Bears vs. Vikings 2013, Week 13: Chicago loses in overtime to Minnesota

Peterson was the focal point over at the Daily Norseman. This season hasn’t been kind to Minnesota, particularly at the quarterback position, but the team has always been able to lean on its stellar running back.

It’s an astonishing statistic and completely understandable following his MVP win in 2012.

The Bears failed to do anything on their first overtime drive, giving the Vikings a chance to win with a field goal. Peterson took the ball down to the Bears’ 32-yard line, and was tackled by the horse collar, a crucial penalty that worked in Minnesota’s favor.

It looked like the Vikings were going to get a tie in back-to-back weeks, but Peterson showed up big in this critical moment. Peterson was a man possessed on Minnesota’s next drive, single-handedly moving the Vikings back down to field goal range. This time, Walsh nailed the field goal, with no penalties or icing timeouts, giving Minnesota the wild upset win.

Peterson joins a very exclusive list of running backs who have accomplished the same feat:

Drafted No. 7 overall by the Vikings in 2007, Peterson has remained the premier running back in the league the past seven years and continues to be a workhorse out of the backfield in an era when most teams are choosing to go with a multiple running back attack. Peterson gained more than 1,000 yards in each of his first four seasons in the NFL and would have had five straight if not for missing four games in 2011 due to injury, and has recorded 86 touchdowns during that time.

Alshon Jeffery made an absolutely preposterous catch for the Bears, his second touchdown in an absolutely preposterous day, and Vikings cornerback Chris Cook maybe thought it wasn’t a touchdown, as Jeffery came down near the sideline. So when the referee put his hands up to say “touchdown,” he went over and talked to the ref -- and gave him a light tap on the chest.

GIF via @GIFdsports

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via Guyism

We support the concept of refs celebrating with players, and will go to war to prevent this guy from being punished for his giggly skin-giving. Although it would’ve been especially baller if he’d gone like “high-five? NAH, SON, THIS CALLS FOR A REAL CELEBRATION” and then chest-bumped Patterson and spiked the ball and then flagged Patterson for excessive celebration.

Game Date/Time and Location: Sunday, Dec. 1, 1 p.m. ET at Mall of America Field, Minneapolis, Minn.

TV schedule and distribution map: Fox; The506.com

Minnesota is simply waiting for a quick end to what has turned into a nightmare. The Vikings made the playoffs last season, but now find themselves without a quarterback, a long-term head coach and a 2-9 record. The good news? The draft is really loaded this year.

Chicago is 6-5 and tied for the lead in the NFC North, with much of the credit going to Josh McCown. The Bears’ backup quarterback was forced into action in four games this season, starting two, and played remarkably well. McCown has completed 65.5 percent of his passes and thrown for seven touchdowns against only one interception.

For more details on this matchup, head over to OddsShark.

• NFL Week 13 expert picks | 3 teams can clinch playoff spot

• NFL Week 13 expert picks | 3 teams can clinch playoff spot

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The Bears have to hope that the Packers can strike back against the Lions without Rodgers on Thursday, and a win over Minnesota would give them sole possession over the division if that were to happen. The Bears did already beat the Vikings once this season, in Week 2 in Chicago.

Five of SB Nation’s NFL experts think the Bears will score the road victory. Ryan Van Bibber, Joel Thorman, Jason Chilton, Stephen White and Matt Ufford think the Bears will win, while David Fucillo believes the Vikings will hold at home for the upset.