The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
52°F
Current Conditions
Few clouds
View complete weather report
Subscribe now

It’s A Lost Night For Vikings As Bears Prevail

Associated Press

All season, the Chicago Bears have found ways to lose. On Monday night, they watched the Minnesota Vikings do the same.

After losing Robert Smith and Warren Moon, the Vikings lost the game 15-13. Walt Harris blocked a field-goal attempt with 3:47 to play, and Bryan Cox forced and recovered a fumble 2 minutes later as the Bears held on to beat slumping Minnesota.

It was only the second win for the Bears (3-5) since a season-opening victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys.

“I don’t know how we stack up against other teams in the league, but I do know that there’s not any team in the league that plays harder than this group,” said Chicago coach Dave Wannstedt, who won for the third time in his last four trips to the Metrodome. “This football team deserved to win this game.”

The battered Bears, who got a boost from the return of several injured players, built a 15-3 halftime lead behind Dave Krieg’s passing and their first rushing touchdown of the season, a 1-yard dive by Rashaan Salaam. They held the Vikings (5-3) to a franchise-worst 11 rushing yards, and they watched the Vikings bumble to their third loss in four games.

Minnesota was penalized 12 times for 75 yards, had two kicks blocked, gave up five sacks and committed two costly turnovers.

The first, Mark Carrier’s diving interception of a Moon pass late in the first half, led to the second of Jeff Jaeger’s two field goals.

The last, Cox’s fumble recovery, ended Minnesota’s last chance.

“It comes down to poise,” said Qadry Ismail, who caught a 54-yard touchdown pass from Moon in the third quarter. “Unfortunately, we didn’t have any.”

The Vikings lost Smith, the NFC’s second-leading rusher, late in the first quarter with an injured left knee. With torn ligaments, he might be done for the season.

After Moon rallied the Vikings with 10 third-quarter points, he reinjured his right ankle when he was hit while throwing an incompletion.

Brad Johnson, who led the Vikings to a comeback win in the season-opener after Moon was hurt, came in to loud cheers with 11:58 left in the game and twice led Minnesota into scoring range.

But Harris charged through virtually untouched to block Scott Sisson’s 48-yard field goal attempt.

The Vikings got the ball back on an an interception, then Johnson’s 18-yard pass to Jake Reed gave Minnesota a first down at the Chicago 31. But on third-and-14 at the 35, Cox stripped a scrambling Johnson and pounced on the fumble.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Bears 15, Vikings 13 Chicago 2 13 0 0 - 15 Minnesota 3 0 10 0 - 13 Min-FG Sisson 41 Chi-Safety, Miniefield blocked punt out of end zone Chi-FG Jaeger 41 Chi-Salaam 1 run (Jaeger kick) Chi-FG Jaeger 44 Min-Ismail 54 pass from Moon (Sisson kick) Min-FG Sisson 43 A-58,143. Chi Min First downs 18 16 Rushes-yards 29-96 14-11 Passing 180 268 Punt Returns 0-0 2-11 Kickoff Returns 5-129 4-63 Interceptions Ret. 1-0 2-0 Comp-Att-Int 23-35-2 25-41-1 Sacked-Yards Lost 1-7 5-29 Punts 3-40.0 4-31.0 Fumbles-Lost 0-0 4-1 Penalties-Yards 6-63 12-75 Time of Possession 32:39 27:21 Individual statistics RUSHINGChicago, R.Harris 15-61, Salaam 11-36, T.Carter 1-0, Krieg 2-(minus 1). Minnesota, Graham 4-8, Evans 2-6, R.Smith 4-(minus 1), Lee 4-(minus 2). PASSINGChicago, Krieg 23-35-2-187. Minnesota, Moon 15-26-1-218, B.Johnson 10-15-0-79. RECEIVINGChicago, Timpson 7-78, Conway 5-68, Wetnight 5-19, Jennings 3-19, T.Carter 2-1, Engram 1-2. Minnesota, Reed 11-153, Lee 5-36, C.Carter 5-34, Ismail 3-70, Evans 1-4. MISSED FIELD GOALSChicago, Jaeger 44 (WL), 46 (WR); Minnesota, Sisson 48 (BL).

This sidebar appeared with the story: Bears 15, Vikings 13 Chicago 2 13 0 0 - 15 Minnesota 3 0 10 0 - 13 Min-FG Sisson 41 Chi-Safety, Miniefield blocked punt out of end zone Chi-FG Jaeger 41 Chi-Salaam 1 run (Jaeger kick) Chi-FG Jaeger 44 Min-Ismail 54 pass from Moon (Sisson kick) Min-FG Sisson 43 A-58,143. Chi Min First downs 18 16 Rushes-yards 29-96 14-11 Passing 180 268 Punt Returns 0-0 2-11 Kickoff Returns 5-129 4-63 Interceptions Ret. 1-0 2-0 Comp-Att-Int 23-35-2 25-41-1 Sacked-Yards Lost 1-7 5-29 Punts 3-40.0 4-31.0 Fumbles-Lost 0-0 4-1 Penalties-Yards 6-63 12-75 Time of Possession 32:39 27:21 Individual statistics RUSHINGChicago, R.Harris 15-61, Salaam 11-36, T.Carter 1-0, Krieg 2-(minus 1). Minnesota, Graham 4-8, Evans 2-6, R.Smith 4-(minus 1), Lee 4-(minus 2). PASSINGChicago, Krieg 23-35-2-187. Minnesota, Moon 15-26-1-218, B.Johnson 10-15-0-79. RECEIVINGChicago, Timpson 7-78, Conway 5-68, Wetnight 5-19, Jennings 3-19, T.Carter 2-1, Engram 1-2. Minnesota, Reed 11-153, Lee 5-36, C.Carter 5-34, Ismail 3-70, Evans 1-4. MISSED FIELD GOALSChicago, Jaeger 44 (WL), 46 (WR); Minnesota, Sisson 48 (BL).