Since his arrival to Minnesota in 2022, Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell has consistently asked his players for one thing: to be at their best when their best is required.
That message of staying prepared, no matter the circumstance, has been executed on several occasions, as Minnesota has had 22 one-score wins in three seasons under O’Connell, the most in the NFL.
The Vikings needed to rely on that mental fortitude once again in Chicago on Sunday. Despite losing an 11-point lead in the final minute of regulation and going into overtime for the first time this season, Minnesota (9-2) came up with a quick defensive stop before piecing together a game-winning drive for a 30-27 victory over the Bears (4-7).
While Chicago was able to limit star receiver Justin Jefferson to only one catch for seven yards in regulation and two receptions for 27 yards total, the Vikings still produced a season-best 452 yards of total offense thanks to big afternoons by Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, Aaron Jones, Sr., and Sam Darnold.
Addison racked up a career-high 162 receiving yards on eight receptions – highlighted by a career-long 69-yard catch-and-run to begin the second half. He also scored his fourth touchdown of the season, coincidentally in the same city where he scored his fourth touchdown as a rookie last season.
Hockenson added seven catches for a season-best 114 yards in his fourth game since returning from his season-ending ACL injury in 2023.
Jones overcame a fumble near the goal line on Minnesota’s opening possession and churned a season-high 106 yards on the ground on 22 carries. Late in the third quarter, Jones found the end zone on a 2-yard run for his first touchdown in a little more than a month, with 99 total rush attempts separating the two scores.
Darnold battled through a foot injury that sidelined him for a couple of plays before orchestrating a perfect drive in overtime, completing all six pass attempts for 90 yards to set up Parker Romo’s 29-yard game winner. The Vikings quarterback finished the game with a season-high 330 yards on 22-of-34 passing with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Vikings completed a contest with a 300-yard passer, a 100-yard rusher and two 100-yard receivers in a game for the first time since Week 12 of the 2000 season. That game, a 31-17 Minnesota victory over Carolina, included 446 yards of offense and the following:
– Daunte Culpepper throwing for 357 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions on 22-of-29 passing.
– Robert Smith rushing for 103 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries and adding three receptions for 70 yards and another score.
– Cris Carter hauling in eight catches for 138 yards and a score, and Randy Moss tacking on five receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown.
This past Sunday’s victory helped Minnesota climb the ladder in this week’s Power Rankings, with the biggest jump being three spots. Here’s where the Vikings rank going into Week 13:
No. 6 (down 1 spot): Eric Edholm, NFL.com
The game against the Bears never should have gotten to overtime. It happened thanks to the Vikings terrible approach to the onside kick and some defensive lapses – without which we also wouldn’t have had the chance to see one of the best drives of the season from Sam Darnold. He led the Vikings straight down the field in OT, overcoming a sack and hitting all six of his pass attempts for 90 yards to set up the winning kick, providing a silver lining to the collapse by delivering in the clutch on the road with the game on the line. Losing would have been pretty horrific, given that Minnesota was ahead by 11 points with less than 30 seconds left in regulation. Darnold threw for 330 yards and two TDs, working around a quiet day for Justin Jefferson (one 7-yard grab in the first 64 minutes of the game). Jordan Addison had a career-best outing to offset the attention the Bears paid to Jefferson.
No. 5 (up 2 spots): NFL Staff, Bleacher Report
The Sam Darnold reclamation tour moves on.
It wasn’t the prettiest of wins – the Vikings squandered a late lead and allowed Chicago to force overtime with an onside kick recovery. But after a three-and-out on the first drive of overtime, Darnold took the Vikings right down the field for a game-winning Parker Romo field goal.
Darnold finished the game with 330 passing yards and two touchdowns, and after the victory Head Coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters he has every confidence that Darnold can lead the Vikings to victory – no matter the opponent.
“It was just the ability to overcome, and his trust in me and my trust in him,” O’Connell said. “We were gonna do it via the pass on that drive for the most part, try to mix some runs in there if we could. But I think that when your best is required, I had no hesitation of trying to attack what I was seeing and trying to get our guys going to get down there and give Parker a chance. Football is a game where you’ve got to be able to respond. It’s never gonna be perfect. This group is a special group, and it’s a road win in the NFC North, and I’m really proud of our team.”
After a two-game skid, the Vikings have rattled off four wins in a row. And the team has a manageable schedule [before] games against the Packers and Lions that could have huge stakes in the NFC North.
“The Vikings have a franchise quarterback. No, it’s not J.J. McCarthy, whom the organization sank a top-10 pick into this past April,” Bleacher Report NFL analyst Brent Sobleski said. “The reclamation project known as Sam Darnold has turned into something special. Darnold has reclaimed his career after playing for three different teams over the past four seasons. He’s comfortable and it shows, particularly in crunch time.
“During Sunday’s overtime victory over the Chicago Bears, Darnold completed 11-of-13 passes in the fourth quarter and overtime,” Sobleski added. “He’s now in line for a contract extension. McCarthy will just have to wait a while after his recovery from a knee injury before taking the reins.”
Daniels on Bears’ Onside Kick Recovery, Parker Romo Continuing To Shine and More
No. 5 (up 1 spot): Pete Prisco, CBS Sports
[The Vikings] went unbeaten in their three-game road trip, which is tough to do. They were all close, but that matters little in the record.
No. 8 (down 1 spot): Nate Davis, USA Today
After sweeping a three-game road trip, [the Vikings will] play their next three at U.S. Bank Stadium. Did you know RB Aaron Jones has 141 more yards from scrimmage this season than WR Justin Jefferson?
No. 6 (up 1 spot): Josh Kendall, The Athletic
The Vikings had a 300-yard passer, two 100-yard receivers and a 100-yard rusher in the same game for the first time since the 2000 season, and Justin Jefferson was not part of that. Sam Darnold got the passing yards. Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson got the receiving yards and Aaron Jones got the rushing yards. Darnold’s 330 passing yards were the fifth-most of his career, but his lack of playoff experience makes it hard to pick this team as a Super Bowl contender.
No. 5 (no change): Conor Orr, Sports Illustrated
What incredible games from Aaron Jones and Jordan Addison, who were tone setters at different points in time. … I sometimes feel like Justin Jefferson forces us to have a misperception of the true quality of Minnesota’s skill-position talent underneath the all-world wide receiver.
No. 5 (up 1 spot): Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News
The Vikings are cruising with their defense and offense complementing each other well, and they won’t relent while staying right behind the Lions in the NFC North.
No. 7 (up 3 spots): Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports
With Justin Jefferson having a quiet day seeing a lot of Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson, Jordan Addison went off for 162 yards. T.J. Hockenson added 114 yards. Jefferson is unbelievable, but the Vikings have other stars to go along with him.