Bears drop Vikings in overtime
Photo 
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre looks on from the sideline in overtime during the Chicago Bears' 36-30 win in an NFL football game in Chicago, Monday.
CHICAGO — Brett Favre cranked up and made one more impossible throw, zinging a touchdown pass in the fading seconds. Too bad for the Minnesota Vikings, that merely put them into overtime.
The Vikings lost again Monday night, beaten by the Chicago Bears, 36-30, when Jay Cutler tossed a 39-yard strike to Devin Aromashodu. Minnesota fell for the third time in four games, and the defeat gave the New Orleans Saints homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.
Playing for the first time since the dustup between Favre and coach Brad Childress became public, the Vikings’ late rally wasn’t enough.
Despite Favre’s stunning, fourth-down pass to Sidney Rice with 16 seconds left in regulation, Cutler threw the game-winner with just over 9 minutes left in overtime to prevent the Vikings (11-4) from locking up a first-round playoff bye.
Nick Roach recovered a fumble by Adrian Peterson following a catch, setting up Cutler’s fourth touchdown pass of the game.
Favre’s pass to a leaping Rice capped a 68-yard touchdown drive and tied the game at 30.
Chicago’s Robbie Gould had a chance to win it on the first possession of the overtime but missed a 45-yard field goal wide right.
The Bears (5-10) took advantage a few minutes later, though, when Hunter Hillenmeyer knocked the ball away from Peterson and Roach recovered. Cutler found an open Aromashodu, who had beaten Antoine Winfield, and the Bears won for just the third time in 11 games.
Favre has never led a team to a win after trailing by 17 or more points, falling to 0-43 in such situations. The Bears were up 23-6 in the third quarter and the Vikings were able to tie it twice.
Minnesota can lock up a first-round bye with a win next week and loss or tie by Philadelphia or with a tie and an Eagles loss. But after running away with the NFC North, the Vikings didn’t expect to be in this situation.
They started 10-1 behind a resurgent Favre, but have tailed off since.
Favre had a good game after three mediocre performances, completing 26 of 40 passes for 321 yards and two touchdowns. Peterson ran for 94 yards and two scores, but the Vikings simply couldn’t pull this one out.
Cutler looked more like the player the Bears thought they were getting in a trade with Denver than the one who’s been racking up interceptions at an alarming rate. He was 20 of 35 for 273 yards, although he did throw his league-leading 26th interception.
“It’s fun,” Cutler said of outdueling Favre. “He got me in Denver. I got him when he was in New York. ... It was a good game.”
Aromashodu had seven catches for 150 yards, and Danieal Manning set up two touchdowns with kickoff returns of 57 and 59 yards.
The Bears led 16-0 at halftime and 23-6 midway through the third before Minnesota rallied. The Vikings tied it at 23 on Peterson’s 1-yard run with 5:49 left, then Manning ran the kickoff back 59 yards before tripping at the 21. Two plays later, Cutler hit Earl Bennett with a 20-yard touchdown to give the Bears a 30-23 lead with 4:55 remaining, and the Bears appeared to be in good shape.
Favre and Rice had other ideas, though, tying it with that spectacular catch at the end of regulation.
This looked like a primetime-worthy matchup when the schedule came out, and it lived up to that billing even though the script didn’t play out as expected.
Bears coach Lovie Smith is feeling the heat, and general manager Jerry Angelo added a few logs before last week’s loss at Baltimore, when he passed on offering a vote of confidence while saying a roster overhaul wasn’t necessary.
Then again, after three straight misses, it’s not clear if Angelo is on solid footing. Suddenly, the Vikings are looking shaky, too.
That sideline confrontation during last week’s loss to Carolina sparked reports that Favre and Childress had clashed over play-calling, although they insisted their relationship was fine.
Childress said he simply wanted to protect a quarterback under siege by the Panthers. Favre indicated it was performance-based.
Either way, the idea of pulling the league’s career passing leader raised more than a few eyebrows even if he hadn’t been playing the way he did earlier.
Dec 29, 2009 at 11:51 p.m.
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CORRECT inadvertently slipped out of that last sentence.
Dec 29, 2009 at 11:49 p.m.
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Although lovethemidwest is absolutely in that last post.
Dec 29, 2009 at 11:30 p.m.
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At this point, the only thing that matters is who holds the trophy on February 7, 2010.
Dec 29, 2009 at 9:19 p.m.
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The draft pick that Ted Thompson got for dumping the Diva on the Jets turned in to Clay Matthews. As much as I cant stand Thompson for other things hes done, or hasnt done, getting rid of Brett was a great move. We now have Clay Matthews for many years to come, and the first QB in NFL HISTORY to pass for 4000 yards in each of his first two seasons as a starter. Brett was great, but I dont know why anybody cares that he left. Hes shown he didnt give a rats rear end about the Packers or the fans of the Packers.
Dec 29, 2009 at 5:04 p.m.
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jrf: Does that count beating the Packers twice?
Dec 29, 2009 at 5:02 p.m.
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SarahB Favre lover. Your great Brent Farve led Vikings have beaten 3 teams with winning records. Not much better sweety.
Dec 29, 2009 at 4:45 p.m.
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meemaw: You're not only dreaming; you're drunk.
Dec 29, 2009 at 4:43 p.m.
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Once again, only two of Packers' 10 wins thus far this season were against teams with winning records. Don't get ahead of yourselves; it's makes losers out of men.
Dec 29, 2009 at 4:40 p.m.
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You Favre-haters are still so filled with resentment that you must have one heck of a bellyache. Get over it, would ya. Favre has. GO, BRETT!
Dec 29, 2009 at 2:42 p.m.
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vataloco- I agree regarding the defense. However I think the offense can be just as suspect, and then the play calling is a whole different discussion!
Dec 29, 2009 at 2:38 p.m.
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tomtom-The thing about the Packers is that their defense is not very consistent. One day they look brilliant against the Cowboys, the next time they let Big Ben R drive down 80 yards to score the winning touchdown. The offense is good but their defense is unpredictable.
Dec 29, 2009 at 2:28 p.m.
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I am a Packer fan....but would love to see the Packer Viking match up in the playoffs. I don't think the Packers could pull off the win!
Dec 29, 2009 at 2:08 p.m.
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Please throw out who played who during the regular season because in the playoffs it is anyone's game and who makes the least mistakes. As a Cowboys fans, I think the Boys have some momentum but even that is not guranteed. They still have to overcome that December nightmare.
Go figure: Packers beat Cowboys,Cowboys beat Carolina, Carolina beat Giants, Giants beat Cowboys twice, Packers beat Bears twice, Vikings beat packers twice, Bears beat Vikings
Dec 29, 2009 at 12:45 p.m.
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Fab game! I turn the sound OFF..can't stand to hear them fawn all over Favre. OOOHHHH!! Would I love to see the Vikings play the Packers just one more time...in the playoffs.....& the PACK beat the Vikings off an interception of one of Farve's passes......am I dreamin'?
Dec 29, 2009 at noon
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Why are the refs helping the Drama Diva off the turf and helping him adjust his pads and Lord knows what else? I am surprised the NFL didn't have another ref assigned to wipe his little runny nose on the sidelines. Brett again demonstrated that he can read camera angles even better than defenses by trying to steal the spotlight from Cutler at the end of the game. Brett did play well...well enough to lose in overtime to the hapless Bears. Thankfully his record of not being able to win a sub 30 degree road game for 8 straight years is still in tact.
Go Packers!
Dec 29, 2009 at 11:56 a.m.
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pedastool = a pervert who stalks underage furniture. Sometimes heard to use the phrase, “can of Endust, little stool?”
Dec 29, 2009 at 11:54 a.m.
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i apologize for the crap grammar on that previous comment (multitasking)
Dec 29, 2009 at 11:52 a.m.
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After 3 months of watching the Bears fail to live up to the promise of the preseason, 3 months of watching players touted as some of the best in the NFL either get sidelined with injury or fail to live up to their promise, 3 months of watching my team doing nothing well except stink up the stadium they were playing in . . . Well, at least there was last night. Now, if we can just get Lovie and Angelo on the next train out of Chicago, we will have a reason to be hopeful for next year.
Dec 29, 2009 at 11:51 a.m.
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stool = politically correct way of describing how the Vikes look like right now
Dec 29, 2009 at 11:46 a.m.
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cardtrader, our eyes are open and websters dictionary does not list pedastool as a word....
Dec 29, 2009 at 11:45 a.m.
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Packqueers? Wow, that's a stretch. Seriously, is this the 3rd grade?? Who uses that word? By the way, dude, homosexuals is the preferred nomenclature, please! :)
You sound a little scared, cardtrader - You are 100% correct that Brett is playing well - Yet you believe the Vikings will win a playoff game without an O-line, D-backs and a pedestrian A.P.? C'mon man, Brett's a heckuva a QB, but you're sounding desperate!!
Dec 29, 2009 at 11:41 a.m.
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cardtrader--you must be one of those..oh what's the word? oh yeah...a bandwagon jumper!
I never put the man on a pedestal...it was all those bandwagon jumpers the came on board after our Super Bowl win...I am a Packer fan NOT a Favre fan...and that's fine to a be player's fan but do not assume that to be everyone...once a player leaves for another team he becomes the enemy!
Dec 29, 2009 at 11:35 a.m.
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Another thing I hope we play the Packers for a third time it would be nice to sweep them right out the door and Brett pass for another three touchdowns against the Packqueers
Dec 29, 2009 at 11:32 a.m.
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I really cant believe all the crap coming out of the mouths of the people that use to hold almighty #4 on a pedastool, people what game where you watching, Brett did a wonderful job again and the only reason the Bears win the game is the fact that the O-line for the vikings is not playiong up to par. Brett is not letting anybody down he is playing as good as a Quarterback can play. Adrian Petersen now should be fined for not being able to hold onto the ball, if anybody is hurting the Vikings it is petersen not Brett. Please open your eyes and shut your mouths it is really starting to stink,
Dec 29, 2009 at 11:15 a.m.
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everybody keeps praising the drama queen on his comeback...ummm it was a comeback against the Bears (no offense intended--I was a fan last night!). If it was a comeback against the Saints..Eagles..Colts..Bengals..that would be different! I would like to see the Vikings have to play the Cowboys in the first round of the playoffs..we all know how well #4 does with them don't we? It will be nice to hear how the Vikings fans deal with the indecision of maybe I will or maybe I won't retire this year--if #4 doesn't get anywhere in the playoffs that exactly what you can expect (and of course he will use is disagreements with Coach Childress as his excuse)
Dec 29, 2009 at 11:08 a.m.
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admiril- My mom has that shirt! LOL!
Dec 29, 2009 at 11:07 a.m.
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YIPEE!!!!
Dec 29, 2009 at 10:44 a.m.
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The Bears still suck!
Dec 29, 2009 at 10:19 a.m.
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...apologies for the miscalculation on playoff seedings - i've been misinformed by my employees - progressive disciplinary action has been implemented!
Either way, a text book end (near end) to a great year would be to go to the dome and kick the Queens right square in the rear end!!!
Dec 29, 2009 at 10:14 a.m.
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wcm4life you are so right..
Dec 29, 2009 at 10:03 a.m.
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Brett is going to go into the history books as a legend in his time. The mear fact that he played almost his entire career in Green Bay should make every Packer fan be proud of his accomplishments. Forget the crap that happened in Green Bay at the end because of stupid choices either by Brett or Packer Management we should all enjoy what he has given to the NFL. The passion for the game...WOW! Go Brett!
Dec 29, 2009 at 9:52 a.m.
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There is at least one thing Bear fans and Packer fans have in common. They both hate the Vikings.
The only time I cheer for the Packers is when they play the Viqueens and I will do so again if they meet in the playoffs. Just thinking about cheering for them makes me throw up a little bit, but I have never liked the Vikings and now dislike them more with this whole favre circus.
How many Championships have the Vikings won??????? That is right ZERO and lets hope it stays that way!
Dec 29, 2009 at 9:34 a.m.
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Favre didn't collapse. Infact, he came to life in the 2nd half in a huge way. He's no longer a cold weather QB which is why he's chosen to play in a domed stadium. Lastly, let's not forget who the Vikings played. Yep, the Bears scored 36 pts., but, they are still a very bad team. The weather had everything to do with the outcome of this game.
Dec 29, 2009 at 9:14 a.m.
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martin19, how did Favre collapse last night? Can you describe that for me?
Dec 29, 2009 at 9:08 a.m.
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martin, this wasn't exactly a collapse by favre, it was a collapse by the defense with the o-line also struggling in the first half. Throwing for almost 330 yards and 2 TDs isn't exactly a collapse by Favre. He did everything he could to bring the team back, twice!
Dec 29, 2009 at 9:07 a.m.
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If Philly wins and Green Bay and Minnesota both lose, Green Bay and Minnesota would play in the first round of the playoffs. The Vikings would be the 4 seed and the Packers the 5 seed. So yes, they can play in the first round. At that point the seeing would be 1) New Orleans, 2) Philly 12-4, 3) Arizona 11-5 4) Minnesota 11-5 5) Green Bay 10-6 and 6) Dallas 10-6. That is exactly how those two teams would be able to play each other in the first round.
Dec 29, 2009 at 9:04 a.m.
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Another cold weather collapse by the mighty #4. Last year he was 1-3 in Dec. with the Jets and will finish the same with the Vikes this year. Can you say one and done in the playoffs....
Dec 29, 2009 at 8:58 a.m.
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One of the few times I rooted for Da Bears.
Dec 29, 2009 at 8:52 a.m.
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We'll never forget you, Brent!
Dec 29, 2009 at 8:50 a.m.
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lippy you are wrong, because if the eagles win that means the cowboys lose and are the 6 seed, we play arizona as they are the 4 seed. The only way we could play the vikings is if the Cowboys win, they take the division and Eagles become the 5 seed because of tie-breaker rules and we would play the vikings because we would be the 6 seed, but the packers would have to lose also, for that scenario to work.
Dec 29, 2009 at 8:39 a.m.
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also thanks to the Bears., good job by Jay Cutler and crew..
Dec 29, 2009 at 8:38 a.m.
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I think with the way we are playing, and the way they are playing, we very well could beat them. They say third time is the charm.
Dec 29, 2009 at 8:23 a.m.
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It very well could force the Vikings to play on wildcard weekend - if the cards fall correctly, we could play the Vikings opening weekend of the playoffs (Eagles need to win, Packers would need to lose).
I can't stop smiling myself!!! Yesterday, I loved Jay Cutler - it felt very strange going nuts over a Bears touchdown! Tomorrow, I will go back to hating you, Jay.
Dec 29, 2009 at 8:22 a.m.
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The one time I rooted for the Bears! Yeah!
Dec 29, 2009 at 6:33 a.m.
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I don't think I have stopped smiling yet. I must have been smiling when I was sleeping. A huge thank you to the Chicago Bears.. A huge thank you to Adrain Peterson for that perfect timed fumble.
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