Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings: Fourth Quarter Open Thread

Holding on to a 17-7 lead over the Chicago Bears, the Minnesota Vikings were set to receive the second half kickoff. However, John Fox had a trick up his sleeve, as his team went for an onside kick to start the second half and got the recovery. However, three plays later, Brian Robison stormed into the backfield and hit Jay Cutler for a strip sack, with Robison jumping on the fumble at the Minnesota 45-yard line. So, the trickery went for naught and the Vikings took over.

The Vikings pushed into Chicago territory, including a very nice conversion from Teddy Bridgewater to Jarius Wright to move the chains. Then, on a 3rd-and-6 from the Chicago 33-yard line, Bridgewater dropped back to pass and hit a short pass to Stefon Diggs, who made a couple of moves and dragged a Bear into the end zone for a touchdown. It was the second touchdown catch of the game for Diggs, and the third touchdown pass of the afternoon for Bridgewater. Blair Walsh added the extra point, and the Minnesota lead was extended to 24-7.

Walsh blasted the ball through the end zone for a touchback, giving the Bears the ball at their own 20. Chicago picked up a quick first down after a questionable spot on a pass from Cutler to Matt Forte, and pushed into Minnesota territory a few plays later. Chicago found themselves facing a 4th-and-1 from the Minnesota 36, and Forte managed to punch through for two yards to keep the Bears' drive going. But the Vikings' defense stiffened, and the Bears had to bring in Robbie Gould for a 51-yard field goal attempt. The veteran booted it through the uprights, and Minnesota's lead was reduced to two scores at 24-10.

For some reason, Diggs fielded the ensuing kickoff and took it out to the Minnesota 18-yard line. Cordarrelle Patterson was on the field, but Diggs got the return. Adrian Peterson came back into the game, and promptly lost yards on two consecutive carries. That led to a three-and-out for the Vikings, and Jeff Locke came on to punt again after a pretty weak series for the Vikings. The punt for Locke was another relatively short effort, and Marc Mariani called for a fair catch at their own 42-yard line.

The Minnesota defense stepped things up again, as Sharrif Floyd and Danielle Hunter split the Vikings' fifth quarterback sack of the day, taking Cutler down for an 8-yard loss. A near first down for the Bears was called back by a holding penalty, and that's where we currently stand.

As we move to the fourth quarter of play, the Bears are looking at a 3rd-and-22 from their own 30-yard line, with the Vikings holding a 24-10 lead. Can the Vikings hold on for fifteen more minutes?