Thanks to a Detroit collapse similar to their own last Sunday, the Bears assumed first place in the NFC North again after a 28-3 victory over Minnesota.
A dominant defense had two interceptions and four sacks, Kyle Orton threw two touchdown passes to Desmond Clark, and Thomas Jones turned in a gritty effort as the Bears spread the wealth around for 58,972 fans to appreciate at Soldier Field.
It’s like, the Bears rule.
That’s a sarcastic paraphrase of Mike Brown’s blistering rebuke of last Sunday’s collapse at Cleveland, in which he said, “It’s like, we [stink].” That comment kicked off a tumultuous week in which Jones valiantly recovered from a knee injury and starting offensive linemen Ruben Brown and John Tait succumbed to their ailments.
Then again, Minnesota knows something about tumultuous weeks after dealing with allegations of a sex scandal at a team boat party that rocked the NFL and could bring massive disciplinary action.
Still, the Vikings drew first blood, taking a 3-0 lead on Paul Edinger’s 23-yard field goal with 6 minutes 55 seconds remaining in the first half. The lead could have been larger if holder Brad Johnson had not mishandled a good snap on an aborted 36-yard Edinger attempt. Edinger also missed a 52-yarder early in the second quarter as the Vikings established early momentum.
Enter the Bears’ Bobby Wade.
“We needed a spark, and it had to come from somewhere, whether it be a blocked punt or a good return,” he said.
The Bears chose the latter, greenlighting Wade to field a punt at his own 2 and setting up a return that featured several nifty blocks and moves and ended at the Vikings’ 49. Eight plays later, Orton found Clark for the Bears’ first score.
The Bears, who face Baltimore next, are now 2-0 in division games.
