MINNEAPOLIS — Like many of his teammates, linebacker Roquan Smith rued the bad start that put the Bears in a hole — three touchdowns on the Vikings’ first three drives.
But in the end, the Bears’ defense was where it wanted to be — on the field in the fourth quarter with momentum, a one-point lead to protect and a chance to put the hammer down. This isn’t a great defense, but second-half stops are what it does best.
“We had the game where we wanted,” Smith said.
But after having stopped the once-potent Vikings offense on four consecutive drives — a punt, a missed field goal, a blocked field goal and a Kindle Vildor interception — the Bears’ defense lost its touch.