Cutler and Bears take down Vikings
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Jay Cutler had three touchdown passes to lead the Chicago Bears in a 21-13 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in an NFC North battle.
Cutler went 31-for-43 for 330 yards with two interceptions, while Brandon Marshall had two touchdown catches and Alshon Jeffery caught the other score for the Bears (4-6), who snapped a three-game losing streak.
"The questions are certainly easier after a win and things are a lot better in the locker room," said Cutler. "We made some plays and overcame a few things so know we have to keep it going."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Matt Forte totaled 117 yards on 26 carries and added six catches for 58 yards for Chicago, which had lost by a combined 82 points during the three-game skid.
"Our guys overcame a lot of adversity in the game today," said Chicago head coach Marc Trestman. "We were down 10-0 early and I thought the defense really clamped down after that. They gave our offense a chance to get us back into the game."
Teddy Bridgewater went 18-for-28 for 158 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Vikings (4-6), who came into the game off their bye week after winning two straight.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"We can play much better than we did today," said Bridgewater. "We knew coming in that it was going to be a challenge for us because Chicago was going to have a chip on its shoulder."
Minnesota started the game with the ball and got on the board as Blair Walsh booted a 50-yarder between the uprights for a 3-0 lead just over three and a half minutes in.
Chicago went on a long march of its own and Robbie Gould lined up for a 47- yard field goal attempt, but he missed it to the right.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Vikings took advantage of the short field to get in the end zone as Bridgewater found Rhett Ellison in the end zone from seven yards out for a 10-0 lead. The previous play saw Andrew Sendejo take a carry 48 yards.
Chicago responded to get on the scoreboard as Cutler went deep over the middle and Jeffery came down with the ball for a 27-yard score and a 10-7 game two minutes into the second.
Later in the second, Chicago went on top as Cutler went deep down the right side and Marshall came down with the ball for a 44-yard score and a 14-10 lead with 2:49 to play in the first half.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Chicago began the second half with the ball and eventually wound up with a 1st-and-goal at the 8. However, the team came away empty as Cutler was stopped on a sneak on fourth down from the 1.
Cutler was then picked off on his next touch, but the Vikings came away empty as Walsh missed a 38-yard field goal attempt to the right.
The Bears then went on a 7 1/2 minute drive that saw the team got 72 yards on 16 plays with Cutler finishing it off on a pass to Marshall for a 4-yard score and a 21-10 lead with 8:51 to play. Forte converted a pair of 4th-and-1 plays with 2-yard runs.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Minnesota came back with a 26-yard field goal from Walsh to make it a 21-13 game with 4:04 to play.
Forcing a punt from Chicago, the Vikings got the ball back at their own 34 with just over two minutes to play, but Bridgewater was picked off and Cutler took a knee to end the game.
Game Notes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Marshall had seven catches for 90 yards and Jeffery 11 grabs for 135 yards ... The Bears controlled the ball for close to 39 minutes ... Chicago hosts Tampa Bay next week ... Minnesota hosts Green Bay next week ... Charles Johnson had six catches for 87 yards to lead all Minnesota receivers.