The Vikings made their walk into Soldier Field and kicked the Bears right in the mouth. Minnesota defeats Chicago by a final margin of 24-17. It was not pretty, but the Vikings did it on Monday night.
How the Game Went Down
First Quarter – Slow Start
Both teams looked rusty early. Three punts and one field goal. The Bears opened the score with a 3-0 opening. No one could get much going on the offensive.
Second Quarter – Vikings Wake Up
Minnesota finally found its rhythm. Their quarterback hit a beautiful 28-yard touchdown pass to put them up 7-3. The Bears answered back with a short touchdown run to make it 10-7 Chicago at halftime.
Third Quarter – Defense Takes Over
This quarter belonged to the defenses. Both teams traded field goals. Vikings tied it 10-10, then the Bears kicked another one to lead 13-10. Nobody could finish drives in the red zone.
Fourth Quarter – Vikings Pull Away
Minnesota’s running game took control late. They pounded out a grinding touchdown drive to go up 17-13. They then closed it with another rushing TD with less than two minutes remaining. Bears were awarded with a garbage-time to bring the end look near.
Game-Changing Moments
Vikings Interception in Third Quarter. Chicago was driving for a potential touchdown when their quarterback threw a bad pass. The Vikings’ safety jumped the route and picked it off at the 25-yard line. That killed Chicago’s momentum big time.
Bears Fumble in Fourth Quarter. The game was at a draw of 13-13, when Chicago lost the ball at midfield through coughing by the running back. Four plays later, Minnesota regained its composure and got a play back. And that would have been the game right there.
Vikings Ground Game Late: During the last six minutes, Minnesota had a sequence of eight consecutive ball-carrying moves. They mastered time and eroded the defenses of Chicago. When the Bears knew what was coming, they could not stop them.
Player Performances
Minnesota Vikings Stars
Quarterback Play: The Vikings quarterback was not spectacular, but a good one. 22/31 passing, 267 yards, and two touchdowns. No interceptions. When it really counted, he threw.
Running Back Dominance: Minnesota’s lead runner had a monster game. 127 rushing yards on 24 carries. He broke three tackles on the game-winning touchdown run. This guy ran angrily all night long.
Defense Steps Up: The Vikings’ defense forced three turnovers. Two fumbles and one pick. They also sacked Chicago’s quarterback four times. Their pass rush was relentless in the second half.
Chicago Bears Struggles
Quarterback Issues: The Bears’ QB appeared fretful in his debut. 18/29 201 yards, one TD, one very expensive intercept. He wasted time with the ball and received some big hits.
Running Game Disappeared: Chicago couldn’t establish any ground game. Their starting back had just 67 yards on 19 carries. The Vikings’ defense knew they were going to run and stuffed it every time.
Penalties Killed Drives: The Bears had 9 penalties for 87 yards. Three holding calls wiped out big gains. They kept shooting themselves in the foot when they got momentum.
Key Statistics
| Category | Vikings | Bears |
| Total Yards | 389 | 312 |
| Rushing Yards | 156 | 89 |
| Passing Yards | 233 | 223 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Penalties | 5 | 9 |
| Time of Possession | 33:42 | 26:18 |
What This Means Moving Forward
Vikings Look Legit
Minnesota showed they can win ugly on the road. Their running game and defense carried them when the passing attack struggled. That’s usually a good sign for a team.
The Vikings controlled the game in the fourth quarter. They ran the ball when everyone knew it was coming. That takes guts and good players up front.
Bears Have Work to Do
The crime of Chicago did not seem to be in harmony. Discipline, lack of huge plays. They should have their quarterback feeling more comfortable in the pocket.
The Bears’ defense played well enough to win. They just couldn’t get any help from the offense. Three turnovers are way too many to overcome.
Turning Point of the Game
The fumble recovery with 8 minutes left changed everything. Chicago was driving for the go-ahead score when they coughed it up. Minnesota took that short field and punched it in four plays later.
You could see the air go out of Soldier Field after that turnover. The Bears fans knew their team had blown their best chance to win.
Individual Standouts
Vikings Linebacker: This guy was everywhere. 12 tackles, 2 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. He dominated the middle of the field and made Chicago’s life miserable.
Bears Wide Receiver: The only bright spot for Chicago. 8 catches for 97 yards. He kept fighting for yards after contact and gave his team some hope.
Vikings Offensive Line: These guys opened holes all night for the running game. They also kept their quarterback clean when it mattered. Great performance in a hostile environment.
Coaching Decisions
Vikings Coach Gets It Right. The coach of Minnesota did not abandon the running game even when it was not working early. That forbearance was rewarded a bounty in the fourth quarter. He placed faith in his players, and it paid off.
Bears Coach Plays It Safe: The coach of Chicago appeared afraid to roll the dice. On two instances, they kicked field goals instead of going at fourth down. When you play not to lose, you tend to lose.
Looking Ahead
The Vikings proved they can win division games on the road. That’s going to matter when playoff time comes around. They have the pieces to make some noise this year.
The Bears showed flashes but need to clean up the mistakes. Too many penalties and turnovers to beat good teams. They’re still building something in Chicago.
Final Thoughts
It was not the prettiest game of all. The Vikings knew how to get out of a situation when things were not okay. That’s what good teams do.
Chicago struggled and erred in too many critical areas. You can not give the ball away three times and win in the NFL. Particularly not on Monday Night Football.
The Vikings are 1-0 and feeling good about themselves. The Bears are 0-1 and have some soul-searching to do.
Minnesota’s ground game and defense won this one. Sometimes that’s all you need on a Monday night in Chicago.
