The Minnesota Vikings got second-half touchdown runs from Aaron Jones and Cam Akers and another stout defensive effort in Monday's 30-12 victory over the reeling Chicago Bears, a win that created a first-place tie atop the NFC North.

Minnesota (12-2) matched the Detroit Lions for the division's best record with its seventh consecutive win, with both teams also tied with the Philadelphia Eagles atop the conference standings. The Vikings will face the Lions in Detroit in the regular-season finale on Jan. 5.

Jones rushed for 86 yards on 18 carries, while the Vikings held the Bears to 1 of 12 on third downs and did not surrender a touchdown until deep into the fourth quarter. 

The defence also forced a key fumble when Jonathan Greenard sacked Chicago quarterback Caleb WIlliams in the first quarter, a turnover that set up Sam Darnold's 7-yard touchdown pass to Justin Jefferson which gave Minnesota a 10–0 lead less than 10 minutes in. 

Jefferson recorded 73 yards on seven catches, while Darnold completed 24 of 40 passes for 231 yards with one interception.

FINAL: The @Vikings win their SEVENTH STRAIGHT! #CHIvsMIN pic.twitter.com/Nb53q5tBfa

— NFL (@NFL) December 17, 2024

Williams went an eighth straight game without throwing an interception, but the rookie largely struggled in the eighth consecutive loss for Chicago (4-10). The 2024 No. 1 overall pick ended with 191 yards and a touchdown on 18-of-31 passing.

The Bears didn't get on the board until Cairo Santos' 29-yard field goal midway through the third quarter, after the Vikings had built a 13-0 half-time lead on Jefferson's touchdown and two Will Reichard field goals.

Minnesota responded with a 12-play, 70-yard drive capped by Jones' 1-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter. After Santos knocked in a 39-yard field goal with 13 minutes left, the Vikings found the end zone again via a 7-play, 70-yard march that Akers finished with a 1-yard touchdown that made the score 27-6 with 10:14 to go.

The Bears' lone touchdown, a 16-yard pass from Williams to Keenan Allen that was followed by a failed 2-point try, came with 5:19 left to play. Allen ended with 82 yards on six catches.

 

Falcons hold off last-place Raiders to end losing skid

Kirk Cousins stopped a four-game stretch without a touchdown pass with a first-quarter strike to Drake London, and the Atlanta Falcons picked up a much-needed victory by holding on for a 15-9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.

Jessie Bates intercepted former Falcon Desmond Ridder's desperation heave into the end zone as time expired to seal the outcome and halt a four-game losing streak for Atlanta (7-7), which trails the first-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers by one game in the NFC South.

The Falcons prevailed despite another shaky performance from Cousins, who managed just 112 yards on 11-of-17 passing and threw his ninth interception in five games.

Atlanta did receive a strong effort from running back Bijan Robinson, however, as the second-year back rushed for 125 yards on 22 carries.

Ridder, starting in place of an injured Aidan O'Connell, threw for 208 yards and brought the Raiders within 15-9 with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Ameer Abdullah with 2:54 left.

The third-year quarterback, who was drafted by Atlanta in 2022 and made 13 starts for the Falcons last season, then moved Las Vegas (2-12) to the Falcons' 35-yard line in the final seconds before his second interception of the night sent the Raiders to a 10th straight loss.

FINAL: The @AtlantaFalcons leaving Vegas with a dub! #ATLvsLV pic.twitter.com/xrfKvzq8oA

— NFL (@NFL) December 17, 2024

Cousins' 30-yard pass to London with 14 seconds left in the first quarter accounted for the lone points of the opening period. After the Raiders got on the board with Daniel Carlson's 52-yard field goal early in the second, the Falcons took a 9-3 edge into half-time after defensive lineman Zach Harrison stuffed a running play in the end zone for a safety.

Two Younghoe Kim field goals extended Atlanta's lead to 15-3 before Ridder led a nine-play, 63-yard drive ending in his short touchdown pass to Abdullah, who led Las Vegas with seven catches totalling 58 yards.  The Falcons blocked the extra point attempt, however.