Bears drop 5th straight in OT heartbreaker to Vikings as special teams mistakes loom large again

Vikings linebacker Bo Richter celebrates with his teammates after recovering a muffed Bears punt. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

In a Chicago Bears season filled with mistakes, more proved pivotal Sunday in a 30-27 overtime loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Chicago’s special teams unit almost made up for it with a late onside kick recovery, the first in the NFL this season. The recovery set up a game-tying field goal by Cairo Santos to force overtime. But Minnesota prevailed in the extra session to send the Bears to a fifth straight loss.

The Vikings appeared to initially take control of the game on a muffed Bears punt in the third quarter. With Minnesota leading, 17-10, Chicago return specialist DeAndre Carter waved off a return as the punt landed inside the Minnesota 15-yard line. But he didn’t get out of the way.

The ball bounced off the turf and hit Carter’s leg, becoming live. Vikings linebacker Bo Richter jumped on it to regain possession for the Vikings.

Five plays later, Aaron Jones extended the Vikings lead to 24-10 with a two-yard touchdown run. Chicago eventually answered with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and the game-tying field goal as regulation expired.

But Minnesota drove for a game-winning field goal by John Parker Romo with 2:10 remaining. Chicago got the ball first in overtime, but punted after losing six yards on three plays. The Vikings then drove 68 yards to set up Romo’s heroics.

Romo’s kick was true from 29 yards to secure Minnesota’s fourth straight win.

Romo secured the game-winner in his third NFL game since he signed with the Vikings in Week 10 to take over for injured kicker Will Reichard.

The loss was a fifth straight for a Bears team that’s spiraled since a 4-2 start. It’s the second straight since head coach Matt Eberflus dismissed offensive coordinator Shane Waldron amid regression from the offense and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.

The loss also marked a second straight where a special teams miscue impacted the outcome of the game.

The…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-11-24 21:38:00

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