MINNEAPOLIS — Trampled by Adrian Peterson the last time they met, Brian Urlacher and the Chicago Bears figured out how to stop Minnesota’s star rookie for the better part of three quarters.
At least until it really counted.
Peterson’s 8-yard touchdown run, his second score of the night started by a shoulder-shake to fake Urlacher at the line of scrimmage, sent the Vikings past the Bears 20-13 on Monday for their fifth consecutive victory.
“Couldn’t finish,” said Urlacher, who kept his sparse postgame comments to grouchy sentence fragments.
The Vikings (8-6) stayed in control of the NFC’s last wild-card spot despite four turnovers and a missed extra point. Tarvaris Jackson’s career-high 249 yards passing were overshadowed by three interceptions, mistakes that led to a 13-3 Bears’ advantage until Peterson’s first score early in the third quarter.
“It just shows people and shows ourself that we can win all kinds of ways,” said Jackson, who completed 18-of-29 attempts.
Peterson finished with 78 yards on 20 carries, just enough to keep Minnesota one game in front of New Orleans and Washington in the conference race. Defending NFC champion Chicago (5-9) was officially eliminated from contention.
“We know you have to play a complete game, and in the end those same guys who made plays early have to step up there in the fourth quarter,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said.
