The Chicago Bears have turned takeaways into a formula and an identity. Behind the league’s best turnover margin, Chicago once again leaned on defense, special teams, and late-game poise to escape with a 19–17 walk-off win over the Minnesota Vikings.
Chicago forced two more interceptions off Vikings rookie J.J. McCarthy, pushing its NFL-best turnover margin to +16. In their seven wins, the Bears are a staggering +20, and that opportunistic style kept them in control for most of the afternoon.
Kevin Byard grabbed the first interception, setting up a Cairo Santos field goal for a 10–3 lead. Just before halftime, former Vikings practice-squad corner Nahshon Wright struck again, leaping for a fade intended for Jordan Addison and hauling in the Bears’ second pick to preserve a 13–3 edge.
Despite an erratic day, including multiple off-target throws and pressure disrupting his mechanics, McCarthy settled late. After the Bears’ offense stalled throughout the second half, the Vikings clawed back from a 13-point deficit. McCarthy delivered five straight completions on a late drive, finishing with a 15-yard touchdown to Addison that gave Minnesota a 17–16 lead with 50 seconds left.
But Chicago had one more counterpunch. Devin Duvernay reversed momentum with a 56-yard kickoff return, setting up ideal field position for Caleb Williams and the offense. After a crucial 7-yard run from D’Andre Swift pushed the ball into comfortable range, Santos, who had missed a 45-yarder earlier, drilled the 48-yard game-winner as time expired, his fourth field goal of the day.
“We always find a way to make it interesting,” Duvernay said. “We just always find a way.”
Caleb Williams didn’t light up the stat sheet — he went 16/32 for 193 yards — but he once again avoided turnovers, extending his streak to 10 games with zero lost fumbles and just four interceptions. Chicago leaned on its formula: let the defense create chances, let Williams stay clean, and grind out close wins. The Bears are now 3–0 in games decided by two points or fewer and 5–1 in one-score games.
“The belief we’ve grown in the locker room is what changed,” Williams said. “These moments don’t seem too big.”
Minnesota’s defense kept the game close, holding Chicago to 7-for-18 on third down, but field position doomed them on the final drive. McCarthy, playing through a wrapped throwing hand, finished 16 of 32 for 150 yards and two interceptions. He denied the injury affected him, but admitted his rhythm never stabilized.
