games, he has racked up 9.5 sacks despite seeing an increase in his role.  His long arms and athleticism makes him so difficult to stop and with his new found abilities in pass coverage, he is shaping into one of the best young outside linebackers in the game.

Opposite of Smith is veteran Ahmad Brooks.  Drafted in the third round of the supplemental draft in 2006 by the Cincinnati Bengals, Brooks has excelled in his role since his arrival in San Francisco in 2009. Brooks has four sacks on the season and because of his ability to rush the passer, teams cannot afford to double team Smith therefor opening more opportunities for his fellow outside linebacker.

Both Smith and Brooks understand that tackles Gabe Carimi and J’Marcus Webb have struggled this season and will likely be sent on blitzes more often than they have this season. 

Webb will be saddled with the responsibility of going up against Smith and will be challenged by his ability to use his hands, something Webb has struggled with all season.  Brooks is more of a straight line rusher, trying to shoot off the hip of the tackle.  Carimi’s struggles have been well documented this season in pass blocking, and the Bears will likely use a tight end of a chipping back to try and slow him down.

Dashon Goldson highlights the secondary with his abilities in both the run and passing game from his free safety position.  He has the ability to come up and stop the run and plays very well in the cover-2 scheme they often run. He has a knack for punishing hits on the ball carrier and also is tied for the team lead with two interceptions.

He will be expected to come down and try to slow the running back tandem of Forte and Bush but will also likely have the responsibility to cover over the top of Brandon Marshall.

Next to Goldson at the strong safety position is Donte Whitner.  He was a former first round pick of the Bills in 2006 and signed with the 49ers before the start of last season.  He is stout against the run and much like Goldson, he is an extremely hard hitter and will make Earl Bennett and Devin Hester think twice about coming across the middle.

Carlos Rogers is the team’s best cornerback and although he struggled at times last week against Danny Amendola, he is still a tough defender.  He struggled at times against Amendola when he was lined up in the slot and the Bears would be wise to try Brandon Marshall there occasionally to get Rogers out of a rhythm.

Tarrell Brown and Chris Culliver are the number two and three cornerbacks and both have improved their play from last year.  Culliver has excelled in the nickelback role, hauling in two interceptions this year.  With the possibility of Campbell starting on Monday night, he’ll have to be aware of Culliver’s ability to jump on a route and take away the football.

Matt Eurich is a contributor to Bearsbacker.com. Follow Bears Backer on Facebook and Twitter for up to the minute news about the Bears. Also, check out Matt’s work on BleacherReport.com and follow him on Twitter @MattEurich.

Following Smith’s concussion in the second quarter, second-year quarterback Colin Kaepernick filled in admirably, going 11-of-17 for 117 yards and running the football eight times for 66 yards, one touchdown and one fumble.

Kaepernick has been featured prominently this season in the Wildcat as a change of pace.

He has tremendous speed, and although his mechanics need improving, he throws a fairly accurate ball. He came into Sunday’s game having just 14 career pass attempts, and if he needs to start, they will likely not call upon him to do too much with his arm.

Linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs will have to be aware of Kaepernick’s ability to run with the football, as Jim Harbaugh will likely draw up plenty of designed runs for him.  By containing running lanes, the Bears can force him to throw the football and make him prove he can move the football through the air.

No team in the NFL runs the football more effectively than the 49ers, who lead the league with an average of 170 yards per game.

Frank Gore leads the charge with 753 yards on 140 carries and five touchdowns.  Gore has great acceleration and good vision that helps him find a hole and power his way through.  He is good both up the middle and has the ability to bounce the ball to the outside.

Gore’s backup, Kendall Hunter, has gained over 300 yards on the season and is averaging five yards a carry.

Bears’ nose tackle Stephen Paea will be called upon to maintain his gap responsibility and to force Gore to an area where the linebackers can take him down. If healthy, Matt Toeaina will likely be activated because of his ability against the run, as will Nate Collins, who has been impressive in the last few weeks.

Gore and Hunter would not have the success that they have had this season without the stellar play of their offensive line.

They have invested a lot of money on former first round picks Joe Staley (left tackle), Anthony Davis (right tackle) and Mike Iupati (left guard).  Jonathon Goodwin has been solid at center since signing as a free agent, and Alex Boone has played great at right guard after being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2009.

The line has been great at opening up lanes in the running game, and despite allowing 29 sacks (one more than the Bears), a lot of them are based off of quarterback Alex Smith’s tendency to hold onto the ball too long.

The matchup of Julius Peppers against Staley should be a great one, as Peppers faces yet another top left tackle. Staley has struggled at times in pass protection but has been spectacular in run blocking.  Peppers does a nice job of forcing plays back inside and should have those opportunities again on Monday night.

In recent years, the 49ers have gone out of their way to provide Alex Smith with weapons, drafting guys like Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree and signing free agents Mario Manningham and Randy Moss this offseason.

Crabtree is finally starting to show signs of the player that warranted being drafted 10th overall in 2009.

He currently leads the team with 510 yards and 44 catches and is tied for the team lead with four touchdowns. Crabtree has benefited greatly from the additions of Moss and Manningham because it has taken the pressure off a guy who was expected to take the league by storm when he entered it.

Moss has just 15 catches on the season, but he is averaging nearly 17 yards a catch and is still a threat in the red zone. Manningham has a knack for the big play but has not been as effective as expected this season.

Smith’s health will determine the role the wide receivers play on Monday night.

Kaepernick will not be expected to throw the ball much if Smith is out, decreasing the roles of the receivers.  It will be interesting to see if the Bears go with the smaller Jennings on Crabtree and the bigger Tillman on Moss, given Tillman’s prior success against him.

Despite a slight decline in his numbers this season, tight end Vernon Davis is still a player the Bears will need to keep in check.

He is second on the team in yards with 404, tied for second in catches and tied with Crabtree for touchdown receptions with four.

He is a matchup nightmare with his size and speed.

Defensive backs are too small to be physical with him, and linebackers are too slow to keep up with him. Nick Roach and Brian Urlacher will likely have the duty at some point of covering him down field.

The Bears will likely try and bring a safety over top to prevent Davis from beating them deep.

Matt Eurich is a contributor to Bearsbacker.com. Follow Bears Backer on Facebook and Twitter for up to the minute news about the Bears. Also, check out Matt’s work on BleacherReport.com and follow him on Twitter @MattEurich.