Dysfunctional Vikings are pick as slight road favorites over Bears

Despite the sharp decline in Brett Favre's production this season, the Minnesota Vikings are more interesting. On the field, every game has gone to the wire. Off the field, every week has been dramatic.

Many observers are labeling the Vikings a soap opera.

Several years ago, I watched a soap opera -- it was called the "Bold and the Beautiful" -- and it was boring with dull characters. No stars on the show were texting lewd photos to women, for example.

The Vikings are far more exciting. The NFL is investigating Favre, wideout Percy Harvin has migraine headaches, there was the failed trade and subsequent release of lazy lunatic Randy Moss, and it was revealed that almost every player on the team despises coach Brad "Chilly" Childress.

Chilly was dangerously close to getting fired in Week 9, but Favre rallied Minnesota to an improbable 27-24 overtime victory over Arizona to save the coach's job. After the game, Favre said he didn't care about saving Chilly's job.

It might be too late to save the Vikings' season. But they still have an outside shot, and it starts with the Chicago Bears on Sunday. I'll side with the Vikings (3-5) as 1-point favorites over the Bears (5-3) at chilly Soldier Field.

Neither team looks too attractive. This will be one of those back-and-forth games that causes headaches and makes bettors squirm and swear for three hours.

Favre is fading fast. The 41-year-old quarterback has passed for nine touchdowns with 13 interceptions. But he still has some of that flair for late-game dramatics.

Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler has been worse. He has a knack for getting sacked and intercepted.

The Vikings are 0-4 on the road, but the losses were to teams -- Green Bay, New England, New Orleans and the New York Jets -- better than the Bears. Another team that was 0-4 on the road, San Diego, broke its losing streak last week.

The difference makers for Minnesota should be defensive end Jared Allen and running back Adrian Peterson. Allen will ambush Cutler. Peterson, who has rushed for an NFC-best 857 yards and seven touchdowns, will lead the ground assault.

Four more plays for Week 10 (home team in CAPS):

■ COLTS (-7) over Bengals: Peyton Manning is usually a good bet, and the Bengals are not. Cincinnati has covered three of its past 16 games. Manning gives the Colts stability. Carson Palmer, Chad Ochocinco and the Bengals appear ready to implode.

■ Texans (+1½) over JAGUARS: The offensive firepower is there for Houston, if Arian Foster and the running attack get rolling. The Texans have been losing to elite teams. Jacksonville is 5-15 against the spread in its past 20 home games.

■ Patriots (+4½) over STEELERS: New England's soft defense was finally exposed in Week 9. Maybe coach Bill Belichick can find some answers. Pittsburgh's offensive line is banged up, and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger looks rusty.

■ Eagles (-3) over REDSKINS: Quarterback Michael Vick is too explosive for a pedestrian Washington defense to contain. The Redskins will regret the clumsy benching of quarterback Donovan McNabb.

Last week: 2-3 against the spread

Season: 22-20-3

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports writer Matt Youmans can be reached at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.