MINNEAPOLIS — With a gutty goal-line stand and one big heave by Gus Frerotte on Sunday night, the Minnesota Vikings grabbed control of the NFC North and sent the Chicago Bears home with a humbling defeat.
Seconds after the Bears were stopped four times at the 1, Bernard Berrian pulled in a 99-yard touchdown pass from Frerotte that sent the Vikings to a 34-14 victory and sole possession of the division lead.
Bears quarterback Kyle Orton’s team-record streak of 206 attempts without an interception ended with a thud, and Minnesota (7-5) turned three turnovers into 17 second-half points. Orton finished 11-for-29 for 153 yards and two touchdowns.
Adrian Peterson had 100 yards rushing by halftime and finished with 131 yards and a touchdown for the Vikings.
When the afternoon scores were given over the loudspeaker before the game, Green Bay’s 35-31 loss to Carolina got a hearty cheer.
The Packers (5-7) fell two games behind after a brutal November, and the Vikings sailed into the fourth quarter of the season with a critical lead over the Bears (6-6).
The possibility of four-game suspensions for star defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams looms for Minnesota, and Chicago plays three straight weeks at home. Clearly, this was one the Vikings just had to have.
