The NFL’s Week 15 concluded with an action-packed Monday Night Football doubleheader as the Minnesota Vikings continued their dominance with a decisive win over the Chicago Bears, while the Atlanta Falcons snapped a losing streak with a gritty victory against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Vikings Cruise Past Bears 30-12, Clinch Playoff Spot
The playoff-bound Minnesota Vikings secured their seventh straight victory, defeating the Chicago Bears 30-12 at US Bank Stadium. With the win, the Vikings improved to 12-2, putting them in a three-way tie with the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles for the best record in the NFC.
The night carried extra significance as the Vikings honored Hall of Famer Randy Moss, who recently announced his cancer diagnosis. Before kickoff, former Vikings receivers Chris Carter and Jake Reed paid tribute to Moss by holding up his iconic #84 jersey during the coin toss. Fans erupted with chants of “Randy! Randy!” as a show of support.
In the first quarter, Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson honored Moss after catching a 7-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Sam Darnold, giving Minnesota a 10-0 lead. Jefferson turned to the camera and said, “We love you, Randy! That’s for you.” After the game, Jefferson reflected on Moss’ impact:
“Grateful for what he has done for this game and what he has done for me as a kid… I always got to show love towards him.”
The Vikings dominated both sides of the ball:
Sam Darnold finished 24-of-40 for 231 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
Justin Jefferson recorded 7 receptions for 73 yards and the tribute touchdown.
Rushing touchdowns by Aaron Jones and Cam Akers helped seal the victory in the second half.
The Bears (4-10) struggled offensively and trailed 13-0 at halftime, ultimately unable to mount a comeback.
Next Up: Minnesota will travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks, while Chicago hosts the Lions.
Falcons Snap Losing Streak, Edge Raiders 15-9
The Atlanta Falcons broke their four-game losing streak with a hard-fought 15-9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Behind a dominant defensive performance and special teams heroics, the Falcons improved to 7-7 and remain second in the NFC South behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6).
The Falcons’ defense proved to be the difference-maker, allowing just one touchdown late in the fourth quarter while forcing three turnovers and blocking two punts.
Head coach Raheem Morris praised his team’s resilience:
“For us to go out there and find a way to win… you gain confidence through getting wins, and I think that’s what our guys did today.”
Key Moments:
Atlanta opened the scoring with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Kirk Cousins to Drake London in the first quarter.
The Raiders capitalized on a Cousins interception early in the second half but were unable to convert the opportunity into points.
Atlanta’s defense forced a quick three-and-out and blocked the ensuing punt, keeping momentum on their side.
Late in the game, the Raiders scored to cut the Falcons’ lead to 15-9, but Atlanta blocked the extra point — their third blocked kick of the night.
The Raiders made a final push with under two minutes remaining, driving to the Falcons’ 35-yard line. However, their hopes ended when Jessie Bates III intercepted a desperation throw as time expired.
The victory keeps the Falcons’ slim playoff hopes alive, with NFL.com giving them a 37% chance of clinching a berth, primarily through the NFC South division title.
Next Up: Atlanta hosts the New York Giants, while the Raiders return home to face the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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