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Week 7 Game Recap: Minnesota Vikings 41, Chicago Bears 48
What you need to know
| Minnesota Vikings |
Gus Frerotte had an inconsistent game, throwing for almost 300 yards and two touchdowns against the Bears, however throwing four picks as well. Early on he dazzled, completing five of his first seven passes for 66 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' first three drives. His only other touchdown of the afternoon came late in the fourth quarter as the Vikings were attempting to come back, when he found Bernard Berrian in the end zone for a five yard score.
RB Adrian Peterson had yet another good effort against the Bears, racking up 121 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. Peterson's highlight of the afternoon came in the third quarter as he burst through a hole and took it to the house for a 51 yard score. All game, Peterson showed amazing power, appearing to be tough for the Bears' defenders to bring down, making it clear from the opening snap that he was on track for a big game.
The Vikings' special teams struggled quite a bit in this game, their blunders beginning with a blocked punt that the Bears converted to a touchdown. Later on a Bears' punt, the ball took a funny bounce and hit Minnesota's punt returner, allowed the Bears to score again.
| Chicago Bears |
QB Kyle Orton dazzled yet again, throwing for 283 yards and two touchdowns. Orton came out throwing after the Vikings scored to open the game, and led the Bears to a fast response when he connected with Greg Olsen for an 18 yard touchdown. In fact, even past this first drive Orton continued completing his passes, his first incompletion coming on a drop. Orton probably could have ended with one or two more touchdowns, but Marty Booker had two drops that would have been scores.
RB Matt Forte had a fairly quiet day, only running for 56 yards on 20 carries. Forte however, did score a touchdown when he took a goal line handoff in the fourth quarter. Forte was not a big part of the Bears' game plan early, but as the game wore on he seemed to get more and more work against the tough Minnesota run defense.
WR Devin Hester injured himself again, leaving the game in the third quarter with a quad injury. Up to that point, he had gained 22 yards on two receptions; hopefully the injury is nothing serious.
What you ought to know
| QB Gus Frerotte, Pass: 25 - 40 - 298 - 2 TD / 4 INT |
Although Frerotte had an okay statistical day, he never seemed to give the Vikings a very good chance to win. Frerotte did throw for 298 yards and two touchdowns; however he had four interceptions, one which came at the end of the game as the Vikings were trying to drive for the tie. One of his brighter moments came early in the game, as he led the Vikings down the field near the end of the first quarter and connected with Visanthe Shiancoe for a 24 yard touchdown.
| RB Adrian Peterson, Rush: 22 - 121 - 2, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (2 targets) |
Peterson opened the afternoon with an impressive cutback run for 18 yards. As the drive concluded, Peterson appeared to be stacked up on the goal line on fourth down, but a nice second effort allowed him to get the ball across the line for the touchdown. After a quiet second quarter, Peterson opened the third quarter with a bang when he broke off an impressive 54 yard touchdown run. He ended the day with 121 yards and two touchdowns.
| RB Chester Taylor, Rush: 10 - 34 - 1, Rec: 6 - 48 - 0 (6 targets) |
Taylor had ten carries and six receptions in this game, racking up a grand total of 82 yards and a touchdown. Taylor almost had a second score when early in the first quarter he caught a six yard pass, coming up inches short of the goal line. Peterson ran it in the next play. However, Taylor did get his chance to score when late in the second quarter he dove over the top at the goal line for the touchdown.
| WR Bernard Berrian, Rec: 6 - 81 - 1 (11 targets) |
Berrian was the most targeted Minnesota receiver, catching just over half of his targets for 81 yards and a touchdown. Early in the game Berrian had a 34 yard reception when he got inside of defender, doing a good job of concentrating and catching the ball to finish the play. Near the end of the fourth quarter, he caught a touchdown at the side of end zone, doing a good job getting feet down and maintaining control.
| WR Bobby Wade, Rec: 5 - 60 - 0 (8 targets) |
Wade caught five of his eight targets for 60 yards. His key catch of the afternoon came on a fourth and 14 play where he got open down the sideline and caught a pass for a 19 yard gain.
| WR Aundrae Allison, Rec: 3 - 32 - 0 (5 targets) |
Allison had a fairly quiet day, catching three of his five targets for 32 yards. His long catch of the afternoon came early in the fourth quarter when he hauled in an 18 yard reception.
| TE Visanthe Shiancoe, Rec: 4 - 68 - 1 (5 targets) |
Shiancoe caught four of his five targets for 68 yards and a touchdown; the one target he didn't catch was nowhere near him. Shiancoe scored his touchdown near the end of the first quarter when Frerotte found him for a 24 yard score.
| PK Ryan Longwell 2 - 2 FG, 5 - 5 XP, 11 points |
There is nothing significant to report in the Vikings' kicking game, Longwell made all of his kicks.
| MIN Rush Defense |
The Vikings' run defense did a good job of containing Forte, no surprise considering their elite reputation. Although they held him to just 2.8 yards per carry, he was able to find pay dirt once as he took a goal line handoff and bounced it outside for the one yard score.
| MIN Pass Defense |
The Vikings' pass defense looked foolish in this game, allowing 283 yards passing to Orton and giving up two touchdowns. Minnesota struggled with getting pressure on Orton, and he made them pay by often finding open receivers for moderate to large gains. The lone bright spot of the day for the pass defense was when they sacked Orton in the third quarter, forcing him to fumble the ball.
| QB Kyle Orton, Pass: 21 - 32 - 283 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - -2 - 0 |
Orton conducted a masterful game, throwing for 283 yards and two touchdowns, fumbling once. Out of the gate Orton looked great, leading the Bears to an opening drive touchdown. As usual, he spread the ball around very well, and ended the drive throwing a dart to Greg Olsen for a touchdown. All game he benefited from great play from the O-line, having plenty of time to complete his throws.
| RB Matt Forte, Rush: 20 - 56 - 1, Rec: 2 - 17 - 0 (3 targets) |
Forte struggled against the Vikings' run defense like most running backs have this year, running for 56 yards on 20 carries, a dismal 2.8 average. However, Forte scored a touchdown a few seconds into the fourth quarter as he took a goal line handoff, bounced it outside, and was practically able to walk it in for the score. He also added two receptions for 17 yards.
| RB Jason McKie, Rec: 2 - 8 - 0 (2 targets) |
McKie didn't take any carries in this game, but he caught both of his targets for eight yards.
| RB Garrett Wolfe |
Wolfe's first NFL touchdown came not on offense but on special teams. Wolfe picked up a blocked punt in the first quarter and returned it for 17 yards and the score. He did not have any carries or targets on offense.
| WR Rashied Davis, Rush: 1 - -1 - 0, Rec: 3 - 24 - 0 (4 targets) |
Davis caught three of his four targets for 24 yards; however his most significant contribution came on a ball he didn't catch. On a play where Desmond Clark was racing to the end zone, the ball was knocked loose on the one yard line. Luckily for the Bears, Davis was the next closest man to the ball and was able to recover the fumble and take it in for the score.
| WR Marty Booker, Rec: 3 - 79 - 1 (9 targets) |
Booker was targeted the most of any Bears' receiver, but had issues dropping the ball. Early in the second quarter Booker dropped a sure touchdown when Orton hit him in the hands in the end zone but he couldn't bring it in. Later near the end of the second quarter Booker dropped a second sure touchdown on a fade route, which led to a field goal attempt that was blocked. Late in the third quarter though, Booker finally came through when he caught a short route, turned it inside, and took it to the house for a 51 yard touchdown. He finished the day with three receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown.
| WR Devin Hester, Rec: 2 - 22 - 0 (2 targets) |
Hester had another quiet day in the return game, only racking up 18 return yards. He didn't do much in the passing game either, although he did catch both his targets for 22 yards. In the third quarter, Hester injured his quad, and did not return to the game.
| TE Greg Olsen, Rec: 6 - 74 - 1 (7 targets) |
Olsen's first catch of the game came on a tipped ball, but he showed good concentration and brought it in for a gain of ten yards. Immediately after, Orton found Olsen down the middle of the field for an 18 yard touchdown. Olsen finished the day as Orton's second most targeted receiver, bringing in six of his seven targets for 74 yards and a touchdown.
| TE Desmond Clark, Rec: 3 - 59 - 0 (5 targets) |
Early in the third quarter Clark caught a pass wide open downfield, and while running it to the end zone dropped it on the goal line. The ball was picked up by Rashied Davis and run in for the extra yard and score. Clark was not credited with the touchdown, and finished the day with three catches for 59 yards.
| PK Robbie Gould 2 - 3 FG, 6 - 6 XP, 12 points |
Gould had a field goal blocked in this game, but aside from that he was perfect kicking on the game.
| CHI Rush Defense |
The Bears' rush defense struggled stopping the Vikings attack. Adrian Peterson burst out of the gate with some strong runs, and converted on a fourth and goal to score an opening drive touchdown. In the second quarter the defense seemed to step it up, however in the second half the Vikings' rushing attack woke up again as Peterson broke off a 54 yard touchdown run. Altogether on the day, the Bears allowed 155 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
| CHI Pass Defense |
Despite missing both their starting corners, the Bears' pass defense put on an impressive display. Although they allowed two passing touchdowns, the defense came up with four interceptions, including a clutch one on the Vikings' final drive to seal the win.