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Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears Final Score: Vikings Fall In Chicago, 21-13

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David Banks

According to an age old philosopher named Vizzini, there are two classic blunders in this world.

1) Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line, and

2) Never get involved in a land war in Asia.

I think we can add a third. . .never bet on the Minnesota Vikings to win in Chicago.

Coming off of a bye week and riding a two-game winning streak, the Minnesota Vikings put on what can charitably be described as a lackluster performance, as they got beaten at Soldier Field for the seventh straight time, falling to the Chicago Bears by a final score of 21-13.

Yes, the same Chicago Bears that had allowed 107 points in their previous two games and, in both of those games, appeared to have outright quit.

Things were going Minnesota's way early, as they got a field goal from Blair Walsh to take a 3-0 lead. On their next possession, the Vikings lined up to punt and executed a perfect fake, with Adam Thielen taking the snap and handing it to Andrew Sendejo, who rambled for 48 yards to the Chicago 7-yard line. Teddy Bridgewater found Rhett Ellison for a touchdown on the next play, and the Vikings had a 10-0 lead.

It was pretty much all Chicago after that, however. Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery were each the recipient of a touchdown pass from Jay Cutler, and the Vikings suddenly found themselves trailing 14-10 going into the locker room.

Minnesota appeared to catch a break in the third quarter, as Harrison Smith intercepted a Cutler pass and brought the return inside the Chicago 30-yard line. However, the Vikings could not cash in, as Blair Walsh had just his second career miss from inside of 40 yards, pushing a 38-yard attempt wide to the right.

The Bears added a second Cutler-to-Marshall touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to make the score 21-10. Minnesota got to within 21-13 after a later Walsh field goal, but Minnesota's last-minute drive was stopped when Ryan Mundy intercepted a Bridgewater pass intended for Charles Johnson in the end zone.

The Vikings' offense was simply awful for the majority of the afternoon. Bridgewater completed 18-of-28 passes, but only accumulated 158 yards along with the touchdown pass and the interception. Sendejo wound up being Minnesota's leading rusher with his 48 yards on one carry. Jerick McKinnon "chipped in" with 38 yards on eight carries. Charles Johnson. . .who, let me remind everyone, was not even a member of the Minnesota Vikings until September 20. . .was Minnesota's leading receiver with six catches for 87 yards.

The Bears' offense, on the other hand, looked like. . .well, like the Bears' offense was supposed to look all year. Cutler became the first quarterback to record a 300-yard performance against the Vikings this season, completing 31-of-43 passes for 330 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Matt Forte carried the ball 26 times for 117 yards, and Alshon Jeffery caught 11 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown. Brandon Marshall also hauled in seven balls for 90 yards and two scores.

The Vikings and the Bears now both sit at 4-6 on the season. The Vikings will host the Green Bay Packers at TCF Bank Stadium next Sunday afternoon, while the Bears will play host to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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