CHICAGO (AP) — Corey Fuller knew Fabien Bownes’ moves in the end zone as well as the Chicago Bears receiver did. Actually, he knew them a little better, because Fuller ended up with the ball.
Fuller intercepted what would have been a touchdown, and Randy Moss and Cris Carter had TD receptions in the second half Sunday as the Minnesota Vikings (4-0) rallied for a 31-28 victory over the Bears.
“They were in a position to kick a field goal, which means we would have had to score a touchdown to tie it up,” Vikings coach Dennis Green said. “That interception down in the red zone, to take away points, was as much as anything the biggest play of the game.”
Minnesota’s Randall Cunningham and Chicago’s Erik Kramer both threw four TD passes. Cunningham finished 16-of-25 for 275 yards, while Kramer was 25-of-29 for a career-best 372 yards.
Chicago’s Bobby Engram caught six passes for 123 yards Ñ all in the first half.
It was yet another second-half collapse for the Bears (0-4), who have led at halftime in all their games. Chicago has been outscored 44-0 in the third quarter.
“We know what we have to do and what we’d like to get done,” coach Dave Wannstedt said. “We just haven’t put ourselves in the position to do it.”
As if blowing another game wasn’t bad enough, the Bears also lost Curtis Conway and Tom Carter. Conway, the Bears leading receiver, left the game in the first quarter with a strained groin. He started even though he’d been bothered by it all week, and is now listed as day-to-day. Cornerback Tom Carter broke his left collarbone in the first quarter and will be out 8-10 weeks.
Notes: Robert Smith’s 67-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter was his longest ever in his career … Kramer’s 372 yards was the fourth highest in Bears history behind Johnny Lujack (468 in 1949), Bill Wade (466 in 1962) and Sid Luckman (433 in 1943) … The Minnesota Vikings have outscored their opponents 44-14 in the last two games.
Packers pull it out
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) —Brett Favre began Sunday’s game by living up to his billing for occasionally throwing ill-advised passes. He ended it by showing why he’s been the NFL’s MVP the last three years.
Overcoming a first half in which his two interceptions helped Carolina take a 10-point lead, Favre threw for 388 yards and five touchdowns to rally the Green Bay Packers to a 37-30 victory.
“I knew we would be OK,” Favre said. “I didn’t want to be down 10-0, and I don’t think anybody expected to be down 10-0. But we felt like we would come back.”
The rally got a big boost from Green Bay’s defense, which limited Carolina to 13 first downs, including just five in the first 52 minutes. The result was the Packers’ first 4-0 start since 1966, the year they won the inaugural Super Bowl.
“We’re 4-0 and there’s room for improvement. That’s the good thing,” Favre said. “If we were playing our best and we were barely escaping, then there’s a sense of urgency to get better. Not that there isn’t, but we’ve found ways to win, and we’re not playing our best.”