LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The Bears will face what’s arguably the NFL’s best defensive line Sunday when they visit the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome.

Mammoth tackles Pat Williams and Kevin Williams anchor the league’s third-ranked run defense, while end Jared Allen is second in the NFL with 10½ sacks. Fellow end Ray Edwards is also a force, registering four of his 5½ sacks this season in Minnesota’s last three games.

Running back Matt Forte and the Bears will face a Vikings run defense that allowed just four yards last Sunday in a win over the Seahawks.

“They’re a great football team and they’ve got a lot of great players,” said offensive coordinator Ron Turner. “They’re a very talented defense. They present a lot of challenges.”

In last Sunday’s win over the Seahawks, the Vikings permitted just four yards rushing and didn’t allow Seattle to cross the 50 until Minnesota had built a 28-0 lead in the third quarter.

Allen abused Bears left tackle John St. Clair last season, recording 4½ sacks in two games. A year later, the two-time Pro Bowler will face veteran Orlando Pace. 

“We’ve got to be aware of where he is at all times and try to get help to him and mix up what we do,” Turner said. “Obviously, [we will] run our offense. You can’t just focus totally on him because they have a lot of other good football players, but you definitely have to be aware of him.”

House of horrors: The Bears have dropped six of their last seven games to the Vikings in Minnesota, including losses by 24, 20 and 18 points. Their only win in the Metrodome in that span came in 2006 when Rex Grossman rallied the Bears to a 19-16 victory with a late touchdown pass to Rashied Davis.

“Of course, it’s louder when you play in a dome,” said coach Lovie Smith. “That makes it a little bit harder, especially for the offense. But the field is the same size. We’ve won up there before and we have to do it again.”

Jay Cutler led the Broncos to an overtime win over the Vikings in the 2007 season finale in Denver, completing 26 of 37 passes for 246 yards with two TDs, no interceptions and a 106.4 passer rating. But the fourth-year pro has never played in the Metrodome.

“It’s going to be loud,” Cutler said. “It’s a dome. They’re playing really good football. Their fans are excited. We know what it’s going to be like. It’s a division game. It’s nothing new to me or anybody else on this team.”

Still believing: Even though the slumping Bears have lost five of their last six games, players have remained upbeat and positive throughout the week as they’ve prepared to face the Vikings.

“They should be,” Smith said. “We have a lot of football left to go. I expect them to be that way. I know our ballclub. I know what type of character [it has], I know the leaders we have on our team. Sometimes when you get in a hole, you have to dig yourself out. That’s what we plan on doing.”

Bears players know that the odds of them making the playoffs are remote, but they haven't given up hope.

“The facts say if we go out there and do what we’re supposed to do these next couple games, then we have a good chance of getting in the playoffs,” said defensive end Adewale Ogunleye.

“That’s the way we’re looking at it. You can look at it negatively. But that’s not going to help us. Everybody else will do that. But for us, we need to stay positive and figure out ways to get one game at a time, and it starts with the Vikings.”

Talking turkey: The Bears practiced earlier than usual on Thursday to allow players to spend at least part of Thanksgiving Day with their families.

“Like all of us, we try to change up our schedule a little bit,” Smith said. “I think it’s important to just acknowledge the things we are thankful for, and there are so many. I am going to do just like everyone else will do: spend a little time, watch some ballgames, and try to add to my weight a little bit.”

Aches and pains: After practicing on a limited basis Wednesday, tight end Desmond Clark (neck) sat out Thursday. Guard Roberto Garza (ankle) was limited; and tight end Kellen Davis (ankle), defensive tackle Tommie Harris (knee) and safety Kevin Payne (back) practiced without restrictions.

For the Vikings, guard Anthony Herrera (concussion) and fullback Naufahu Tahi (ankle) did not practice; receiver Bernard Berrian (hamstring), running back Adrian Peterson (ankle) and cornerback Antoine Winfield (foot) were limited; and linebacker E.J. Henderson (knee) and cornerback Benny Sapp (groin) were not restricted.