(Sports Network) - The first twelve weeks of this NFL season have yet to establish a clear-cut team to beat in the NFC's North division. That could very well change, however, after the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings get together this Sunday at the Metrodome with first place on the line.

These two rivals are currently deadlocked atop the NFC North with less-than- glamorous 6-5 records, with defending division champ Green Bay lurking one game behind the leaders. With just over a month to go in the regular season, the victor of this critical clash would therefore have the inside track at becoming what will likely be the North's lone postseason representative.

Chicago would gain a more significant advantage with a win on Sunday, as it would hold a tie-breaker edge on the Vikings by virtue of a series sweep. The Bears outlasted Minnesota in a 48-41 thriller at Soldier Field during Week 7, the highest-scoring game in both teams' storied histories.

The Vikings are also just 2-2 in division games thus far, compared to a 3-1 mark for both the Bears and Packers, which makes this week's matchup even more critical for Brad Childress' club. Minnesota has the toughest remaining schedule of the three contenders as well, as four of its final five games will be against teams currently sporting winning records.

What is working in the Vikings' favor is that Sunday's showdown will take place at the Metrodome, where they have won four straight contests following a narrow loss to AFC power Indianapolis in mid-September. Minnesota will also be returning home with some momentum, having come away with a big 30-12 road win over mistake-prone Jacksonville this past Sunday.

The Vikings took advantage of five Jaguar turnovers, two of which were turned into touchdowns less than two minutes into the game, while the NFL's second- stingiest run defense limited Jacksonville to a meager 35 yards on the ground for the day.

It's unlikely that Minnesota will have such good fortune for a second straight week, however. The Bears lead the league with 26 takeaways and have an excellent plus-eight turnover margin on the year.

Chicago displayed those opportunistic ways in its most recent outing, a 27-3 road triumph over hapless St. Louis last weekend in which the Bears intercepted fill-in quarterback Trent Green four times. The defense also produced five sacks and held the overmatched Rams to just 207 total yards.

The Bears also had four picks of Minnesota signal-caller Gus Frerotte in this year's earlier meeting.

Chicago will be playing the last of three consecutive road games this weekend, a stretch that began with a 37-3 loss at Green Bay on November 16.

SERIES HISTORY

The Vikings lead the regular season series with the Bears, which dates back to 1961, by a 50-42-2 count, but were 48-41 road losers when the teams met in Week 7. Minnesota swept Chicago in a home-and-home last season, including a 20-13 decision when the clubs met at the Metrodome in Week 15. The Bears last won in Minnesota in 2006, when they swept the home-and-home between the longtime division rivals.

The clubs have also met once in the postseason, a 35-18 Chicago road win in a 1994 NFC First-Round Playoff tilt.

Bears head coach Lovie Smith is 5-4 against the Vikings as a head coach, while Childress is 2-3 against both Smith and the Bears as a head man.

WHEN THE BEARS HAVE THE BALL

While Chicago's 20th-ranked offense (316.4 ypg) can hardly be termed a juggernaut, it hasn't been a crutch either thanks to a persistent running game and efficient play under center from quarterback Kyle Orton (2049 passing yards, 11 TD, 4 INT). The unheralded fourth-year pro has displayed solid accuracy and very sound decision-making skills in his first run as a full- timer since 2005, as evidenced by the franchise-record streak of 185 consecutive passes without an interception he brings into Sunday's tilt. Orton had one of his most productive outings of the year against the Vikings last month, throwing for 285 yards and two scores on 21-of-32 passing in his team's wild win. The Bears lack a true No. 1 receiver for Orton to rely on, but tight ends Greg Olsen (33 receptions, 2 TD) and Desmond Clark (30 receptions) and wide receivers Devin Hester (31 receptions, 2 TD) and Rashied Davis (30 receptions, 2 TD) have all made steady contributions. Olsen was particularly effective in the previous meeting with Minnesota, hauling in a season-best six passes for 74 yards and a touchdown. Clark had to exit last week's game early due to a mild knee sprain and will likely be listed as questionable on the injury report.

Orton's attributes have been complemented nicely by the talents of rookie running back Matt Forte (909 rushing yards, 45 receptions, 9 total TD), who tops all first-year players in rushing yards and has served as an excellent safety valve out of the backfield. The Tulane product has been given an extensive workload as the focal point of Chicago's offense, but concerns of him hitting the wall were eased with last week's 132-yard, two-touchdown effort against the Rams. Forte has struggled some against top-notch run defenses such as Minnesota's, which limited him to 56 yards on 20 touches back in Week 7.

Forte isn't the only back to find it hard to have success when facing the Vikings this season. Minnesota is yielding a scant 70.4 rushing yards per game and a mere 3.1 yards per attempt, and the defense was smothering against the run in the club's victory at Jacksonville a week ago. The unit's strength lies at the tackle positions, where Kevin Williams (43 tackles, 8.5 sacks) and Pat Williams (33 tackles, 1 sack) have earned trips to the Pro Bowl in each of the last two years. Leading tackler Chad Greenway (85 tackles, 4 sacks) is enjoying a strong season as well from his weakside linebacker position, while veteran Napoleon Harris (22 tackles, 1 sack) has helped fill the void created by standout middle linebacker E.J. Henderson's season-ending foot injury back in September. Harris set the tone for last Sunday's win with a fumble return for a touchdown on the game's first play from scrimmage.

Minnesota ranks just 22nd overall in pass defense (228.2 ypg), but that's partially due to opposing teams reluctance to run on the squad's stout front seven. The Vikings have given up only nine touchdowns through the air in 11 games, the fourth-lowest mark in the league, and a seasoned secondary has been solidified since free safety Madieu Williams (19 tackles, 2 INT), who did not play in the earlier matchup with Chicago, returned from a neck injury in Week 9. Pressuring the quarterback hasn't been much of a problem, as end Jared Allen (32 tackles, 8 sacks) is one of the league's elite pass rushers and Kevin Williams is tied with Tennessee dominator Albert Haynesworth for the most sacks among tackles this year. Allen sacked Orton twice and forced a fumble when these teams squared off in mid-October.

WHEN THE VIKINGS HAVE THE BALL

Expect the Vikings to come after Chicago with a potent ground attack headlined by the exceptionally gifted Adrian Peterson (1180 rushing yards, 8 TD, 16 receptions). The reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year had racked up six 100-yard performances in Minnesota's first nine games, including a 121-yard, two-touchdown showing against the Bears, before Childress reduced his star running back's carries over the past two weeks. That decision to keep Peterson fresh may have been made with this game in mind. Backup Chester Taylor (247 rushing yards, 29 receptions, 3 TD) is a capable understudy and a more accomplished receiver than Peterson who is often used in passing situations. The duo runs behind a formidable offensive line that boasts a pair of perennial Pro Bowlers in guard Steve Hutchinson and center Matt Birk, and has steadily opened holes for the league's fifth-ranked rushing offense (137.9 ypg).

Minnesota did pile up 155 rushing yards on the Bears in Week 7, no small feat considering Chicago is surrendering only 80.7 yards per week on the ground (5th overall) and a miniscule 3.3 yards a rush. The defense held Tennessee's well-regarded running game to only 71 yards a few weeks back, although it would be gashed for 200 yards by the Packers the following Sunday. The Bears do field three big-time playmakers along the front seven, the most notable being six-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker Brian Urlacher (61 tackles, 2 INT, 7 PD). Weakside starter Lance Briggs (79 tackles, 3 INT, 0.5 sacks) is also putting together a season worthy of a return trip to Honolulu, while disruptive tackle Tommie Harris (20 tackles, 4 sacks) is back to being a difference-maker after struggling through a sore knee early in the year. Sophomore strong safety Kevin Payne (63 tackles, 3 INT, 1 sack), who compiled nine tackles, a sack and an interception of Frerotte in October, has also made an impact in run support.

Like the Vikings, opponents usually prefer to attack the Bears through the air, and that philosophy has led to a lot of yards allowed and a number of momentum-changing plays by the defense as well. Chicago has given up the third-most passing yards in the NFL (244.2 ypg), but the team's 17 interceptions are tied for second in the league. Injuries have played a part in the Bears' lackluster ranking against the pass, as regular cornerback Nathan Vasher (21 tackles, 1 INT, 8 PD) missed three games earlier in the year after undergoing wrist surgery, putting untested second-year pro Corey Graham (59 tackles, 1 INT) into the fire, while top cover man Charles Tillman (59 tackles, 3 INT, 14 PD) has been playing through a shoulder problem. Vasher re- injured his wrist in the St. Louis game, and his status for Sunday is unclear. Chicago has also had an inconsistent pass rush, although that wasn't a problem against the dreadful Rams. Harris and end Adewale Ogunleye (40 tackles, 4.5 sacks) each had two sacks in last week's rout.

While Frerotte (1877 passing yards, 11 TD, 12 INT) has been erratic at the controls of the Vikings' offense, the team is 6-3 since the 37-year-old was inserted as the starter, and the journeyman quarterback has been an upgrade over Childress project Tarvaris Jackson. He's mainly been used as a game manager with the offense centered around Peterson, but a season-high 298-yard output against Chicago last month showed Frerotte can still air it out when need be. Former Bear Bernard Berrian (34 receptions, 4 TD) has provided a needed field-stretching presence at the wide receiver position, although the offseason pickup has been cold lately, while Bobby Wade (39 receptions, 1 TD) is a sure-handed option on the opposite side and the team's leading receiver. Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe (26 receptions, 1 TD) and Taylor also hold key roles in a passing attack that is just 26th overall in yards per game (183.5 ypg).

FANTASY FOCUS

It's all about the running backs when it comes to these two clubs, as Peterson and Forte have been two of the top five point-producers at the all-important position. Peterson proved last month he can handle Chicago's rugged run defense and may be primed for a huge night after getting a bit of a break in recent weeks. Forte draws a tougher matchup against Minnesota's stonewalling stop unit, but the rookie should get enough touches as a runner and receiver to be start-worthy. Berrian has some upside as a No. 2 receiver or flex play this week, but any other Minnesota pass-catcher should be discarded. Chicago doesn't have a whole lot to offer at receiver either, although Hester has some value in return leagues and Olsen has sleeper potential at tight end. Orton is the better call among the two quarterbacks, but he's more of an emergency fill-in than an every-week starter. Since both defenses are adept at forcing turnovers, either one deserves a spot in this week's lineups.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

If the Vikings are to legitimize themselves as a serious playoff contender, this is the exact type of game they have to win, one at home against an opponent in which they own a talent edge across both lines. The Bears will be no pushover, however, because the defense is good enough to prevent Peterson from running wild and they hold a decided advantage in special teams, an area that has been a sore spot for Minnesota all season long. In what should be a fiercely contested game between two bitter rivals with a whole lot at stake, the difference could come down to the quarterbacks. If that's the case, Orton's consistency and Chicago's affinity for coming up with key turnovers wins out.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Bears 24, Vikings 20