MINNEAPOLIS : The Chicago Bears dominated the Minnesota Vikings in several areas Monday night (except on the scoreboard) and it looked like it would cost the Bears when the Vikings took the lead late in the fourth quarter. But Justin Fields orchestrated a final drive that resulted in a field goal and a 12-10 Bears victory.
The Bears are the first team to win without scoring a touchdown after teams previously went 0-28, and it was their first win when not scoring a touchdown since 1993.
The Bears (4-8) ended their streak of consecutive NFC North losses at 12 after Fields led the offense on a 10-play, 66-yard drive in the final 2:12 to take the lead for good.
Wins are important, but the way Monday’s victory played out leaves the Bears searching for plenty of answers as they head into their bye week.
Chicago’s offense was stuck in neutral after a game plan that relied heavily on screen passes struggled to capitalize off the extra possessions it received from the Bears’ defense, which came away with four turnovers for a second straight game.
Fields did enough to lead his team to a win, but lingering questions about his long-term viability in Chicago will remain.
The Vikings lost their second consecutive game in near identical fashion as they did the week before: committing far too many turnovers and leaving an exhausted defense unable to protect a late lead. That formula will haunt the Vikings during their bye week, which they enter with a .500 record (6-6) when it could have easily been 8-4.
Last week in Denver, they committed three turnovers and allowed the Broncos a go-ahead touchdown with 1:03 remaining. Monday night, quarterback Joshua Dobbs threw four interceptions and the Bears won on a field goal with 10 seconds remaining. The Vikings now rank No. 31 in the NFL in turnovers per game (2.0) and No. 30 in turnover margin per game (-0.67).
In the big picture, the Vikings are still in the No. 7 spot of the NFC playoff race, and ESPN’s Football Power Index gives them a 62.4% chance of making the playoffs. Their offense might get more explosive with the expected return of receiver Justin Jefferson, but if the Vikings can’t correct their turnover issues, it probably won’t matter.
