Bears defense bares teeth to down Vikes
Ex-raider Mack leads aggressive attack
CHICAGO — No doubt about it now, the Bears really are serious about winning the NFC North.
Former Raider Khalil Mack had a sack and a fumble recovery, Eddie Jackson returned an interception for a touchdown and Chicago tightened its grip on the division with a 25-20 victory over the second-place Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night.
Mack and Jackson led a dominant effort by the defense. And Chicago (7-3) took a big step toward its first division championship since 2010.
The Bears won their fourth in a row, their longest streak since a sixgame run in 2012. Chicago finished 10-6 that year, missed the playoffs and fired coach Lovie Smith after that season.
“We’re excited,” quarterback Mitchell Trubisky said. “We’ve just got to keep it rolling. We’ve got to continue to stay hungry, stay humble and just continue to believe in one-another. … Stay hungry, stay humble, come ready to work.”
The Monsters of the Midway simply dominated Minnesota on Sunday, taking out the defending division champions after beating three struggling teams — the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions.
The Bears also have victories the past two weeks over NFC North opponents after dropping 10 in a row against division foes.
“This isn’t about proving, I don’t think for us, as much as it is about our guys just learning that they can trust one another,” coach Matt Nagy said. “When you stick together through the highs and the lows and you work as hard as our guys do together and you listen to the coaches and the coaches listen to the players — there’s a collaboration — you then get a chance to be in a situation like this tonight, to play in front of the whole world.”
Chicago suffocated the Vikings (5-4-1), with big advantages in total yards (308-268) and time of possession (34:29-25:31) even though quarterback Mitchell Trubisky had his difficulties.
The Bears were leading by eight midway through the fourth quarter when Jackson picked off a pass from Kirk Cousins that was intended for Laquon Treadwell. His 27-yard TD return and a 2-point conversion pass from Trubisky to Adam Shaheen made it 22-6.
Cousins then threw a 13-yard TD to Aldrick Robsinon and a 2-point conversion to Adam Thielen, making it 22-14. But Cody Parkey kicked to 48-yard field goal with 2:48 left. And the Bears hung on from there.
Trubisky was 20 of 31 for 165 yards and a touchdown.
Bears (-3) at Lions, 9:30 a.m. Thursday; Packers at Vikings (-5½), 5:20 p.m. Sunday
NEXT:
At Ford Field, Detroit
RECAP: Cam Newton threw an incomplete pass on a 2-point conversion with 1:07 left, letting Detroit hold on for a victory over Carolina.
Newton had Jarius Wright open in the end zone, but the quarterback sailed the pass high. Carolina coach Ron Rivera went for the win after Newton threw a touchdown pass to DJ Moore, perhaps because usually reliable kicker Graham Gano missed an extra point and a field goal earlier in the game.
The Lions (4-6) recovered an onside kick to seal the victory and end a three-game losing streak. They were in a position to win after Matthew Stafford threw a go-ahead, 19-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Golladay with 5:19 left.
The Panthers (6-4) have lost two straight for the first time this season. Newton was 25 of 37 for 357 yards with three touchdowns and an interception.
Stafford was 23 of 37 for 220 yards with a touchdown.
QUOTABLE: “I think you go for 2 on the road. … I was going for the win. That’s the bottom line.” — Rivera
NEXT: Lions vs. Bears (-3), 9:30 a.m. Thursday; Panthers (-3) vs. Seahawks, 10 a.m. Sunday
The Associated Press At Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
RECAP: Andrew Luck threw three touchdown passes, and Marlon Mack and Jordan Wilkins ran for scores to help Indianapolis rout Tennessee.
The Colts (5-5) have won four straight for the first time since November 2014.
Luck remained unbeaten in 10 starts against the Titans. He went 23 of 29 for 297 yards, hooking up twice for scores with T.Y. Hilton, who caught nine passes for 155 yards.
Tennessee (5-5) lost quarterback Marcus Mariota in the final minute of the first half after he reinjured his right elbow.
Titans defensive coordinator Dean Pees also was taken to a nearby hospital for observation after medical workers were called to the coaches’ box during the first quarter. Pees briefly retired after last season.
Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri set an NFL record with the 210th regular-season win of his career, passing George Blanda.
QUOTABLE: “Andrew was just unbelievable. I mean every throw was with pinpoint accuracy.” — Colts coach Frank Reich, on Luck
NEXT: Colts (-8) vs. Dolphins, 1:25 p.m. Sunday; Titans at Texans (-6), 5:15 p.m. Monday The Associated Press