LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The criticism that Jay Cutler has received from outside Halas Hall for his lack of success this season has not bothered the Bears quarterback.

Quarterback Jay Cutler and the Bears offense have struggled all season.

“I don’t worry about anybody’s observations except for the people in this building,” Cutler told reporters earlier this week. “Whatever you guys write and whatever you guys do, that’s your deal. I can’t get wrapped up in what’s going on outside of this building.”

Cutler’s 25 interceptions this season are the most in the NFL. Jared Allen admitted that he’s surprised the Bears offense has struggled with Cutler at the helm this season, but the Vikings defensive end isn’t taking anything for granted as he prepares for Monday night’s game at Soldier Field.

“I thought he would probably be a better fit for them, but those things happen,” Allen said. “New offense, new system, new things, [and] Jay caught a few bad breaks with a lot of those interceptions. A lot of them bounced off of people and stuff like that.

“It’s still a very threatening offense and the capabilities that they have to make a big play with [Devin] Hester, and Cutler can run and he does well throwing off the run. [Greg] Olsen is having a good year.”

In the first meeting between the teams Nov. 29 at the Metrodome, the Vikings held the Bears to just 169 total yards and eight first downs, both season lows. That included a grand total of two yards in the second half.

“I think even though they are struggling this year it’s one of those things where you can’t just sit there and go in and think you’re going to do to them what we did to them here [in Minnesota],” Allen said. “It’s still a division game, and it’s still going to be physical and it’s still going to be hard fought.”

Allen said that Cutler didn’t show his frustration in the Nov. 29 contest like he had in previous seasons when Allen played for the Kansas City Chiefs and Cutler was with the Denver Broncos.

“When we played them for the first time I thought he did a better job than years past,” Allen said. “I know playing against him in Denver, he would get frustrated. He was a guy you could talk to a little bit and you’d get him talking back at you. It’s probably a little different in that I have become friends with him over the years. But I thought he handled himself pretty well considering the year and some of the misfortune he has been having this year.”