On the first play of the fourth quarter at Soldier Field, the Chicago Bears seemed to be in complete control of their Monday Night Football matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Caleb Williams looked sharp early. Dennis Allen's defense was dominating. And kicker Cairo Santos was lining up for a field goal and a two-touchdown lead.
Santos' 50-yard field goal sailed wide right. And then everything went way wrong.
What once was almost a 20-6 lead improbably deteriorated into a nightmarish fourth quarter in a soul-crushing 27-24 loss to the hated Vikings.
MORE: Bears' QB Caleb Williams sends message to Vikings with Brian Urlacher jersey
On a night filled with early teases and gigantic momentum swings, some early winners - like the Bears - ultimately turned into losers.
WINNERS
Nashson Wright - the cornerback was torched early for a 42-yard interference penalty, but recovered to step in front of Justin Jefferson for a 74-yard Pick Six that seemed to put the Bears in control up 17-6 in the third quarter.
Nahshon Wright picks off McCarthy and takes it to the house!
— NFL (@NFL) September 9, 2025
MINvsCHI on ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/TAkwfZqzPY
Dayo Odeyingbo - The defensive end set the edge on running plays, had a sack of Vikings' quarterback J.J. McCarthy and lived in Minnesota's backfield the first three quarters.
Caleb Williams - See below because we know what you're thinking. But on display at times was definitely good Caleb. He completed his first 10 passes. He ran for a touchdown. He threw for a touchdown. He didn't commit a turnover. He used his legs to extend plays and took only two sacks.
MORE: Caleb Williams makes emphatic statement with opening drive against the Vikings
LOSERS
Ben Johnson - For all the hype and hope, the Bears' offense was predictable and - for most of the game - not productive. 0 gadget plays. 12 penalties.
Caleb Williams - Mixed in with the good, he at times looked awful. He missed wide-open receivers, including receiver D.J. Moore for what should have been a walk-in touchdown. When the Vikings took control, the offense failed on six consecutive third-down plays.
MORE: Jaylon Johnson fill-in shocks Vikings with 74-yard Pick Six to stretch Bears' lead
Dennis Allen - Injury-depleted and worn down, his defense that dominated for three quarters completely ran out of gas and allowed touchdowns on three consecutive possessions in the fourth to help cough up an 11-point lead.
JJ MCCARTHY LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
— NFL (@NFL) September 9, 2025
MINvsCHI on ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/BfEqGXT2jg
Cairo Santos - A 50-yarder is by no means a chip-shot, but his field-goal attempt to start the fourth quarter felt like it could have buried the Vikings. Instead, his miss energized them.
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