Leslie Frazier enjoyed many memorable moments as a Bears cornerback.
He started for the Super Bowl XX champions and had 20 interceptions from 1981-86.
But Sunday he was working for the enemy, serving as the Vikings’ assistant head coach/defensive coordinator.
“I came back here last season when we played the Bears,” Frazier recalled. “It was a real weird feeling to be in the visitors’ locker room and back in Soldier Field for the first time in so long.
“I enjoy what I’m doing in Minnesota, and hopefully we can get on the right track.”
Sunday’s 48-41 Bears victory more closely resembled an NBA game. It represented the most points ever allowed in a Bears victory.
“It was a unique game in a lot of ways,” Frazier said. “It was back and forth. It was one of those games where at the end we still had a chance to win. It was just a strange game.”
The Bears knew they had to try to stretch the field because of the Vikings’ stout defensive interior featuring Pat Williams, Kevin Williams and Jared Allen.
“They did a good job of spreading us out and making plays with their tight end,” Frazier said. “We tried to adjust, and they hit some big plays. They had a good plan.”
While Bears running back Matt Forte was limited to 56 yards on 20 carries, quarterback Kyle Orton completed 21 of 32 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns. He was sacked twice.
“Orton played an excellent game, and he did a good job of running that offense with that no-huddle,” Frazier said.
One of the key plays was Garrett Wolfe returning a blocked punt 17 yards for a touchdown.
“The blocked punt and two special-teams touchdowns hurt us,” Allen said. “They got the bounces. But at no point did we have our heads down. When we were down [48-31], we knew we were going to get the ball back to our offense and we were going to win the game. Unfortunately, we kind of ran out of time.”
Former Bears wide receivers Bernard Berrian and Bobby Wade said they engaged in good-natured conversation with some of their former teammates. Berrian caught six passes for 81 yards and one touchdown. Wade had five catches for 60 yards.
“Lance Briggs is one of my best friends in the world,” Wade said of the Bears’ Pro Bowl linebacker, his college teammate at Arizona as well.
Said Berrian: “There was a lot of conversation. We’re all close friends. We don’t hate each other just because we’re on separate teams.
“We had a lot of plays you don’t see happen too much. We fought and battled, both teams. We weren’t able to match as many points as they put up.”
