The Minnesota Vikings continued their scorching run through the NFC with a decisive 30-12 victory over the reeling Chicago Bears on Monday night. With their seventh straight win, the Vikings (12-2) forged a tie atop the NFC North standings and secured a playoff berth following Seattle’s loss to Green Bay earlier in the day. Their fortunes were further bolstered when Detroit’s 11-game winning streak was snapped by Buffalo on Sunday.
Minnesota’s backfield duo of Aaron Jones and Cam Akers delivered in the second half, each scoring touchdown runs to put the game firmly out of reach. The Vikings’ defense, meanwhile, was relentless, smothering Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams and allowing the Bears to convert just 1-of-12 third downs and 1-of-3 fourth downs.
Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, fought to keep the Bears competitive but spent much of the night on the run, forced to scramble to escape pressure. He finished 18-of-31 for 191 yards, including a late touchdown pass to Keenan Allen, and managed to extend his NFL rookie record streak to 286 consecutive passes without an interception. However, the Bears (4-10) have lost all eight games during his record run, highlighting a lack of complementary play.
Jonathan Greenard set the tone for the Vikings’ defense early, sacking Williams and forcing a fumble that set up Minnesota’s first touchdown. Wide receiver Justin Jefferson made the most of the opportunity, hauling in a pass from Sam Darnold to give Minnesota an early lead. Jefferson ended the game with seven catches for 73 yards and the first-quarter score, delivering an emotional shoutout to Vikings legend Randy Moss — who is currently battling cancer — by exclaiming, “We love you, Randy!” after his touchdown.
Sam Darnold faced significant pressure from Chicago’s defense but delivered when it mattered. The Vikings’ quarterback completed 24-of-40 passes for 231 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception — his first pick in five games. Despite a near-miss when Jefferson dropped what could have been a 30-yard touchdown, Darnold’s poise helped the Vikings build a double-digit lead that held for the game’s final 50 minutes.
With the game well in hand, Minnesota leaned on Aaron Jones, who carried the ball 18 times for 86 yards, punishing the Bears’ defense and chewing up clock. The Vikings’ offense clicked behind the scenes of an energized crowd at U.S. Bank Stadium, where fans witnessed a white-helmet debut as part of the franchise’s winter-themed home game. Prior to kickoff, former Vikings wide receivers Cris Carter and Jake Reed honored Moss during an emotional coin toss ceremony.
The Bears’ struggles were magnified once again by self-inflicted errors and missed opportunities. On their opening possession, running back D’Andre Swift was stuffed on a fourth-and-1 toss sweep at the Chicago 39-yard line. Swift was stopped again on fourth-and-1 later in the second quarter, this time at the Minnesota 29.
Chicago’s woes extended into the third quarter when Swift appeared to score on a short touchdown run, only for the play to be nullified by a penalty. Backup center Doug Kramer failed to report as an eligible receiver, erasing the score. On the ensuing play, rookie lineman Kiran Amegadjie — who struggled all night — was flagged for holding, forcing the Bears to settle for a field goal.
The Bears’ offensive inefficiency has been glaring, particularly in the first halves of games. According to Sportradar, Chicago has been outscored 53-0 in the first half over its last three contests, becoming the first team since the 2018 Jacksonville Jaguars to endure three consecutive scoreless first halves.
With their win, the Vikings are now 12-2 and riding a wave of momentum heading into the season’s final stretch. They remain tied with Detroit atop the NFC North, but the Lions hold the tiebreaker advantage. Minnesota will aim to keep pace next Sunday as they visit the Seattle Seahawks.
For the Bears, the nightmare season continues. Chicago hosts the division-leading Lions next Sunday in a game that could determine Detroit’s playoff seeding.
Minnesota’s dominant victory Monday night showed once again that their defense, paired with a balanced offense led by Aaron Jones and Justin Jefferson, makes them a formidable contender in the NFC playoff race.
