MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- Using a smothering defense and the running of James Allen, the Chicago Bears continued their magical season Sunday night with a 13-6 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, who may soon be looking toward next year.
Earlier this season, the Bears' defense blanketed the receiving duo of Randy Moss and Cris Carter in a 17-10 victory. On Sunday night, it looked like a replay of that contest that saw Chicago's run to the top of the NFC Central standings begin.
The secondary of R.W. McQuarters, Walt Harris, Tony Parrish and Mike Brown helped shut down the Vikings' passing game. Daunte Culpepper completed 26 of 46 passes for 209 yards and one interception while Moss and Carter were bottled up in coverage.
Moss had just four catches for 25 yards and Carter five for 45. Moss had nine balls thrown his way and had two crucial drops, drawing the wrath of the Metrodome crowd.
The Vikings had a streak of 97 games with at least one offensive touchdown stopped. That streak dated to the 1995 season.
Allen, the starter at the beginning of the season only to lose his job to rookie Anthony Thomas, was back as the starter Sunday night. Thomas was sidelined with a hamstring injury and Allen responded with a big game.
Allen carried 27 times for 107 yards, gaining 25 of those yards on the Bears' final drive that all but killed the clock. That drive came after Gary Anderson kicked a 21-yard field goal with 3:19 remaining to pull Minnesota within 13-6.
Chicago (8-2) won for the eighth time in its last nine games and moved one game ahead of second-place Green Bay in the division. Entering this season, the Bears had gone 26-54 since posting a 9-7 record in 1995.
Anderson also kicked a 44-yard field goal in the third quarter for the Vikings (4-6), who have made the playoffs in nine straight seasons under coach Dennis Green but fell to fourth in the division.
