PFW associate editor Dan Parr presents a running meter that indicates the Bears' top MVP candidates through their most recent game:

(Last week's ranking in parentheses)

1. DE Julius Peppers (1): Peppers consistently pushed blockers deep into the backfield on passing downs Sunday, and he also helped debilitate Minnesota's ground game. The Bears' most valuable player was credited with one hit on Favre and he hurried him a couple other times, including on one attempt that fell incomplete on 3rd-and-4 in the second quarter. He didn't make many big plays, but he had plenty of very good ones.

2. MLB Brian Urlacher (2): He continues to run just behind Peppers after spearheading the front seven's effort against Adrian Peterson, who was held to 51 yards on 17 carries with zero touchdowns — his worst game against the Bears. Urlacher had a team-high seven tackles and he broke up a pass. He also hurried Favre while blitzing on a key third-down play early in the second quarter in which Favre was called for intentional grounding. It moved Minnesota back 10 yards and PK Ryan Longwell missed a 39-yard field-goal attempt.

3. QB Jay Cutler (3): The pass he flung into the endzone on 3rd-and-goal, which was intercepted, was bad, but aside from that, Cutler had one of his best performances of the season. He completed 10-of-15 passes on third down, picking up eight first downs and two TDs on those 10 completions. He also picked up a first down on a 25-yard run. Cutler was falling down the Meter last week, but he'll stay put after that showing.

4. WR Devin Hester (NR): Hester is back on the Meter after making big plays on offense and special teams. He returned kickoffs for the first time this season, taking two back for 100 yards, and also had a 42-yard punt return. His role on offense is being limited so he can focus on returning, which may actually make him more valuable. Hester also had a 19-yard TD catch Sunday.

5. DE Israel Idonije (4): He had a hand in another game-changing play in Week 10. Idonije tipped the pass that eventually landed in CB D.J. Moore's hands early in the third quarter. The interception set up a field goal by PK Robbie Gould, and gave the Bears a 17-10 lead. Idonije's only tackle in the game resulted in a loss of yards for the Vikings.