The Minnesota Vikings were less than a minute away from having the signature victory of the 2025 season in Week 11 against the Chicago Bears, but one mistake on special teams cost them the game.
Bears kickoff returner Devin Duvernay took a kickoff 56 yards to the Vikings' 40-yard line. After three runs, Chicago tore the hearts out of Vikings fans with a field goal made with zero seconds on the clock to give the Bears the 19-17 win over Minnesota.
Vikings fans are still wondering how Duvernay was able to take that back so far with the game on the line. Special teams coordinator Matt Daniels explained that it was more of a Vikings coverage issue than Duvernay making a play.
“I've been in the league now eight years, played football a long time in this league, and I've never felt the way I felt after that football game… A lot of respect for what the Chicago Bears, their unit, Devin Duvernay, all this and that, but I mean, it could have been anybody. If you got a son or anybody, all he did was just catch it and and run back to the field. Everybody just kind of got washed inside and it wasn't anything that they did more so than a lack of us maintaining our leverage and keeping the football inside shoulder is as a result of what ended up happening.”
Minnesota Vikings fans appreciate the subtle shot, but work is needed on special teams
Some Vikings fans can take some pleasure in knowing the Bears are still potential frauds because of one play they made that gave them the win. It's almost like Minnesota gifted them a win they didn't deserve. The city will wait to see the eventual Bears collapse that everyone expects.
Now to the more worrisome part: the fact that Daniels admitted the Viking made that play happen. This kickoff coverage unit has been average at best this season, ranking 20th in the NFL with 26.6 yards allowed per return.
That is not exactly a stat that will cause fans to lose their minds, but it does highlight a potential problem the Vikings need to clean up as they enter the final part of their schedule. The special teams have to be on their A-game, as there are issues with the offense, run by a young, first-time starter at quarterback, J.J. McCarthy.
Minnesota hopes to get that fixed so that they can find themselves back in the playoff hunt this year.