Vikings vs. Bears: Highlights, game tracker and more

The Minnesota Vikings faced the Chicago Bears on Monday, Oct. 9 in Week 5 of the 2017 NFL season. Here are highlights from the game.

Week 5 of the 2017 NFL season ended with a Monday Night Football matchup featuring two teams from the black and blue division — the NFC North. The Minnesota Vikings looked like the team to beat after putting it all together in a Week 1 win. Since then, they’ve been without starting quarterback Sam Bradford and things haven’t been the same. However, he started on Monday against the Chicago Bears.

Unfortunately, his time in the game only lasted the first half — and a largely uneventful first half for both teams. Bradford still looked quite affected by the knee injury that had kept him out. Meanwhile, rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, making his first career start for the Bears, looked like a rookie as he was inconsistent early on. The only points of the first half came off of a Leonard Floyd sack of Bradford in the end zone for a safety and then a drive for a field goal by Minnesota.

However, the Chicago defense became further and further depleted at linebacker — already entering the game without key guys. As such, Case Keenum came in as Bradford’s relief and attacked those backers. That’s how he was able to put the first touchdown on the board with a pass to Kyle Rudolph.

With the Bears offense still not in rhythm, John Fox had to look to some trickery. Pat O’Donnell dropped back to punt, but faked it. He then found running back Benny Cunningham, who scampered through traffic for a touchdown to keep Chicago within one. Yet, the Vikings again went after the linebackers with Jerick McKinnon taking off for a long 58-yard touchdown run. That put the onus on Trubisky.

In this moment, he came up big. Taking advantage of opportunity, he extended a play, directed Zach Miller down the field, and hit him — albeit off a deflection. For the touchdown. The Bears then ran a nasty two-point conversion play that featured Miller flipping it to Trubisky on a toss for the two points and the tie.

Late in the game, the Vikings had the chance to drive for points. However, Chicago came up with a stop and put it in the rookie’s hands with about two minutes left. Unfortunately, the veteran and talented Minnesota defense baited him into a throw, and Harrison Smith picked it off. With a debilitating penalty extending the Vikings’ ensuing drive, they were able to kick a field goal with only seconds left, not enough time for the Bears to do anything. Thus, Minnesota picked up the 20-17 road win.

Highlights

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/917585711754121216

Next: 2017 NFL Power Rankings: Week 6

Both teams are still somewhat alive in the race for the NFC South — but only because it’s early. Minnesota is in a lot of trouble without Cook and the Bears waited way too long to bench Glennon.