In a Chicago Bears season stuffed with errors, extra proved pivotal Sunday in a 30-27 extra time loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Chicago’s particular groups unit nearly made up for it with a late onside kick restoration, the primary within the NFL this season. The restoration arrange a game-tying discipline purpose by Cairo Santos to drive extra time. However Minnesota prevailed within the additional session to ship the Bears to a fifth straight loss.
The Vikings appeared to initially take management of the sport on a muffed Bears punt within the third quarter. With Minnesota main, 17-10, Chicago return specialist DeAndre Carter waved off a return because the punt landed contained in the Minnesota 15-yard line. However he did not get out of the way in which.
The ball bounced off the turf and hit Carter’s leg, turning into dwell. Vikings linebacker Bo Richter jumped on it to regain possession for the Vikings.
5 performs later, Aaron Jones prolonged the Vikings result in 24-10 with a two-yard landing run. Chicago ultimately answered with two touchdowns within the fourth quarter and the game-tying discipline purpose as regulation expired.
However Minnesota drove for a game-winning discipline purpose by John Parker Romo.
The loss was a fifth straight for a Bears group that is spiraled since a 4-2 begin. It is the second straight since head coach Matt Eberflus dismissed offensive coordinator Shane Waldron amid regression from the offense and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.
The loss additionally marked a second straight the place a particular groups miscue impacted the result of the sport.
The Bears had an opportunity final Sunday for a go-ahead discipline purpose within the recreation’s remaining seconds in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers. However Chicago allowed Inexperienced Bay to dam the sector purpose to safe a 20-19 Packers win.
This Sunday, there was extra of the identical on particular groups. And it wasn’t simply the muffed punt.
The Vikings had an opportunity to take a 10-7 lead within the first half with a 48-yard discipline purpose try by Santos. However for a second consecutive week, the Bears allowed a blocked discipline purpose, and the sport remained tied at 7-7.
Mixed with Carter’s muffed punt, the particular groups miscues had been an excessive amount of for Chicago to beat. The Bears dropped to 4-7 within the loss whereas the Vikings improved to 9-2. And Eberflus is about up for an additional week of powerful questions in Chicago.
