MINNEAPOLIS -- As snow steadily descended outside the Metrodome on Sunday, the Chicago Bears were reminded that their playoff fate will be determined in the final four games of the regular season.
Although things started poorly Sunday, the Bears fought back. Jay Cutler hit Alshon Jeffery on a 23-yard TD pass just with 1:52 to play before halftime to cut the Vikings' lead to 14-7. The seven-play drive covered 69 yards.
Earlier, after Jeffery fell down on his route, Cutler's pass was intercepted by Vikings cornerback Josh Robinson. He returned the pick 44 yards to the Bears' 5. Adrian Peterson scored his second TD of the day from a yard out to make it 14-0 at the 8:46 mark of the first quarter.
Peterson -- who gained 104 yards in the first quarter -- had greeted the Bears with a 51-yard run on the Vikings' first play from scrimmage down to the Bears' 29. The drive ended with a 1-yard TD run by Peterson with 11:53 left in the first quarter. Blair Walsh converted and the Vikings led 7-0.
More bad news: Robbie Gould suffered a strained calf during warmups, and punter Adam Podlesh had to handle the opening kickoff. Gould was able to kick an extra point in the second quarter.
Bears safety Craig Steltz was ruled out for the game with a chest injury. Defensive tackle Henry Melton left the field on a cart after walking off with an apparent leg injury, but he later returned.
The Vikings represented clear and present danger as the Bears sought to at least cling to a share of the NFC North lead. Upcoming games at home against the Packers and on the road at Arizona and Detroit loomed throughout the December. The Atlanta Falcons own the best record in the conference at 11-1.
The Bears came in with an 8-4 record, having lost three of their previous four games. Injuries to Brian Urlacher, Tim Jennings, Earl Bennett and Lance Louis were among a handful of problems the Bears would attempt to overcome.
The Vikings approached Sunday’s game in desperation mode with a 6-6 record.
The Bears came into the game as the fifth seed in the NFC, having beaten the Vikings 28-10 two weeks ago. A home loss to Seattle last Sunday left the Bears sorely in need of a triumph at the Metrodome. The Bears and Packers entered the day tied with 8-4 records, but Green Bay held the tiebreaker after beating Chicago in Week 2. The Packers host the Lions on Sunday night.
The Bears entered Sunday with a six-game winning streak against Minnesota.
fmitchell@tribune.com
Twitter @kicker34
3rd quarter: Vikings 14, Bears 7
This article
3rd quarter: Vikings 14, Bears 7
can be opened in url
http://sneerednews.blogspot.com/2012/12/3rd-quarter-vikings-14-bears-7.html
3rd quarter: Vikings 14, Bears 7
