Entering Sunday’s game with a 4-5 record, the Minnesota Vikings couldn’t have hoped for a better setup to get back to .500 and within striking distance in the NFC North.
The Chicago Bears were reeling, having allowed a combined 106 points the past two weeks – blowout losses to the Patriots and Packers. Head coach Marc Trestman, a St. Louis Park, Minnesota, native, couldn’t open a newspaper without seeing his name on the “hot seat” after his team’s defense allowed Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady to pile up 11 touchdown passes those losses.
It was all good for the Vikings, who were fresh following a Week 9 bye – and then the game started.
The final score, 21-13, made the game look closer than it really was. Chicago dominated, holding onto the ball for more than 38 minutes of the game.
The Bears were 10-17 on third downs; #Vikings 2-11. Bears 468 yards; Vikings 243 (330 passing to 147). Bears 38:38 possession time, MN 21:22
— VikingUpdate.com (@VikingUpdate) November 16, 2014
Jay Cutler went 31 of 43 for 330 yards and three touchdowns – two to Brandon Marshall and another to Alshon Jeffery. The big wide receiver duo combined for 18 receptions and 225 yards; a lot of which came against a smaller Viking cornerback, Josh Robinson.
Ugly loss for #Vikings: No offense, zero. Lack of pass rush, couldn’t get off on 3rd down, Josh Robinson is short and couldn’t overcome.
— Ben Leber (@nacholeber) November 16, 2014
Matt Forte carried the ball 26 times for 117 yards.
Minnesota’s leading rusher? Andrew Sendejo, a backup safety who racked up all 48 of his rushing yards on a fake punt in the first half. Jerrick McKinnon finished with 38 yards on eight carries.
The Vikings’ passing attack was just as ineffective. Teddy Bridgewater completed 18 of 28 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown – a seven-yard strike to tight end Rhett Ellison following the fake punt conversion late in the first quarter.
Bridgewater’s top receiver was Charles Johnson, who caught six balls for 87 yards.
The Vikings had an opportunity to come-from-behind to tie the game with fewer than 90 seconds left in the game, but a Bridgewater lob into the end zone was intercepted in the end zone by Bears safety Ryan Mundy.
Up next for the Vikings is a home game Nov. 23 against the Green Bay Packers.
Zimmer: "We're going to have to get our rear ends in gear and start getting prepared for Green Bay" #Vikings
— KFAN1003 (@KFAN1003) November 16, 2014
Game Notes
- Xavier Rhodes intercepted the first pass of his career
- Harrison Smith picked off Cutler for his fourth interception of the season
- The Vikings failed sack Cutler on 43 drop backs
- Wide receiver Jarius Wright left the game with a hamstring injury
- Greg Jennings was limited in the second half with an apparent ribs injury
Zimmer said #Vikings WR's Wright and Jennings were just "banged up a bit" and we'll see how they do this week
— KFAN1003 (@KFAN1003) November 16, 2014
