After being sidelined with a thumb injury, Jay Cutler will return to the huddle on *Monday Night Football *to play the Vikings.
Chad Graff of the Pioneer Press delved into Cutler's current situation in Chicago as well as his **past performances against Minnesota**. Graff described the Vikings as "the team the embattled quarterback has beaten more than any other."
*Even while losing his past three games against Minnesota, Cutler has an 8-5 record against the Vikings, with 26 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. *
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While Cutler's reputation as a quarterback has taken a hit in recent seasons, Vikings players praised Cutler, in part because they've seen him at his best more than any other team.
"He's a guy that can make some deep throws," defensive end Brian Robison told Twin Cities media members Wednesday. "We have to rush him very smart because he's athletic enough to get outside the pocket and pick up first downs with his legs. He's just one of those guys that you have to be very smart in the way you play him. We've got to get back there and get some hits on him. But once again, it starts with stopping the run game up front."
Cutler has a 91.8 quarterback rating in 13 games against Minnesota. He threw for three or more touchdowns in five of those games.
Minneapolis restaurant to be named after John Randle
Long after retiring, John Randle continues to be an icon for Vikings fans around the Twin Cities. Soon, fans will be able to dine at a restaurant bearing his namesake.
According to Nick Halter of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, Randle is **lending his name to a downtown establishment**. According to Halter, Michael McDermott plans to close his restaurant, Ling & Louie's, at the end of the year. Following renovations, the establishment will re-open as Randle's Restaurant and Bar at some point in February. Halter wrote:
It's a high-profile spot for a high-profile restaurant. In addition to being across the street from Target's headquarters, the Ling & Louie's space totals 13,000 square feet and includes a rare Nicollet Mall rooftop patio, which McDermott will expand onto the Barrio building.
"He has a great history and he is a family guy," McDermott told Halter. "He's very involved in the community and a perfect fit for what we want to do."
*Randle's will keep some of the Ling & Louie's sushi and wok dishes, but will add sandwiches, steaks and more entrees. *
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[McDermott] described Randle's as an upscale sports bar and, because of the name, a downtown destination.
Pressure on for Vikings offensive line
Looking ahead at Week 8 games, NFL.com's Shaun O'Hara selected five teams across the leagues with "offensive lines to watch." O'Hara included the Vikings in his list, saying **all eyes will be on the unit’s performance** after Minnesota's loss to Philadelphia last week.
O'Hara referenced Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer's message from the podium following the loss, in which he identified a number of problems, among them, "We didn't block anybody."
Believe me, this offensive line is fired up. Things like that don't happen very often, even when they are warranted, but the message has been sent. The first order of business is improving the run game. The Vikings averaged 3.4 yards per carry last week against the Eagles and have the second-worst rushing attack in the league. Couple that with an inability to protect quarterback Sam Bradford, who is taking an average of 7.2 hits per game (third-most in the NFL), and now we see why Zimmer is upset.
The other offensive lines O'Hara highlighted were the Cowboys, Patriots, Falcons and Eagles.
