The “Monday Night Football” showdown between NFC North rivals the Bears and Vikings wasn’t a tough rivalry game by any means. The Vikings won 17-9.
The Bears’ biggest weakness was themselves, as they totaled nine penalties for 91 yards. The Bears offense struggled as well, as they were not able to convert any of their three fourth-down attempts. Two of those occurred in the red zone, which could have helped the Bears score two touchdowns. The Bears did score one touchdown at the last second after Justin Fields threw a 19-yard pass to Jesper Horsted.
MORE: Atrocious penalties on Bears defense lead to controversial Vikings scores
The Vikings had seven penalties for a total of 54 yards. Eric Kendricks was ejected based on one of these penalties after he hit Fields helmet-to-helmet following a slide by the latter. Fields did not appear hurt from the hit, and continued to play right away.
Kirk Cousins finished with 87 passing yards, which is the least amount of yards he has thrown in a game in his career. Cousins completed 12 of 24 attempts, threw two touchdowns and threw one interception. The Bears finished with 370 total yards, while the Vikings only had 193 yards.
The Vikings move to 7-7 and, with the win, move to the seventh seed in the NFC playoff picture. The Bears are now 4-10, and their playoff chances are over.
Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights from Bears vs. Vikings on “Monday Night Football.” Read below for complete results from the NFL Week 15 game.
MORE: Watch NFL games live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
Bears vs. Vikings score
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | F | |
| Bears | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| Vikings | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
Bears vs. Vikings live updates, highlights from ‘Monday Night Football’
All times Eastern
End of fourth quarter: Vikings 17, Bears 9
11:21 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN, BEARS. At the last second, Fields throws a 19-yard pass to Jesper Horsted for their only touchdown of the game. No extra point since the game ended. Vikings 17, Bears 9.
This seemingly meaningless Bears touchdown — as it was eventually ruled — mattered to some. There was no extra point attempt.
The Vikings — 7-point favorites at many sportsbooks — won 17-9. ? pic.twitter.com/Bp275ntKVY
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) December 21, 2021
11:18 p.m. — The Bears decide not to go for fourth down.
11:14 p.m. — The Vikings punt the ball back to the Bears with just under two minutes of the game remaining.
11:05 p.m. — The Bears still can’t reach the end zone after Mooney and Byrd both don’t catch passes from Fields in the red zone.
11:01 p.m. — Fields runs 23 yards for a Bears first down. They are now on the Vikings’ 33-yard line.
10:57 p.m. — The Vikings go three-and-out.
10:53 p.m. — On fourth-and-goal, Mooney did not catch the ball in the end zone inbounds. Bears coach Matt Nagy challenged the ruling, but the call was upheld. Vikings get the ball on their own 9-yard line.
10:44 p.m. — Fields runs 7 yards to the Vikings’ 12-yard line, but Eric Kendricks hits Fields helmet-to-helmet and is penalized for unnecessary roughness. Kendricks is ejected from the game.
10:43 p.m. — Cole Kmet catches a 23-yard pass for the Bears’ biggest play of the night. They are now on the Vikings’ 36-yard line.
10:41 p.m. — James Lynch is flagged for unnecessary roughness after sacking Fields after the play. The Bears move up 14 yards.
10:35 p.m. — Hicks registers the Bears’ fourth sack of the night, and the Vikings lose 5 yards.
10:31 p.m. — FUMBLE. On the Vikings’ punt, Bears Damiere Byrd drops the catch, and it is recovered by Kris Boyd on the Bears’ 37-yard line.
End of third quarter: Vikings 17, Bears 3
10:23 p.m. — Fields is sacked on fourth-and-1, and the Bears lose the ball at the Vikings’ 25-yard line.
10:21 p.m. — The Vikings go three-and-out. The Vikings punt is blocked by Damien Williams and lands on the Vikings’ 30-yard line.
10:15 p.m. — The Bears go three-and-out after not being able to make up the lost yardage.
10:11 p.m. — Jenkins was penalized for unnecessary roughness after getting into a brief fight with the Vikings defense after they shoved Fields out of bounds. The Bears got 12 yards added to their drive.
Teven Jenkins with his 3rd penalty of the night. That’s a false start, a hold and a personal foul. The Teven Hat Trick.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) December 21, 2021
10:06 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN, VIKINGS. Ihmir Smith-Marsette catches a 7-yard pass from Cousins for a touchdown. This is the Vikings rookie’s first NFL career touchdown. Vikings 17, Bears 3.
10:03 p.m. — The Bears earn another penalty after Tashaun Gipson was flagged for unnecessary roughness. This results in an automatic first down and a gain of 15 yards for the VIkings.
10:00 p.m. — Kene Nwangwu runs 19 yards for the longest Vikings play of the game.
9:59 p.m. — The Vikings get an automatic first down after Teez Tabor was penalized for a low block. The Vikings also got to move up 15 yards to their own 35-yard line.
9:52 p.m. — Wonnum sacks Fields for the second time tonight, this time for a loss of 14 yards.
9:51 p.m. — Montgomery opens the second half with an 11-yard carry and a Bears first down.
End of second quarter: Vikings 10, Bears 3
9:32 p.m. — Santos’ 49-yard field goal attempt was blocked by the Vikings defense.
9:29 p.m. — INTERCEPTION, BEARS. Bush intercepts Cousins at the Bears’ 35-yard line, and he runs 26 yards to the Vikings’ 39-yard line. This was the first Bears interception in the last four games.
9:24 p.m. — FIELD GOAL, BEARS. Cairo Santos puts the Bears on the board after making a 34-yard field goal attempt. Vikings 10, Bears 3.
9:21 p.m. — Fields is sacked by D.J. Wonnum for a loss of 14 yards.
Taking a sack on a screen is pretty brutal.
— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) December 21, 2021
9:17 p.m. — On fourth-and-1, Fields threw a 12-yard complete pass to Montgomery. The Bears are on the Vikings 12-yard line with two minutes remaining in the half.
9:11 p.m. — Montgomery runs 16 yards for a Bears first down to open their drive.
9:07 p.m. — The Vikings don’t get anything done as they go three-and-out.
9:03 p.m. — FUMBLE. Montgomery fumbles the ball after Sheldon Richardson tackles him, and then recovers the ball at the Vikings’ 12-yard line. This is the second Bears fumble of the night.
8:59 p.m. — Mooney grabs another first down after catching a 6-yard pass on third down.
8:57 p.m. — Darnell Mooney catches a 27-yard pass from Fields to open up the Bears drive. They are already on the Vikings’ 41-yard line.
8:54 p.m. — FIELD GOAL, VIKINGS. Greg Joseph makes a 37-yard field goal attempt for the Vikings. Vikings 10, Bears 0.
8:53 p.m. — Robert Quinn sacks Cousins for a loss of 7 yards. This is the second time Cousins has been sacked tonight.
End of first quarter: Vikings 7, Bears 0
8:45 p.m. — Deon Bush on the Bears was flagged for unnecessary roughness after hitting Tyler Conklin after he dropped the ball. The Vikings got an automatic first down and are now on the Bears’ 35-yard line.
What was wrong with that hit by Deon Bush? Refs react to the look of the hit instead of the actual play… brutal on 3rd down. #Bears
— Aaron Leming (@AaronLemingNFL) December 21, 2021
8:43 p.m. — Akiem Hicks sacks Cousins for a loss of 7 yards. This was only the 19th sack on the Vikings this season, which is the lowest in the NFL.
8:40 p.m. — FUMBLE. Cameron Dantzler knocked the ball out of Justin Fields’ hands to force a fumble, which was then recovered by Anthony Barr on the VIkings’ 47-yard line.
8:38 p.m. — David Montgomery runs for 9 yards, and then another 7 yards for the Bears’ first first down of the game.
8:33 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN, VIKINGS. Jefferson catches a 12-yard pass in the end zone for a touchdown. The Vikings are now on the board. Vikings 7, Bears 0.
8:30 p.m. — Justin Jefferson catches an 18-yard pass for the Vikings first down, the biggest play of the game so far.
8:23 p.m. — On the Bears’ first play, Teven Jenkins was flagged for offensive holding. This is Jenkins’ first NFL start. The play resulted in a no play due to the penalty.
8:17 p.m. — The Vikings receive the ball first. K.J. Osborn catches a 5-yard pass from Kirk Cousins on third down to complete the Vikings’ first first down.
Bears vs. Vikings start time
- Date: Monday, Dec. 20
- Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
The Bears vs. Vikings game will kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. All “Monday Night Football” games in 2021 are scheduled to begin at 8:15 p.m. ET.
How to watch ‘Monday Night Football’
- TV channels: ESPN
- Live streams: ESPN+, fuboTV
Bears vs. Vikings will be broadcast on ESPN with announcers Steve Levy, Brian Griese and Louis Riddick.
You can also stream “Monday Night Football” live online with fuboTV, which offers a free seven-day trial .
‘Monday Night Football’ schedule 2021
| Week | Date | Matchup |
| 1 | Sept. 13 | Raiders vs. Ravens |
| 2 | Sept. 20 | Packers vs. Lions |
| 3 | Sept. 27 | Cowboys vs. Eagles |
| 4 | Oct. 4 | Chargers vs. Raiders |
| 5 | Oct. 11 | Ravens vs. Colts |
| 6 | Oct. 18 | Titans vs. Bills |
| 7 | Oct. 25 | Seahawks vs. Saints |
| 8 | Nov. 1 | Chiefs vs. Giants |
| 9 | Nov. 8 | Steelers vs. Bears |
| 10 | Nov. 15 | 49ers vs. Rams |
| 11 | Nov. 22 | Buccaneers vs. Giants |
| 12 | Nov. 29 | Washington vs. Seahawks |
| 13 | Dec. 6 | Bills vs. Patriots |
| 14 | Dec. 13 | Cardinals vs. Rams |
| 15 | Dec. 20 | Bears vs. Vikings |
| 16 | Dec. 27 | Saints vs. Dolphins |
| 17 | Jan. 3 | Steelers vs. Browns |
