Bears – Vikings (9-17): Chicago scuttles
Chicago Bears (4-10) – Minnesota Vikings (7-7): 9-17
At least there is still progress from Justin Fields (26/39, 285 yards, 1 TD). It’s good. For the rest, Chicago does not have much to take away from this new laborious outing. Three lost balls, three failed fourth attempts and a missed field goal by the Bears got the better of what ultimately could have been a tighter game.
The locals softened the score by scoring on the last action of the match. But in fact, but Minnesota has managed rather quietly, despite an attack not much more reassuring.
The bare minimum
The Vikings only gained 193 yards in this game. Particularly because Akiem Hicks (5 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 QB hits) hurt them a lot. But also because Kirk Cousins (12/24, 87 yards, 2 TDs, 1 int) was in a small evening, and Dalvin Cook (28 races, 89 yards) served to exhaust the defense more than to overwhelm it .
Two touchdowns were therefore enough for Minnesota. The first by Justin Jefferson (4 rec, 47 yards, 1 TD) in the first quarter. Another for Ihmir Smith-Marsette in the third period. The rest ? Seven punts and a field goal. Cousins has been sacked four times, including three by DJ Wonnum. As usual, the violets got down to the level of their opponents.
If he was not helped by his line, nor by his receivers and even less by the nine penalties whistled to his team, Justin Fields still showed some progress, with in particular a nice 8/11 on the passes having traveled more 10 yards in the air.
This victory allows Minnesota to continue to hope for a place in the playoffs.
