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MINNEAPOLIS -- On the field, the Minnesota Vikings were putting together one of their most complete efforts of the season, turning a season-high five takeaways into a season-high 38 points. High above, behind one end zone, two individuals hung from a support beam along with a banner protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline. A peculiar season for Minnesota had a fitting ending.
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Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford was 25-of-33 passing for 250 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, and Kyle Rudolph had 11 catches for 117 yards and a score as the Vikings finished the season with a 38-10 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Jerick McKinnon added 110 total yards and scored touchdowns by rushing and receiving for Minnesota, which ended the season 8-8 after a 5-0 start.
For the final three quarters, the two individuals hung high above the end zone seating while play continued. Their banner read, "U.S. Bank, Divest, #NoDAPL."
"Why wouldn't the season finish like that? I think it's just been that kind of a year," Bradford said.
Bradford's arrival in Minnesota turned out to be one of the more pleasant developments after quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was lost in the preseason to a devastating knee injury.
Bradford, acquired in a preseason trade from Philadelphia, ended the season with a 71.6 percent completion rate, the highest mark in NFL history.
Along the way, running back Adrian Peterson played in just three games because of his own knee injury. Every member of the starting offensive line missed at least one game as the Vikings used 12 offensive linemen.
Offensive coordinator Norv Turner resigned after a midseason loss to the Bears. Coach Mike Zimmer had surgery for a detatched retina and missed a game and last week, the team's plane slid off the runway in Wisconsin and players had to be helped off with the aid of a fire truck.
Meanwhile, the Vikings started 5-0 before losing six of the next seven games.
"It was interesting," Bradford said. "There was a stretch like each week it felt like we were battling something new and trying to figure out how to overcome something."
Bradford was 4 of 4 for 64 yards on the opening drive, which culminated in a 16-yard touchdown on a swing pass to McKinnon.
The Bears drove 59 yards on their first possession but quarterback Matt Barkley was intercepted by Xavier Rhodes at the goal line. Chicago had turnovers on its first two possessions as Minnesota built a 17-0 lead.
"It's a good win, but it's tough that that's the end of it," Zimmer said. "We did things today like we did early in the year. We had turnovers and we played physical. We just didn't do that enough to win in the latter part of the year."
Barkley threw two interceptions and was 10 of 14 for 125 yards passing before being benched in favor of David Fales in the fourth quarter. Barkley caught a touchdown from receiver Cameron Meredith.
Chicago was outscored 79-31 the final two games and committed 10 turnovers in the two contests.
"You give the ball away that many times, the math usually doesn't work very good," Bears coach John Fox said.
After the game, Fox said he hasn't asked or received any assurances about returning next season but stated he hopes to return.
"I've been doing this for a long time, I've never worried about job security and I'm not going to start now," Fox said.
Jordan Howard had 135 yards rushing for Chicago (3-13), which finished with the fewest wins in a 16-game season in franchise history. Howard set the team rookie rushing record this season with 1,313 yards.
"It does mean something to me and the O-line because they do a great job," Howard said. "The coaches, they do a great job. The other backs, they did a great job preparing me for this year and helping me play this well."
NOTES:
-- Minnesota QB Sam Bradford established career highs with 395 completions and 3,877 yards. He broke the franchise record for single-season completions.
-- TE Kyle Rudolph set a Vikings record for receptions in a season by a tight end with 83. He also set the franchise record for career receiving touchdowns for a tight end with 29.
-- Chicago RB Jordan Howard recorded his seventh 100-yard rushing game of the season.
-- The Bears were without linebackers Pernell McPhee (shoulder) and Leonard Floyd (concussion). Sam Acho started for McPhee.
-- RB Adrian Peterson (knee), guard Alex Boone (back), and receivers Stefon Diggs (hip) and Laquon Treadwell (ankle) were held out for Minnesota. Peterson missed the final two games of the season and ended the year with just 72 yards rushing in three games. Treadwell, the Vikings' first-round draft pick this year, had one catch all season. Diggs led Minnesota with 84 catches.
