Sporting Sota
FanSided

Vikings' Special Teams Unit Unsung Hero in Week 1 Win Over Bears

Minnesota's special teams unit came up clutch when the Vikings needed it most.

By Michael Bohlin

Minnesota Vikings tight end Bryson Nesbit (46) celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Myles Price (31) during the third quarter of an NFL pre-season game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 22, 2025.
Minnesota Vikings tight end Bryson Nesbit (46) celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Myles Price (31) during the third quarter of an NFL pre-season game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. / Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
facebooktwitterreddit

The Minnesota Vikings looked dead in the water at times against the Chicago Bears, but they battled for four quarters and came away with a 27-24 victory over their NFC North rival at Soldier Field on Monday Night Football.

While the bulk of the headlines will be focused on the NFL debut of J.J. McCarthy, and rightfully so after accounting for three total touchdowns in the win, it was the play of the special teams unit that really shifted the tide for the Vikings in Week 1.

Vikings' Special Teams Unit Was Difference-Maker in Win Over Bears

Minnesota got the job done in the return game throughout the night to help the offense get off on the right foot. Their impact on the game did not stop there, however. The special teams unit also blocked a punt, which led to the game-winning touchdown drive. They also helped cause a missed field goal by Cairo Santos to close the third quarter, which would have put Chicago up 20-6 had he converted.

The most important special teams play of the night may have come in the final two minutes of play. With Chicago having one timeout in its back pocket, and the two-minute warning as the only other means of stopping the clock, Kevin O'Connell emphatically called for Ty Chandler to return the kickoff Santos boomed into the end zone to ensure that they would bleed enough clock to get under that two-minute mark.

If Santos had kicked the ball out of the end zone, or Chandler had taken a knee, the Bears could have stopped the clock two times before Minnesota would have had to decide on just how much trust they had in McCarthy to pick up a third down and ice the game.

In the end, thanks to O'Connell's coaching and Chandler having the foresight to look toward the sidelines for guidance from his coaches, this was not a scenario the Vikings had to face, and it helped Minnesota pick up a season-opening win on the road against a hated rival.

More Minnesota Vikings News and Rumors:

feed

Home/Minnesota Vikings