The Bears started at their own 20 and picked up three first downs,helped by a 25 yard Cutler run, before being forced to punt and Brad Maynard put it just inside the end zone for a touch back.The Vikings quickly moved the ball into Bears territory,keyed by a 20 yard Adrian Peterson run and sharp Favre passing.The drive stalled at the 18 which meant Ryan Longwell kicked a 36 yard field goal which capped a 62 yard 11 play drive. Devin Hester returned the ensuing kickoff 32 yards top his 37 yard line.On the Bears next possession,they faced a third down,Cutler’s pass deflected off Johnny Knox right to Husain Abdulah who had an easy interception and Minnesota took over at their 43.Twice on the Vikings drive,they were bailed out by defensive holding penalties against the Bears that came on third down. The drive continued as the first quarter ended.And intentional grounding Favre moved the Vikes back and Longwell tried a 39 yard field goal into the wind that hit the left upright,keeping the score 3-0 and giving the ball to the Bears at their own 29.Cutler hit Knox on a third down for 29 to the Minnesota 33.Later,Cutler found Knox again for 11 to the Vikes 13.The Bears had a third down TD from Cutler to Greg Olsen called back due to a holding call on Olen Kruetz,but the same pair then hooked up for a 17 yard TD pass that this time held up with 6:57 left in the half to get the Bears on the board for a 7-3 lead.After an exchange of punts the Vikings got the ball at their own 47 and Percy Harvin burned Chris Harris and Tim Jennings on a 53 yard TD pass on the first play from scrimmage to put Minnesota back in front 10-7.Harvin was at least 15 yards behind everyone.Obviously no migraines for Harvin on this play! Raheed Davis had a nice 32 yard kickoff return to the Minnesota 49.Cutler drove the Bears to the 19,and despite a border line chop block penalty,he hit Hester up the middle and he dove across the plain of the goal line and it was ruled a touchdown,and upheld by booth review with :44 left in the half.On the Vikes next possession, Favre fumbled while scrambling and the Bears recovered at the Minnesota 41.Taylor ran for 5,and Cutler hit Hester at the 25,but Gould was wide left with a 43 yard field goal try and the Bears settled for a 14-10 half time lead. 

The Vikings started in their 18 and Favre had a pass intercepted by D.J.Moore at the 10,but the Bears went backwards. Forte lost three on first and goal. Then a pass intended for Earl Bennett in the end zone was slightly overthrown.On third down,Cutler threw a pass while over the line of scrimmage which was incomplete anyway.Gould then kicked a 34 yard field goal to make it 17-10 Bears.After an exchange of punts,the Vikes started at their own 43.On first down,Favre had Harvin not quite as open,but Danieal Manning was face guarding at the Bears 15 for a 42 yard pass interference penalty.It was 3rd and ten from the 15,and Favre threw incomplete again in the end zone so Longwell kicked a 33 yard field goal with 8:14 to go in the third period.Hester took the kickoff from one yard in his end zone and returned it 668 yards to the Minnesota 34.On a third down, Cutler hit Devin Aromashdu for 9 for a first down to the 21.It became third and 8 at the twenty,and Cutler had Bennett,but the receiver was turned the wrong way. Gould then was successful with a 37 yard field goal try and it was 20-13 with 5:26 on the third quarter clock.Minnesota went three and out and Chris Kluwe again punted to Hester who zig zagged 42 yards to the Minnesota 37.Two Forte carries got the ball to the 23 for a first down.On an eight yard pass to Hester,he was helped off and an illegal block in the back was again called on Kruetz.Cutler however scrambled and hit leaping Knox for 21 yards at the 9 for a first and goal.Forte picked up one.After a bullet missed Olsen in the end zone.He then scrambled and threw into coverage and Abdullah got his second pick of the game and the Vikings took over as the third quarter ended with the Bears ahead 20-13.They also went three and had to kick,which Kluwe rolled dead at the Bears 45.Cutler again carved up the Vikes defense with a key 18 yard pass play to Davis and a 19 yard third down play action pass to a very wide open Kellen Davis up the middle for a touchdown that gave the Bears the game’s first two possession lead 27-13 with 8:37 to go.Favre had a pass picked off for the second time in the game,this time by Lance Briggs,this time the Vikes challenged the ruling,lost and ran out challenges for the rest of the contest.The Bears got to fourth down and Maynard punted the ball dead at the Minnesota 1 yard line.Favre tossed his third interception of the game,this to Harris with 2:27 left at the Bears 20.That as they say,was that. 

NOTES—This is a short week since the Bears are at Miami on Thursday night while Green Bay plays at Minnesota next Sunday…..Attendance was 62,206. 

LES