The Minnesota Vikings left Soldier Field with a 9-3 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday and a 2-0 start in the NFC North, even if the offense never found much rhythm in the rain.
Justin Jefferson caught three passes for 55 yards on six targets. It was a modest showing after he hauled in eight catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener against Green Bay.
The four-time Pro Bowl receiver said the numbers did not bother him.
“The main important thing is winning at the end of the day. Of course I would love to have 150 yards, three touchdowns and just the fantasy stat line. I definitely would love that,” Jefferson said. “But with these conditions, with this type of game, it wasn’t that type of day, which is totally fine.”
Carson Wentz started in place of Kyler Murray and finished 11 of 20 for 143 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He managed the game without a turnover in wet, sloppy conditions that limited both passing attacks.
Aaron Jones carried 23 times for 105 yards, his first 100-yard rushing game since a 2024 meeting with the Bears. Will Reichard converted all three of his field-goal attempts, including a 39-yarder with 1:09 left that provided the final cushion.
Neither team reached 200 passing yards. Minnesota totaled 246 yards of offense. Chicago finished with 297 but managed only a first-quarter field goal.
The Bears’ afternoon took a sharp turn when quarterback Caleb Williams left with a right hamstring injury on a scramble near the goal line in the fourth quarter. He was carted off after completing 15 of 26 passes for 138 yards and an interception.
Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers recovered a fumble and later blocked a potential game-tying field-goal attempt. Dallas Turner recorded two of Minnesota’s four sacks.
Murray is expected to return next Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Coach Kevin O’Connell said the quarterback is progressing well through concussion protocol after leaving the Week 1 win over Green Bay on the 11th play of the game.
“He’s doing great. He’s feeling well,” O’Connell said. Murray is tracking to clear the protocol early this week.
If Murray reclaims the starting job, Wentz would return to the backup role and JJ McCarthy would slide back to third string. Multiple starting quarterbacks around the league went down in Week 2, which could create trade interest in McCarthy before the November deadline.
Jefferson posted career lows of 1,048 receiving yards and two touchdowns last season while working with three different quarterbacks. He did not criticize them publicly and had been complimentary of Wentz after the Packers game.
The Minnesota Vikings are 2-0 for the first time since they opened the 2024 season with five consecutive wins. They visit Tampa Bay on Sept. 27.
