On a rainy Sunday today in Soldier Field the Vikings went to 2-0 on the season by controlling the much-hyped Bears offense in a 9-3 win that left rival and defending NFC North Division champion Chicago 1-1 after two weeks of the NFL regular season.
The Bears scored 59 points in their season opening over Carolina. Sunday was much different as the Bears struggled, including near misses. They got inside the Minnesota red zone in the third and fourth quarters but couldn’t score touchdowns.
Defensive back Isaiah Rodgers was a hero for the Vikings recovering a third quarter fumble by De’Andre Swift on the Minnesota one yard line. Late in the fourth quarter he blocked a field goal attempt that would have closed the score to 9-6.
The Bears lost glitzy playmaking quarterback Caleb Williams late in the fourth quarter when he fell to the ground after being pursued by Andrew Van Ginkel. It looked like he could have sustained an ACL injury but later came news of a hamstring issue.
Williams couldn’t return to the game on a day when the Vikings frustrated him with different coverage looks and considerable pressure and push including from the defensive line that featured rookie Caleb Banks’ best performance.
If this was a matchup of Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and Ben Johnson, the Bears head coach and offensive savant, it was a win for the Purple. Williams threw an interception, was sometimes inaccurate and the Bears had numerous offensive penalties.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell called it an “unbelievable” performance by his defense after the game while talking on KFAN Radio.
It was a sloppy Chicago performance on a day that the Bears wanted to pick up on their headline making work in the opener against the Panthers.
The Bears had 560 scrimmage yards (291 rushing, 269 passing) last Sunday with six rushing scores and two passing touchdowns fueling the 59 points. The Bears tied the 2019 Ravens, 1968 Cowboys and 1963 Chiefs for the second-most points scored in a season-opening game all-time. Additionally, the Bears tied with the 1920 Detroit Heralds, 1920 Rock Island Independents and the 1922 Canton Bulldogs for the most rushing touchdowns in a season opening game in NFL history.
With 37 points scored against the Vikings today, the Bears could have surpassed the 1968 Raiders (95 points scored) for the most points scored in a team’s first two games of a season in NFL history. The Bears could have also become first team ever with at least 250 passing yards and 250 rushing yards in consecutive games.
The Vikings offense showed the commitment to running the ball that was an offseason priority and also in the opening win over the Packers. The Vikings had 28 rushing attempts for 119 yards while passing 20 times for 143. QB Carson Wentz looked hesitant at times in throwing down field and the Vikings didn’t have a huge explosive play all day.
Aaron Jones, 31, ran for 105 yards with O’Connell remarking his starting RB is “not going to be a guy that goes 70 but he’s going to find yards.”
On a day with not only rain challenging footing on the field but with wind guests in the air, Vikings field goal kicker Will Reichard came up with makes of 35, 49 and 39 yards. Probably the best field goal kicker in the league, he has now booted 22 perfect kicks.
Not to be lost in the kicking performance is holder Brett Thorson. The rookie punter hadn’t been a holder in college and there was skepticism in preseason about his important role. No problem putting the ball down for Reichard, though, and his punting was a weapon averaging 49.5 yards.
Worth Noting
It will be interesting to see how the Golden Gophers handle practice this week in preparation for their game Saturday that starts at 10 p.m. Minneapolis time in Seattle against Washington. Will coach P.J. Fleck schedule 10 p.m. practices?
The two programs haven’t played each other since 1977 but have a historic rivalry that includes a 17-7 Minnesota loss in the 1961 Rose Bowl.
The Gophers paid Akron $1.2 million for yesterday’s home game Saturday against the Zips, per information obtained from the University of Minnesota through the public records process. For two other nonconference home games this season, Minnesota paid guarantees of $500,000 to Eastern Illinois and $350,000 to Mississippi State.
Next year State will pay the Gophers $350,000 for a return game in Starkville.
It was 30 years ago that the most popular Gopher basketball team of all-time embarked on the 1996-1997 season that ended with a Big Ten title, trip to the Final Four, 31-4 record and final A.P. ranking of No. 3 in the nation. The academic scandal that later resulted in vacating the season record to zero wins will never diminish the memories fans have of that extraordinary team.
Congrats to Twins pitcher Pablo López on being the franchise’s 2026 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award. This is López’s third consecutive nomination with Minnesota and fourth of his nine-year career (Marlins’ nominee in 2022).
Each MLB club nominates a player for the award that annually recognizes a player who best represents extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field. The annual award is a tribute to Clemente’s achievements and character.
Fans can vote through Sunday, September 27 at MLBTogether.com/clementeaward (site available in English and Spanish)