Minnesota Vikings clobber reeling Chicago Bears to maneuver into tie atop NFC | NFL

Aaron Jones and Cam Akers had landing runs within the second half to enrich a smothering efficiency by the Minnesota protection, and the Vikings moved right into a tie for first place within the NFC North on Monday night time by beating the Chicago Bears 30-12 for his or her seventh consecutive victory.

Justin Jefferson had seven catches for 73 yards, amongst them a landing from Sam Darnold within the first quarter that was arrange by Jonathan Greenard’s sack and compelled fumble on Caleb Williams.

Williams managed to maintain alive his NFL rookie file streak of 286 straight passes with out an interception for the eighth straight sport, however the Bears (4-10) have misplaced all of these. The primary total choose within the 2024 draft went 18 for 31 for 191 yards and threw a late landing move to Keenan Allen after a blocked punt gave the Bears the ball on the Minnesota 27.

The Bears went 1 for 12 on third down and 1 for 3 on fourth down.

Darnold went 24 for 40 for 231 yards and threw his first interception in 5 video games for the Vikings (12-2), who clinched a spot within the playoffs with Seattle’s loss to Inexperienced Bay the night time earlier than. They’ve received the division title squarely on their radar after Detroit’s 11-game successful streak was stopped by Buffalo on Sunday.

Sporting white helmets for the primary time in franchise historical past to prime the snow-like jerseys and pants of their now-annual winter-themed dwelling sport – comfortably staged indoors – the Vikings had an energized crowd behind them after former extensive receivers Cris Carter and Jake Reed took a Randy Moss jersey to midfield for the coin flip in honor of their ex-teammate, who’s being handled for most cancers. Jefferson shouted, “We love you, Randy!” after his landing catch.

D’Andre Swift rushed 19 instances for 79 yards for the Bears, who’ve been outscored 53-0 within the first half during the last three video games. In keeping with Sportradar, they’re the primary group with three consecutive scoreless first halves since Jacksonville in 2018.

The Bears have been reeling not merely due to the dropping streak however their 2-6 file in video games determined by a landing or much less. The firings final month of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and later coach Matt Eberflus prompted a change in play-callers on each aspect of the ball, too.

As soon as once more, the Bears produced a handful of can’t-happen performs that in the end doomed them. Swift was stuffed for no acquire on a toss sweep on fourth-and-1 from the Chicago 39 on the opening possession and once more on a fourth-and-1 run on the Minnesota 29 within the second quarter.

Within the third quarter, Swift had a brief landing run negated by a penalty when backup heart Doug Kramer uncared for to report as an eligible receiver when he’d entered the sport as an additional blocker on the purpose line.

After that, rookie Kiran Amegadjie, who took three penalties in his first NFL begin and was crushed badly by Greenard on the strip-sack, was known as for holding. The Bears settled for a brief area purpose.