1. Bears' second-quarter woes cured

The Bears went into Sunday's game having given up a league-high 114 points in the second quarter. So, naturally, the Vikings would join the points party, eh? Not exactly. The Vikings botched a 10-0 lead by mustering just one first down, 24 yards and no points on 13 second- quarter plays in Chicago. Teddy Bridgewater passed for 20 yards and was sacked once for 6 yards. Center John Sullivan focused on the time of possession — or lack thereof — which was 5 minutes, 42 seconds. "It was just a frustrating game," Sullivan said. "I don't think we played bad at all times and I don't think every phase was bad. But we need to stay out on the field." Believe it or not, the time of possession for the third quarter was even worse: 3:07.

3. Challenge won, but lost

In one of the stranger coaching replay challenges you will see, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer kind of won, but really lost. Zimmer threw his red flag midway through the first quarter when he thought Bears QB Jay Cutler fumbled rather than threw an incompletion. A Vikings player eventually recovered the loose ball, but not immediately. Zimmer was right about the fumble, but lost the challenge and a time out because no one recovered the loose ball immediately. Or at least that's what the officials said. Asked if he heard the whistle that would have blown the play dead, Zimmer said: "No, I did not." The Vikings did benefit from a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Cutler. Cutler wanted to run another play quickly, but there was too much of a delay for his liking as the Vikings decided to challenge. Cutler, who had been barking at the officials, spiked the ball and drew the flag. "Across the league, it is pretty universal that when the whistle is blown, you've got the ball, you kind of just spike it in the ground," Cutler said. "Obviously, they didn't like when I did it. So I don't know if I am the only quarterback that is banned from it in the league. We will have to find out."

4. Allen gets sack and win in Chicago

Former Vikings All-Pro turned struggling Bears defensive end Jared Allen raised his season sack total by one and ended an 0-for-8 losing streak as a player at Soldier Field. "Those guys are like family to me," said Allen, who now has 2½ sacks on the season. "I've got bragging rights on them. It works out well." The Vikings still haven't won at Chicago since 2007. Said Vikings defensive end Brian Robison: "This place is cursed." Vikings left tackle Matt Kalil drove Allen far inside on a 23-yard sweep by Jerick McKinnon early on. But Kalil also was beaten badly for a sack on an outside move by Allen. "I thought I played well, except for the sack I gave up," Kalil said. "Jared is a great player."

2. Leading rusher ... Sendejo?

The last time the Vikings won at Chicago, Adrian Peterson ran for 224 yards as a rookie in 2007. Sunday, the Vikings leading rusher was … Andrew Sendejo?! In a beautifully timed and executed fake punt, Sendejo moved right to left from his right wing spot, took a handoff from upback Adam Thielen, who had taken the snap, and showed outstanding speed and balance while going 48 yards before stumbling at the Chicago 7-yard line. It was the Vikings' first fake punt since Dec. 5, 2004 against the Bears. The Vikings scored a touchdown on the next snap to take a 10-0 lead. Asked when the last time he carried the ball was, Sendejo said, "Probably like middle school. We were district champ in middle school. I was the starting running back."

5. Respect for Griffen

The Bears obviously set their game plan to avoid Vikings DE Everson Griffen in the passing game. Cutler often rolled away from Griffen, who entered the game with nine sacks and had won October's NFC defensive player of the month award. The Bears used Charles Leno as an extra tackle, lining up with two tackles to Griffen's side on at least four occasions. They gained an average of 10 yards on those four snaps. Griffen was held to two tackles and a pass defense.