CHICAGO (AP) — Isaiah Rodgers recovered a fumble and blocked a late field-goal attempt, and the Minnesota Vikings shut down Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears for a 9-3 victory on a rainy Sunday.
Aaron Jones rushed for 105 yards as Minnesota improved to 2-0 for the first time since it opened the 2024 season with five consecutive wins. Will Reichard kicked three field goals, including a 39-yarder with 1:09 left.
Williams departed with a right hamstring
injury midway through the fourth quarter, silencing a drenched crowd of 58,914 at Soldier Field. The No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft was 15 for 26 for 138 yards, and he also had five carries for 42 yards.
Led by Dallas Turner, Minnesota limited Chicago to 297 yards of offense. Turner had two of the Vikings' four sacks, and Byron Murphy Jr. intercepted an ill-advised throw by Williams in the first quarter.
The Bears (1-1) rolled to 291 yards rushing and 552 yards overall in their 59-37 victory at Carolina in Week 1. It was the highest-scoring season opener in NFL history.
Williams got hurt Sunday on a scramble deep in Minnesota territory. The third-year quarterback, who passed for two touchdowns and rushed for two TDs in the opener, was helped off the field.
Tyson Bagent came in and passed to D’Andre Swift for 1 yard before throwing an incomplete pass on third down. Coach Ben Johnson then sent Cairo Santos on for a 23-yard field goal, but it was blocked by Rodgers.
After Carson Wentz drove Minnesota to Reichard’s third field goal, Chicago had one last opportunity. Bagent found Rome Odunze for 21 yards and Luther Burden for 8 to move the ball to the Vikings 12.
Following a pair of incompletions, Bagent was sacked by Turner on the final play.
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