Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears: Week 2 Game Guide (2026)

The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Chicago Bears 9-3 on September 20, winning a Week 2 game in which every point came from a kicker. Will Reichard accounted for all nine Minnesota points by making all three of his field-goal attempts, including a 49-yarder. Chicago’s Cairo Santos made one of two attempts, with his successful kick coming from 50 yards. The teams each scored three points in the first quarter, but Minnesota added three in both the second and fourth while the Bears went scoreless over the final three quarters. Minnesota’s defense supplied the strongest evidence behind the victory. The Vikings held Chicago to three points despite the Bears getting production from multiple ball carriers and completing 20 passes between their two quarterbacks. Minnesota also came away with two takeaways shown in the individual statistics: Byron Murphy Jr. intercepted Caleb Williams, and Isaiah Rodgers recovered the fumble lost by D'Andre Swift. Murphy added seven tackles and two passes defended, giving him the most complete coverage line among Minnesota’s listed defenders. The pass rush also repeatedly affected Chicago’s quarterbacks. Dallas Turner led that effort with two sacks, four quarterback hits and two tackles for loss. Blake Cashman recorded 10 tackles, one sack and one quarterback hit, while Andrew Van Ginkel added a sack, three quarterback hits and a tackle for loss. Williams was sacked three times for 20 lost yards, and Tyson Bagent took another sack for a nine-yard loss. That pressure did not produce a defensive touchdown, but it accompanied a scoreless Chicago passing line and helped define a game controlled by defense rather than offensive finishing. For Minnesota’s offense, Aaron Jones Sr. delivered the most substantial production. He carried 23 times for 105 yards, averaging 4.6 per attempt, with a long run of 20 yards. He did not score, but he was the only supplied player from either team to reach 100 rushing yards. That workload and efficiency gave Minnesota a dependable source of offense in a game where touchdowns never arrived. The passing game was modest but protected the ball. Carson Wentz completed 11 of 20 passes for 143 yards, averaging 7.2 yards per attempt, with no touchdown and no interception. He was sacked three times for 16 yards and fumbled once, but the fumble was not lost. Justin Jefferson led Minnesota’s listed receivers with 55 yards on three catches, including a 30-yard reception. T.J. Hockenson caught three of four targets for 29 yards, Jordan Addison had two catches for 21 yards, and Josh Oliver contributed a 24-yard reception. The useful takeaway is clear but limited: Minnesota generated some chunk gains and avoided a passing turnover, yet finished every scoring opportunity without a touchdown. Chicago moved the ball through several contributors without converting that activity into points. Williams went 15-of-26 for 138 yards, no touchdowns and one interception, while also rushing five times for 42 yards. Bagent completed five of nine passes for 54 yards. Swift was held to 45 yards on 16 carries, although he led the Bears’ listed receivers with five catches for 54 yards. Kyle Monangai added 47 rushing yards on 10 attempts, and Rome Odunze caught three passes for 43 yards. Those figures show Chicago found yards in different ways, but the interception, lost fumble and absence of a touchdown left the Bears with only Santos’ field goal. Special teams carried unusual weight because neither offense reached the end zone. Reichard’s perfect three-for-three performance was the scoring difference, while Santos’ miss mattered in a six-point final. Minnesota punter Brett Thorson punted six times for 297 yards, a 49.5-yard gross average, with two punts inside the 20 and a long of 62. Chicago’s Tory Taylor averaged 48.8 yards on four punts and put three inside the 20. Those punting totals also underscore how often both offenses ended possessions without scoring. The result offers Minnesota three grounded conclusions. The defense produced pressure, takeaways and three scoreless quarters after the opening period. Jones gave the offense a productive rushing centerpiece, while Wentz avoided an interception. At the same time, three sacks allowed, six punts and no touchdowns show that the offense left substantial room for improvement. In this game, Minnesota did enough because its defense limited the Bears to three points and Reichard converted every chance reflected in the scoring column.

• Will Reichard made all three field-goal attempts, including a 49-yarder, and scored every Minnesota point in the 9-3 victory.
• Dallas Turner recorded two sacks, four quarterback hits and two tackles for loss as Minnesota held Chicago scoreless after the first quarter.
• Aaron Jones Sr. carried 23 times for 105 yards, averaging 4.6 per attempt and posting the game’s only 100-yard rushing performance.