NFL: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Bo Richter (98) celebrates with teammates after a defensive play against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 20, 2026, in Chicago.
CHICAGO — An incredible defensive performance by the Vikings was in danger of being completely overshadowed on Sunday at Soldier Field as the Chicago Bears broke the huddle with a chance to score a touchdown on the final play of the game.
It’s fitting that edge rusher Dallas Turner was the person to seal the deal for the Vikings.
Turner had lived in the backfield throughout the game, so it was only right that he sacked backup quarterback Tyson Bagent as time expired to secure the Vikings’ 9-3 win over the Bears and improve to 2-0 overall and in the NFC North Division.
Though it was a low-scoring affair, largely because it rained for pretty much the duration of the game, there was no lack of storylines when everything was said and done.
Here are some takeaways:
Brian Flores proved he’s a mastermind
This was a legacy game for defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Though he has long been respected among the NFL’s elite play callers, this was an opportunity for Flores to prove himself against somebody who is quickly becoming his biggest rival.
How did Flores respond? He reduced the offensive juggernaut of Bears head coach Ben Johnson to rubble. After the Bears exploded for 552 yards and 59 points in their Week 1 win over the Carolina Panthers, they only managed 295 total yards and one field goal against the Vikings.
It was the Johnson’s worst game as a play caller, at least in terms of offensive success rate, according to Sumer Sports. That was a direct result of a Flores game plan, and nearly flawless execution, that constantly kept him guessing.
That made it extremely tough for Bears quarterback Caleb Williams to get into a rhythm. His struggles were well documented before he suffered a hamstring injury that knocked him out of the game.
Dallas Turner dominated again
As good as Flores’ game plan was, he can only do so much from the sidelines. It’s on his players to make the game plan come to life.
It helps to have somebody like Turner on the edge. After turning some heads with an impressive showing in the Week 1 win over the Green Bay Packers, he was again a force of nature in Week 2. Whether he was chasing Williams down in the open field, or sacking Bagent to end the game, Turner was nearly unblockable, regardless of who lined up across from him.
It’s not hyperbole to say Turner has been arguably the best edge rusher in the NFL so far this season. In two games, he has racked up a trio of sacks and a whopping 20 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, which is more than anybody else in the league.
Carson Wentz took care of the ball
The stat line for quarterback Carson Wentz wasn’t spectacular; he completed 11 of 20 pass attempts for 143 yards and did not throw for a touchdown. But he did his part to lead the Vikings to a win in his 100th career NFL start, mostly by taking care of the ball as if his life depended on it. That wasn’t the easiest of tasks in soggy weather conditions that made turnovers feel like a foregone conclusion.
The fact that Wentz continued to play it safe can’t be overstated, especially for somebody whose style for most of his career has been the personification of a roller coaster ride. Several times, Wentz simply dirted the ball when his intended target didn’t come open right away. That guaranteed that he didn’t throw an errant pass that could have been intercepted.
Aaron Jones shouldered the load
Veteran running back Aaron Jones finished with 23 carries for 105 yards, his most carries in a game since Nov. 13, 2022, when he was still a member of the Packers. The workmanlike effort served as the lifeblood for the offense when it felt like nothing else was going right.
Jones calmed everything down with his steadiness while also occasionally providing a spark with his explosiveness. It will be interesting to see how he responds to such a heavy workload. Let’s just say the Vikings are going to need Jones to hold up with fellow running back Jordan Mason (thumb) on injured reserve.
Isaiah Rodgers made his presence felt
There weren’t many players that had their fingerprints on the game more than cornerback Isaiah Rodgers. Not only did he recover a fumble at the goal line, he also blocked a field goal late that helped keep points off the board.
The latter was a wildly athletic play as Rodgers timed the snap perfectly before getting his hands on a chip shot from Bears kicker Cairo Santos. That helped the Vikings maintain the lead in the closing minutes and they ultimately held on for the win.
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