The Bears pulled off a stunner by edging the Division Champion Minnesota Vikings 36-30 in overtime on Jay Cutlers 39 yard TD bomb to Devin Aromashodu after an Adrian Peterson fumble caused by Hunter Hillenmeyer which Nick Roach fell on.
After each team went three and out to start the game, The Bears started their second drive at their own 40 and Jay Cutler hit Desmond Clark for 27 yards to the 26 and Rashied Davis on a 9 yarder to the Vikes 10, making it first and goal,but the Vikings held,and Robbie Gould kicked a 22 yard chip shot field goal. On the net Minnesota drive,Brett Favre appeared be sacked,but got away with tossing it away near FB Naufahu Tahi for an incompletion,but on the next play, Favre was hit by Israel Idonije and coughed it up.Tommie Harris fell on it at the Vikings 40. Cutler hit Greg Olsen for 16 yards to the Minnesota 40.Cutler then scrambled for 8 to the 33 as the first period ended.The drive continued until Gould booted a 42 yarder to ake it 6-0.The Bears forced a Chris Kluwe punt whih he shanked off the right side of his foot for just 16 yards to the Bears 34 where it went out of bounds. Cutler found Olsen for 24 yards to the Vikes 29.Then Aromashodu made a leaping grab at the Minnesota 7,and from there, Cutler hit Olsen who made a diving grab in the middle of the end zone to make it 13-0 Bears with 5:56 left in the half. The Bears got it back once more and Gould made it 3-3 in the first half with a 41 yarder as tie expired-giving the Bears a 16-0 halftime lead.Favre was 5-8 for just 36 yards in the first half.
On Minnesotas second drive of the third quarter, Favre tried to hit Sidney Rice in the end zone,but he was interferred with by Charles Tillman,and Peterson scored from the one on the next play.Ryan Longwells PAT was blocked by Idonije, keeping the score 16-6 Bears. Danieal Manning returned the ensuing kickoff 57 yards to the Vikes 34. One play later,pass interference was called on Jasper Brinkley for bumping Olsen at the 4.One play later from the 2, Cutler bootlegged and the Vikings bit on it,leaving Clark wide open in the back of the end zone,whom he hit to make it 23-6 with 6:30 left in the third quarter.The Vikings came right back with a 73 yard,10 play drive. Favre finished it with a 6 yard TD pass on a blitz to a wide open Visanthe Shiancoe and it was 23-13 after three quarters.Johnny Knox injured his ankle on the kickoff and had to be carted off. On a third and long Cutler tried to his Earl Bennett,but instead it was intercepted by Cedric Griffin at the Vikes 47. That was Cutler’s League leading 26th of the season.As the fourth quarter started, Tillman hurt his ribs,making a tackle and had to be wheeled off on a stretcher.The Vikes settled for a 41 yard field goal to make it a one possession game at 23-16. That would not stand up either as the Bears had to punt,the Minnesota tied it up by driving 79 yards in 8 plays. The Bears were picked apart this time and Peterson scored fro the one,untouched. 23-23 with 5:49 left. Manning however had a big hole on the kickoff and went 59 yards to the Minnesota 21. After a 1 yard Matt Forte run, Cutler fired a bullet over the middle to Bennett for 20 yards in the end zoner and with 4:55 left,the Bears regained the lead 30-23.The Vikings drove from their own 32 to the Bears 7 and had a first and goal with 1:04 to go. It came down to a fourth and goal from the Bears 6 and Favre lobbed one into the end zone for Rice,who made a leaping grab to tie it 30-30 heading into overtime after Cutler took a knee,which of course drew boos.The Bears won the toss and received the OT kickoff. Bennett returned it to his 32.Cutler hit Aromashodu for 33 to the Vikes 35.Three plays later Gould missed a 45 yarder wide right and the Vikes took over at their own 35.The Bears stopped them three and out,sacking Favre on both second and third down.After Kluwe’s punt,the Bears took oer at their 36 but also failed to pick up a first down and Brad Maynard punted. Minnesota started at their 17.Peterson fumbled on a 16 yard pass from Favre and the Bears took over at the Vikes 39. One play later it was over as was the Bears home schedule for another season.
NOTES—Cutler finished 20-35 for 273 yards,4 TD’s and 1 Int. His passer rating was 108.4…..Favre was 26-40 for 321 yards, 2 TD’s and a passer rating of 106.4….Peterson carried 24 times for 94 yards, Fotre 21 times for 74 yards.
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