The Chicago Bears have somehow carved out a totally respectable 7-3 mid-season record thanks to several surprise late-game rallies, inspired in part by the innovative approach of first-year head coach Ben Johnson.
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Granted, the club's developing young personnel is plenty talented, too.
On Sunday, Chicago pulled off the improbable yet again, rallying from a 16-17 deficit in the closing seconds of a clash with NFC North division rival the Minnesota Vikings to a 19-17 win, thanks to a clutch, 48-yard Cairo Santos field goal with time expiring.
The Bears had led throughout much of the contest, and enjoyed a comfortable 16-3 edge heading into the fourth frame.
But the Vikings would not be denied in that final period. Running back Jordan Mason notched a 16-yard rushing touchdown with 12:33 remaining, and wide receiver Jordan Addison secured a 15-yard pass from quarterback J.J. McCarthy at the 50-second mark. Minnesota kicker Will Reichard nailed the kick for an extra point each time, giving his club the edge late.
A 56-yard Devin Duvernay kickoff return would get Chicago within range of a late field goal and a shot at the win. And the rest is history.
“Man, just a lot of green grass and (my) eyes lit up,” Duvernay said of his big moment afterwards, per Phil Thompson of The Chicago Tribune. “A moment to make a play.”
Thompson notes that head coach Ben Johnson awarded Duvernay with one of the club's game balls for the return.
“We absolutely needed that,” Johnson said. “He had been waiting for one of those. He’s come really close a number of times and then he was able to capture it on the bounce there and got us right there on the cuff of field goal range."
The come-from-behind victory marked Chicago's fifth rally in a game's fourth quarter so far this season, according to Thompson.
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