Bears sneak past Vikings

MINNEAPOLIS – The Chicago Bears and their defense are still in charge of the NFC North for now.

After a rough afternoon against a suddenly stingy Minnesota defense, Rex Grossman threw a 24-yard touchdown to Rashied Davis right after the 2-minute warning, rallying the Bears past the Vikings 19-16 on Sunday.

Antoine Winfield returned one of Grossman’s two interceptions for a fourth-quarter touchdown, and Ryan Longwell’s third field goal with 7:27 remaining gave Minnesota a 16-12 edge. But Grossman came through with his first career fourth-quarter scoring pass after Chester Taylor lost a fumble with 3 1/2 minutes left, and Adewale Ogunleye recovered at the Vikings’ 37-yard line.

This was the first win at the Metrodome since 2001 for the Bears, who committed 10 penalties for 82 yards and looked very beatable up until the end. Robbie Gould kept them in it by kicking four field goals.

The Vikings (2-1) got the ball back with 1:45 left, but they failed to convert a first down. Brad Johnson’s heave on fourth-and-2 at his own 46, with Ogunleye in his face, was thrown well past Troy Williamson up the sideline.

Grossman completed 23 of 41 passes for 278 yards and a touchdown and Muhsin Muhammad caught nine balls for 118 yards for Chicago.