Vikings Beat Bears, Tie for NFC North Lead

The Minnesota Vikings solidified their position in the NFC playoff race with a commanding 30-12 victory over the Chicago Bears, marking their seventh consecutive win. This triumph improves their record to 12-2, putting them in a statistical tie for the NFC North lead alongside the Detroit Lions. Key contributions came from running backs Aaron Jones and Cam Akers, who each scored rushing touchdowns, while quarterback Sam Darnold threw for 231 yards and a touchdown to Justin Jefferson. Minnesota's defense excelled, limiting the Bears to just one third-down conversion and holding them scoreless for much of the game. Despite the loss, Bears' rookie quarterback Caleb Williams extended his interception-free streak, but the team has now suffered eight consecutive defeats. The Vikings are now in contention for the NFC North title, needing to win their final games to secure a top playoff seed.