MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Vikings' defense has grabbed headlines this season with the big plays it's made -- the interception and fumble returns for touchdowns, the not-infrequent defensive social gatherings in the opposing backfield. It's become the league's top scoring defense because of a less glamorous, but equally vital trait: Its ability to prevent big plays.
Through the first six games of the season, the Vikings had allowed only three plays of 30 yards or more, according to ESPN Stats and Information, as sound tackling and sturdy coverage kept the Vikings insulated from momentum-turning instances. That firewall was broken Monday night, in a game where the league's lowest-scoring offense posted 403 yards, and the three plays of 30-plus yards the Chicago Bears made were at the heart of their surprising 20-10 win.