Backup quarterback Chase Daniel and an inspired, injury-depleted defense led the Bears to a 16-6 win over the Minnesota Vikings Sunday at Soldier Field.
Their third-straight win catapulted the Bears (3-1) into a first-place tie with the Packers (3-1) in the NFC North.
The Bears entered Sunday's NFC North clash against the Vikings without five starters—and then sustained another key loss on the game's first possession.
Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky sustained a left-shoulder injury while being sacked by defensive end Danielle Hunter with 11:54 left in the first quarter. Trubisky was replaced by Daniel and did not return.
Trubisky fumbled on the sack and the Vikings recovered. But a defensive holding penalty nullified the play and gave the Bears a first down.
Daniel stepped in and eventually capped the drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Tarik Cohen, giving the Bears a 7-0 lead.
Daniel completed 4-of-5 passes for 52 yards on the 14-play, 75-yard drive, including a 25-yarder to Allen Robinson II to the Vikings' 5.
After the teams traded punts, the Vikings marched from their own 5 to the Bears' 44 before Prince Amukamara stripped the ball from Stefon Diggs after a 10-yard reception and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix recovered at the 20.
The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but coach Matt Nagy challenged the call and it was reversed after a replay review.
The Bears converted the turnover into points, extending their lead to 10-0 on Eddy Piñeiro's 25-yard field goal as time expired in the first half.
The kick capped a 16-play, 75-yard drive that was sustained Daniel passes of 10 yards to David Montgomery on third-and-nine, five yards to Anthony Miller on fourth-and-three and 11 yards to Trey Burton on third-and-nine.
After the Bears defense recorded its second straight three-and-out, Daniel's 37-yard pass to Javon Wims set up Pineiro's third field goal of the game without a miss, a 30-yarder, widening the margin to 16-0 late in the third quarter.
The Vikings closed the gap to 16-6 on Dalvin Cook's 2-yard TD run with 2:58 left. But Amukamara read a receiver screen on the two-point conversion, tackling Diggs immediately, preserving the Bears' two-score lead.
The Bears played without right guard Kyle Long (hip), receiver Taylor Gabriel (concussion), defensive end Akiem Hicks (knee), defensive tackle Bilal Nichols (hand) and linebacker Roquan Smith, who was deactivated Sunday due to undisclosed personal reasons.
