Carson Wentz, Vikings offense slog through the rain to get past Bears and start season 2-0

Andrew Krammer, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Sep 20, 2026

Published in Football

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Minnesota Vikings Receiver Justin Jefferson initially seemed prescient.

During his media session with local reporters last week, Jefferson said “there’s definitely potential to create some big, explosive plays” against a Chicago Bears defense that looked vulnerable in a Week 1 win against Carolina.

Quarterback Carson Wentz’s first pass in Sunday’s 9-3 win at Soldier Field sailed 30 yards to Jefferson’s back shoulder. Jefferson turned just in time to catch the ball as he ran alongside Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson.

But the rest of the game was played on a Slip ‘N Slide.

A snap flew through Wentz’s hands to stall one drive. Jefferson let another pass slip through his hands on another failed possession. The rain kept pouring throughout.

But Wentz, who might as well be 2-0 as the Vikings quarterback after coming off the bench Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers, overcame a sluggish performance with key moments to solidify another NFC North win.

Needing five yards on third down on his team’s final drive, Wentz delivered a strike to receiver Jordan Addison over the middle for 15 yards.

Facing a second-and-10 play, Wentz lofted a perfect touch pass to tight end T.J. Hockenson for another 19 yards.

Those plays moved the chains during a five minute, 12 second drive that helped the Vikings close out the win. Wentz completed 11 of 20 passes for 143 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions.

Jefferson caught just two passes for 25 yards after that opening grab, finishing with three catches for 55 yards.

Running back Aaron Jones Sr.’s tough running in the rain played a big factor.

Coach Kevin O’Connell eventually leaned on Jones with 23 carries for 105 yards, marking Jones’ first 100-yard rushing game since a 2024 matchup against the Bears. Jones muscled his way through multiple big hits, including one by Stevenson that appeared to be helmet-to-helmet contact and drove Jones’ helmet off his head. The play was not flagged.

Jones’ 23 carries were his most since Week 10 of the 2022 season, when he had 24 rushing attempts with the Packers.

The Vikings needed Jones with running back Jordan Mason landing on injured reserve this week with a thumb injury.

The Vikings converted just 3 of 13 third downs, including a stretch in which Wentz took two sacks in the second half.

A third-quarter sack looked like a taste of the Vikings’ own medicine.

The Bears crowded the line of scrimmage with eight defenders and blitzed the Vikings’ weak side (away from the direction the offensive line was sliding) with cornerback Malik Muhammad. The unblocked pressure resulted in an immediate sack and ended a drive that started with a promising 24-yard catch and run by tight end Josh Oliver.

But the Vikings won the turnover battle 2-0, which can’t be overlooked in another close win.

Perhaps Wentz’s best play was falling on that errant snap that went through his hands in the first quarter.

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