Windy City Shootout ~ Basic Bloganomics

The North Division in the NFC isn't anything like the Black & Blue tradition these days. Not since 1986 have the Bears scored this many points in a game as they beat the Vikings 48-41.

Here's the stats for the game:
Final score: Vikings 41, Bears 48
Total yards: Vikings 439, Bears 327
Passing yards: Vikings 284, Bears 274
Rushing yards: Vikings 155, Bears 53
Turnovers: Vikings 5, Bears 1
Sacks allowed: Vikings 2, Bears 2
Penalties: Vikings 8-for-50, Bears 5-for-45
TOP: Vikings 35:07, Bears 24:53

The Bears won this game after another strong effort from Kyle Orton, turnovers, and special teams play. And even though the Vikings outgained the Bears 439-327, Chicago had a +4 turnover margin which was huge in this game.

Chicago was able to get two special teams touchdowns, and neither one involved Devin Hester in those plays. The first was off a blocked punt that Garrett Wolfe returned for a touchdown. The second was after Charles Gordon fumbled on a punt return, and Zackary Bowman scored a touchdown off of it.

The Bears depleted defense was missing their top three corners in Charles Tillman, Nathan Vasher, and Danieal Manning. Though they gave up 284 yards in the air, the secondary intercepted Gus Frerotte four times on the afternoon. The Vikings Adrian Peterson ran for 121 yards and two scores against the Bears. And the former Sooners star scored on another long touchdown run like he did at will on Chicago at Soldier Field a year ago.

Another former Oklahoma player Tommie Harris registered his first sack of the year in the closing minute of the game. Bowman picked off Frerotte to seal the win for the Bears on the next play.

Orton had connected with veteran Marty Booker on a 51-yard touchdown late in the 3rd quarter, and the Bears got a 1-yard touchdown run from rookie Matt Forte after a controversial pass-interference call went against the Vikings. Orton finished 21-for-32 for 283 yards and two touchdowns. Forte had just 56 rushing yards on the day.

All in all, the Bears won this game with timely turnovers and two special teams touchdowns. The Vikings have allowed five special teams touchdowns on the season. I think Forte is hitting the "rookie wall" right now, but he's given the Bears a presence in the backfield. The defense is hurting, but now they have time to heal up.

Also, this was a great story for corner Zackary Bowman today. Here's a guy that missed the last two years of his college career at Nebraska because of serious knee injuries. In 2005, he was projected to be a first round pick when leaving school after a standout season, but injuries hurt his stock for the next two years as the Bears took him in the 5th Round of this year's NFL Draft. He was on the Practice Squad until being activated for today's game against Minnesota. He stepped up for the Bears injured secondary to contribute a special teams touchdown, and a late interception with less than a minute left in the game to help Chicago get the win. He's a big corner, and the team's depth in the secondary showed today.

Chicago is now 4-3 and Minnesota falls to 3-4. The Bears are tied with Green Bay on top of the NFC North. The Bears are on a bye week before playing against Detroit at home with the undefeated Tennessee Titans to follow after that. The Vikings are also on a bye week, and play Houston followed by Green Bay at home.

BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS!