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Rodgers and Turner help the Vikings shut down the Bears for a 9-3 win in the rain

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Rodgers and Turner help the Vikings shut down the Bears for a 9-3 win in the rain
Sport

Sport

Rodgers and Turner help the Vikings shut down the Bears for a 9-3 win in the rain

2026-09-21 04:36 Last Updated At:04:40

CHICAGO (AP) — Isaiah Rodgers recovered a fumble and blocked a late field-goal attempt, and the Minnesota Vikings shut down Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears for a 9-3 victory on a rainy Sunday.

Aaron Jones rushed for 105 yards as Minnesota improved to 2-0 for the first time since it opened the 2024 season with five consecutive wins. Will Reichard kicked three field goals, including a 39-yarder with 1:09 left.

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Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (15) gestures after a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (15) gestures after a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) lies on the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) lies on the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (2) celebrates after recovering a fumble during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (2) celebrates after recovering a fumble during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, right, celebrates after recovering a fumble by the Chicago Bears during the second half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, right, celebrates after recovering a fumble by the Chicago Bears during the second half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (2) smiles after recovering a fumble by the Chicago Bears during the second half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (2) smiles after recovering a fumble by the Chicago Bears during the second half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Williams departed with a right hamstring injury midway through the fourth quarter, silencing a drenched crowd of 58,914 at Soldier Field. The No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft was 15 for 26 for 138 yards, and he had five carries for 42 yards.

Led by Dallas Turner, Minnesota limited Chicago to 297 yards of offense. Turner had two of the Vikings' four sacks, and Byron Murphy Jr. intercepted an ill-advised throw by Williams in the first quarter.

The Bears (1-1) rolled to 291 yards rushing and 552 yards overall in their 59-37 victory at Carolina in Week 1. It was the highest-scoring season opener in NFL history.

Williams got hurt Sunday on a scramble deep in Minnesota territory. The third-year quarterback, who passed for two touchdowns and rushed for two more in the opener, was helped off the field.

Tyson Bagent came in and passed to D’Andre Swift for 1 yard before throwing an incomplete pass on third down. Coach Ben Johnson then sent Cairo Santos on for a 23-yard field goal, but it was blocked by Rodgers.

After Carson Wentz drove Minnesota to Reichard’s third field goal, Chicago had one last opportunity. Bagent found Rome Odunze for 21 yards and Luther Burden for 8 to move the ball to the Vikings 12.

Following a pair of incompletions, Bagent was sacked by Turner on the final play.

Wentz was 11 for 20 for 143 yards, and Justin Jefferson had three receptions for 55 yards. Wentz got the start with Kyler Murray working his way through the NFL concussion protocol.

Trailing 6-3, Williams drove Chicago to first-and-goal on the 1 on the first drive of the second half. But Swift fumbled on a hit by Jalen Redmond and Rodgers recovered for Minnesota (2-0).

The teams exchanged field goals on the opening drives of the game. Jefferson’s 30-yard reception helped set up Reichard’s 35-yarder, and Williams’ 19-yard run was the big play in Chicago’s drive to Santos’ 50-yard field goal.

Vikings: DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins suffered a hip injury. ... LB Blake Cashman departed with 10:35 left in the third but he returned to the game.

Vikings: At the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next Sunday.

Bears: Host the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 28.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (15) gestures after a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (15) gestures after a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) lies on the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) lies on the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (2) celebrates after recovering a fumble during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (2) celebrates after recovering a fumble during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, right, celebrates after recovering a fumble by the Chicago Bears during the second half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, right, celebrates after recovering a fumble by the Chicago Bears during the second half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (2) smiles after recovering a fumble by the Chicago Bears during the second half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (2) smiles after recovering a fumble by the Chicago Bears during the second half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Olivia Miles broke Caitlin Clark's WNBA record for points by a rookie in a season on Sunday in the Minnesota Lynx's 101-89 victory over the Connecticut Sun.

Miles, who finished with 21 points, was tied with Clark at 769 points coming into the game and moved atop the list when she made a free throw in the second quarter. The Lynx rookie came into the game averaging 19.7 points, 6.0 assists and 4.7 rebounds, and was a big reason the team had the best record in the WNBA.

“It’s special, but it means we’re more so working well as a team. I have great teammates around me, great vets who allow me to be me out there," Miles said. "It wouldn’t be possible without one, a coach that believes in you and then two, having teammates that have my back. So it’s really special to obviously be able to accomplish that with such a great team and on a win as well.”

Miles was 7 of 10 from the field and made all six of her free-throw attempts. The All-Star guard, who was selected second in the draft after playing her college ball at Notre Dame and TCU, got off to a slow start against the Sun, going scoreless in the first quarter. Her record-breaking free throw came 29 seconds into the second quarter.

Miles and Clark both accomplished their feats in 40 games.

The Lynx star already had broken a couple of rookie records held by Clark. She hit eight 3-pointers in a win over Golden State on June 4 to set the league record for most by a rookie in a game. That was one more than Clark's best. Miles also became the fastest rookie to reach 350 points, 100 rebounds and 100 assists in her career, doing it in 21 games — one quicker than Clark and former Charlotte Sting guard Andrea Stinson.

See AP’s full WNBA coverage here

Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles stands on the court during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the New York Liberty, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles stands on the court during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the New York Liberty, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

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