Three TDs in fourth quarter get Vikings past Bears

[January 10, 2022] Kirk Cousins completed 14 of 22 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns, and the Minnesota Vikings rallied for a 31-17 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.

Justin Jefferson, K.J. Osborn and Patrick Peterson each scored fourth-quarter touchdowns as the Vikings finished the game with 21 unanswered points. Ihmir Smith-Marsette also had a touchdown reception for Minnesota (8-9).

Andy Dalton completed 33 of 48 passes for 325 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for Chicago (6-11). Darnell Mooney had 12 catches for 126 yards, and Damien Williams caught a touchdown pass.

The Vikings pulled even at 17-17 with 13:35 to go in the fourth quarter. Jefferson got behind Bears safety Eddie Jackson, and Cousins found him for a 45-yard touchdown.

Minnesota scored the go-ahead touchdown with 8:04 remaining. Cousins had time in the pocket and fired a strike to Osborn in the back left corner of the end zone for a 21-yard score.

On the Bears' next possession, the Vikings' defense stepped up. Peterson scored on a 66-yard interception return to make it 31-17 with 5:10 left. It was his first pick-six since Nov. 9, 2014, with the Arizona Cardinals.

Chicago started the scoring on its opening drive. Cairo Santos made a 43-yard field goal with 12:13 to go in the first quarter.

Santos connected again, this time from 46 yards, to make it 6-0 with five minutes left in the second quarter.

Chicago Bears running back Damien Williams (8) reacts with wide receiver Allen Robinson (12) after catching a 23 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Andy Dalton (not pictured) against the Minnesota Vikings during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

The Bears increased their lead to 14-0 after a touchdown and a two-point conversion with 31 seconds to go in the first half. Williams scored on a 23-yard reception for his 25th career touchdown (14 rushing, 11 receiving).

The Vikings got on the scoreboard with three seconds left in the half. Cousins completed three quick passes for 65 yards, and Greg Joseph ended the drive with a 39-yard field goal.

Early in the third quarter, Minnesota pulled within 14-10 on a 44-yard touchdown pass from Cousins to Smith-Marsette. It was the second touchdown of the season for Smith-Marsette, a rookie fifth-round pick out of Iowa.

Chicago made it 17-10 on Santos' 42-yard field goal with 1:41 remaining in the third quarter.

--Field Level Media

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