The 1998 Season

Note: 1998 was the second season that I wrote down thoughts the entire year. Therefore, the 1998 season summary will come in multiple additions to my blog. Today's 1998 entry will be Week 4, at Chicago thoughts.

Week Four: at Chicago; Vikes 31, Bears 28

Randall Cunningham erased an 11-point second-half deficit with 3 of his 4 touchdown passes as the Minnesota Vikings set up next week's battle of undefeated Central Division teams with a 31-28 victory over the Chicago Bears.

Chicago led 21-10 at halftime before Cunningham found tight end Andrew Glover from 19 yards out and Cris Carter on a 35-yarder, giving the Vikings a 24-21 advantage. Cunningham's 44-yard TD strike to rookie Randy Moss five minutes into the fourth quarter increased the lead to 31-21.

"I knew it would be tough here today," Cunningham said. "You never go into someone else's stadium thinking you'll score 31 points."

In his second week as starter following the injury to Brad Johnson, Cunningham completed 16 of 27 passes for 275 yards and 4 touchdowns. His 67-yard TD pass to running back Robert Smith 2:17 into the game opened the scoring.

Minnesota (4-0) has won its first four games for the second time in three seasons, setting up next Monday night's game with the unbeaten Green Bay Packers (4-0).

"We feel great," said Vikings coach Dennis Green. "They've all been battles. We haven't had an easy time of it."

The Bears (0-4) led at halftime for the fourth straight game but still fell to 0-4 for the second straight season. They have outscored opponents, 58-24 in the first half but have been outscored, 75-20 in the second, including 44-0 in the third quarter.

Chicago answered Cunningham's 67-yard screen pass to Smith with a 7-play, 84-yard drive, capped by Erik Kramer's 33-yard TD pass to Bobby Engram.

While setting career highs with 372 yards passing and 4 TDs, Kramer threw for the fourth highest passing total in franchise history, completing 25 of 39 passes. Engram set personal bests with 123 yards receiving and 2 scores.

Kramer finished off a pair of long first-half drives with 2 more TD strikes, a 23-yarder to Chris Penn and a 4-yarder to Engram, giving the Bears their biggest lead, 21-10 with 4:18 left.

Chicago dominated play in the first half, totaling 15 first downs and 257 yards of total offense, including 208 yards passing and 3 scores from Kramer.

David Palmer woke up the Vikings in the second half, setting up their first TD with a 53-yard punt return. Cunningham capped the 34-yard drive five plays later with his 19-yard strike to Glover, cutting the deficit to 21-17.

"The field position got us," said Chicago coach Dave Wannstedt. "We've got to find a way. They returned a punt. They returned a kickoff. The field position killed us, particularly in the second half."

The Bears immediately embarked on a 14-play drive but Kramer's second-down pass intended for Fabien Bownes at the goal line was deflected and intercepted by Corey Fuller, who returned the ball to the Minnesota 36 yard line.

"The interception down in the red zone to take away the points was the biggest play of the game," Green said.

“Cory made a great play, probably the biggest play on defense today," added Smith.

Cunningham took advantage, throwing on each down in the ensuing four-play drive, culminated by a 35-yard TD to Carter with 1:44 left in the third quarter, giving the Vikings a 24-21 edge.

After holding Chicago to a total of one first down on the next two possessions, Minnesota needed just one play to grab a 10-point lead. Moss atoned for a 15-yard clipping penalty on the Vikings' previous drive by hauling in Cunningham's 44-yard bomb.

"Randall made a nice play," Moss said. "We had the wind in our favor and it kind of held it up. The ball was thrown my way and I had to jump up and get it."

The Bears got to within a field goal with 1:53 left, chewing up 82 yards in just 45 seconds. Kramer completed 5 of 6 passes on the drive, connecting with tight end Ryan Wetnight from 19 yards out on third-and-7.

"It's real simple," Wannstedt said. "They made three plays in the second half and we didn't make any plays. Anybody who has seen Minnesota play and, we talked about it, knows they throw the ball up and make big plays."

Posted by maasx003 at November 17, 2004 07:46 AM