Minnesota Vikings vs Chicago Bears Match Player Stats (Nov 16, 2025)

The minnesota vikings vs chicago bears match player stats tell the story of a defensive slugfest that came down to the final second at U.S. Bank Stadium. Cairo Santos drilled a 48-yard field goal as time expired, giving Chicago a 19-17 victory after Minnesota had taken a 17-16 lead with just 50 seconds remaining. The win pushed the Bears to 7-3 while the Vikings dropped to 4-6 in a game that featured 12 combined punts and two critical interceptions.

Quarterback Performance Statistics

The quarterback battle between Caleb Williams and J.J. McCarthy defined this November 16 contest, though neither signal caller put up spectacular numbers in the defensive battle.

Quarterback	Completions	Attempts	Yards	TDs	INTs	Passer Rating	Rush Yards	Rush TDs
Caleb Williams (CHI)	16	32	193	0	0	68.9	26	0
J.J. McCarthy (MIN)	16	32	150	1	2	47.7	N/A	0

Williams protected the football throughout the contest, extending his streak of games without a lost fumble while keeping his interception count to just four through 10 games. The former USC Heisman winner completed 50 percent of his passes but avoided the costly mistakes that plagued McCarthy.

McCarthy struggled with accuracy all afternoon before finding rhythm on the game’s most critical drive. The second-year quarterback went 5 for 5 for 55 yards on Minnesota’s final touchdown drive, capping it with a 15-yard scoring strike to Jordan Addison. That clutch performance couldn’t erase three quarters of erratic play that saw him throw two interceptions and miss several open receivers.

“I just need to do a better job to make sure the rhythm stays there throughout an entire 60 minutes,” McCarthy said after the loss. “There’s definitely things that we did well today, but how can we amplify those things and how can we eliminate the mistakes?”

Rushing Attack Breakdown

The ground game played a pivotal role in this low-scoring affair, with both teams leaning on their running backs to control possession and field position.

Running Back	Team	Carries	Yards	Average	TDs	Long
D’Andre Swift	CHI	21	90	4.3	0	N/A
Jordan Mason	MIN	6	45	7.5	1	16

Swift carried the load for Chicago’s offense, grinding out 90 yards on 21 attempts. His most crucial contribution came on the final drive when he gained seven yards to push the Bears into more comfortable field goal range for Santos. The veteran back showed his worth in the fourth quarter, churning out tough yards when Chicago needed them most.

Mason provided Minnesota’s lone offensive touchdown on a 16-yard run early in the fourth quarter. His explosive performance on limited touches gave the Vikings a spark, but the sample size remained small as Minnesota struggled to establish offensive consistency.

Team Rushing Totals:

Team	Carries	Yards	Average	TDs
Chicago Bears	26	116	4.5	0
Minnesota Vikings	22	114	5.2	1

Receiving Statistics and Key Targets

The passing attack for both teams sputtered throughout the afternoon, with drops and tight coverage limiting production.

Receiver	Team	Receptions	Targets	Yards	TDs	Long
Jordan Addison	MIN	N/A	N/A	N/A	1	15 TD

Addison hauled in the game’s most important reception, a 15-yard touchdown grab that gave Minnesota a 17-16 lead with 50 seconds remaining. The catch was part of McCarthy’s perfect 5 for 5 performance on the final drive. However, Addison also had at least two costly drops earlier in the contest that could have extended promising Vikings drives.

For Chicago, the tight end duo of Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland combined for eight catches on nine targets, totaling 85 yards. Their steady production helped Williams move the chains on critical third-down situations throughout the game.

Defensive Player Stats and Impact Plays

Defense dominated this rivalry matchup, with Chicago’s secondary making the difference in a game decided by just two points.

Chicago Bears Defensive Leaders:

Player	Position	Tackles	INTs	Return Yards	Passes Defended
Kevin Byard III	S	N/A	1	23	N/A
Nahshon Wright	CB	N/A	1	0	N/A
Tremaine Edmunds	LB	N/A	0	N/A	N/A

Byard recorded his NFL-leading fifth interception of the season, baiting McCarthy into a poor decision targeting Justin Jefferson. The veteran safety read the quarterback’s eyes perfectly, undercutting the route and returning the pick 23 yards to Minnesota’s 25-yard line. The turnover set up a Cairo Santos field goal that extended Chicago’s lead to 10-3.

“Honestly, just taking care of my coverage first but then at that point, get my eyes on the QB,” Byard explained. “Understanding that they were doing a lot of two-man routes when they were in ’21’ personnel with the fullback and the two tight ends. It was basically either run or play-action, two-man routes, so I knew I had my guy covered and at that point, it’s just reading the quarterback’s eyes and making a play.”

Wright delivered the defensive play of the game with a spectacular leaping interception in the end zone just before halftime. The 6-foot-4 cornerback high-pointed McCarthy’s fade intended for Addison, robbing the Vikings of points in a critical moment. The pick held extra significance for Wright, who spent last season on Minnesota’s practice squad before being released in April and signing with Chicago the next day.

“This isn’t the same old Bears,” Byard said postgame, highlighting the team’s NFL-leading plus-16 turnover margin. Chicago forced 22 takeaways against just six giveaways through 10 games, a stunning plus-20 margin over their seven victories.

Minnesota Vikings Defensive Leaders:

Player	Position	Tackles	Sacks	TFLs	Passes Defended
Blake Cashman	LB	15	N/A	N/A	N/A

Cashman led all tacklers with 15 stops, keeping Minnesota competitive despite the offense’s struggles. The Vikings’ defense held Chicago to just 7 of 18 on third-down conversions and generated consistent pressure throughout the afternoon.

Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores blitzed on 66.7 percent of Chicago’s dropbacks, forcing Williams to use his mobility to escape trouble. According to Next Gen Stats, Williams completed 11 of 21 passes for 121 yards when blitzed and was sacked just once against Minnesota’s aggressive scheme.

Special Teams Game Changers

Special teams ultimately decided this contest in the final minute, providing the game’s most dramatic moments.

Kicking Statistics:

Kicker	Team	FG Made	FG Attempts	Long	XP Made	XP Attempts
Cairo Santos	CHI	4	5	48	1	1
Will Reichard	MIN	1	1	31	2	2

Santos made up for missing a 45-yard attempt with 8:08 remaining by converting the game-winner as the clock hit zero. The veteran kicker kept the Bears in the game with four field goals, including kicks from 38, 41, and 35 yards before the dramatic finale.

Return Statistics:

Returner	Team	Type	Returns	Yards	Long	TDs
Devin Duvernay	CHI	KR	1	56	56	0
Myles Price	MIN	PR	1	43	43	0

Duvernay provided the play that set up Santos’ winning kick. After Minnesota took a 17-16 lead, the two-time Pro Bowl returner fielded the kickoff at Chicago’s 4-yard line and exploded up the left sideline for 56 yards. The return gave the Bears possession at Minnesota’s 40 with 50 seconds remaining, putting them in immediate field goal range.

“Lotta green grass,” Duvernay said after the game. “My eyes lit up. It was a moment to make a play.”

Josh Blackwell served as Duvernay’s lead blocker on the return, kicking out Tavierre Thomas at the 25-yard line to create the lane. Williams predicted before kickoff that Duvernay would make an impact, and the returner delivered in the clutch.

Price gave Minnesota life with a 43-yard punt return to Chicago’s 24-yard line early in the fourth quarter. The explosive play set up Mason’s touchdown run two plays later, cutting the Bears’ lead to 16-10.

Situational Statistics and Third Down Efficiency

Third-down conversions proved critical in this defensive battle, with both offenses struggling to sustain drives.

Team	Third Down Conv	Third Down Attempts	Percentage	Fourth Down Conv	Fourth Down Attempts
Chicago Bears	7	18	38.9%	N/A	N/A
Minnesota Vikings	N/A	N/A	N/A	1	1

Chicago converted just seven of 18 third-down opportunities, but those conversions came at crucial moments. The Bears sustained an eight-minute, 15-play touchdown drive in the second quarter that included three third-down conversions, taking control of field position and momentum.

McCarthy and the Vikings were 0 for 8 on third down before finally converting late in the game. The struggles on third down kept Minnesota from establishing any offensive rhythm until the final drive, when McCarthy completed all five passes to move the chains and score.

Time of Possession and Red Zone Performance

Ball control played a significant role in Chicago’s ability to control this game for three quarters.

Team	Time of Possession	Red Zone Trips	Red Zone TDs	Red Zone FGs	Red Zone Efficiency
Chicago Bears	N/A	1	0	4+	N/A
Minnesota Vikings	N/A	2	2	1	N/A

The Bears dominated field position through three quarters but couldn’t punch the ball into the end zone. Chicago settled for four Cairo Santos field goals, failing to capitalize on their red zone opportunities with touchdowns.

Minnesota’s offense finally found pay dirt in the fourth quarter with Mason’s rushing touchdown, then added Addison’s late score that briefly gave them the lead. The Vikings went 2 for 2 on red zone touchdowns when they finally reached scoring position.

Turnover Battle and Momentum Shifts

The turnover margin proved decisive in this two-point game, with Chicago’s defense coming through in crucial moments.

Turnover Summary:

Team	Turnovers	INTs Thrown	Fumbles Lost	Takeaways	Plus/Minus
Chicago Bears	0	0	0	2	+2
Minnesota Vikings	2	2	0	0	-2

Williams protected the football for another week, giving him zero turnovers in the contest and extending Chicago’s season-long dominance in ball security. The Bears improved to 5-0 in games where they force at least two turnovers.

McCarthy’s two interceptions came at devastating moments. Byard’s pick set up Chicago’s second field goal, extending the lead to 10-3. Wright’s end zone interception prevented Minnesota from cutting into the deficit before halftime, a crucial seven-point swing.

The Bears entered the game with an NFL-leading plus-16 turnover margin, having forced 22 takeaways against just six giveaways. That ratio improved to plus-18 after Sunday’s performance.

Key Matchup: Williams vs McCarthy

The quarterback duel between former top-10 picks told two different stories of young signal callers at different stages of development.

Williams, drafted first overall by Chicago in 2024, showed why the Bears view him as their franchise cornerstone. Despite modest statistical production, he made winning plays while avoiding catastrophic mistakes. The former USC star used his mobility to escape pressure, scrambling four times for 26 yards and extending plays when Minnesota’s blitz packages collapsed the pocket.

“The belief that we’ve grown within the locker room is what changed,” Williams said. “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.”

McCarthy, selected 10th overall by Minnesota in the same draft, struggled with accuracy and decision-making for three quarters. The former Michigan national champion completed just 11 of 27 passes before his final-drive heroics. He threw into tight coverage against Byard on the first interception and forced a fade to Addison that Wright intercepted in the end zone.

Playing with a wrap on his throwing hand after injuring it in the previous week’s game, McCarthy acknowledged that mechanical issues contributed to his struggles. Pressure from Grady Jarrett prevented him from setting his feet properly on the Byard interception, highlighting the challenges young quarterbacks face against elite defensive fronts.

Game-Winning Drive Breakdown

Chicago’s final possession showcased their ability to execute under pressure, with multiple players making crucial contributions.

Drive Summary:

• Starting Field Position: Minnesota 40 (after Duvernay’s 56-yard return)
• Time Remaining: 50 seconds
• Plays: 3 runs by D’Andre Swift
• Result: 48-yard field goal by Cairo Santos as time expired

After Duvernay’s explosive return gave Chicago excellent field position, the Bears handed off three consecutive times to Swift. The veteran running back gained nine yards on the sequence, moving the ball from the 40 to the 31-yard line and positioning Santos for a makeable kick.

Ben Johnson called timeout with four seconds remaining, allowing Santos to set up for the game-winner. The kick stayed inside the left upright, sending Chicago’s sideline into celebration and dropping Minnesota to 4-6.

“We’ve just kind of cycled around on who’s stepping up to the plate and getting us the win,” Johnson said. “I think that’s what good teams do.”

Statistical Context and Season Implications

The minnesota vikings vs chicago bears match player stats reveal deeper trends that will shape both teams’ playoff pursuits.

For Chicago, this marked their third consecutive victory and seventh win in 10 games. The Bears improved to 5-1 in one-score games after going just 3-7 in such contests last season. They’re also 3-0 in games decided by two points or fewer, showcasing their ability to execute in crunch time.

Williams set a Bears franchise record with his fifth game-winning drive of the season. The second-year quarterback has orchestrated more game-winning drives than any player in team history through their first two seasons.

Minnesota’s loss extended their skid to four defeats in five games, dropping them below .500 at 4-6. The Vikings’ playoff hopes took a major hit with the home loss, particularly given McCarthy’s struggles. He’s now thrown eight interceptions in just five career starts while posting a 47.7 passer rating against Chicago.

The Bears’ defense has now generated multiple takeaways in six games this season, directly correlating with their success. Chicago pushed their NFL-leading turnover margin to plus-16, with 22 takeaways against just six giveaways.

Both teams face critical upcoming matchups that will define their seasons. Chicago hosts Pittsburgh next Sunday, while Minnesota travels to Green Bay for a divisional showdown that could determine their playoff viability.

Final Thoughts

This defensive battle exemplified the type of gritty, low-scoring contests that define NFC North rivalry games. The minnesota vikings vs chicago bears match player stats showed two young quarterbacks taking different paths, with Williams protecting the football while McCarthy fought through accuracy issues and costly turnovers.

Cairo Santos’ game-winning kick capped another dramatic Bears victory, extending their remarkable run in close games under first-year head coach Ben Johnson. Devin Duvernay’s clutch return, Kevin Byard’s ball-hawking instincts, and Nahshon Wright’s spectacular end zone interception all contributed to a team win built on complementary football.

For Minnesota, questions about McCarthy’s development will intensify during the bye week. At 4-6 with playoff hopes fading, the Vikings must evaluate whether their young quarterback can show enough improvement to remain the starter moving forward.

The Bears’ emergence as NFC North contenders continues, with their 7-3 record putting them in position to compete for the division title. Their ability to win tight games, force turnovers, and execute in crunch time has transformed them from perennial also-rans into legitimate playoff threats.

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