Bears–Vikings rivalry

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Bears–Vikings rivalry
Chicago at Minnesota.jpg
Bears and Vikings face off during the 2012 season.
Chicago Bears wordmark.svg
Chicago Bears
Minnesota Vikings wordmark.svg
Minnesota Vikings
Location Chicago, Minneapolis
First meeting September 17, 1961
Vikings 37, Bears 13 [1]
Latest meetingDecember 16, 2024
Vikings 30, Bears 12 [1]
Next meetingSeptember 8, 2025
StadiumsBears: Soldier Field
Vikings: U.S. Bank Stadium
Statistics
Meetings total127 [1]
All-time seriesVikings: 68–58–2 [1]
Regular season seriesVikings: 68–57–2 [1]
Postseason resultsBears: 1–0 [1]
Largest victoryBears: 34–3 (1984), 38–7 (1989)
Vikings: 31–0 (1969) [1]
Most points scoredBears: 52 (1961)
Vikings: 48 (1998) [1]
Longest win streakBears: 6 (1983–1986, 2009–2012)
Vikings: 8 (1972–1976) [1]
Current win streakVikings: 2 (2024–present) [1]
Post-season history [1]
Bears-Vikings rivalry
Transparent.svg
Transparent.svg
210km
130miles
Purple pog.svg
Vikings
Orange pog.svg
Bears
Location of the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings

The Bears–Vikings rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings.

Contents

The rivalry began in the 1961, when the Vikings joined the NFL as an expansion team and were placed in the NFL Western Conference, alongside the Bears. The Vikings' inaugural game as a franchise took place in Minnesota against the Bears, culminating in a Vikings' victory. As members of the NFC North, these two teams face each other at least twice annually.

The Vikings lead the overall series, 68–58–2. The two teams have met once in the playoffs, with the Bears winning. [1]

Notable moments

Season-by-season results

Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings Season-by-Season Results [1]
1960s (Bears, 11–5–2)
SeasonSeason seriesat Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings Overall seriesNotes
1961 Tie 1–1Bears
52–35
Vikings
37–13
Tie
1–1
Vikings join the National Football League (NFL) as an expansion team. They are placed in the NFL Western Conference, resulting in two meetings annually with the Bears.
Game in Minnesota was the Vikings' inaugural game as a franchise.
In Chicago, Bears score their most points in a game against the Vikings.
1962 Bears 2–0Bears
31–30
Bears
13–0
Bears
3–1
1963 Bears 1–0–1Tie
17–17
Bears
28–7
Bears
4–1–1
1964 Tie 1–1Vikings
41–14
Bears
34–28
Bears
5–2–1
1965 Tie 1–1Vikings
24–17
Bears
45–37
Bears
6–3–1
1966 Bears 2–0Bears
41–28
Bears
13–10
Bears
8–3–1
1967 Bears 1–0–1Tie
10–10
Bears
17–7
Bears
9–3–2
As a result of expansion, the two eight-team divisions became two eight-team conferences split into two divisions, with the Bears and Vikings placed in the NFL Central division.
1968 Bears 2–0Bears
26–24
Bears
27–17
Bears
11–3–2
1969 Vikings 2–0Vikings
31–0
Vikings
31–14
Bears
11–5–2
In Chicago, Vikings record their largest victory against the Bears with a 31–point differential.
Vikings win 1969 NFL Championship, but lose Super Bowl IV.
1970s (Vikings, 15–5)
SeasonSeason seriesat Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings Overall seriesNotes
1970 Vikings 2–0Vikings
24–0
Vikings
16–13
Bears
11–7–2
As a result of the AFL–NFL merger, the Bears and Vikings are placed in the NFC Central (later renamed to the NFC North in the 2002 season).
1971 Tie 1–1Vikings
27–10
Bears
20–17
Bears
12–8–2
Bears open Soldier Field.
1972 Tie 1–1Bears
13–10
Vikings
23–10
Bears
13–9–2
1973 Vikings 2–0Vikings
22–13
Vikings
31–13
Bears
13–11–2
Vikings lose Super Bowl VIII.
1974 Vikings 2–0Vikings
17–0
Vikings
11–7
Tie
13–13–2
Last season the Bears held the overall series lead.
Vikings lose Super Bowl IX.
1975 Vikings 2–0Vikings
13–9
Vikings
28–3
Vikings
15–13–2
Vikings take the overall series lead.
1976 Tie 1–1Bears
14–13
Vikings
20–19
Vikings
16–14–2
Vikings win 8 straight meetings (1972–1976).
Vikings lose Super Bowl XI.
1977 Tie 1–1Bears
10–7
Vikings
22–16 (OT)
Vikings
17–15–2
Both teams finished with 9–5 records, but the Vikings clinched the NFC Central based on a better point differential in their head-to-head meetings.
1978 Vikings 2–0Vikings
24–20
Vikings
17–14
Vikings
19–15–2
1979 Tie 1–1Bears
26–7
Vikings
30–27
Vikings
20–16–2
1980s (Bears, 10–9)
SeasonSeason seriesat Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings Overall seriesNotes
1980 Vikings 2–0Vikings
34–14
Vikings
13–7
Vikings
22–16–2
1981 Tie 1–1Bears
10–9
Vikings
24–21
Vikings
23–17–2
1982 Vikings 1–0canceledVikings
35–7
Vikings
24–17–2
Due to the 1982 NFL players' strike, the game scheduled in Chicago was canceled.
Vikings move to Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.
Vikings win 11 straight home meetings (1972–1982).
1983 Tie 1–1Vikings
23–14
Bears
19–13
Vikings
25–18–2
1984 Bears 2–0Bears
16–7
Bears
34–3
Vikings
25–20–2
In Minnesota, Bears record their largest victory against the Vikings with a 31–point differential.
Bears' first season series sweep against the Vikings since the 1968 season.
1985 Bears 2–0Bears
27–9
Bears
33–24
Vikings
25–22–2
Bears win Super Bowl XX.
1986 Tie 1–1Bears
23–0
Vikings
23–7
Vikings
26–23–2
Vikings' win ended the Bears' 11-game winning streak against divisional opponents and handed them their first loss of the season after a 6–0 start.
1987 Bears 2–0Bears
27–7
Bears
30–24
Vikings
26–25–2
1988 Vikings 2–0Vikings
31–7
Vikings
28–27
Vikings
28–25–2
Vikings' win in Chicago snapped the Bears' 12-game home division winning streak.
1989 Tie 1–1Bears
38–7
Vikings
27–16
Vikings
29–26–2
In Chicago, Bears tie their largest victory against the Vikings with a 31–point differential.
1990s (Vikings, 13–8)
SeasonSeason seriesat Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings Overall seriesNotes
1990 Tie 1–1Bears
19–16
Vikings
41–13
Vikings
30–27–2
1991 Bears 2–0Bears
10–6
Bears
34–17
Vikings
30–29–2
1992 Vikings 2–0Vikings
38–10
Vikings
21–20
Vikings
32–29–2
In Minnesota, Vikings overcame a 20–0 deficit in the fourth quarter.
1993 Vikings 2–0Vikings
19–12
Vikings
10–7
Vikings
34–29–2
1994 Vikings 2–0Vikings
42–14
Vikings
33–27 (OT)
Vikings
36–29–2
1994 Playoffs Bears 1–0Bears
35–18
Vikings
36–30–2
NFC Wild Card Round.
1995 Bears 2–0Bears
31–14
Bears
14–6
Vikings
36–32–2
1996 Tie 1–1Vikings
20–14
Bears
15–13
Vikings
37–33–2
1997 Vikings 2–0Vikings
27–24
Vikings
29–22
Vikings
39–33–2
1998 Vikings 2–0Vikings
31–28
Vikings
48–22
Vikings
41–33–2
In Minnesota, Vikings score their most points in a game against the Bears.
1999 Tie 1–1Vikings
27–24 (OT)
Bears
24–22
Vikings
42–34–2
2000s (Tied, 10–10)
SeasonSeason seriesat Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings Overall seriesNotes
2000 Vikings 2–0Vikings
28–16
Vikings
30–27
Vikings
44–34–2
2001 Bears 2–0Bears
17–10
Bears
13–6
Vikings
44–36–2
2002 Tie 1–1Bears
27–23
Vikings
25–7
Vikings
45–37–2
Due to Soldier Field undergoing renovations, Bears' home game was played at Memorial Stadium in Champaign.
2003 Tie 1–1Bears
13–10
Vikings
24–13
Vikings
46–38–2
2004 Tie 1–1Bears
24–14
Vikings
27–22
Vikings
47–39–2
2005 Tie 1–1Bears
28–3
Vikings
34–10
Vikings
48–40–2
2006 Bears 2–0Bears
23–13
Bears
19–16
Vikings
48–42–2
Bears lose Super Bowl XLI.
2007 Vikings 2–0Vikings
34–31
Vikings
20–13
Vikings
50–42–2
2008 Tie 1–1Bears
48–41
Vikings
34–14
Vikings
51–43–2
Game in Chicago is the highest-scoring game in the series and the 20th highest-scoring game in NFL history (89 points).
2009 Tie 1–1Bears
36–30(OT)
Vikings
36–10
Vikings
52–44–2
2010s (Bears, 12–8)
SeasonSeason seriesat Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings Overall seriesNotes
2010 Bears 2–0Bears
27–13
Bears
40–14
Vikings
52–46–2
Game in Minneapolis moved to TCF Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota due to damage to the Metrodome's roof.
2011 Bears 2–0Bears
39–10
Bears
17–13
Vikings
52–48–2
2012 Tie 1–1Bears
28–10
Vikings
21–14
Vikings
53–49–2
Both teams finished with 10–6 records, but the Vikings clinched the final playoff berth based on a better divisional record, eliminating the Bears from playoff contention.
2013 Tie 1–1Bears
31–30
Vikings
23–20(OT)
Vikings
54–50–2
2014 Tie 1–1Bears
21–13
Vikings
13–9
Vikings
55–51–2
Vikings move to TCF Bank Stadium.
2015 Vikings 2–0Vikings
23–20
Vikings
38–17
Vikings
57–51–2
2016 Tie 1–1Bears
20–10
Vikings
38–10
Vikings
58–52–2
Vikings open U.S. Bank Stadium.
2017 Vikings 2–0Vikings
20–17
Vikings
23–10
Vikings
60–52–2
2018 Bears 2–0Bears
25–20
Bears
24–10
Vikings
60–54–2
In Minnesota, Bears' win, coupled with an Eagles' win against the Redskins, resulted in the Vikings being eliminated from playoff contention.
2019 Bears 2–0Bears
16–6
Bears
21–19
Vikings
60–56–2
2020s (Vikings, 8–2)
SeasonSeason seriesat Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings Overall seriesNotes
2020 Tie 1–1Vikings
19–13
Bears
33–27
Vikings
61–57–2
2021 Vikings 2–0Vikings
17–9
Vikings
31–17
Vikings
63–57–2
2022 Vikings 2–0Vikings
29–13
Vikings
29–22
Vikings
65–57–2
In Chicago, Bears' loss clinched them the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft.
2023 Tie 1–1Vikings
19–13
Bears
12–10
Vikings
66–58–2
2024 Vikings 2–0Vikings
30–27(OT)
Vikings
30–12
Vikings
68–58–2
Summary of results
SeasonSeason seriesat Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings Notes
Regular seasonVikings 68–57–2Bears 33–28–2Vikings 40–24
PostseasonBears 1–0no gamesBears 1–0NFC Wild Card: 1994
Regular and postseasonVikings 68–58–2Bears 33–28–2Vikings 40–25Bears are 1–0 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign (2002), accounted for as a Bears' home game.

Players that played for both teams

NamePos.Years with BearsYears with Vikings
Jared Allen DE2014–20152008–2013
D'Wayne Bates WR1999–20012002–2003
Bill Brown RB19611962-1974
Bob Grim WR19751967–1971, 1976–1977
Mike Hartenstine DE1975–19861987
Alan Page DT1978–19811967–1978
Jim McMahon QB1982-19881993
Robert Green RB1993–19961997
Chester TaylorRB20102006–2009
Corey Wootton DE2010–20132014
Cordarrelle Patterson WR/RB/RS2019–20202013–2016
Ihmir Smith-Marsette WR20222021
Duke Shelley CB2019–20212022
Yannick Ngakoue DE20232020

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "All Matchups, Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings". Pro Football Reference.
  2. "Bears shocked Pack with late free kick". Chicagobears.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  3. "Bears, Vikings renew rivalry". Rome News-Tribune. September 19, 1985. Retrieved October 21, 2023 via Google News.
  4. Copeland, Kareem (April 23, 2013). "Brett Favre: Final play was first time I was knocked out". NFL. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  5. "Vikings outlast Bears on Blair Walsh's game-winning overtime FG". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 1, 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
  6. Neveau, James (December 30, 2018). "Bears Beat Vikings to Finish Off Remarkable Regular Season". NBC Chicago. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  7. Strauss, Ben (January 7, 2019). "From 'double doink' to 'no, señor,' the epic soundtrack to a game-losing field goal try". The Washington Post . Retrieved January 7, 2019.