Before overtime, the Vikings scored three touchdowns on six tries against the Bears’ best red zone defense in 30-27 overtime victory Sunday in Chicago. Sam Darnold went 4-for-4 on three different targets for 21 yards, a first down, two touchdowns and a sack, allowed by backup left tackle David Quessenberry. After losing a fumble at the 1 on the opening possession, Aaron Jones carried nine more times into the red zone for 13 yards and a 2-yard touchdown that was the first rushing touchdown of the second half by a running back. Vikings ball in 27 games.

Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was more dangerous under pressure than with time to throw. Under pressure, he completed two of three passes for 31 yards, rolling right for a 30-yard strike to D’Andre Swift and a 1-yard TD to Keenan Allen. Under pressure, Williams ran four times for 31 yards, including first downs on third-and-8 from his 4-yard line and fourth-and-4 in the red zone. Williams completed 10 of 17 passes on third and fourth down for 77 yards and five first downs. The Vikings were better when they chose to drop back a bit, play in coverage, and spy it with Blake Cashman. Five of Williams’ misses on third and fourth downs came when he wasn’t under pressure. A terrible throw on third-and-9 was almost intercepted, and a bad throw on fourth-and-4 had interim offensive coordinator Thomas Brown literally jumping out of his chair in the press box.

Targeted just five times that counted, Justin Jefferson caught his first pass for 7 yards with 5:43 left in the first half and his only other pass for 20 yards on the game-winning drive in overtime. But the NFL’s best receiver still made a huge impact. the best distraction in the leagueespecially in the red zone. He assessed a 35-yard pass interference penalty down to the 6. He occupied two defenders to allow Jordan Addison to beat tight man coverage on his 2-yard touchdown run. On Jalen Nailor’s 5-yard TD run, set up by 35-yard pass interference, Jefferson was already doubled into the end zone on Nailor’s side when cornerback Jaylon Johnson also shaded toward Jefferson, giving to Nailor an uncontested catch inside the 5. Jefferson also drew double coverage to pave the way for Addison’s 7-yard catch on third-and-5 at the 10.

Vikings special teams coordinator Matt Daniels has some explaining to do when he speaks to the media on Tuesday. An onside kick must travel 10 yards for the kicking team to recover unless the ball touches a member of the receiving team. Why then was Johnny Mundt 8 yards away, head down, blocking when the ball hit his leg and the Bears recovered with 21 seconds left in regulation? Until then, NFL teams had gone 0 for 9 on onside kicks under the new rules this season. The Bears, of course, had their own special teams. Peewee leaguers know when to avoid punts they can’t field. DeAndre Carter apparently forgot a punt in the third quarter that gave the Vikings a 15-yard touchdown and a 24-10 lead.

Kevin O’Connell has won a sixth challenge in his last seven attempts. And that could have won the game. The score was tied 7-7 in the second quarter when his red flag just beat the Bears’ attempt to run another play. Keenan Allen’s 24-yard catch to the Vikings’ 6-yard line was overturned, so as his right foot landed out of bounds. The Bears settled for a field goal attempt that was blocked. Six plays later, the Vikings led 14-7 and never found themselves trailing again. O’Connell is 12-7 in challenges in his career. He was 6-5 before this season.

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