Almost a serious case of deja vu there.
On Sunday, Nov. 16, the Chicago Bears defeated their division rival, the Minnesota Vikings, on the road by a score of 19-17, thanks to a game-winning 48-yard field goal from kicker Cairo Santos.
The Bears, now 7-3, are on a three-game winning streak and hold sole possession of first place in the NFC North. The Vikings fall to 4-6 on the year.
From start to finish, the game was an absolute slugfest. Quarterbacks Caleb Williams and J.J. McCarthy were missing passes left and right. Even on the rare occasion where the passes were on target, their receivers were dropping balls like it was New Year’s Eve.
The Vikings managed to put points on the board first with a field goal from kicker Will Reichard, but a 15-play, 8:25-long drive culminating in a Kyle Monangai rushing touchdown gave the Bears the lead.
Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai (25) scores a touchdown in the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Sunday, November 16, 2025 (Brad Rempel / Imagn Images).
McCarthy also aided Chicago’s effort to keep the lead as he threw interceptions on each of the next two drives. One to safety, Kevin Byard, who now leads the NFL in interceptions, and another to Nahshon Wright in the endzone, where he made a spectacular play on the football.
The Bears only managed a field goal off these two takeaways, though, and had just a 10-3 lead at halftime.
They moved the ball down the field well in the third quarter, but both of their drives ended in measly field goals, making it 16-3 with fifteen minutes left.
Chicago’s special teams had their weekly screwup as a long punt return from Minnesota returner Myles Price set up a touchdown run from running back Jordan Mason to get them right back in the game.
This was becoming all too similar to the Week 1 matchup between these two foes. In that one, the Vikings came back from a 17-6 fourth-quarter deficit to win 27-24.
The Bears tried to keep momentum on their side as they methodically went up the field to set up a 45-yard field goal to make it a two-score game once again. Santos would miss this kick wide left, and the score remained the same.
With 3:14 left in the contest on their own 15-yard line, McCarthy finally awoke as he tore apart a Bears secondary on its last legs and ripped a touchdown to receiver Jordan Addison with 50 seconds remaining. The extra point gave them the lead, 17-16.
It happened again. The Bears had once again blown a double-digit lead to the Vikings in the fourth quarter. They were going to fall to a divisional opponent again. Sure, they have 50 seconds and all three timeouts, but the offense hasn’t done anything all day, there’s no way they’re going to–what’s that?
Nothing, it’s just return man Devin Duvernay getting a 56-yard kickoff return to set up Chicago on Minnesota’s 40. Huh? How is this happening?
The Bears would get nine yards on three D’Andre Swift handoffs to set up a 48-yard field goal for the win. It all came down to this. From that distance, this was no gimme. Santos had missed from a similar distance not too long ago as well.
He had also been in a similar situation two years earlier, as he kicked the game-winner in Minnesota to win 12-10. But then again, these are the Bears; they can never have nice things… except for today.
Santos squeaked in the field goal to deliver the win for Chicago. Yet again, it wasn’t pretty, but as head coach Ben Johnson said a few weeks ago: “Never apologize for a win in this league”. The Bears keep finding ways to win tight games they wouldn’t have in years past. Maybe there is something different about this team.
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson looks on during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Sunday, November 16, 2025 (David Berding / Getty Images).
The Bears return to Soldier Field next week to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are led by the supposed owner of their franchise, Aaron Rodgers. Will this “new” Chicago Bears team finally vanquish their old demons? Whatever the answer may be, it’ll certainly have you on the edge of your seat.
