CHICAGO -- So many times in the Minnesota Vikings' losing streak at Soldier Field -- which was at seven games -- they haven't had quarterback play good enough to finish off winnable games against the Chicago Bears.
That might have been true again on Sunday. But now, the Vikings have Stefon Diggs.
When Teddy Bridgewater most needed a play on Sunday, he bought himself time and found Diggs in the middle of the field. The rookie did the rest, making a slick move, racing down the sideline and carrying a defender into the end zone for a game-tying 40-yard catch. Diggs finished with six catches for 95 yards in the Vikings' 23-20 win, and picked up Bridgewater in what had been one of the quarterback's poorest games.
The Vikings need Bridgewater to be better than this, and he made some mistakes on Sunday that nearly cost them. But it looks like they might have a star in the making in Diggs, and their losing streak at Soldier Field is over largely because of the play he made.
What it means: The Vikings are 5-2 after their comeback win, and they're 3-0 in the division. They're in prime position for a wild-card spot in a mediocre NFC, and though they've got a tough home game coming up against the St. Louis Rams, they saved a win late on Sunday in Chicago.
One reason to get excited: Coach Mike Zimmer said this week that Linval Joseph might be the best nose tackle he's ever had, and Joseph once again was a monster in the middle of the Vikings' defensive line. On a key drive in the middle of the fourth quarter, he made two stops on runs that went for 1 and 2 yards, respectively, and drilled Jay Cutler to force an overthrow. In the second year of his five-year contract, Joseph looks like a fixture in the defense.
One reason to panic: Bridgewater has struggled to stack good games together this year, and after one of his best days of the season last week in Detroit, he struggled against the Bears. His interception at the end of the first half was a forced pass to Diggs, and Bridgewater overthrew Mike Wallace on what should have been an easy touchdown in the third quarter. Give him credit for making a few big plays late in the game to pull it out, but the Vikings can't make a playoff run if Bridgewater isn't consistently better than he was Sunday.
What were they thinking? The Vikings decided not to put Xavier Rhodes on Alshon Jeffery, and Cutler spent much of the second half looking for his best receiver. On one series in the third quarter, Cutler threw four passes to Jeffery while he was matched up on Terence Newman, including one that went for a 28-yard gain.
Fantasy watch: Adrian Peterson had 75 yards on 14 carries at halftime, but didn't get much work in the second half, when the Bears held the ball for long stretches. He surpassed the 100-yard mark on his final carry of the game, setting up Blair Walsh's game-winning field goal.
Ouch: Right tackle T.J. Clemmings left late in the third quarter with a stinger and was replaced by fellow rookie Austin Shepherd, who to that point had only played as an extra lineman in the Vikings' heavy packages. Defensive end Everson Griffen also left with an injury in the fourth quarter.
Sherels shines: Punt returner Marcus Sherels followed a wall of blockers for a 65-yard punt return touchdown that put the Vikings up 7-3 in the first quarter. It was the third of Sherels' career, setting a team record, and was his first since Oct. 21, 2013.