Offense
A-
Kyle Orton threw for 283 yards and two TDs and could have had a third on a long completion to Desmond Clark in which he fumbled at the 1-yard line. A hustling Rashied Davis recovered for the score. The offense got at least one first down on 10 of 12 possessions against the No. 2 defense in fewest first downs allowed. Greg Olsen led with six catches. The offense got at least one score from a back (Matt Forte), tight end (Olsen) and wideout (Davis, Marty Booker). Forte averaged just 2.8 yards per rush, but Orton averaged 8.1 per pass play.
Defense
D
The 41 points were the most allowed in a Bears victory and Minnesota gained 439 yards, including 121 rushing and two scores by Adrian Peterson. An erratic unit allowed five drives of 60-plus yards but also stopped five without allowing a first down. Interceptions by Zackary Bowman, Corey Graham, Trumaine McBride and Kevin Payne were pivotal in a game in which the Bears were pushed around far too much. Payne added a sack on a blitz, and Tommie Harris’ first sack, on Minnesota’s potential tying drive, came a play ahead of Zackary Bowman’s game-clinching interception.
Special teams
A+
They put up 20 points with TDs by Garrett Wolfe on a blocked punt and Bowman on a botched punt return, plus FGs of 26 and 48 yards by Robbie Gould. Brad Maynard averaged 48.3 yards on four punts, putting two inside the 20 as the coverage units allowed no Vikings possession to start outside the Minnesota 34. Jason McKie and Adrian Peterson handled short kickoffs perfectly to start Bears possessions at the 46, 48 and 41, two of which led to scoring drives.
Coaching
B
Defensive coordinator Bob Babich, heavily criticized after the Atlanta meltdown, cobbled together a secondary without his two starting corners and schemed for damage control on running back Adrian Peterson. Babich called just one nickel package and had a young, inexperienced secondary prepared and where it needed to be. On offense, Ron Turner spread the ball around, used a no-huddle attack and called for play action to get receivers free when Minnesota clearly expected them to run.
