What We Learned About the Minnesota Vikings in Nail-biting OT Win Over the Chicago Bears

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NFL - Week 12: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears
Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings entered their week 12 matchup vs the Chicago Bears, with a rare chance to go 9-2 in an NFL season. But as we all know, nothing comes easy when you cheer for MN sports teams. Even after winning four-straight in the Windy City, prior to Sunday’s matchup, history at Soldier Field has not been kind to the Vikings.

And today’s victory did not come easy. Even with the Vikings leading by two touchdowns in the 4th quarter, the Bears never died. A mad 4th quarter surge by Caleb Williams & Co., combined with some late Minnesota mistakes and the first onside kick recovery of the NFL season, led to a game-tying Bears field goal that put this one into overtime.

What we learned about the gritty (not Griddy) Minnesota Vikings vs Chicago Bears

Thankfully, the Minnesota Vikings defense was able to get a hold, to start OT, and Sam Darnold was money in the extra session. Chicago may have kicked a game-tying field goal to force overtime, but Will Reichard’s replacement, John Parker Romo, made the game-winner, with just over two minutes remaining in the extra session.

Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

The now 9-win Vikings proved a lot, on Sunday. Not all of the takeaways were positive, but this team showed fight and walked out of an extremely hostile environment with a division win, and that’s all that matters. Over a hard-fought 60 minutes of football, here’s what we learned.

Jordan Addison officially freed.

It’s been a few weeks since Jordan Addison may or may not have complained about his role in the Minnesota Vikings’ offense, with his now infamous “Free 3” post on Instagram. But Addison’s social media posts won’t be a concern for Kevin O’Connell & Co tonight.

Not only was Addison a main feature of the Vikings’ offense this week, he was the entire passing offense, for most of the game. At one point early in the 3rd quarter, the former USC and Pitt star accounted for 126 of Minnesota’s 150 receiving yards, including this absurd catch with former Gopher Terell Smith draped all over him.

When the final whistle blew in overtime, Jordan Addison reeled in 8 of his 9 targets for 162 yards and 1 touchdown. The 22-year-old wideout was the only reliable target for Sam Darnold, through regulation, on a day where Justin Jefferson was limited to only 2 receptions for 27 yards, the second of which came on the Vikings’ only OT drive.

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If teams are going to continue to take away JJ, this is how Addison needs to play every week, and his QB needs to make sure to find him. Week 12 proved how deadly he can be, when left open. On the day, Darnold went 22-of-34 for 330 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was especially good in overtime, going 4-of-4 for 60 yards, which led to the game-winning field goal.

Aaron Jones revenge game… except

Speaking of offensive help for Justin Jefferson, let’s talk about Aaron Jones’ day. The Minnesota Vikings 1st year veteran running back, who turns 30-years-old this week, had himself a nice little revenge game in Chicago.

On 22 carries, Jones posted 106 yards on the ground, at an average of 4.8 YPC. It was only his second 100-yard game in purple. The first came all the way back in September, vs the Houston Texans. Jones also found paydirt for the first time in over a month (Oct. 20).

Aaron Jones told media members this week that his rib injury was feeling a lot better, than last week, leading up to one of the worst performances of his Minnesota Vikings career. That was all washed away on Sunday, for the most part.

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In a game that ended up in overtime, we can’t forget his first quarter fumble, where he had a ball ripped away from him at the Bears’ 1-yard-line, as the Vikings were about to score on their first drive of the game. It was Jones’ third lost fumble in the last two weeks.

Special Teams matter

There may not be a game played in the NFL all season that magnifies special teams play, like Bears vs Vikings, week 12. Not only did Chicago have yet another field goal blocked, something that has proven to be a huge issue for them, but their punt returner, DeAndre Carter also let a punt hit him in the foot, which Minnesota recovered.

But in the closing minutes of this contest, the Bears’ special teams gave them an insane chance at a comeback victory. After being down 14 points earlier in the 4th quarter, the aforementioned DeAndre Carter returned a Minnesota Vikings kickoff beyond midfield.

That allowed Chicago to find the endzone, and pull the game within a field goal, with just 22 seconds remaining. Then, the Bears recovered the first onside kick of the NFL season, after it hit Johnny Mundt in the foot and a black jersey fell on the football.

That gave Chicago a chance at a game-tying field goal, as time expired. This, just one week after they had a game-winner blocked vs Green Bay. This week, of course, they converted, pushing Bears vs Vikings into overtime, with the score tied at 27-27.

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Before we finish up this Special Teams portion of this article, we need to touch on John Parker Romo (or Parker Romo), who did not have a kicking job just a few weeks ago. Since joining the Minnesota Vikings, Romo has hit all eight of his field goal attempts, including three more today, from 26, 40 and 29 yards, the last of which came in OT and walked Minnesota off in Chicago.

Caleb Williams is going to cause the Minnesota Vikings problems for a long time

The biggest takeaway from today’s game may have been more of a long-term observation. I hadn’t watched a lot of Chicago Bears football this season, but I don’t need to see anything further on Caleb Williams. The 2024 No. 1 overall pick is going to be a problem for the entire NFL, but especially teams in the NFC North, for a long time.

He made his fair share of mistakes on Sunday. He forced balls, threw low and threw high. But overall, it was one hell of a performance by the Bears’ new franchise QB. Sam Darnold threw two touchdowns in the first half vs the Bears. But Caleb Williams, on 16-of-22 passing in the first two quarters, more than doubled Darnold’s yardage, 176 to 81.

In the 2nd half, Williams didn’t get as many opportunities, but he took advantage of what he did get, especially in the 4th quarter, when he led the Bears on a 10-play, 64-yard drive for a touchdown that cut the Minnesota Vikings lead from 14 to 8, after a failed two-point conversion.

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When the dust settled in Chicago on Sunday afternoon, Williams finished 32-of-47 for 340 yards, 2 TD and 0 INTs (103.1 QB rating). He takes chances and tries to fit balls where they may not be able to go, but that’s because he trusts his incredible arm talent, and his feel for the game. After watching him today, Bears fans should too.

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