Bears Roar to First NFC Championship, Vikings Stumble Again

CHICAGO, IL — The snow fell steadily on Soldier Field as the Chicago Bears made history on Sunday, defeating the Minnesota Vikings 45-27 in a high-scoring NFC Championship showdown. In their first-ever NFC Championship appearance, the Bears thrived in the wintry conditions, punching their ticket to the Super Bowl and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

Game Recap

The opening quarter set the stage for an electric game despite the swirling snowflakes. J.J. McCarthy got the Vikings off to a fast start with an 8-yard touchdown pass to James Cook. But the Bears, coached by Mark Miller, quickly answered back. Caleb Williams hit Rome Odunze for a 19-yard touchdown, tying the game at 7-7.
The second quarter belonged to the Bears, who didn’t let the snow slow them down. Williams connected again with Odunze for a stunning 53-yard touchdown bomb, then found Frank Dailey for a 10-yard score. The Vikings managed a pair of field goals from Will Reichard, but Chicago went into halftime with a commanding 21-13 lead.

Coming out of the break, the Bears kept the momentum going under the falling snow. Williams and Odunze connected for their third touchdown of the day, this time from 30 yards out. Joshua Karty added a 33-yard field goal to extend the lead to 31-13.

The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth battle as snowflakes continued to dance in the air. The Vikings struck first with an 8-yard rushing touchdown from Cook, but the Bears answered right back with a 4-yard touchdown run from Kenneth Gainwell and a 1-yard QB sneak by Williams. McCarthy closed the game with a 50-yard bomb to Justin Jefferson, but it was too little, too late. Chicago had already sealed the deal.

Key Stats

Williams played a near-flawless game in the snow, completing 23 of 30 passes for 374 yards and four touchdowns while adding another on the ground. Odunze was his top target, finishing with 10 catches for 244 yards and three touchdowns. Dailey chipped in four catches and a score of his own, while Gainwell added 24 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Bears’ defense forced a key interception by Jaquan Johnson that helped swing the game.

For the Vikings, McCarthy threw for 346 yards and two touchdowns on 34-of-42 passing. Cook had a strong two-way performance with 77 receiving yards and 38 rushing yards, while Jefferson’s late touchdown highlighted an otherwise tough day for the Vikings’ offense.

As a team, the Bears converted all six trips to the red zone into points, while the Vikings managed four scores in six attempts. Chicago outgained Minnesota 468-427 in total yards and held the ball for over 29 minutes to control the game.

They Said It

“We knew this was our moment,” said Williams after the game. “The snow didn’t bother us — we wanted to be the first Bears team to do this, and we got it done.”

Vikings quarterback McCarthy reflected on the conditions and the game, “We fought hard in the snow, but we’ve got to find a way to get over the hump. We’ll be back.”

Up Next

The Bears will head to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history, where they’ll face the defending champion Houston Texans. Coach Mark Miller will be making his second Super Bowl appearance as a head coach, looking to bring Chicago its first Lombardi Trophy.

For the Vikings, it’s a bitter end to a season that saw them fall short in the NFC Championship for the fourth straight time.