No Touchdowns? No Problem 🐻

11/28/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

Bears Top Vikings (12-10) on MNF, Become 1st Team in 2023 to Win Game Without Scoring a Touchdown

Six turnovers, one touchdown, and a whole lot of kicking. Monday Night Football’s post-Thanksgiving treat was one of those knock-down, drag-em-out NFC North battles that was hard to watch. Josh Dobbs (4 INTs) and the Vikings finally found the end zone late in the 4th quarter to flip the scoreboard from down 9-3 to up 10-9. But with under two minutes to go, Justin Fields hit D.J. Moore for a 36-yard gain and the biggest play of the night. That set up some kneel-downs and a game-winning chip shot for Cairo Santos from 30 yards (12-10). All sorts of bizarre history were made in this one. The Bears now have more wins in prime time (4-3) over the past two seasons under Matt Eberflus than all other games (3-19).

A Pure Kicking Victory: The Bears’ win was the first of the season by any team without a touchdown — just four field goals. It was also Chicago’s first win without scoring a TD since 1993.

Turnover Trouble: Both teams combined for six turnovers, all from the quarterbacks. Dobbs threw four picks and Fields committed two fumbles. Both teams rank in the bottom-5 of the league in turnovers this season — Vikings (32nd), Bears (T-29th).

Eberflus’s 1st Divisional Win: Chicago’s win marked Matt Eberflus’ first division victory in the NFC North since he took over for Chicago. He was previously 0-9.

QB Comparison

J. Fields (CHI): 27/37, 276 total yards, 2 fumbles

J. Dobbs (MIN): 22/32, 196 total yards, 1 TD, 4 INTs

Other Top Performers

WR D. Moore (CHI): 11 receptions, 114 yards

TE T. Hockenson (MIN): 5 receptions, 50 yards, 1 TD

DE M. Sweat (CHI): 3 tackles, 1.5 sacks

DE D. Hunter (MIN): 9 tackles, 1.5 sacks

NFC North Standings

Lions (8-3)

Vikings (6-6)

Packers (5-6)

Bears (4-8)

Watch: Bears Escape Vikings With Late FG (12-10)

*Check tomorrow’s edition for the new NFL Power Rankings and an updated look at the NFL Playoff picture.

SI: Lackluster Bears-Vikings Showdown Spoils ‘Monday Night Football’

Photo: Scott Bettcher / Getty Images