Un-Bear-lievable !

The Chicago Bears move to 3-0 on the season and for the first time this year it did not go down to the wire. Minnesota came into Chicago looking for its first win of the season for Coach Andy Weinrib. Things didn't go well for the Vikings at all early on and in fact they did not pick up their first first down until the 3:42 mark of the second quarter. By the half the Vikings offense had only amassed 33 yards. On the other end though the Chicago Bears came out swinging and for the first time this season the offense clicked and everything they did seemed to work like a clock.

Chicago's defense would set up the first score of the day as Roselvelt Colvin would pick up the lose ball that was laid on the carpet by Vikings RB Robert Smith (13-112) and give the Bears the ball at the Vikes 20. Jim Miller (8-11-91) three plays later found RB Anthony Thomas (35-211 / 2/27 Rec) for a 17 yard hookup and a Bears 7-0 lead. Thomas would be unstoppable throughout most of the game as with the game well in hand by the half get his more than normal carries. After another Vikings punt the Bears began its next drive at their own 22. Midway through the drive Miller's pass to Marty Booker would go for 22 yards down to the Vikings 27. From there it would only take another 6 plays for Thomas to dive in from 4 yards out and up the Bears lead to 14-0.

The second quarter again was the same ol story for the Vikings as they continued to get some good field position from kickoff returns but even with that field position it all went for nothing. Early in the second Chicago upped its lead to 21-0 as Thomas again took it into the endzone this time from 2 yards out. Down 21-0 the Vikes desperately needed a scoring drive. Starting from its own 38 and facing a 4th and 2 from the 46 the Vikings brought out their punting team. Chicago although was thinking about a fake chose instead to go to the normal return. It was a fake but Mitch Berger's pass to Jim Kleinsasser failed to get the necessary yardage. The Bears would make them pay for the gamble as they would go the 46 yards in 8 plays and for the 4th time today Thomas would step into the endzone making it a 28-0 Bears lead.

Minnesota started the 3rd quarter out just like the first half as they would punt the ball away. With a 28-0 lead the Bears decided to run the ball exclusively in the second half and try to eat clock as they were pretty confident in their defense. The Vikings though couldn't stop the run even when they keyed correctly. James Allen (19-71) would help take some of the impact away from Thomas as he would come in and spell Thomas quite often in the second half. It would be Thomas though again for the 5th time in the game take it to the endzone on a 13 yard scamper and now with a 35-0 lead the Bears and Vikings fans both just wanted to get the game over with. Minnesota though would get its one and only true highlight of the game on its drive. Smith would find a crease in the Bears defensive line and rece 57 yards untouched to the endzone to make it a 35-6 Bears lead. The Vikings try for 2 failed but the ensuing onside caught the Bears off guard as the Vikings came up with the ball. Brian Urlacher though stopped any threat of any comeback as on second down he would pick Daunte Culpepper (9-24-70) taking it back to the Vikings 38. With a healthy diet of Thomas left, Thomas right, and Thomas up the middle the Bears would settle for a Paul Edinger 39 yard field goal and a 38-6 lead.

The final death stamp came at the 7:16 mark as Culpepper again was picked and this time Walter Harris would go 91 yards to make it 45-6. The Bears fans by this time were already so stinking drunk and happy that they likely didn't even notice the return went for a touchdown.

Thanks to Andy for getting this game in tonight. --submitted by Bill Vogt--