The Chicago Bears have done it again, pulling off a thrilling 19-17 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the final minute of play on Sunday. The win, which marked their seventh straight, has propelled them to a 7-3 record and put them firmly in contention for the NFC North title.
For much of the game, the Bears looked like they were destined for another nail-biting finish, having trailed at some point in every one of their last five games. However, this time around, it was the Vikings who found themselves on the losing end of a late-game collapse.
The decisive moment came when Devin Duvernay returned the ensuing kickoff 56 yards to the Vikings' 40-yard line, setting up D'Andre Swift's eventual 31-yard run that gave Cairo Santos an opportunity to put the Bears ahead. Santos cashed in with a 48-yard field goal as time expired, sending the Soldier Field crowd into raptures.
"It was just one of those games," said head coach Ben Johnson. "We've proven time and again that when it's close, we can find a way."
The win marked the Bears' first lead outright in the NFC North standings since 2018, and put them firmly on track to make a deep playoff run.
For quarterback Caleb Williams, the win was all about resilience and perseverance. While his performance wasn't spectacular - he completed 16 of 32 passes for 193 yards with no turnovers - it was enough to propel the Bears to victory.
"We're really talented," Johnson said. "It's just a matter of time before someone makes a big play."
As for the Vikings, they fell to 6-4 on the season and will need to regroup quickly if they hope to stay in contention for the division title.
The win was a testament to the Bears' ability to close out games when it matters most. It's a quality that has been the hallmark of their season so far.
"We've got playmakers on offense, defense and special teams," Johnson said. "Someone's going to show up and give us the spark that we need."
That spark, however, may be missing for quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The veteran signal-caller suffered a slight break in his non-throwing wrist during Sunday's game with the Steelers.
Regardless of who leads the charge on offense going forward, one thing is certain: the Bears are here to stay.
For much of the game, the Bears looked like they were destined for another nail-biting finish, having trailed at some point in every one of their last five games. However, this time around, it was the Vikings who found themselves on the losing end of a late-game collapse.
The decisive moment came when Devin Duvernay returned the ensuing kickoff 56 yards to the Vikings' 40-yard line, setting up D'Andre Swift's eventual 31-yard run that gave Cairo Santos an opportunity to put the Bears ahead. Santos cashed in with a 48-yard field goal as time expired, sending the Soldier Field crowd into raptures.
"It was just one of those games," said head coach Ben Johnson. "We've proven time and again that when it's close, we can find a way."
The win marked the Bears' first lead outright in the NFC North standings since 2018, and put them firmly on track to make a deep playoff run.
For quarterback Caleb Williams, the win was all about resilience and perseverance. While his performance wasn't spectacular - he completed 16 of 32 passes for 193 yards with no turnovers - it was enough to propel the Bears to victory.
"We're really talented," Johnson said. "It's just a matter of time before someone makes a big play."
As for the Vikings, they fell to 6-4 on the season and will need to regroup quickly if they hope to stay in contention for the division title.
The win was a testament to the Bears' ability to close out games when it matters most. It's a quality that has been the hallmark of their season so far.
"We've got playmakers on offense, defense and special teams," Johnson said. "Someone's going to show up and give us the spark that we need."
That spark, however, may be missing for quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The veteran signal-caller suffered a slight break in his non-throwing wrist during Sunday's game with the Steelers.
Regardless of who leads the charge on offense going forward, one thing is certain: the Bears are here to stay.
i mean, i guess it's about time they started living up to their hype... or whatever. ben johnson's gotta be loving every minute of this, i can feel it 
. and caleb williams, huh? not exactly setting the world on fire but hey, wins are wins, right? 
. meanwhile, the vikings are back to square one... again. 6-4 and counting down the clock 
. poor aaron rodgers, gonna be interesting to see if he can make it through the season without breaking anything else 
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i mean ben johnson is totally right too - when it's close, they can find a way 
i'm loving this team's resilience right now 
plus, caleb williams may not have been his best but he got the job done 
and as for rodgers... well, we'll just have to wait and see how that wrist thing plays out 
ben johnson is so right though "it was just one of those games" and now its up to calvin williams & dandre swift to keep it going 
Man, I'm loving this Bears team right now! They're so consistent and clutch when it matters most 
, and their offense is finally finding its rhythm.
. And Caleb Williams may not have had a huge game, but he showed heart and poise under pressure 
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. Bring on the playoffs!
I'm loving how the Chicago Bears have turned their season around! 
The decisive moment was when Devin Duvernay returned that kickoff and set up D'Andre Swift's game-winning run - talk about a momentum-shifter! 
And let's be real, Cairo Santos' 48-yard field goal at the end is just clutch. 
I'm excited to see how this plays out for the rest of the season! 
. But what really got me is how Caleb Williams only needed to make a few decent passes to win the game. Not exactly breaking records or anything, but hey, it's all about finding ways to close out games, right? 
. But seriously, the Bears are looking solid this season, even if Aaron Rodgers is out with an injury. Let's see how they do without him... 
They're really showing that they can close out games when it matters most, and it's been a thrill ride for fans like me. I mean, who doesn't love a good underdog story? 
It's clear that this team has got some real talent on their side, from D'Andre Swift to... well, whoever's going to step up as the new QB after Rodgers leaves for a bit 
. The Vikings can't be too bummed about it, but the Bears are definitely the ones to beat now! 
They literally came from behind to win again! I was on the edge of my seat thinking they were gonna lose too 
The question is, will the Vikings be able to regroup and mount a comeback, or will they become like the opposition party in a divided government? Only time will tell!