Chicago Bears Defeat the Minnesota Vikings: Assessing the Key Divisional Victory
Published by Andrew Chadwick on November 14, 2010
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
This critical division game between the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings was billed as a showdown between evenly matched teams. Most analysts, however, favored the Vikings to upset the Bears at home. In the Fox pregame show, for instance, only Jimmy Johnson picked the Bears to win.
Early in the game, those predictions of Vikings supremacy looked as if they’d come true, as the Bears looked lost offensively and defensively. On offense, dropped passes killed early drives and led to a Husain Abdullah interception when WR Johnny Knox tipped an on-target Cutler pass into the hands of the lurking defender. Meanwhile, on defense, Favre was moving the ball well against a Bears defense using the quick pass.
Bears fans grew anxious when in the second quarter the Vikings crossed into scoring position within the Bears’ 10-yard line. The Bears defense, however, would not lie down and allow the game to get out of hand early.
On back-to-back running plays, Bears defenders sniffed out the play-call and stymied the Vikings rushers for no gains. This defensive stand forced the Vikings to settle for a field goal attempt, which the cold, gusty winds flowing off Lake Michigan helped nudge into the left upright.
The Bears responded with a flurry of offense, driving downfield and capitalizing with a beautiful Cutler TD pass to Greg Olsen in traffic.
The Bears had regained the initiative, and the Vikings, despite two big passing plays to Percy Harvin, would never regain control of the game. Dominance on special teams and defense propelled the Bears to victory in the second half.
Now, Chicago has regained its half-game lead over the Green Bay Packers for control of the NFC North. Moreover, this victory has solidified Chicago as a legitimate playoff contender. Meanwhile, the Vikings season has likely descended deeper into its downward spiral. The battle for the NFC North has narrowed to Green Bay and Chicago.
