What a difference two weeks makes. The Minnesota Vikings, hosting the Chicago Bears 14 days after an embarrassing loss at Soldier Field, put together one of their best defensive performances of the season to win 21-14 Sunday at the Metrodome and keep their playoff hopes alive.
The Vikings took a first-quarter lead behind RB Adrian Peterson’s 104 yards and two touchdowns, and CB Josh Robinson'sinterception that put Minnesota at the Bears '5-yard line. With a 14-point lead at the 8:42 mark of the first quarter, the Vikings' defense was able to get after Bears QB Jay Cutlerand disrupt his rhythm.
“That opening drive really put us on our heels and we never really recovered,” Bears coachLovie Smith said.
The Bears pulled to within a touchdown before halftime thanks to Cutler’s poise in the pocket and his ability to find WR Brandon Marshall anywhere on the field -- a connection that worked well in Chicago. Cutler’s pass to WR Alshon Jeffery in the corner of the end zone was a thing of beauty and got the Bears back in the game before halftime.
Despite a wounded defense that was missing LB Brian Urlacher and turnover-machine CB Tim Jennings, the Bears were able to slow Peterson and nearly ground struggling Vikings QB Christian Ponder. Ponder fthrew for fewer than 100 yards passing for the third time this season.
But the Vikings' defense (despite allowing 438 total yards) came to the rescue again, when rookie S Harrison Smith picked off a Cutler pass and returned it 56 yards for the winning score. It was the rookie safety’s second pick-6 of the season, and it provided a two-score margin at the end of the third quarter that allowed the Vikings to grind out much of the fourth quarter with Peterson runs.
“To put yourself in a hole like that and then have to battle back,” Cutler said. “The guys played hard and battled back. We just didn’t have enough at the end.”
With little margin for error to make the playoff entering the game, the Vikings (7-6, 3-2 in the NFC North) ended a two-game skid and are back in the postseason conversation. The Bears (8-5, 2-2) have lost two in a row.
When the game turned:With a seven-point lead and momentum swinging to the Bears, the Vikings had two stalled drives to open the second half. The Bears were moving and on second-and-5 from their 36-yard line, Vikings S Smith picked off Cutler and ran down the sideline with a large escort of blockers, picking his way into the end zone for a touchdown. With a two-touchdown lead, the Vikings began to milk the clock and held on for the win.
Highlight moments:Peterson didn’t need time to warm up. On the first play from scrimmage, he ran right and kicked outside and raced down the sideline for 51 yards. Just five plays later he was in the end zone for the Vikings’ first score. … The Vikings nearly had two pick-6s from their rookies in the secondary. Smith got into the end zone in the first quarter, but CB Josh Robinson took a Cutler pass down to the 5, where his toe hit out of bounds before he got into the end zone. Peterson scored his second touchdown of the game three plays later. ...Backed up near their goal line, the Bears needed to turn momentum and shift field position. On second-and 8, Cutler hit Marshall in double coverage down the left sideline for 44 yards. The ball was thrown to his back shoulder and with great body control, Marshall came down with another big catch. … Cutler floated a beautiful pass into to WR Alshon Jeffery for the Bears' first score.
Top-shelf performances:
• Bears WR Marshall-- 10 receptions for 160 yards, TD
• Vikings S Smith-- 6 tackles (4 solo), quarterback hit, TD, INT
• Vikings RB Peterson -- 31 carries for 154 yards, 2 TDs
What they said about:
• WR Devin Hester on his drop of a sure 23-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter:“It’s just frustrating. I let a play go. I let a play go that I can’t get back.”
• Bears CB Kelvin Hayden on Peterson’s 51 yard run on the first play from scrimmage: “Everybody has a job to do, and unfortunately I don’t know exactly who it was, it was a breakdown in the defense. So when you have a great back like that he is going to take advantage of it. And he did that.”
•Vikings CB Robinson on Jeffery’s touchdown: “That’s something I’ve got to do a better job at the line of scrimmage. You know, slow him down so he’s not that quick on my safety. That is on me.”
• Vikings LT Matt Kalil on Peterson’s performance: “He’s probably [the best athlete I’ve played with], I’d have to say. He’s coming up on a 2,000 yard season. So he’s hands down having one of his best years.”
• Bears coach Smith on his team losing four of the last five games: “Losing today’s game is what we have to focus on and just grieve for a period of time. The 8-5 record, that’s all together back there; it’s just now about a three-game season and the next game. That’s going to dictate what happens to us.”
• Vikings S Smith on his interception: “You just kind of play [the ball] as it goes and that ball fell out. When it does, when the ball did go over [Marshall’s] head, that’s when I got to play the ball.”
Numbers you should know: Marshalls’ 10 catches gives him 101, setting a Bears' single-season record previously held by Marty Booker of 100 (2001).Peterson set a Vikings record for rushing yards in a first quarter with 104.
Injury update: Bears -- K Robbie Gould tweaked his hamstring during warmups and did not kick off for the Bears, but he did kick extra points.DT Henry Melton was injured in the first quarter and taken to the locker room on a cart, but he returned to the sidelinesbefore the end of the quarter.DE Shea McClellin (knee) injured his knee in the game and did not return.QB Cutler injured his neck late in the game and did not return. After the game he said it stiffened on him.CB A.J. Jefferson collided helmets with his own player late in the game and looked to be unconscious on the field. He got up and walked off the field under his own power but did not return. Coach Leslie Frazier said he had a concussion and would be evaluated this week.
Going forward:Bears -- The Bears host Green Bay, which beat them 23-10 at Lambeau Field. The game will have playoff and NFC North Division title implications. The Vikings play at St. Louis, which is a game behind them for a wildcard spot.
For more Vikings news and notes, follow Joe Oberle on Twitter@CBSVikings.
Follow Bears reporter Gene Chamberlain on Twitter@CBSBears.
