The Vikings started the game quietly enough by settling for a field goal on their opening drive and not getting a touchdown until there were five minutes left in the 1st quarter. They took advantage of the weak Bears’ defense from there on out, on their way to a 30-12 victory.
Minnesota Vikings Made Turnovers Into Points
Minnesota started the scoring by settling for a field goal after a short run and a couple of incompletions on their opening drive. Then after a few longer completions, Jonathan Greenard forced a fumble that Blake Cashman recovered. Aaron Jones and the Minnesota run game imposed their will on the Bears’ defense. David Quessenberry filled in at RT after Brian O’Neill went down with an injury. The offensive line held up and Sam Darnold threw a dart to Justin Jefferson for a TD. The Vikings were up 10-0 with just over five minutes left in the first quarter.
Bears Offense Continues To Sputter
Bears changed up their offense on their next drive by running it with DJ Moore, Travis Homer, and D’Andre Swift. They tried to stay in a hurry-up offense but Josh Metellus made a couple of nice stops before Harrison Smith made a pass breakup. O’Neill came back in on the Vikings’ following offensive drive. Minnesota converted on a 3rd and 17 play with a short pass to Jones that he broke a couple of tackles and got to the line to gain before he went out of bounds.
Costly Vikings‘ Penalty Extended Bears Drive By A Few Plays
The Vikings kept the chains moving at the beginning of the second quarter until Darnold threw an INT to Tyrique Stevenson. The Vikings’ defense was able to hold tight and forced a punt. However, Trent Sherfield Jr. got a roughing of the punter penalty, and the drive continued for the Bears’ offense until they turned it over on downs on a 4th-and-1 conversion attempt.
Sammy Was Slinging the Ball All Over The Field
Darnold came back after the INT with completions to Jefferson, Addison, and Hockenson. Quessenberry subbed in for O’Neill again, the O-line gave up a sack and Darnold only got a short pass to Jones after that. Darnold got to ball to Hockenson for a huge gain to move the chains on a 3rd-and-15. Minnesota settled for another field goal and took a 13-0 lead into halftime.
Offensive Holding Penalty Killed Vikings Drive Before Bears Punted Again
Minnesota’s first offensive drive of the second half was ultimately upended by a holding penalty on Josh Oliver. The Bears’ first offensive drive of the second half was backed up by an illegal block in the back penalty on Terell Smith. Keenan Allen was able to find an opening in the zone coverage for a completion before the Bears ultimately ended up punting.
The Bears were 0-of-6 on 3rd down attempts and 0-of-2 on 4th down attempts up to this point of the game. The Vikings started their second offensive drive of the half by almost giving the Bears a defensive TD. Darnold threw a pass right to a Bears’ defender in the endzone but the defender could not reel it in. The Vikings’ offensive woes of the second half continued as they were forced into another 3-and-out.
Bears Got On The Board
Caleb Williams took advantage of an offside penalty and made them pay with a 29-yard bomb to Rome Odunze. Chicago kept the chains moving with their run game and Swift. Bears got a touchdown called back because an ineligible offensive lineman lined up in a fullback position. Chicago got a holding penalty on a following play to back them up even further away from the endzone. Williams airmailed a ball intended for Odunze and missed on another pass intended for Allen. The Bears settled for a field goal and cut the Vikings’ lead to 10 with a score of 13-3.
Aaron Jones Starts To Take Over
Minnesota’s next offensive drive started with a good kick return before a penalty pushed them back. The Vikings converted their first 1st-down of the second half with just over five minutes left in the third quarter. Minnesota got their run game started after a big defensive pass interference penalty helped to move the chains. Aaron Jones had runs of 9 yards, 8 yards, and a toss that he gained 14 yards on.
Justin Jefferson made a huge catch to get the Vikings down to the 1-yard line. Aaron Jones had 47 rushing yards on the drive before he dove into the endzone for a 1-yard TD run. The Vikings extended their lead to 20-3 with less than two minutes left in the third quarter. That touchdown was Aaron Jones’ 70th TD overall, 50th on the ground.
Bears Settle For Another Field Goal
The Bears got their run game going after a defensive offsides penalty and they got into a hurry-up offense. The third quarter ended with a 6-yard completion to DJ Moore and the Bears were driving down the field. A massive 18-yard completion to Keenan Allen to convert their 1st first down on a 3rd down attempt. A false start penalty on the Bears pushed them back before an ineligible man downfield penalty on the same player ultimately killed the drive and they settled for another field goal. The Vikings lead 20-6 with 13 minutes left in the game.
Vikings Offense Continued To Dominate
The Vikings almost got an effective screen pass called back due to an ineligible man downfield, but the officials picked up the flag. Jefferson made an impressive diving catch before a pass interference penalty in the endzone moved the Vikings to the 1-yard line.
Darnold made a high football IQ play and was able to throw the ball out of bounds with his left hand. Minnesota pounded the ball into the endzone on the next play with a handoff to Cam Akers for the rushing TD. Vikings extended their lead even further to 21 with a score of 27-6 with 10 minutes remaining in the contest.
Vikings’ Defense Imposes Their Will
The Bears were able to complete a couple of short passes before Dallas Turner ended their drive with a sack. Aaron Jones kept the chains moving for the Vikings with a couple of big gains on tosses. Minnesota continued to run the clock by keeping the ball on the ground. Unfortunately, Chicago’s pass rush overwhelmed the pass protection and Darnold got sacked. The Vikings were forced to punt.
Bears Blocked Punt Leads To Bears’ First Touchdown Of the Game
The Bears took over after they blocked a Ryan Wright punt attempt. Williams found Keenan Allen for a first-down conversion before Allen dropped the next pass attempt. Rome Odunze had a pass go through his hands in the endzone for what could have been the team’s first touchdown of the night. Caleb Williams connected with Allen for a touchdown on the following pass. The Vikings had too many men on the field before the extra point attempt, so the Bears chose to go for a 2-point conversion attempt. Fabian Moreau made a pass breakup to deny the Bears in the endzone.
Josh Oliver recovered the Bears’ onside kick attempt. The Vikings settled for another Will Reichart field goal attempt after successful runs by Cam Akers and Ty Chandler. The Vikings moved the score to 30-12 in their favor. The Bears put in their backup QB and ran out the clock.
Final Thoughts
The Vikings came out victorious in a definitive win that showed why they are now 12-2 and the Bears are 4-10. They look to continue their winning ways next Sunday, December 22 against the 8-6 Seattle Seahawks in Seattle.
