MINNEAPOLIS -- A 21-14 loss Sunday to the Minnesota Vikings continued a disturbing pattern for the Chicago Bears over the last two seasons: Losers of four of their last five games, the Bears fell to 8-5 and are slowly taking their hands off the steering wheel that would guide them to the playoffs.
Last season, the Bears began 7-3 before finishing 8-8 and out of the postseason.
Adrian Peterson victimized the Bears early and often Sunday. He sprinted 51 yards on his first carry of the game and wound up with two touchdowns. He had 104 yards rushing by the end of the first period to set a club record for the Vikings (7-6).
"We knew it would be a race to the finish and that's what we're going to have," coach Lovie Smith said. "We've got to rally. We'll feel bad for a brief period of time and then it's on to Green Bay (next Sunday at Soldier Field). We're still in a position to accomplish all of our goals."
The Bears could not get much going offensively. Jay Cutler wound up completing 22 of 44 passes for 260 yards and one TD. He was intercepted twice and left the game late in the fourth quarter with a neck injury.
Jason Campbell replaced Cutler, who took numerous hard hits during the game, with four minutes remaining and the Bears down two touchdowns. He hit Brandon Marshall (10 receptions for 160 yards) on a 16-yard TD pass to bring the Bears to within 21-14 with 1:48 left to play, but the Vikings recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.
"There were a lot of problems offensively," Cutler said. "I didn't play well. ... We've just got to get better."
As for the Bears' slump, Cutler said, "It's a short season. We've got a handful of games left and we've got to win them all. We're going to take them one at a time."
Minnesota's defense made a major impact in the third quarter. Cutler threw an interception that safety Harrison Smith returned 56 yards for a touchdown with 3:27 left in the period and the Vikings led 21-7.
Shortly before halftime, Cutler hit Alshon Jeffery on a 23-yard TD pass just with 1:52 to play in the second quarter to cut the Vikings' lead to 14-7. The seven-play drive covered 69 yards.
Earlier, after Jeffery fell down on his route, a Cutler pass was intercepted by Vikings cornerback Josh Robinson. He returned the pick 44 yards to the Bears' 5. Adrian Peterson scored his second TD of the day from a yard out to make it 14-0 at the 8:46 mark of the first quarter.
Peterson -- who gained 104 yards in the first quarter -- had greeted the Bears with a 51-yard run on the Vikings' first play from scrimmage down to the Bears' 29. The drive ended with a 1-yard TD run by Peterson with 11:53 left in the first quarter. Blair Walsh converted and the Vikings led 7-0.
Robbie Gould suffered a strained calf during warmups, and punter Adam Podlesh had to handle the opening kickoff. Gould was able to kick two extra points.
"We had a lot of injuries in the game," Smith said. "Robbie Gould before the game, out kicking, hurt his (left) calf muscle. In the end, it really didn’t affect us that much. We didn’t have to kick a lot of long field goals or anything like that but it is of some concern. Shea McClellin had a knee injury. Craig Steltz injured his chest. (Sherrick) McManis, his knee. And Jay Cutler there late hurt his neck. All of the injuries, of course, affected the game a little bit."
In the fourth quarter, Marshall made his 100th catch of the season, marking the fourth time in his career that he has reached the century mark in receptions.
Bears safety Craig Steltz was ruled out for the game with a chest injury. Defensive tackle Henry Melton left the field on a cart after walking off with an apparent leg injury, but he later returned.
The Bears came into the game as the fifth seed in the NFC, having beaten the Vikings 28-10 two weeks ago. A home loss to Seattle last Sunday left the Bears sorely in need of a triumph at the Metrodome. The Bears and Packers entered the day tied with 8-4 records, but Green Bay held the tiebreaker after beating Chicago in Week 2. The Packers host the Lions on Sunday night.
fmitchell@tribune.com
Twitter @kicker34
Bears fall to 8-5 after 21-14 loss to Vikings
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Bears fall to 8-5 after 21-14 loss to Vikings
