CHICAGO — Sam Darnold showcased his skills by completing 90 of his 330 passing yards during overtime, paving the way for Parker Romo’s decisive 29-yard field goal. This victory allowed the Minnesota Vikings to narrowly defeat the Chicago Bears 30-27 on Sunday, despite a chaotic finish that saw the Bears score 11 points in just 22 seconds of regulation time.
Darnold had two touchdown passes, while Jordan Addison had an impressive performance with eight receptions for a personal best of 162 yards and a touchdown. T.J. Hockenson also made a significant contribution with 114 receiving yards for the Vikings (9-2), who remain just one game behind Detroit in the competitive NFC North division.
On the other side, Caleb Williams threw for 340 yards and two touchdown passes for the Bears (4-7), marking their fifth consecutive loss.
The Vikings seemed to have control of the game, leading 27-16 with only 1:56 on the clock after Romo successfully made a 26-yard field goal. However, the Bears fought back strongly.
After a punt that Deandre Carter mishandled earlier in the game, he redeemed himself with a substantial 55-yard kickoff return to the Vikings’ 40-yard line. Williams then spearheaded an eight-play drive, culminating in a 1-yard touchdown pass to Keenan Allen. A subsequent 2-point conversion pass to DJ Moore brought the score closer at 27-24, with only 22 seconds left.
Following an onside kick recovery by the Bears, Williams connected with Moore on a crucial 27-yard gain to the 30-yard line before spiking the ball. Cairo Santos then executed a 48-yard field goal as time expired, forcing the game into overtime.
In overtime, Chicago won the coin toss but faced adversity when Williams was sacked for a 12-yard loss, leading to a quick three-and-out series. The Vikings reclaimed possession at their own 21-yard line, where Darnold directed a methodical 10-play drive, overcoming a sack and two penalties along the way.
Darnold found Hockenson for a key 29-yard completion, setting up the ball at the 9-yard line. He subsequently opted to take a knee, allowing Romo to secure the victory with his successful field goal.