Bears lead Vikings 24-21 in Wild Half

Sep 15, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (84) returns the opening kickoff for a touchdown against the Chicago Bears during the first quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

The Bears and Vikings are doing battle at a sloppy, wet Soldier Field, but you’d never know it based on the halftime score.  It’s been a little bit of a track meet, especially for a couple of less-than-stellar offense.  It’s been defense and special teams that have owned the day.

Cordarrelle Patterson returned the opening kickoff of the game 105 yards for a touchdown, the first kickoff return the Bears have given up since 2007 to put the Vikings on the board 7-0.  Devin Hester took the subsequent kickoff 67 yards to set the Bears up with excellent field position.  A Jay Cutler to Martellus Bennett TD pass capped off the short scoring drive.

The Bears appeared to be ready to blow the game open when Cutler tossed a perfect ball to Brandon Marshall for a 34-yard TD pass to put the Bears up 14-7.

Jay Cutler had a couple of costly turnovers, none more costly than the fumble that Jared Allen forced, as Brian Robinson scooped it up and brought it back 61-yards for a touchdown to tie the score.   Devin Hester took the next kickoff 80 yards to set the Bears up yet again.  The Bears worked Matt Forte masterfully, only to have a 1st and goal pass by Jay Cutler deflected and intercepted.

Four plays later, Tim Jennings picked off a Christian Ponder pass and brought it back to the house for a forty-four yard touchdown.

The Bears did a great job shutting down Adrian Peterson in the first half, but a couple of decent runs helped set up a Christian Ponder to Kyle Rudolph TD pass to tie the game at 21.

The Bears marched the ball down inside of two minutes and despite the fact that the FOX broadcast went to the halftime show due to technical difficulties, the Bears kick a field goal to give the Bears a 24-21 halftime lead.