-
Bears wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson navigates his way through traffic as he runs with the ball during the first half of Monday’s game against the Vikings in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Minnesota Vikings safety Josh Metellus (44) celebrates with teammates after recovering a fumbled punt return by Chicago Bears’ Dwayne Harris during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Chicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson II, front, has a pass broken up by Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Chicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson II (12) catches a pass as Minnesota Vikings cornerback Chris Jones (26) defends during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) catches a pass as Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson defends during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Chicago Bears linebacker Roquan Smith (58) sacks Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Minnesota Vikings’ K.J. Osbornn (17) attempts to return a punt as Chicago Bears’ Deon Bush (26) defends during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
-
Chicago Bears quarterback Nick Foles (9) laterals to running back Artavis Pierce (46) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Players get set on the line of scrimmage during the first half of an NFL football game between the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Hercules Mata’afa, left, celebrates after sacking Chicago Bears quarterback Nick Foles, right, during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Chicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson II (12) catches a pass ahead of Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson (50) and cornerback Kris Boyd (29) during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson catches a pass as Chicago Bears safety Eddie Jackson (39) defends during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33) runs with the ball before being pushed out of bounds by Chicago Bears safety Eddie Jackson during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy is seen on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) runs with the ball as Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson (33) and linebacker Roquan Smith (58) defend during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
-
Chicago Bears wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson is tackled by a host of Minnesota Vikings during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33) runs with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
-
Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook, left, slips past Chicago Bears linebacker Roquan Smith, right, during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
-
Chicago Bears wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (84) runs with the ball as Minnesota Vikings linebacker Troy Dye defends during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen is congratulated by teammate Dakota Dozier (78) after catching a touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
-
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins reacts in front of teammate running back Dalvin Cook, left, after throwing an incomplete pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Chicago Bears wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson runs up field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Chicago Bears wide receiver Anthony Miller runs with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33) runs past teammate Chad Beebe (12) as Chicago Bears cornerback Buster Skrine, front right, defends during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
-
Chicago Bears place kicker Cairo Santos kicks a 23-yard field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) runs with the ball as Chicago Bears cornerback Buster Skrine (24) defends during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Chicago Bears wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33) runs past teammate Chad Beebe (12) as Chicago Bears cornerback Buster Skrine (24) defends during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
-
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) catches a touchdown pass as Chicago Bears cornerback Buster Skrine (24) and safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. (38) defend during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
-
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) falls in the end zone after catching a touchdown pass as Chicago Bears cornerback Buster Skrine (24) defends during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
-
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
-
Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer watches from the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
-
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) runs from Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson, right, during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Chicago Bears linebacker Khalil Mack, right, intercepts a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook, left, slips past Chicago Bears linebacker Roquan Smith (58) during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Chicago Bears wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (84) runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) catches a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
-
Chicago Bears wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (84) runs with the ball as Minnesota Vikings linebacker Troy Dye defends during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) sits on the bench during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
-
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) catches a pass as Chicago Bears cornerback Buster Skrine (24) defends during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Dan Chisena (85) catches a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) runs with the ball as Chicago Bears cornerback Buster Skrine (24) defends during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Chicago Bears wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (84) runs with the ball as Minnesota Vikings linebacker Troy Dye defends during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) intercepts a pass as teammates cornerback Jeff Gladney (20) and safety Anthony Harris (41) watch along with Chicago Bears wide receiver Anthony Miller (17) during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) intercepts a pass as teammates cornerback Jeff Gladney (20) and safety Anthony Harris (41) watch along with Chicago Bears wide receiver Anthony Miller (17) during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith, right, intercepts a pass as teammate safety Anthony Harris (41) watches during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Chicago Bears quarterback Nick Foles throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33) runs past teammate Chad Beebe (12) as Chicago Bears cornerback Buster Skrine, front right, defends during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
-
Chicago Bears quarterback Tyler Bray (8) throws a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
-
Chicago Bears quarterback Nick Foles is hit by Minnesota Vikings defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo (95) during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. Foles was injured on the play and left the game on a cart. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
-
Chicago Bears quarterback Nick Foles tries to throw under pressure from Minnesota Vikings defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo (95) during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. Foles was injured on the play and left the game. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
-
Chicago Bears quarterback Nick Foles is tackled by Minnesota Vikings defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo (95) during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. Foles was injured on the play and left the game. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
-
Chicago Bears quarterback Nick Foles is checked on after being injured during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. Foles left the game on a cart. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
-
Chicago Bears quarterback Nick Foles is taken off on a cart after being injured during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
-
Chicago Bears quarterback Nick Foles is taken off on a cart after being injured during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
CHICAGO — Kirk Cousins will take a victory any day of the week. That he finally got one on a Monday night didn’t seem to matter.
Cousins threw for 292 yards and two touchdowns, and the Minnesota Vikings overcame a 104-yard kickoff return by Chicago’s Cordarrelle Patterson to beat the Bears, 19-13.
Cousins won for the first time in 10 career Monday night starts. He hit Adam Thielen with a 6-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to put Minnesota ahead by the final margin, and the Vikings (4-5) held on for their third straight win. They also snapped a four-game losing streak against Chicago (5-5).
“Great to get a win,” Cousins said. “We’ll try to keep building on it now, and it’ll be so important to keep stringing these together if we can. That’s really what the rest of the season will be all about.”
Bears quarterback Nick Foles got taken from the field on a cart in the game’s final minute. Coach Matt Nagy said Foles’ leg and hip were being evaluated after he got slammed on his right side by Minnesota’s Ifeadi Odenigbo as he threw the ball away.
Patterson joined Josh Cribbs and Leon Washington as the only players with eight kick returns for touchdowns when he ran back the opening kickoff of the second half to give Chicago a 13-7 lead. It was the longest kickoff return in franchise history, surpassing Gale Sayers’ 103-yarder against Pittsburgh on Sept. 17, 1967.
Patterson had all the room he needed as he sprinted up the sideline and raised two fingers as he closed in on the end zone.
“I don’t know what I did, man. I was blacked out at the time,” Patterson said.
The record return was the lone bright spot for the Bears as they lost their fourth in a row and matched their longest skid since Nagy was hired in 2018.
Cousins completed 25 of 36 passes with two touchdowns to Thielen, who has nine on the season. His one-handed TD grab in the first quarter was particularly impressive.
Minnesota’s Dalvin Cook ran for 96 yards on 30 attempts. Justin Jefferson caught eight passes for 135 yards and tied Randy Moss’ club rookie record with his fourth 100-yard receiving game.
The defense did not allow an offensive touchdown for the first time in 20 games, including the playoffs, and the Vikings won for just the fourth time in 18 games at Soldier Field since it reopened in 2003 following renovations.
“It’s a goofy year for everybody,” said Harrison Smith, who had an interception. “We’re starting to have a little bit of a feeling of how to make our own energy and our own confidence. I think we’re starting to figure it out a little bit.”
STRUGGLING OFFENSE
With offensive coordinator Bill Lazor calling the plays after Nagy handed off those duties in an effort to lift a unit that ranks near the bottom of the NFL, the Bears managed 149 yards. It was their lowest total since they had 147 against San Francisco on Dec. 3, 2017.
“We need to make sure that we’re really honestly going back now and saying OK, what’s going on, where are we at now that we have some time to really see,” Nagy said.
Foles, 31, finished 15-of-26 for 106 yards and an interception. It was a far cry from his previous start against the Vikings, when he led Philadelphia past them in the NFC championship game on the way to a Super Bowl title in 2018.
Veteran Tyler Bray entered the game for Chicago’s final drive. Former second overall pick Mitchell Trubisky, who lost the starting job to Foles in Week 3, was inactive because of a shoulder injury.
Khalil Mack had his first interception since 2018. But the fading Bears came out flat again on a Monday night; they were dominated by the Rams in L.A. last month. And to left tackle Charles Leno Jr., that makes it even worse.
“Disappointment,” he said. “A lot of emotions, negative emotions right now. We’ve got to process. We know it’s two Monday nights we didn’t perform well. It’s just frustrating.”
RETURN, REGROUP
The Bears led 13-7 when Chicago’s Dwayne Harris muffed a punt. The Vikings’ Josh Metellus recovered at the 20, leading to Dan Bailey’s 37-yard field goal. Bailey added a tying 43-yarder with just under two minutes left in the third.
QUOTABLE
“Yes.” — Vikings coach Mike Zimmer on whether the struggling special teams are aging him.
INJURIES
The Vikings were without TE Irv Smith Jr. (groin) and CB Cameron Dantzler (concussion). … Besides Foles, Bears DT Akiem Hicks (hamstring) and Harris (triceps) were injured.
UP NEXT
The Vikings host Dallas on Sunday.
The Bears have a bye, then visit Green Bay on Nov. 29.
https://goo.gl/hYDEHJ
No comments:
Post a Comment