Williamson ends long scoring drought with first-half TD

CHICAGO - A game dominated by running back Adrian Peterson carried another nugget of optimism for the Vikings offense: Receiver Troy Williamson caught a career-long 60-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. It was his first score since eye problems threatened his career last season.

Jackson actually dropped quarterback Tarvaris Jackson's first pass of the game, but he caught a 9-yard pass on the next play. Later in the quarter, Williamson got behind safety Adam Archuleta and easily hauled in the throw from Jackson.

Williamson got open deep again in the fourth quarter but could not catch up to Jackson's pass, but the earlier score reminded everyone how dangerous he can be.

"It felt kind of funny," Williamson said. "It felt like I was almost in practice because I was so wide open. Those are the worst ones to catch, but I could pretty much just focus on the ball, catch it and go with it."

Archuleta, who was later benched, didn't sound too impressed.

"It was a terrible, terrible play by me," Archuleta said. "Sometimes you try to do too much. I thought I saw something coming across out of the corner of my eye, and at that point it was too late. It was one of the worst plays I've ever been involved with actually."

Williamson's last TD came at Atlanta on Oct. 2, 2005.

Jackson returns

Jackson completed nine of 23 passes for 136 yards in his first start since Sept. 16. He missed two games because of a strained groin, and he said Sunday there still was a slight tightness in the groin. That condition caused him to pass on a couple of potential runs and throw the ball away because of post-injury caution.

His greatest lament was overthrowing Tony Richardson when the Bears were completely fooled and the fullback could have had a catch-and-run touchdown from midfield.

"I got too excited," Jackson said. "He was wide open. I can make that throw all day every day. I could make that throw lefthanded. ... I can't miss that throw."

Hester, as usual

Bears fans have waited eagerly for return specialist Devin Hester to become more involved in the offense, and he showed why on an 81-yard touchdown catch that tied the score 31-31 with 1:38 left in regulation.

Hester blew past safety Dwight Smith, and quarterback Brian Griese aired it out down the field. Hester is known for making big plays on special teams -- which he did again Sunday -- but he proved he's also capable of doing the same thing at receiver.

"We had a couple of guys nicked up at the receiver spot so they gave me the opportunity to go out and make a play," he said.

It was only the second catch of Hester's career.

"Any football player wants to be the guy they call on to make a big play," he said. "It was great contributing to the offense, but it really doesn't feel good if you don't come up with the victory."

Hester had an 89-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter in which he made three Vikings players miss tackles. It was his eighth career kick return for a touchdown, tying Gale Sayers' team record.

The number does not include his kickoff return for a touchdown in the Super Bowl, or a field-goal attempt he returned for a score against San Francisco last year.

Keep it coming

Vikings receiver Bobby Wade said he heard boos from Bears fans every time he took the field to return punts Sunday. And Wade, who spent two-plus seasons in Chicago, couldn't have been happier.

"Every single time I was back they would boo," he said. "I loved it. [It shows] a lot of respect, I think; it's nice when people don't forget about you."

Wade was used four times on punt returns, and four times he ended up making a fair catch. That was one shy of the Vikings record.

"They didn't want to punt me the ball deep, didn't want to outpunt their coverage," he said. "I'm sure the game plan was to hang it up there and hopefully I'll drop a ball back there."

Herrera gets the start

After seeing action behind Artis Hicks at right guard the past two games, Anthony Herrera started at the position Sunday and was in for every offensive snap. "I was just going out and taking every play a step at a time and that's it," Herrera said. "Just taking it one play at a time. If they said Artis is in, Artis is in."

Injury report

The Vikings had a few players banged up Sunday, including middle linebacker E.J. Henderson. He said he suffered a stinger in the third quarter. He was replaced by Dontarrious Thomas for the remaining four plays of that series but played in the rest of the game. Also injured were linebacker Vinny Ciurciu (sprained ankle), fullback Naufahu Tahi (knee), receiver Robert Ferguson (shoulder) and defensive end Ray Edwards (hip). Ferguson and Edwards both returned. Childress said he didn't think Ciurciu or Tahi's injures were serious but said the team will "evaluate that a little bit more [today]."

Etc.

• Defensive end Erasmus James played for the first time this season after sitting out the first four games as he continued to try to return from the knee injury he suffered early last season. James did not start but saw action as the backup to Edwards at right end. James, who was involved in a locker room altercation with Chester Taylor last week, wasn't in a talkative mood afterward. "I've got a lot of work to do," he said.

• The Bears were burned when Peterson's 53-yard kickoff return set up the winning field goal. Should they have kicked away from Peterson? Said Bears Pro Bowl special teamer Brendon Ayanbadejo: "Kicking away from someone is not something we do. We're the best special teams unit in the league. We're not going to be like the Minnesota Vikings and kick the ball out of bounds."

KEVIN SEIFERT, CHIP SCOGGINS, JUDD ZULGAD, PATRICK REUSSE