Chicago Bears vs Minnesota Vikings Box Score on Dec 20, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Dec 20, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater fired four touchdown passes and the Minnesota Vikings won for the first time in a month, 38-17 over the Chicago Bears at TCF Bank Stadium on Sunday.

Bridgewater also ran for a touchdown and passed for 231 yards as the Vikings snapped a two-game losing streak and assured themselves of their first winning season since 2012.

Chicago lost its third consecutive game and is assured of back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 2003-04.

The Vikings led by 10 points before the Bears gained a first down. Bridgewater connected on a 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Stefon Diggs on Minnesota's initial drive, capping a 13-play, 93-yard drive.

Blair Walsh's 53-yard field goal made it 10-0 seconds into the second quarter.

The Bears got on the board later in the second when Jay Cutler hit wide receiver Alshon Jeffery with a 10-yard touchdown strike with 5:40 left, but the Vikings answered with a scoring drive of their own headed into halftime. The catch was Jeffery's only reception of the day.

After running back Adrian Peterson left the game with an ankle injury, Bridgewater hit backup running back Jerick McKinnon with a dump off that he took 17 yards and a 17-7 lead at the break.

Peterson returned to the game in the second half and finished with 63 yards on 18 carries.

Chicago recovered a surprise onside kick to start the third quarter but gave the ball back two plays later when Vikings defensive end Brian Robison strip sacked Cutler near midfield. It was the fourth loss in five games for the Bears (5-8) and third in a row.

Six plays and 55 yards later, Bridgewater hit Diggs for a second score, connecting on a 33-yard catch and run to make it 24-7.

A 15-play drive for Chicago culminated in a 51-yard field goal by Robbie Gould late in the third but Bridgewater scrambled in from 12 yards out with 8:45 left in the fourth quarter for a three-touchdown lead.

Matt Forte's touchdown reception pulled the Bears back within 14 points but Bridgewater hit fullback Zach Line for a 4-yard touchdown with 1:50 left for the final margin.

Cutler finished with 231 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 26-of-37 passing.

Forte had 47 yards on eight carries but led the Bears with 57 receiving yards on six grabs. He went over 1,000 yards from scrimmage on Chicago's first drive, becoming the 12th player in NFL history to go over the 1,000-yard mark in each of his first eight seasons.

McKinnon had four catches for 76 yards to go with his touchdown and Diggs had 55 yards on three catches.

NOTES: Bears TE Zach Miller was active after questionable all week with a rib injury. Miller finished with six catches for 57 yards, with a bulk of that coming on Chicago's final drive of the game. ... Vikings S Harrison Smith missed his second consecutive start because of a leg injury. ... Vikings LB Anthony Barr missed his second-straight game with groin and hand injuries. ... Vikings DT Linval Joseph missed his third consecutive game with a foot injury. ... Chicago will play its final road game of the season in Week 16 when they travel to Tampa to play the Buccaneers. ... Minnesota will host the New York Giants in its home finale on Sunday Night Football in Week 16.