Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings: 2001 Week 11 Recap

Game story

In Week 11 of the 2001 NFL season on 2001-11-25, the Chicago Bears took care of business against the Minnesota Vikings, pulling away with a 13–6 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 10 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Culpepper (Minnesota Vikings) paced the passing game, with -14.13 total EPA.

On the individual side, L. Johnson (Chicago Bears) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.68 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-18.8% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Chicago Bears changed the game: (8:26) 15-J.Miller FUMBLES (Aborted) at MIN 34, RECOVERED by MIN-93-S.Colinet at MIN 37. 93-S.Colinet to MIN 37 for no gain (Team).

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 L. Johnson · Chicago Bears · Rushing · +4.68 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.34 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Terrell · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +4.01 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.34 EPA/play
3. 3 H. Morrow · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +3.03 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.76 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Bennett · Minnesota Vikings · Rushing · +1.69 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play
5. 5 B. Chamberlain · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +1.42 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.16 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Prentice · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +0.36 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.36 EPA/play
7. 7 H. Morrow · Minnesota Vikings · Rushing · +0.02 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.02 EPA/play
8. 8 M. Bennett · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +0.00 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.00 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Chicago Bears — L. Johnson (Q2 39:46)

Field goals

• Chicago Bears — P. Edinger (Q2 30:47)
• Minnesota Vikings — G. Anderson (Q3 23:10)
• Chicago Bears — P. Edinger (Q4 13:34)
• Minnesota Vikings — G. Anderson (Q4 3:19)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The second quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 10–0. Chicago Bears found the end zone from the MIN 1 (Q2 39:46) — (9:46) 32-L.Johnson right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q2 39:43) — 2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the MIN 12 (Q2 30:47) — (:47) 2-P.Edinger 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard..

The third quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 3–0. Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the CHI 26 (Q3 23:10) — (8:10) 1-G.Anderson 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-B.Heffner-Liddiard, Holder-17-M.Berger..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the MIN 25 (Q4 13:34) — (13:34) 2-P.Edinger 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the CHI 3 (Q4 3:19) — (3:19) 1-G.Anderson 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-B.Heffner-Liddiard, Holder-17-M.Berger..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Chicago Bears (Q1 53:26) — (8:26) 15-J.Miller FUMBLES (Aborted) at MIN 34, RECOVERED by MIN-93-S.Colinet at MIN 37. 93-S.Colinet to MIN 37 for no gain (Team). [WPA -18.8% · EPA -6.04]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 54:44) — (9:44) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass intended for 80-C.Carter INTERCEPTED by 59-R.Colvin (93-P.Daniels) at CHI 44. 59-R.Colvin to MIN 48 for 8 yards (65-C.Collins). [WPA -15.5% · EPA -4.96]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 5:18) — (5:18) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 33-H.Morrow to CHI 1 for 14 yards (43-M.Green). [WPA +9.9% · EPA +3.22]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 3:49) — (3:49) 11-D.Culpepper FUMBLES (Aborted) at CHI 1, and recovers at CHI 3. 11-D.Culpepper to CHI 3 for no gain (93-P.Daniels). [WPA -9.5% · EPA -2.47]
• Chicago Bears (Q1 54:01) — (9:01) 20-J.Allen up the middle to MIN 25 for 19 yards (21-D.Carter). [WPA +7.8% · EPA +1.72]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Chicago Bears (Q1 53:26) — (8:26) 15-J.Miller FUMBLES (Aborted) at MIN 34, RECOVERED by MIN-93-S.Colinet at MIN 37. 93-S.Colinet to MIN 37 for no gain (Team). [WPA -18.8% · EPA -6.04]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 54:44) — (9:44) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass intended for 80-C.Carter INTERCEPTED by 59-R.Colvin (93-P.Daniels) at CHI 44. 59-R.Colvin to MIN 48 for 8 yards (65-C.Collins). [WPA -15.5% · EPA -4.96]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 41:00) — (11:00) 32-L.Johnson up the middle pushed ob at MIN 4 for 34 yards (22-T.Carter). [WPA +7.2% · EPA +3.54]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 5:18) — (5:18) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 33-H.Morrow to CHI 1 for 14 yards (43-M.Green). [WPA +9.9% · EPA +3.22]

Quarterback report card

D.Culpepper led all passers in efficiency for Minnesota Vikings, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Culpepper (Minnesota Vikings) · 54 dropbacks · 48.1% completion · -0.26 EPA/play · -14.13 total EPA
• J.Miller (Chicago Bears) · 24 dropbacks · 41.7% completion · -0.31 EPA/play · -7.39 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Chicago Bears generated the better offensive EPA per play (-0.15 vs -0.21), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Chicago Bears: 12 drives, -10.59 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Minnesota Vikings: 13 drives, -19.72 total EPA, 2 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Chicago Bears leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• L. Johnson (Chicago Bears) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q2 39:46 · MIN 1 · Score 6-0
   (9:46) 32-L.Johnson right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q2 39:43 · MIN 2 · Score 7-0
   2-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
3. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q2 30:47 · MIN 12 · Score 10-0
   (:47) 2-P.Edinger 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
4. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q3 23:10 · CHI 26 · Score 10-3
   (8:10) 1-G.Anderson 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-B.Heffner-Liddiard, Holder-17-M.Berger.
5. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q4 13:34 · MIN 25 · Score 13-3
   (13:34) 2-P.Edinger 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
6. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q4 3:19 · CHI 3 · Score 13-6
   (3:19) 1-G.Anderson 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-B.Heffner-Liddiard, Holder-17-M.Berger.