Categories: VT News
| On 8 years ago

Vikings Sweep Da Bears

By Carl Knowles

Teddy Bridgewater gave his best Cam Newton-like performance throwing for four touchdowns and leaping over the goal line to add a rushing score as the Vikings rolled past the Chicago Bears 38-17 at TCF Bank Stadium.

The Vikings put the game in the bag early in the third quarter when Brian Robison pressured Jay Cutler in the pocket forcing and recovering a fumble that set up a 33-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs on an underneath crossing route to take a 24-10 advantage.

Cutler was sacked five time by the Vikings defense as the front seven consistently hurried and harassed the QB all game. The Vikings were playing without Harrison Smith, Anthony Barr and Linval Joseph, but the defense successfully dialed-up enough timely big plays to keep the game out of reach. Justin Trattou intercepted Cutler in the fourth quarter and rookie Danielle Hunter had another good game with 5 combined tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Zach Line added the final touchdown for the Vikings as he dove to the pylon with just under two minutes to play on a 4-yard rollout dump-off from Bridgewater. However, it was the Vikings perfectly orchestrated first possession on the game’s opening score that actually set the tone. Backed-up at their own 7-yard line, Bridgewater guided the Vikings on a 14-play drive that ended with an outstanding over the shoulder 15-yard reception from Bridgewater to Diggs in the corner of the end zone giving the Vikings an early 7-0 lead that they never relinquished.

Adrian Peterson was limited and missed some action because of an ankle injury but finished with 63 yards on 18 attempts. Bridgewater was 17 of 20 for 231 yards without a turnover and helped the Vikings take a significant step toward clinching a playoff spot. The Vikings improve to 9-5 on the season and control their own destiny in the NFC North.

Carl Knowles

Carl Knowles (Contributor) is a former member of the Professional Bowler Association and an avid lifelong Vikings fan. When he is not bowling you can find him on websites and forum pages sharing his creative insight and enthusiasm for the Minnesota Vikings any chance he gets. Carl was a Phoenix Institute of Technology and Purdue University standout who currently enjoys the challenge of being a graphic director in the printing business. You can follow him on twitter @carlknowles_vt.

Tags: Chicago Bears Minnesota Vikings game recap

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  • I'll go out on a limb and predict Teddy wins the player of the week poll. Great game to watch wow!

  • Great win Vikings.

    Good weekend: Vikings win, NDSU wins and is headed to the FCS championship game for the 5th straight year.

    • Little nervous about that Jacksonville team. They look tough. Bison don't have the defense they used to. Too many freshmen and sophmores but they have played well in the playoffs so who knows. Trying to get tickets but they are scarce. Gonna hang out in front of the gate looking for scalpers this year..

      • I am not familiar with the Jacksonville team although I am sure that they did not get to this point by being a weak team. I am looking for Wentz to have a big game, and the defense has been steadily improving all year.. Keep the faith Jake!! I wish you the best of luck in scoring your tickets.

        • Stick is going to start. This years defense is better than last years right now. Maybe as good as 2012.

    • Who would have taken the bet that the Vikings would score 38 points, and Peterson would have none of them?
      Anybody heard why Zimmer was so hot on the sidelines right after the Bears FG? Did someone decline the penalty without asking him?
      The Vikings RB corps is about as deep and impressive as we've been for a long time.

  • As impressive as Teddy was today, the most impressive thing about this team is what the defense has done the past two weeks without Barr, Smith and Joseph. Zim has a great scheme, teaches some fine technique, and is developing some depth on this team. Seeing what is happening today to defenses like Carolina, the Giants, the Ravens and the Steelers, this depleted Viking defense is pretty impressive. Makes the Vikes fun to watch again.

    And I think we can put the Bridgewater - Ponder conversations in the shredder now.

  • Line is doing a good job in the backfield for the Vikings. Glad to see him find the end zone!
    I love seeing the short crossing routes to Diggs, Wallace and Wright. Hope we kept giving Line and McKinnon targets in the passing game as well.

    • Your takes on Zach Line are spot on. You have a great football mind Carl K

      Here's an idea for the off season. A series of articles regaling fans with Jeff Dugan's accomplishments. The internet might run outta ink if you mention all of them.

      • Thanks Ole. Your idea might make a good Viketube video this offseason. Maybe I could even talk you into guest hosting it? Get your selfie stick ready!

  • I am so glad to be eating crow, that being my two posts in the last week that were critical of Teddy. Again he was so poised and calm, but he did a much better job of buying time while there was still the opportunity, and he had some good runs when there was nothing open. The first TD pass to Diggs was a thing of beauty, he quite simply could not have thrown that ball any better, just perfect timing and accuracy on Teddy's part. Jerrick looked very good, I loved the draft pick and have been high on him ever since, today he did not disappoint while Adrian was nursing his ankle. Speaking of that, I was glad that Zim did not rush him back into the game since the Vikes were 2 scores ahead when Adrian limped off, he is too important to risk. So many positives today.. The secondary play without Smith, Greenway, Robison, Griffen, the o line, it was just a fun game to watch except for the Bear's fans. SKOL Vikings!!

    • Good man to own up! As I say...Teddy is going to win some games. Just watch! He is 23 years old.
      Just play ball Teddy!

    • Bridgewater is only the second Vikings' QB with 4 passing TDs and 1 rushing TD. Fran Tarkenton did it against Chicago in 1961.

    • Nice gesture by Francis, I know he's a Teddy fan. The photos are nice - only difference is we wore uniforms in Fran's era, now we wear costumes.

      • I do agree Coach! Those throwbacks....best uniforms ever, and it ain't even close. Those are/were great. Those are Minnesota Vikings football!