With their playoff hopes on the line, the Minnesota Vikings couldn’t come through as they lost to the Chicago Bears 33-27 on Sunday afternoon.
The day got off to an ominous start as Mitchell Trubisky got the Bears on the board with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Darnell Mooney. The Vikings answered on the following drive with Kirk Cousins hitting Adam Thielen for his 12th touchdown of the season to tie the game at 7-7.
Too easy for @athielen19
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— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 20, 2020
The Bears dominated the rest of the half, however, retaking the lead on a Cairo Santos field goal and extending it on a one-yard touchdown run by David Montgomery. After Santos added his second field goal of the day, the Vikings got a 24-yard field goal from Dan Bailey to go into halftime down 20-10.
The Vikings started the second half with the ball and capitalized with an eight-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a Dalvin Cook one-yard touchdown. The Bears seemed to have an answer all afternoon as Montgomery added a 14-yard touchdown run to drive the lead back up to 10 points.
After Bailey and Santos exchanged field goals, the Vikings finally found their way back to the endzone on a rugged catch and run by Tyler Conklin to bring the game within 30-27.
Not a bad time for your first score, @T_Conk1
📱: https://t.co/EYGyNNxBPN pic.twitter.com/7oA7gOHIhA
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 20, 2020
With the game on the line, the Bears unleashed a long drive that led them to the goal line, but Cameron Dantzler made a highlight-reel interception that gave the ball back to the Vikings.
Way to go get that, @camdantzler3!!
📱: https://t.co/EYGyNNxBPN https://t.co/r5yyBSqQQI
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 20, 2020
The following drive was a disaster for the Vikings as the Bears were able to force a turnover on downs. Although the Vikings’ defense forced another field goal from Cairo Santos, they needed a touchdown to come away with the victory.
Cousins moved the Vikings down the field without a timeout and although they got into Chicago territory, a Hail Mary was tipped into the air and intercepted to send the Vikings to 6-8.
WIth the loss, the Vikings playoff hopes are on life support as they slide behind Chicago and Arizona for the final playoff spot in the NFC.
