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Peterson, Vikings run away from Bears

Dec 18, 2007 - 7:14 AM By Mike Weimerskirch PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - Adrian Peterson had two touchdown runs, including the go-ahead score with just under 11 minutes to go, to lead the Minnesota Vikings to a 20-13 victory over the Chicago Bears on Monday night.

Ryan Longwell added field goals of 42 and 48 yards as Minnesota overcame a 10-point deficit to notch its fifth consecutive victory.

The win kept the Vikings (8-6) one game ahead of the New Orleans Saints and Washington Redskins for the final wild card spot in the NFC.

"(It was) an NFC and NFC North game, so it's a huge game," Vikings coach Brad Childress said.

Having never led in the game, the Vikings put together an 11-play, 65-yard drive in the fourth quarter that led to Peterson's 12th rushing touchdown of the season from 8 yards out on a broken play.

"It was a communication error, but we were able to make a big play out of it," Peterson said. "I saw (Bears linebacker Brian) Urlacher in the hole, and cut it backside."

Peterson, who shredded the Bears for three touchdowns and 224 yards in the earlier meeting this season, finished with 78 yards rushing - 56 of those coming in the second half.

"After halftime, we came out more focused," Peterson said. "Eventually we got some big plays."

Backup quarterback Brooks Bollinger ran for the two-point conversion to give the Vikings a 20-13 lead with 10:56 to play.

Chicago had a final chance to pull even but Kyle Orton's pass was intercepted by safety Darren Sharper in the end zone.

"We did a good job of slowing them down when we had turnovers and they were in our red zone, holding them to three points," Sharper said. "We had three turnovers in the first half. You are fortunate to be down only seven points when you turn the ball over that much."

Making his first start since 2005, Orton completed 22-of-38 passes for 184 yards and an interception as the Bears (5-9) officially were eliminated from postseason contention.

"It was a tough game, it's been a tough season," Orton said. "Everybody in here is disappointed."

Chicago used four turnovers to take a 13-3 first-half lead, thanks to interceptions by Brian Urlacher and Nathan Vasher, who was playing for the first time after missing 10 games with a groin injury.

"It was a tough game, it's been a tough season," Orton said. "Everybody in here is disappointed."

Urlacher's first-quarter interception led to a 29-yard Robbie Gould field goal to open the scoring. Urlacher also had a fumble recovery and two sacks.

"Urlacher is a great player," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "He kept us in the game."

Vasher's 34-yard interception return of Tarvaris Jackson's pass in the final minute of the first half gave Chicago the ball at the Minnesota 12-yard line. Two plays later, fullback Jason McKie ran in from the 1-yard line to give the Bears a 13-3 lead.

"I never should have thrown it," Jackson said. "It gave them seven points at the end of the half."

The Vikings answered with a Ryan Longwell 48-yard field as the first half ended. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Bears set up the kick.

The Vikings came back in the third quarter when Robert Ferguson broke free of Ricky Manning's tackle at the Minnesota 40 and raced another 59 yards before Charles Tillman caught him at the 1-yard line.

"It was a little crossing route and I just tried to squeeze through the defenders," said Ferguson, who was suffering all week with the flu. "I was running on fumes just short of the end zone."

Peterson plowed in on the next play to bring the Vikings to within a point at 13-12 with 10:29 left in the quarter. A low snap caused Longwell to pull the extra point attempt to the left.

Jackson completed 18-of-29 passes for 249 yards and three interceptions. He left the game with a leg cramp one play before Peterson's decisive score. Bollinger handed off to Peterson for the decisive score before running in for the conversion.

"I don't know if I didn't communicate something with (Peterson)," Bollinger said. "I thought he was going one way, and he was going the other. It worked out pretty well."