Vikings win 7th straight to forge tie for NFC North lead with 30-12 blowout of reeling Bears

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – With their playoff spot secured, the Minnesota Vikings put on a dominant performance under the bright lights, displaying the kind of grit and determination that often propels teams deep into the postseason. Behind strong runs from Aaron Jones and Cam Akers, and a defense that never relented, the Vikings defeated the Chicago Bears 30-12 on Monday night, extending their winning streak to seven and tying for first place in the NFC North.

Minnesota (12-2) had already clinched a playoff berth after Seattle’s loss to Green Bay, and their path to first place was helped when Detroit’s impressive 11-game winning streak was snapped by Buffalo earlier in the day. Justin Jefferson was a key contributor, hauling in seven catches for 73 yards, including a touchdown from Sam Darnold in the first quarter. The score was set up by Jonathan Greenard’s sack and forced fumble on Bears quarterback Caleb Williams.

Chicago’s defense made life difficult for Darnold, who finished 24 for 40 with 231 yards and threw his first interception in five games. That came on a fourth-and-3 attempt, just three plays after Jefferson had dropped a potential 30-yard touchdown pass. With a double-digit lead for most of the game, the Vikings leaned heavily on Jones, who ran the ball 18 times for 86 yards.

In a festive touch, the Vikings wore white helmets for the first time in franchise history, paired with their snow-themed jerseys and pants for their annual winter-themed home game. The energy was high in the stadium, especially after former wide receivers Cris Carter and Jake Reed took a Randy Moss jersey to midfield for the coin toss, honoring their former teammate, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment. Jefferson shouted, “We love you, Randy!” after his touchdown reception.

Minnesota’s defense was equally fired up, stifling the Bears’ offense by allowing only one third-down conversion out of 12 attempts and one successful fourth down out of three. Williams, the Bears’ rookie quarterback, struggled under constant pressure, often scrambling to avoid sacks. At one point in the fourth quarter, he could be seen hunched over, exhausted on the bench.

Despite his efforts, Williams managed to extend his NFL rookie record by completing 286 straight passes without an interception for an eighth consecutive game. However, the Bears (4-10) have lost every one of those games. Williams finished 18 for 31 for 191 yards, with his lone touchdown coming late on a pass to Keenan Allen, after a blocked punt gave Chicago possession at the Minnesota 27-yard line.

The Bears’ struggles continued, as D’Andre Swift rushed 19 times for 79 yards, but their offense remained ineffective, failing to score in the first half for the third consecutive game. According to Sportradar, Chicago is the first team to be shut out in the first half for three straight games since Jacksonville in 2018.

Looking ahead, the Bears will host the Lions next Sunday, while the Vikings will travel to Seattle.