Bears hang on to beat Vikings 17-13, finish 8-8

By Dave Campbell

Associated Press

Published: Sunday, Jan. 1 2012 2:15 p.m. MST

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Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman (33) celebrates his 22-yard interception return with cornerback Tim Jennings (26) in the first half of an NFL football game in Minneapolis, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012.

Jim Mone, Associated Press

Summary

Charles Tillman's interception return in the second quarter gave Chicago the lead for good, and the Bears stopped their five-game losing streak with a 17-13 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday despite 3½ sacks by Jared Allen.

MINNEAPOLIS — Charles Tillman's interception return in the second quarter gave Chicago the lead for good, and the Bears stopped their five-game losing streak with a 17-13 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday despite 3½ sacks by Jared Allen.

Allen finished the season with 22 sacks, behind Michael Strahan's mark of 22½ for the New York Giants in 2001.

Joe Webb relieved Christian Ponder at quarterback for the Vikings (3-13) for the third time in the last month, but the wild-scrambling Webb wasn't able to keep the Vikings from their worst record in franchise history, matching the 1984 team.

The Vikings had the ball with no timeouts at their 6-yard line and 1:51 left, but D.J. Moore's interception at the Chicago 29 sealed it for the Bears (8-8).

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