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Quick Summary: Bears come from behind to defeat the Vikings on Monday Night Football.
MINNEAPOLIS – The Bears experienced another fourth-quarter lead slip away on Monday night, marking the second consecutive game with such a setback. However, they rebounded this time with an exhilarating 12-10 victory, sealed by Cairo Santos' fourth successful field goal of the game, a 30-yarder, with only 10 seconds left on the clock.
The Bears' defense showcased an impressive performance, securing four interceptions off Joshua Dobbs and preventing the Vikings from entering the end zone until Dobbs' 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end T.J. Hockenson, granting Minnesota a 10-9 lead with 5:44 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Despite not scoring a touchdown themselves, the Bears responded after Hockenson's touchdown became the game's sole TD. Justin Fields orchestrated a crucial drive, culminating in the game-winning field goal. He set it up with a 36-yard completion to DJ Moore over the middle, reaching the Minnesota 13 on third-and-10.
The game kicked off with the Bears advancing to the Vikings' 24-yard line, but their momentum came to a halt after Fields was sacked, and Santos missed a 48-yard field goal attempt wide right. Despite the setback, Fields showcased accuracy, completing all eight of his passes for 37 yards during the possession.
Santos later secured a 3-0 lead for the Bears with a 25-yard field goal early in the second quarter, concluding their second drive. Fields played a pivotal role in sustaining the possession, connecting with Cole Kmet for a 24-yard pass on a fourth-and-10 from the Minnesota 38.
At this juncture, the Bears held commanding leads in total yards (119-to-minus 7), first downs (7-0), and time of possession (14:46-1:39) against the Vikings.
The Bears' defense continued to shine, with Jaylon Johnson intercepting an underthrown pass intended for Jordan Addison and returning it 20 yards. However, the offense couldn't convert the turnover into a first down, resulting in a punt.
The defensive dominance persisted as Jaquan Brisker secured a second consecutive interception, picking off a Dobbs pass that ricocheted off Addison's hands at the Bears' 35. Despite the favorable field position, the offense once again failed to capitalize.
A 34-yard field goal by Greg Joseph as time expired in the first half leveled the score at 3-3. The kick followed Dobbs' 28-yard completion to receiver Brandon Powell and a 26-yard pass interference penalty against Kyler Gordon.
Before their successful field goal drive, the Vikings struggled to cross the 50 on their initial four possessions, managing just 24 yards on 16 plays against the formidable Bears defense.
The second half began with a crucial play by Gordon, who prevented tight end T.J. Hockenson from securing a first down by wrestling him out of bounds inches short on a 6-yard reception on fourth-and-7 from the Minnesota 49.
Santos continued his impressive performance, nailing a 39-yard field goal that pushed the Bears ahead 6-3 with 6:59 remaining in the third quarter. The successful kick followed Moore being stopped for no gain on a quick screen pass during a third-and-2 from the Vikings' 21.
The Bears' defense showcased resilience with a second consecutive fourth-down stop. T.J. Edwards intercepted a deflected Dobbs pass at the Chicago 30 on fourth-and-3 from the Bears' 44.
Santos added to the lead with a booming 55-yard field goal, making it 9-3 for the Bears with 14:15 left in the fourth quarter.
The defense maintained its dominance, securing a fourth interception of the game. Justin Jones juggled a short Dobbs pass, and Gordon made a diving interception at the Vikings' 38, holding onto the ball despite colliding with Jones.
The Bears took possession in field-goal range at the Minnesota 22, but their momentum was disrupted when Fields was stripped of the ball by outside linebacker Danielle Hunter. Defensive lineman Sheldon Day recovered at the 23.
Capitalizing on the turnover, the Vikings surged ahead 10-9 with Dobbs connecting on a 17-yard touchdown pass to Hockenson with 5:54 left in the fourth quarter.
In a dramatic turn, Fields lost a second fumble at the 3:28 mark on a scramble. However, the Bears' defense responded by forcing a three-and-out on the Vikings' ensuing drive, resulting in a punt that traveled only 22 yards and set the stage for the game-winning drive.
With this hard-fought victory, the Bears improved their record to 4-8, including a 4-4 performance since their challenging 0-4 start.
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