The Vikings may have collapsed over the game’s final seconds but they dominated overtime. The Bears won the coin toss and got the ball first in the extra period.
Bears overtime possession:
1st&10: Caleb Williams scrambled for a yard.
2nd&9: Caleb Williams sacked by Jonathan Greenard for -12 yards
3rd&21: Delay of game
3rd&26: Caleb Williams passed short to D.J. Moore for 10 yards
4th&16: Tory Taylor punted 54 yards to Minnesota 22-yard line
The best defensive sequence of the game for the Vikings was probably that one. They seriously needed it. With that 11-point comeback, the Bears had all of the momentum. The Vikings defense took that momentum away and handed it to the Vikings offense.
Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold has had some fine moments this season. He’s a big reason for the 9-2 record. Due to his pre-Minnesota career, most pundits have been waiting for him to fail. They have consistently sniffed at any hint of failure. This, his eleventh game with the Vikings, was probably Darnold’s best game. His best sequence of the game was the team’s overtime possession.
10 plays, 69 yards. Those 69 yards set up Romo’s game-winning kick.
Darnold on the drive:
6 attempts
6 completions
90 yards
He had to overcome a sack on the first play of the drive and 15 yards in penalties.
His throws:
7 yards to T.J. Hockenson on second-and-17
13 yards to Jordan Addison on third-and-10
20 yards to Justin Jefferson on first-and-15
9 yards to Aaron Jones and first-and-20
12 yards to Hockenson on second-and-11
29 yards to Hockenson on second-and-8
The last throw to Hockenson put the ball on the Bears nine-yard line. On the next play, Darnold took a knee in the middle of the field to set up the game-winning field goal. Darnold’s day was done. He’d led his team throughout the game and took it over in overtime. The game-winning drive is the sort of drive that is expected from a quarterback that’s selected with the third pick in the draft.
Caleb Williams played like a quarterback that’s selected with the first pick in the draft. Getting this game experience against him has to be a good thing for the Vikings defense. I look forward to the Bears visit to US Bank on Monday night in Week 15. With this game in the books and on film, Brian Flores, the defensive coaches, and the players should have a nice plan for the rookie in a few weeks. But Caleb Williams is going to be a problem for a while.
I think Justin Jefferson is getting frustrated with the defenses he’s facing. Being great comes with its own share of problems.
Against the Bears:
2 catches
27 yards
Jefferson did have a 40-yard touchdown called back for a Brandon Powell pick play. I’ve seen officials overlook transgressions similar to the one Powell made. He tried to play the pick off as incidental contact but the officials weren’t buying the act. It’s unfortunate as Jefferson earned the opportunity to score and put this game away. That’s what he’s paid to do. It doesn’t show up in his stats but Jefferson did get the ball moved about 60 yards with pass interference penalties. One would’ve been a 41-yard touchdown had Jaylon Johnson not been pulling on Jefferson’s jersey. It was such an obvious penalty that it was hysterical that Johnson complained about the call.
The attention paid to Jefferson opened things up for the rest of the team’s playmakers.
Jordan Addison
8 catches
162 yards
1 TD (2 yards)
T.J. Hockenson
7 catches
114 yards
Aaron Jones
22 carries
106 yards
1 TD (2 yards)
3 catches
23 yards
129 total yards
The Bears paid a heavy price for the extreme focus on Jefferson.
The Vikings have won four straight games. The past three have been road wins. At 9-2, they now play three consecutive games at US Bank. First up is the Arizona Cardinals.
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