When the Chicago Bears took a 20-13 lead over the Minnesota Vikings on a 14 play, 74 yard drive that took up half of the fourth quarter it looked like the same old same old Vikings in Chicago, close but coming up just short.
This time was different. This time second year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater would lead his team to 10 points in under 5 minutes to propel the Vikings to their third division victory and the fifth of the season.
Chad Greenway said after the game that “The way we reacted at the end, really in all phases, I mean it wasn’t pretty … but we’ll take it, get on the plane and smile.”
Greenway is right. Sunday’s win wasn’t pretty, but it was a win, something that Minnesota hasn’t done in Chicago since 2007. I’ll do the math for you, that’s eight years.
Eight years is a long, long time in the NFL. Long enough for many players to come on go which means for many Vikings, Sunday’s victory is a first.
The scoring started early, in fact it started on the second drive when the Bears stalled but not before Robbie Gould was able to bang home a 55 yard field goal.
With the Minnesota offense struggling, it was up to the special teams to open the team’s account. Marcus Sherels received the punt near the 30, veered to his right along the sideline and with the help of a couple of key blocks, coasted to the end zone.
It looked as though Minnesota would enter halftime up 10-3 before Teddy Bridgewater made a fatal mistake. Looking over the middle, he stepped up in the pocket and tried to force one over the middle looking for Stefon Diggs.
Bridgewater’s throw was intercepted and the Bears would march right down the field, capping the half with a 21 yard Jay Cutler to Alshon Jeffery touchdown.
Coming out of the half the Vikings looked flat. The Bears marched right down the field to start the 2nd, beginning with a 12 play drive that yielded a field goal.
Blair Walsh would answer right at the start of the fourth quarter, the first points Minnesota had scored since 9:05 left in in the second.
Then came the punishing, backbreaking 14 play 74 yard drive that looked like the nail in the coffin for the Vikings, especially given their record in Chicago.
Enter Teddy Bridgewater and the Minnesota Offense. Facing an 84 yard trek, the Vikings offense showed up. Moving the ball efficiently and quickly, with a mixture of run and pass Minnesota drove across the Chicago 50, to the Chicago 40.
“Teddy Two Gloves” sensed the pressure, looked left and threw slightly off his back foot. Needing five yards to move the chains, rookie Stefon Diggs ran a 7 yard slant, breaking off slightly before he wanted to because the pass was behind him. Not only did the talented rookie make the reception, he turned on the jets. Spinning around the rookie darted up the sideline, torching his defender he lowered his shoulder and with the help of a Mike Wallace push found the endzone.
Dig that.
With the game tied, the Bears got the ball back with just under two minutes remaining. Plenty of time for Jay Cutler to mount a game winning drive given what his team just did to the Minnesota the drive before right?
Wrong.
The Vikings forced a three and out. With the help of a drop by Jeremy Langford drop on third down, the Minnesota defense held, giving the ball right back to Bridgewater with a minute and ten seconds to go.
Rolling to his right, the second year man, who often plays well above his years made what was one of the most ill-advised throws of the game.
But it worked.
Out of nowhere Charles Johnson appeared, leaping in front of the Chicago safety who thought he had a surefire interception for a 35 yard gain into field goal range.
Enter Blair Walsh, the kicker out of Georgia who struggled early in the year, but had made his last twelve field goals. Kicking towards the same end that Robbie Gould missed earlier in the game, Walsh lined up his try from 36 yards out.
Ballgame.
Blair Walsh’s 13th straight field goal gave the Vikings their first victory in Chicago in over eight years. More importantly the Vikings moved to 3-0 in the NFC North and quietly built their record to 5-2 on the season.
As the old saying goes, “there is no such thing as a bad win” and if that’s the case the Minnesota Vikings got as close as you can on Sunday but in the process got one of the biggest monkey’s off their backs before they face Saint Louis next week at home.
Chad Greenway quote via KFAN’s Twitter account which can be found by clicking here
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