Bears beat Vikings 19-17 with
game-ending FG set up by Duvernay's 56-yard kickoff return
[November 17, 2025]
By DAVE CAMPBELL
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Chicago Bears have built this breakthrough
season on the simplest and most effective way to win with a
work-in-progress quarterback — a turnover margin that's become the
envy of the league.
The Bears are all take and no give these days.
Devin Duvernay's 56-yard kickoff return in the final minute set up
Cairo Santos for his fourth field goal of the game, a 48-yarder as
time expired that gave the Bears a 19-17 victory on Sunday after the
Minnesota Vikings scored the go-ahead touchdown with 50 seconds
left.
“This isn't the same old Bears,” said safety Kevin Byard, who had
one of two interceptions of J.J. McCarthy as Chicago pushed its
NFL-leading turnover margin to plus-16 — with 22 takeaways against
six giveaways.
Over their seven wins, the Bears (7-3) are a stunning plus-20 in
that column. Not coincidentally, they're 3-0 in games decided by two
points or fewer and 5-1 when the margin is five or less.
“We always find a way to make it interesting,” Duvernay said. “We
just always find a way. Proud of each other.”
After McCarthy ended another erratic performance with five straight
completions that culminated with a 15-yard scoring strike to Jordan
Addison, Duvernay delivered the clutch response after the Bears blew
the 13-point lead they took into the fourth quarter.
Santos made up for his 45-yard miss with 8:08 remaining by drilling
the winner after a critical 7-yard rush by D'Andre Swift, who had 21
carries for 90 yards, pushed the ball into a safer range.
“We’ve just kind of cycled around on who’s stepping up to the plate
and getting us the win,” first-year coach Ben Johnson said. “I think
that’s what good teams do.”
The defense kept the Vikings (4-6) in it the whole way, limiting the
Bears to seven of 18 third-down conversions, but the final
possession started too deep in their territory to prevent a score.
Caleb Williams, who was drafted by the Bears nine picks ahead of
McCarthy last year and is much further down the development road
under Johnson, had one of his least effective games this season
while going 16 for 32 for 193 yards and scrambling four times for 26
yards. Williams logged yet another turnover-free start, letting the
defense handle the more meaningful work.
But this was still a meaningful performance for Williams, following
a 27-24 loss at home in the opener to the Vikings that included a
blown 17-6 lead early in the fourth quarter.
“The belief that we’ve grown within the locker room is what
changed,” said Williams, who has just four interceptions in 10 games
with no lost fumbles. “When you have belief, when you have the trust
between each other and the guys and things like that, these moments
don’t seem too big.”
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Chicago Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright (26), left, intercepts a
pass intended for Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3)
during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 16,
2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
From elation to frustration
McCarthy, who played with a wrap on his throwing hand after hurting
it on a helmet after a follow-through in the previous game, ended
consecutive second-quarter possessions with interceptions and had an
alarming amount of off-target passes. He finished 16 for 32 for 150
yards and a 47.7 passer rating in his fifth career start, but said
adamantly his hand didn't bother him.
McCarthy's mechanics appeared to be a major part of the problem.
Though the throw that Byard picked off to set up the first field
goal by Santos for a 10-3 lead was unwisely forced for Justin
Jefferson into a dangerous area of the zone coverage, McCarthy also
acknowledged the pressure from Grady Jarrett didn’t allow him to set
his feet properly on that play.
Then on first down from the Chicago 30, McCarthy threw a fade to the
back corner of the end zone for Addison that Nahshon Wright, the
former Vikings practice squad player who had an interception return
for a touchdown off McCarthy in the season opener, secured with a
leaping grab before landing on his back with 35 seconds left before
halftime.
“I just need to do a better job to make sure the rhythm stays there
throughout an entire 60 minutes,” McCarthy said. “There’s definitely
things that we did well today, but how can we amplify those things
and how can we eliminate the mistakes?”
Injury report
Bears: LB T.J. Edwards (hand/hamstring) was inactive. Standout CB
Jaylon Johnson (groin), who returned to practice this week, missed
his eighth straight game.
Vikings: CB Isaiah Rodgers took a big blow from a head-to-head hit
in the second quarter. He was checked out for a head injury before
returning for the next drive. ... OLB Jonathan Greenard (shoulder)
missed his first game in two seasons.
Up next
The Bears host Pittsburgh next Sunday.
The Vikings play at Green Bay on Sunday.
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