The Chicago Bears lost what many felt was a must-win game for the club last weekend. Thanks to Brett Favre, the Minnesota Vikings haven't lost many games at all this year.

Minnesota will try to inch closer to its second straight NFC North title, as well as posting its first 10-1 start in 11 years, in this Sunday's matchup with fading Chicago at the Metrodome.

Thanks to running back Adrian Peterson and what was expected to be a solid defensive group, the Vikings were already in the possible championship team discussion before luring Favre out of retirement and into a purple uniform.

The 40-year-old Favre has surpassed even the Vikings' highest expectations so far this season. He has already thrown for 2,482 yards and 21 touchdown passes with just three interceptions in 10 games, putting him on pace to record 30 scoring strikes for the ninth time in his career. He had 22 touchdowns throws to 22 picks in 16 games with the New York Jets last year.

While the grueling NFL schedule seemed to wear Favre down last year in New York, he enters this game coming off one of his better performances of the season. The Southern Miss product completed 22-of-25 passes for a career-high 88 percent completion rating, while also finding four different receivers for touchdowns in last Sunday's 35-9 laugher versus the Seattle Seahawks.

Favre played just three quarters before getting a break in the final stanza, where Tarvaris Jackson took over and added another scoring throw. Still, the story was Favre, who completed at least 80 percent of his passes for the fourth time in his career and second this season. He also notched his NFL- record 22nd career game with at least four touchdown passes, surpassing Dan Marino's record.

The victory was Minnesota's third in a row since its lone loss of the season, which took place on October 25 to Pittsburgh, and also its 14th win in the past 16 regular-season games. The Vikings, who have played each of their last two games at home as well, have also won six straight and 11 of their last 12 at the Metrodome in the regular season.

That has the Vikings on the verge of posting their first 10-1 start since 1998 after turning in their sixth-ever 9-1 beginning last weekend. They hold a three-game edge over second-place Green Bay, which visits Detroit on Thanksgiving, in the NFC North and hold the tie break over the Packers after winning both meetings this year.

The Bears will need to turn things around quickly if they are to make a run at a postseason spot. Sunday's 24-20 home setback to Philadelphia was 4-6 Chicago's third straight and fifth in six games following a 3-1 start. The only team the Bears have beat over their last six games is 1-9 Cleveland.

One week after throwing five interceptions in a loss to San Francisco, Bears quarterback Jay Cutler completed 24-of-43 pass attempts for 171 yards and a touchdown versus the Eagles. He was also picked off to end Chicago's final drive of the game, and overthrew three receivers on plays that could have very well resulted in touchdowns.

Instead, Chicago settled for four Robbie Gould field goals in addition to a Kellen Davis touchdown catch in the third quarter that put the Bears ahead 20-17 after a two-point conversion. However, Gould had a 48-yard field goal try early in the fourth blocked, and Philadelphia scored the game-winning touchdown on its resulting possession.

Chicago, which is just 1-4 on the road this year, is now in serious danger of missing the postseason for a third straight campaign since a Super Bowl XLI loss to Indianapolis.