WHEN THE 49ERS TOOK THEIR FIELD LAST SUNDAY
THEY BELIEVED THAT THEY REALLY HAD A CHANCE
THEN THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS HIT THEM SQUARELY
WITH ALL THE FORCE OF AN AVALANCHE

ONCE THE VIKINGS FINISHED THEM OFF
THEY LOOKED FOR THE NEXT RUNG OF THE LADDER
ITS A MONDAY NIGHT GAME AGAINST THE BEARS
A TEAM THAT LOOKS A LITTLE BENT AND TATTERED

THIS IS NOT THE BEARS TEAM FROM LAST YEAR
FOR THEY'VE FALLEN COMPLETELY APART
THEYVE GOT NO RUNNING GAME TO SPEAK OF
AND QUARTERBACK KYLE ORTON WILL GET THE START

EVEN THE ONCE-FEARED CHICAGO BEARS DEFENSE
CAN'T COMPETE WITH THEIR BRETHREN ON THE VIKES
IF IT WEREN'T FOR A RETURN GUY NAMED DEVON HESTER
THERE'D BE NOTHING FOR THE BEARS' FANS TO LIKE

SO DON'T LOOK FOR THESE "MILKTOASTS OF THE MIDWAY"
TO SLOW THE VIKINGS HORDE DOWN VERY MUCH
AS "A.D." AND MINNESOTA'S OFFENSIVE SQUAD
GAIN YARDAGE EACH TIME THE BALL IS TOUCHED

THE RAIDERS STUDIED THEIR LESSONS WELL
ABOUT PLAYING AT LAMBEAU IN DECEMBER
THEY NEEDED TO RUN AND NOT MAKE MISTAKES
BUT SOMEHOW THEY DIDN'T REMEMBER

THE PACKERS SCORED EARLY AND OFTEN
AS THEY MERCIFULLY PUT OAKLAND'S TEAM TO REST
GIVING CREDENCE TO THE GROWING OPINION
THAT THE PACKERS ARE AMONG THE BEST

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT IS THE ST LOUIS RAMS
ANOTHER TEAM THAT QUITE FRANKLY IS A MESS
INJURY HAS DECIMATED MOST OF THE ROSTER
AND WHO'LL BE QUARTERBACK IS ANYBODY'S GUESS

STEVEN JACKSON IS THIS TEAM'S STAR
AT LEAST WHEN HE'S HEALTHY ENOUGH TO PLAY
HE'S BIG AND FAST AND TALENTED
AND A THREAT TO SCORE ON ANY PLAY

THE PACKERS' DEFENSE WILL BE READY FOR HIM
LIKE FOR THE OTHER GOOD BACKS THEY'VE FACED
IT WON'T BE JACKSON BUT THE PACK'S RYAN GRANT
WHO WILL LAY THE ST LOUIS TURF TO WASTE

THE VIKING'S FUTURE RESTS IN THEIR HANDS
UNLESS TEAMS LIKE THE BEARS CAN MAKE THEM STUMBLE
WHILE THE PACKERS HAVE TO WATCH FOR COMPLACENCY
OR THEY COULD FIND THAT THEY'VE BEEN HUMBLED