The Minnesota Vikings delivered a dominant performance on Monday night, defeating the Chicago Bears 30-12 and extending Chicago’s losing streak to eight games. The victory lifts the Vikings to a 12-2 record, tying them statistically with the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC standings. Minnesota now has a chance to secure the NFC North title and potentially the conference’s No. 1 overall seed if they win their remaining games.
Vikings’ Standout Performance
The Vikings’ defense stifled Chicago’s offense, preventing a touchdown until late in the fourth quarter when Minnesota had pulled several starters. Offensively, the team showcased a balanced attack with rushing touchdowns from Aaron Jones and Cam Akers—marking the first time this season they scored multiple rushing touchdowns in a game. Wide receiver Justin Jefferson also shined, hauling in seven catches for 73 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown.
Quarterback Sam Darnold, however, had a mixed outing, completing just 16 passes while battling accuracy issues. Despite the struggles, the Vikings managed to cruise to a convincing victory.
A notable concern for Minnesota was the injury to right tackle Brian O’Neill, who exited briefly with a knee issue. With left tackle Christian Darrisaw already sidelined for the season, O’Neill’s availability will be crucial moving forward.
Chicago Bears’ Continued Struggles
For the Bears, the offensive struggles continued as rookie quarterback Caleb Williams faced significant pressure. Williams completed 18-of-31 passes for 191 yards and one touchdown, but Chicago failed to capitalize on key opportunities. The Bears went scoreless in the first half for the third straight week, have been outscored 53-0 in that span, and converted just one third down all game (1-of-12).
The lone bright spot for Chicago came from defensive end DeMarcus Walker, who notched four pressures and reached a career-high 25 for the season. Despite this, the Bears remain outmatched, facing three playoff contenders—Detroit, Seattle, and Green Bay—in their final games of the season.
Emotional Tribute to Randy Moss
The night also carried emotional weight as Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson paid tribute to Hall of Famer Randy Moss, who recently revealed his cancer diagnosis. After scoring a first-quarter touchdown, Jefferson looked into the camera and shouted, “We love you, Randy. That’s for you.”
The Vikings honored Moss further with his former teammates Cris Carter and Jake Reed serving as honorary captains. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, who played alongside Moss in New England, emphasized the team’s love and support for the legend, saying, “He means the world to this organization.”
The Vikings now look ahead to a matchup against the Seattle Seahawks as they push for the NFC’s top seed, while the Bears hope to salvage some pride in their remaining games.
